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Wonder Woman, #1

Published: Summer 1942

Cover

Wonder Woman #1

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Issue Contents:
1 page superhero
Characters
Credits
Introducing Miss Alice Marble as Associate Editor of Wonder Woman!
Story 1 1 page
Story Notes

inside front cover; photos and text on Alice Marble and Helen Wainwright Sterling

Wonder Woman, Who Is She?
Story 2 1 page superhero
Storyline

The Gods behind the epithet, "Beautiful as Aphrodite, Wise as Athena, Strong as Hercules and Swift as Mercury," are visually and in text introduced to the reader.

Characters
Credits
The Origin of Wonder Woman (1)
Story 3 13 pages superhero
Storyline

Upon her arrival in man's world, Wonder Woman drops an Amazon scroll that details the origin and early days of the Amazons, while later sources outline her birth, her youth, and her battle in the arena for the right to be Wonder Woman.

Characters
  • Aphrodite
  • Colonel Darnell
  • Hippolyte (mainstream Universe) [Origin]
  • Diana Prince (mainstream Universe)
  • Steve Trevor (mainstream Universe)
  • Wonder Woman (mainstream Universe) [Origin]
  • Hercules (introduction)
  • the Amazons (origin re-told)
  • Mala
  • Dr. Hellas (famed archaeologist)
  • Athena (goddess of wisdom)
  • Doctor Althea (Amazon doctor, introduction)
  • Fatsis (Amazon)
  • unnamed Japanese agent (villain, introduction)
  • Heinrich Fritz Uber (villain, Hitler's Chief Agent, only mentioned)
  • Mars [aka Ares] (villain, god of war)
  • Hercules (villain)
Credits
Story Notes

Story title from reprints. Wonder Woman's origin from All-Star Comics (DC, 1940 series) #8 is shown with more detail, including the creation of the Amazons from clay by Aphrodite, and Diana's birth on Paradise Island: sculpted from clay by Hippolyte's hand under the direction of Athena, and brought to life by Aphrodite. Wonder Woman is shown here to receive her magic lasso along with her costume after winning the contest, whereas she originally received her lasso after having lived in man's world for a time, as shown in Sensation Comics (DC, 1942 series) #6. Captain Trevor is promoted to Major.

Featuring All-Flash

Story 4 1 page

"Here's good news, boys and girls, about your favorite - the Flash - fastest man alive!"

Story Notes

House ad for All-Flash #6. Announces All-Flash will now be published once every two months instead of once every three months.

Story 5 1 page

"Green Lantern and Doiby Dickles join the army!"

Story Notes

House ad for Green Lantern #4.

Wonder Woman Goes to the Circus!
Story 6 13 pages superhero
Storyline

Wonder Woman brings children to King's Colossal Circus, performs in the big ring, and with the help of Etta and Steve, investigates a rash of elephant deaths by poisoning which threaten to close the circus.

Characters
  • Etta Candy
  • Diana Prince (mainstream Universe)
  • Steve Trevor (mainstream Universe)
  • Wonder Woman (mainstream Universe)
  • the Holiday Girls
  • Dom Carney (trapeze artist, introduction)
  • Ed King (circus owner, introduction)
  • Elva King (Ed's niece, introduction)
  • San Yan (villain, head elephant keeper of the circus, introduction)
  • Mike Mulgoon (villain, head of Strongarm Protective Association, introduction)
  • Mike Mulgoon (villain, introduction)
  • Torrence "Slugger" McGee (villain, introduction)
  • group of Burmese men (villains, circus employees, introduction for all)
Credits
Florence Nightingale "Angel of Crimea"
Story 7 4 pages biography
Storyline

The story of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) who sacrificed personal happiness to nurse soldiers on the Crimean War front and throughout her life.

Characters
  • Florence Nightingale
  • Florence's unnamed Nana
  • Florence's unnamed father
  • John (Florence's ex-fiancee)
  • Tommy
  • Queen Victoria
  • King Edward VII
Story Notes

Credits verified by Jerry Bails.

Wonder Woman versus the Prison Spy Ring (1)
Story 8 13 pages superhero
Storyline

Suspecting Paula von Gunther of leaking military secrets, Diana and Steve visit her in prison, where Paula is aided in her subterfuge when the magic lasso accidentally falls into her hands.

Characters
  • Colonel Darnell
  • Diana Prince (mainstream Universe)
  • Steve Trevor (mainstream Universe)
  • Wonder Woman (mainstream Universe)
  • unnamed prison warden (introduction)
  • Freddy (warden's son, introduction)
  • Mabel (warden's daughter, introduction)
  • Captain Loyal (captured soldier, introduction, death)
  • Heinrich (villain, introduction)
  • Baroness Paula von Gunther (villain, death)
  • Swipe (villain, prison guard, introduction, death)
  • the Nazis (villains, introduction for all, many die)
Credits
Story Notes

Story title from reprints. Reprint note from Error Report by Darci. The image of Wonder Woman riding a horse on the splash page was used for the cover. Mabel is shown reading an issue of Sensation Comics. This story was the basis for an episode of the Wonder Woman TV series, "Wonder Woman Meets Baroness Von Gunther." Paula is shot and killed at story's end, although she's alive in her next appearance, Sensation Comics (DC, 1942 series) #12, because an "electric machine she invented brought her back to life."

A Message from Phil
Story 9 2 pages adventure; war
Storyline

Phillip's invention, a miraculous combination compressed air and water suction valve, is stolen and he and his brother believe the Nazis had stolen it to use on their U-Boats.

Characters
  • Phillip Downs
  • Phillys Downs
  • Dr. Rines
  • Uncle William
  • Sergeant Ryan
  • Lt. Commander Rawlings
Story 10 2 pages humor

"Can anybody tell me why we bought this danged hotel?"

Storyline

Adeline's father buys a hotel. When the hotel's tenants complain that the water tastes like oil, he hires an oil expert to see if there is oil on the property.

Characters
  • Adeline
  • Adeline's unnamed father
  • Hy
  • Snort (oil expert)
Credits
Story Notes

Letterer credit added by Craig Delich.

Story 11 1 page

"Here we are again folks - Mutt & Jeff back again in 64 pages of fun and frolic!"

Story Notes

House ad for Mutt & Jeff #5.

Another Big Issue of All-Star

Featuring All-Star Comics

Story 12 1 page
Story Notes

House ad for All-Star Comics #12.

The Greatest Feat of Daring in Human History!
Story 13 13 pages superhero
Storyline

When Etta's brother is attacked by spies, Wonder Woman and Etta trail them from Texas to Mexico City, where Wonder Woman fights a bullfight and stops a secret Japanese invasion of Mexico.

Characters
  • Etta Candy
  • Colonel Darnell
  • Diana Prince (mainstream Universe)
  • Steve Trevor (mainstream Universe)
  • Wonder Woman (mainstream Universe)
  • Private Mint Candy (Etta's brother, introduction)
  • unnamed train porter (introduction)
  • Captain Diaz (introduction)
  • unnamed President of the Corrida (introduction)
  • Pancho (villain, informant, introduction, death)
  • Pepita Valdez (villain, bullfighter, introduction, reforms)
  • Japanese spies (villains, introduction for all, some die)
Credits
Story Notes

Wonder Woman crashes a car into a tree to avoid hitting Etta, seemingly killing the other passengers, noting they were "too lazy to jump in time." Instead of using the magic lasso, Wonder Woman hypnotizes Mint to determine what he revealed to the Mexican spies.

The Big Eight!
Story 14 1 page
Story Notes

House ad for All-American Comics #42, Action Comics #52, Adventure Comics #78, Sensation Comics #9, Star Spangled Comics #12, Flash Comics #33, Detective Comics #67, and More Fun Comics #83.

Editorial Advisory Board
Story 15 0 pages
Story Notes

Inside back cover.

Little Oscar's First Air Raid by Lydia Mead
Story 16 1 page non-fiction
Storyline

Book review of book by Lydia Mead with drawings by Oscar Fabres.

Credits
Story Notes

Also includes a "Superman's Secret Message" (in code Pluto No. 8).

Story 17 1 page advocacy

"A special message to the boys and girls of America from Henry Morgenthau, Jr. - Secretary of the Treasury!"

Storyline

The publishers donated this space, on behalf of the U.S. Savings Bonds and War Stamps campaign, to published a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., encouraging the boys and girls of America to buy at least one 10 cent Savings Stamp each week to help the war effort.

Credits
  • Script:
Story Notes

Back cover.