WONDER WOMAN - 10 Things You Probably Don't Know About The Amazon Princess!

The Amazon princess has landed in theaters and we're celebrating by sharing ten things you probably don't know about Diana Prince! Check it out before seeing Gal Gadot in the Wonder Woman movie!

By NateBest - Jun 02, 2017 10:06 AM EST

Filed Under: Wonder Woman

Although Wonder Woman is more than 75 years old, to this day she remains one of the most popular and iconic superheroes, regardless of gender. First appearing in 1942, she’s one of the few female superheroes to survive from the Golden Age of comics. Though it’s been a long road, Wonder Woman is appearing in her first live-action feature film, Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkin’s Wonder Woman, which hits theaters today (June 2nd 2017). To celebrate this historic event we’re bringing you ten things you probably don’t know about Princess Diana of Themyscira!

1. WONDER WOMAN WAS MADE OF CLAY

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #1

Diana wasn’t created in the traditional “birds and the bees” act of procreation that we mere mortals are familiar with. In many of her earliest incarnations the Amazonian princess was created by Queen Hippolyte’s hands and a lump of clay. In the 1940s this was one way to avoid the issues biological issues related to progeny on an island full of women, plus it avoided the uncomfortable issues related to homosexuality in that era.

In the comics Hippolyta is guided by Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, and learns the secret art of molding the human form in clay. She names Diana after the Moon goddess, mistress of the chase and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, brings the clay figure to life by granting the queen her prayer and imbuing the sculpture with a soul.

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #2

In 2011 DC Comics relaunched its entire line of monthly superhero comics with “The New 52” following the conclusion of their “Flashpoint” crossover storyline. While many elements remained the same, several of the heroes had new backstories, identities and vital details were changed.

Wonder Woman was one of the heroes to have their backstories changed. In “The New 52” Diana was no longer the product of a loving mother’s hands sculpting her out of clay and being guided by the Greek gods. Instead she was created by much more traditional means, though still involving at least one god, Zeus.

How did people react to this new origin? For the most part the change, which was led by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang, was praised by critics. Die-hard fans, unsurprisingly, were opposed. Who would have thought that comic book fans would resist change?

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3. SHE WAS THE FIRST "BIG LEAGUE" FEMALE SUPERHERO

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #3

Although there are many female superheroes nowadays, including Batgirl, Supergirl and Black Canary, Wonder Woman was the first major female superhero to make her comic debut. Super-powered characters were still relatively new in the early 20th century and they had to compete with popular human characters like The Shadow and The Lone Ranger. In January 1942, three years after Superman made his debut, Wonder Woman appeared in Sensation Comics #1. Batman had entered the comic book scene only two years earlier.

Many of today’s popular superheroines began appearing a few years later. Black Canary appeared five years later in Flash Comics #72. Supergirl made her comic book debut in August 1958 with Batgirl appearing three years later (April 1961).

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4. WONDER WOMAN WAS CREATED TO FIGHT NAZIS

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #4

It turns out that Captain America wasn’t the only superhero fighting Germans and their allies! With World War II still under way in 1942, when Wonder Woman made her comic debut, it’s no surprise that she had plenty of time over the following four years of the war to fight Nazis.

Wonder Woman didn’t just battle Nazis in the comics, she also fought them on TV! Lynda Carter faced these villains in the “Fausta: The Nazi Wonder Woman” episode during the 1970s Wonder Woman TV series. The episode was set during World War II and had Fausta, a German spy and former Olympic athlete, pretend to be Wonder Woman herself. She even fools Steve Trevor!

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5. WONDER WOMAN KNOWS KUNG FU!

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #5

As if Diana Prince/Wonder Woman isn’t cool enough, did you know that she learned Kung Fu? DC Comics stripped Wonder Woman of her god-like powers between 1968 and 1973. The Amazons had tired of Earth and decided to relocate to another dimension. Faced with the decision of losing her powers or going with the Amazons, Diana decides to stay behind with Steve Trevor. After losing her powers she also gives up her iconic costume for an all-white ensemble. She meets with I Ching who takes her under his wing and trains her in the ways of Kung Fu.

Unfortunately, some fans didn’t take kindly to the new storyline. Gloria Steinem started a public campaign to get rid of it. DC gave in with Diana returning to Themyscira to regain her abilities after a knock to the noggin which resulted in her forgetting the previous five years

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6. WONDER WOMAN HAD A SIDEKICK!

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #6

It’s not unusual for superheroes to have a sidekick. After all, at one time or another there was Superman and Krypto, Batman and Robin, Hawk had Dove and Wonder Woman has had her own share of sidekicks over the years. She’s teamed up with Donna Troy, Steve Trevor, Artemis, and more. But one of her best sidekicks during the Golden Age was the loud and plus-sized Etta Candy.

Although Etta wasn’t gifted with superpowers, she fought Nazis and saved Wonder Woman multiple times. She was even made an honorary Amazon. Etta was a true rarity in that time period – a plus-sized woman who was loud and unapologetically proud of herself.

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7. WONDER WOMAN HAS WIELDED THOR’S HAMMER

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #7

“Whosever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” The inscription on the side of Mjolnir, the hammer wielded by Thor, Marvel’s god of thunder, doesn’t seem to care if it’s a “he” or a “she,” as long as they’re good and worthy.

During one of the rare Marvel vs. DC crossover events in 1996, Wonder Woman faced off against Storm. Thor loses control of Mjolnir after going up against Shazam and losing. Wonder Woman stumbles upon Mjolnir and finds that she can lift the mighty hammer. Unfortunately, her Amazonian principles lead to her downfall. Upon obtaining the hammer she is given an array of Asgardian powers. When she goes against Storm she realizes the hammer gives her an unfair advantage. She discards Mjolnir and opts for a fair fight, but is quickly beaten by Ororo after being struck by lightning.

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8. WONDER WOMAN’S BRACELETS LIMIT HER POWERS

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #8

Did you know that Wonder Woman’s bracelets are called the “Bracelets of Submission?” The name isn’t all that surprising given Wonder Woman creator William Moultan Marston’s thoughts regarding gender, submission, and bondage. On Themyscira the Amazons wore bracelets as a symbol of submission to the Greek god Aphrodite.

In addition to being able to deflect projectiles and absorb energy, DC’s “New 52” added another purpose to Diana’s bracelets. With her father being the all-powerful Zeus, the bracelets may actually limit her powers. Just how powerful is the demi-god? We may never know.

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9. WONDER WOMAN IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE JUSTICE LEAGUE

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #9

This one may not come as a big surprise to those familiar with the comics or the more recent DC superhero films. What may surprise you is that the Justice League of America, also know as the Justice League, made its first appearance in The Brave and the Bold #28 back in February 1960. The original lineup included Batman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman.

Although many female heroes have joined the league, including Supergirl, Zatanna, Hawkgirl and Black Canary, Wonder Woman was the only female hero on the team for many years. DC made some changes to the founding members during their “New 52” reboot, including dropping Martian Manhunter and replacing him with Cyborg. One thing that they didn’t change however was Wonder Woman’s place as the sole woman on the team.

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10. WONDER WOMAN WAS A SECRETARY

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Wonder Woman - #10

Long before becoming a member of the Justice League, Wonder Woman was part of the Justice Society of America. The JSA included the likes of Hawkman, Starman, Doctor Fate, Atom, Johnny Thunder, Sandman, Superman and Batman.

It looks like a great team, doesn’t it? What kind of villains did the Amazon and her team of heroes face? Missions and villains were too dangerous for a lady in 1940s era comics. Therefor Wonder Woman stayed behind as the JSA’s secretary. She was even honored to do so!

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85 Comments

1 2 3

JoeMomma29 - 6/2/2017, 4:57 AM

Wonder Woman was overdue for her own movie..........back in the day she was as big as Superman and Batman but WB/DC never gave her a serial, movie, or even her own cartoon.

McGee - 6/2/2017, 8:11 AM

Did you know that Wonder Woman had a hysterectomy back in 2006? I know things too.

ConnorHawkeye - 6/2/2017, 10:38 AM

@McGee - when will you announce a slate for the fifty shades/gusto cinematic universe

McGee - 6/2/2017, 10:49 AM

@ConnorHawkeye - We're still trying to find a distributor. Everyone keeps saying no.

Greengo - 6/2/2017, 10:22 AM

Fun fact: WW is into BDSM.

Greengo - 6/2/2017, 10:24 AM

RolandD - 6/2/2017, 10:30 AM

@Greengo - Only because her creator was into it. lol Never saw that image before, though. Maybe Wertham was right about some things.

NateBest - 6/2/2017, 10:44 AM

@Greengo - Yeah, I tried to avoid most of that... There could be an entire "Things you didn't know" about her creator :)

JoeMomma29 - 6/2/2017, 10:45 AM

@NateBest - LMAO!!!!!!!!!

McGee - 6/2/2017, 11:01 AM

Yeah...yeah I read the Jill Lepore book. Mmm mmm mmm.

TheSoulEater - 6/2/2017, 11:04 AM

@NateBest -

Well, he was in a marriage with his wife and another woman right? 3 of them in the same house?

NateBest - 6/2/2017, 11:10 AM

@TheSoulEater - Exactly! He had some pretty odd ideas. I could have included some of the info about him, but I thought it took away from "Wonder Woman".

UglyPocahontas - 6/2/2017, 10:25 AM

#11 - McGee has no sexual interest in her at all.

RolandD - 6/2/2017, 10:39 AM

@UglyPocahontas - If he has Gusto, what more does he need.

McGee - 6/2/2017, 10:47 AM

@UglyPocahontas - That's not true. There are plenty of female Wonder Woman cosplayers that I'm attracted to.

Forthas - 6/2/2017, 10:28 AM

I have never felt like, Wonder Woman has ever gotten a good origin story. That is why it seems to keep changing. This is one of the great crimes of comic books.

ConnorHawkeye - 6/2/2017, 10:33 AM

@Forthas - Yeah, Idk, I recently got into the greg rucca rebirth stuff, they are really good

knocturnalzen10 - 6/2/2017, 10:34 AM

@Forthas - the brian azzarello run with new 52 was pretty good imo i dislike more her weakness to sharp objects tho

1 2 3

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WONDER WOMAN - 10 Things You Probably Don't Know About The Amazon Princess!

The Amazon princess has landed in theaters and we're celebrating by sharing ten things you probably don't know about Diana Prince! Check it out before seeing Gal Gadot in the Wonder Woman movie!

1. WONDER WOMAN WAS MADE OF CLAY

2. WONDER WOMAN IS THE DAUGHTER OF ZEUS

3. SHE WAS THE FIRST "BIG LEAGUE" FEMALE SUPERHERO

4. WONDER WOMAN WAS CREATED TO FIGHT NAZIS

5. WONDER WOMAN KNOWS KUNG FU!

6. WONDER WOMAN HAD A SIDEKICK!

7. WONDER WOMAN HAS WIELDED THOR’S HAMMER

8. WONDER WOMAN’S BRACELETS LIMIT HER POWERS

9. WONDER WOMAN IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE JUSTICE LEAGUE

10. WONDER WOMAN WAS A SECRETARY

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