Wonder Woman: A Ms Book

by William Moulton Marston, Gloria Steinem (Introduction)

By 1972, a former editorial assistant on Harvey Kurtzman’s Help Magazine named Gloria Steinem had gone on to bigger and better things as one of America’s most visible feminists and editor of Ms. She also edited and introduced this deluxe edition reprinting Wonder Woman stories from the 1940s, by the original team of William Moulton Marston and Harry Peters. In it, she makes the case that Marston, a renowned psychologist, wove strong proto-feminist messages into those early stories in an effort to make Wonder Woman a role model for stronger, more assertive girls and young women.

If the political message doesn’t appeal, Steinem’s choice of stories is still first rate. Starting with Wonder Woman’s origin story from All-Star Comics #8 and Sensation Comics #1, she shows the Amazon Warrior squaring off against classic enemies like Mars and Dr. Psycho, teaming up with comic-relief sidekick Etta Candy, and rescuing her hapless paramour, Steve Trevor. All feature the odd but compulsively-readable artwork of Harry Peters, and benefit from excellent reproduction and printing quality.

A unique 70s artifact, the Wonder Woman book is fairly hard to come by and commands a premium from collectors. Bibliophiles should note that the trade paperback from Holt, Reinhardt and Winston is the true first edition, and the hardcover from Bonanza/Crown Books is a reissue.

— Rob Salkowitz

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Wonder Woman, Superheroes, Graphic Novels, Feminism

171 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Dr. William Moulton Marston (May 9, 1893 – May 2, 1947), also known by the pen names Charles Moulton and William Marston, was an American psychologist, feminist theorist, inventor, and comic book writer who created the character Wonder Woman. Two women, his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston and Olive Byrne (who lived with the couple in a polyamorous relationship), served as exemplars for the character and greatly influenced her creation.

He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2006.

Reviews

[David Mazzocco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonder Woman: 4 stars
Historical essays: 2 stars

If you want an introduction to early Wonder Woman, go read this book! Just be warned, there's a long essay between Gloria Steinem's excellent introduction and the comics, and it's problematic. You'll need to look elsewhere to satisfy any curiosity about women in the ancient world.

The essays by Phyllis Chessler on Amazons and ancient matriarchal societies are, in the words of another reviewer, "nearly ridiculous". I understand why the editors decided to discuss the topic, since it's the basis of Wonder Woman's origin story. However, the essay goes well beyond the bounds of both necessity and fact. A reader must recognize that this book is a product of 1972 historical knowledge, viewed through a particular 1972 feminist's lens. There is confirmation bias on topics where information was available and wishful thinking where it was not. Even though I identify myself as a feminist, I found it deeply frustrating and I had to skip straight to the comics.

Which are great and over far too quickly.

P.S. If you are interested in the facts behind the Amazons of Greek myth and anthropology, I know of no better source than this:
The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection put out by Ms. Magazine and DC in the early 1970s, not long after WW recovered from losing her powers. It opens with some essays on why Wonder Woman matters and a look at the history of Amazons in fact and myth. Then we get various sections such as sisterhood (Diana fighting for women's rights), politics (showing that what get dismissed as SJW stories have been around a while) and romance. Well worth reading if you're a fan of the older WW or want to see where she came from.

[Mark Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the Golden-Age Wonder Woman. Terrific reproduction of HG Peter’s art. Stories grouped thematically with brief introductions and a long essay in the front. Introduction by Gloria Steinem.

[Catherine Siemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently did some reading about the origins of Wonder Woman, for professional reasons, and heard that back in the early 70s Ms Magazine put out a special edition comprised of some of William Moulton Marston's original 40s comics. I was able to get my hands on a reprint, and it's a great introduction. Because this is a selection, some of the more intensely problematic issues (the racism and nationalism of the times) are left out (some day, I'll buy the more comprehensive editions and tackled that). But the feminism of this comic shines through very clearly. (After Marston's death in 1947, and at the same time as the post-war push to get women back into the home, the comic moved away from its origins.)

I'm not much of a comics/graphic novels reader (mostly Gaiman's Sandman and things by Alan Moore), though I see enough Marvel movies that I'm completely behind the "Black Widow needs her own movie!" sentiment. But I'm now curious to see what Wonder Woman is up to these days. And what with Genevieve Valentine's run at Catwoman starting in November, it looks like I won't be able to say I'm not a comics reader for much longer.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really neat reading thru the older WW comics again. Especially after having read the intro and essay first because then I was reading them with feminism in mind. The essay was nearly ridiculous regarding several points and I disagreed with rather a lot of what Ms. Chessler had to say. The general idea of women being every bit as capable as men is the defining factor. And on that point, there is no disagreement.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome collection of Wonder Woman comics from the 1940s. I wonder if it's still in my mom's house somewhere.