Like any creation, Wonder Woman had an original name very different from the one you know, that’s why we tell you the anecdote here.
Created by William Moulton Marston under the pseudonym Charles Moulton and with the help of illustrator HG Peter, Princess Diana debuted in 1941’s All Star Comics #8. But before she hit newsstands, Wonder Woman’s original name was very different from the current one. Let’s just say she was less empowered.
In the early 1940s, Dr. Marston’s scholarly work caught the attention of publisher Max Gaines, who hired him as an educational consultant for National Periodicals and All-American Publications, two of the publishers that merged into DC Comics. Marston proposed to Gianes a new type of hero, who would defeat his opponents through love and not violence, and who would be a woman.
When the idea was accepted, Marston wrote the character’s first story, titled “Supreme, The Wonder Woman”, in the same way that her male counterpart was known as “Superman, Champion of the Oppressed” (Superman, Champion of the Oppressed). That Superman nickname was kept in the public mind since his debut, as he is described on the first page of his appearance in Action Comics # 1.
Shuffling a few letters and dropping the ‘n’, Marston envisioned his Amazon princess as the female answer to Superman, but keeping her separate from him. Ultimately, however, it was Marston’s editor, Sheldon Mayer, who made the decision to drop “Supreme” and call her only by her alliterative title: Wonder Woman.
Source: DCComics.com
Diana of Themyscira awaits you in our online store with:
DC Universe – Wonder Woman: 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular #1
Put on your headbands and get your indestructible bracelets ready. DC invites you to join us for a one-of-a-kind special showcasing Wonder Woman’s past, present and future to celebrate the legacy she has created for her and those she will continue to inspire with her adventures for years to come. This super-spectacular features work from some of the comics industry’s best professionals along with young stars ready to share the spotlight with Diana. You won’t want to miss these stories that capture timeless messages of hope and empowerment presented together in this magnificent collector’s item.
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