All the world was waiting for her (and the wonders she could do), and in December 1941, she arrived – Wonder Woman. The Princess of Themyscira, Wonder Woman has gone from a World War II heroine to a feminist icon over her 75 years in comics, a fact that should not come as a surprise to anyone who’s read her tales.
Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston, a psychologist, who had caught the attention of publisher Max Gaines via an interview in which Marston discussed the then-unfulfilled potential of comic books. Gaines hired Marston on as a consultant for All-American Publications (a company which would later merge into DC Comics), and thanks to some influence from Marston’s wife Elizabeth, Wonder Woman was born. As the story goes, Marston wanted to make a hero that triumphed with love rather than force, and Elizabeth responded by saying “Fine, but make her a woman.”
Wonder Woman’s trademark weapon – the Lasso of Truth – was also influenced by Marston’s life, as he was instrumental in developing the technology used in polygraph machines.
Our heroine made her debut in All-Star Comics #8; a member of the tribe of Amazons native to Paradise Island (later changed to Themyscira), the Princess Diana encounters the plane wreck of Captain Steve Trevor. Diana not only nurses him back to health, but quickly falls in love with him and longs to leave the island. After winning a competition put on by her mother, Queen Hippolyta, Diana is deemed worthy enough to deliver Steve back to man’s world and fight for justice. Upon arriving in America, she discovers a nurse who wishes to leave for South America but is unable to due to lack of funds. Wonder Woman gives her the funds necessary, but also is able to assume the nurse’s identity – Diana Prince – creating Wonder Woman’s alias.
While many other heroes have had their personalities fluctuate over the many years they’ve been around, Diana’s have been remarkably consistent by comparison. While she has experienced moments of stubbornness and naiveté, her unrelenting compassion – given without discrimination – has been what’s set her apart over the years. Her powers – which have included super-strength that rivals Superman’s, near-invulnerability, and telescopic vision – have put her ahead of many of her male counterparts when it comes to sheer ability.
A number of Wonder Woman items are now at Hake’s Americana in Auction #219, including a color litho button that was offered to comic book readers back in May 1942. With full gloss paint and a perfectly centered image, this example displays Mint.
Hake’s also has several Wonder Woman master wax examples, which were used in the creation of different figures. These include a DC Dynamics Wonder Woman head, a Wonder Woman #72 cover statue prototype; and two Kingdom Come master wax lots including one lot with a head and torso with two prototype figures, and another with an armored Wonder Woman.
These just scratch the surface of the Wonder Woman lots currently at Hakes. Interested bidders should be aware that lots will close beginning on Thursday, November 17.
