What Is the Origin of Wonder Woman?

What is the origin of Wonder Woman? Strong, intelligent, beautiful and brave-Wonder Woman is the most recognized of all the female DC comic book characters. During the golden age of comic books in the 1930s and 1940s, tough male superheroes reigned supreme. However, it wasn't long before a new powerful female character was launched.

Creator William Marston
Born in Massachusetts in 1893, William Marston grew up in a more traditional time when women were considered weaker mentally and physically than men. Marston became a highly educated man and worked as a psychologist. Later he would develop a machine to detect when someone was lying via testing their blood pressure. Marston's psychology background gave him many opportunities to study women, and he felt that women were more trustworthy, reliable, focused and just.

As a longtime comic book fan, Marston was asked to join All American Publications as an educational consultant. Marston's wife, Elisabeth, inspired him to create a female superhero. The psychologist jumped at the opportunity to create a strong female archetype that would combine the best qualities of women without perceived weakness.

Creation of Wonder Woman
Marston developed the character of Suprema, a female warrior from a peace-loving world. Her magic lasso that forced people to tell the truth was inspired by Marston's own device. Writing under the name of Charles Moulton, the character made her debut in 1941 under the new name of Wonder Woman. She received her own comic book in 1942 and became one of the most popular characters. Marston, as Moulton, wrote comic books until he died in 1947.

Wonder Woman Evolution
In 1944, All American was sold to DC Comics in a business merger, and Marston's character moved with the new company. Along with Superman and Batman, Wonder Woman became one of the premiere superheroes in all kinds of combination adventures and a prominent member of the Justice Society of America as the first female.

After Marston's death, writer Robert Kanigher took over the storyline, and Wonder Woman comic sales dropped. In the late 1950s, however, comic books enjoyed a resurgence and Wonder Woman was given enhanced powers and considered a founding member of the new Justice League of America.

The 1960s were not kind to Wonder Woman, as different storylines were invented for her that alternately took her out of her famous outfit, took away her powers as a super hero woman and delivered silly story lines. Wonder Woman comics also followed a popular trend of revealing childhood stories of comic book heroes, and Wonder Girl and Wonder Tot.

In the early 1970s, fans demanded that the classic Wonder Woman comics return, and the feminist icon and superhero returned with full powers and better storylines. The character was so popular that it prompted a hit television series starring Lynda Carter, with Wonder Woman video that reflects the more classic character, from her original costume to supernatural Amazonian powers.