Wonder Woman is one of the most enduring female superheroes ever created, surpassing Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and all her complicated legacy), Jessica Jones, and thousands more. While that idea may seem old-fashioned in a world with hundreds, if not hundreds, of characters, remember: When Wonder Woman debuted in All-Star Comics #8 in 1941, American women had just gained the right to vote 20 years earlier. Her character grew out of the feminist movement of the early 20th century. Her creator, William Moulton Marston, was one of them, and he wanted to inspire women to be their best selves and to encourage men to listen, if not submit, to them. Marston seems to have realized that there are better ways to convey these lessons than by publishing them as children’s comic books when readers are in their formative years.
So in order to write a truly amazing woman, did Marston create the world’s first flying woman? Can Diana of Themyscira fly like Superman? It varies, but the answer reflects Wonder Woman’s political and feminist themes.
To make a long story short, for the first 40 years after Wonder Woman was published, she generally couldn’t fly. (Superman wasn’t originally able to fly either, until Fleischer Studios’ 1940s “Superman” animated shorts depicted him flying.) However, in 1987, writer and artist George Perez In the Wonder Woman reboot, Princess Diana gained and maintained the power of flight. Since then.
So if you look at previous iterations of Wonder Woman, you’ll see her stuck on the ground. In 1972, Gloria Steinem’s feminist magazine Ms. was launched. became independent, and Wonder Woman appeared on the cover of that issue (notice her legs dividing the background into peace and war). As you can see, she is not flying over the city, but walking through it.
Ms. Magazine
In the actual 1972 Wonder Woman comics, Diana ditched her superpowers and classic costume to become an Emma Peel-style martial artist. (This era began with Wonder Woman issue #178 by writer Dennis O’Neal and artist Mike Sekowsky and ended with issue #204 in 1973.)
Perez’s “Wonder Woman” was the lightning bolt (like the one thrown by Zeus) that Princess Diana needed. After decades of being ordinary, this comic turned her into an A-list hero and not just a name. Perez wasn’t afraid to bring feminist themes to the forefront, making Wonder Woman rival Superman not only in popularity but also in power.
