Diana of Paradise Island (Earth-One)

Princess of Paradise Island; Officer in the United States Air Force (achieving the rank of Major); former ambassador to the United States; former teacher

Origin

Diana was born and raised as an Amazon on the hidden world of Paradise Island.

Place of Birth

Paradise Island

Creators

Robert Kanigher, William Moulton Marston, Harry G. Peter

First appearance

Last appearance

Wonder Woman #98
(May, 1958)

Crisis on Infinite Earths #12
(March, 1986)

History

Diana was born and raised as an Amazon on the hidden world of Paradise Island. Many years ago, Air Force Colonel, Steve Trevor crash-landed his fighter jet on Paradise Island, and Wonder Woman violated Amazonian law by bringing a man onto the island. Using the technology of the Amazonian Purple Healing Ray, she revived Steve Trevor, and became instantly attracted to him.

Soon after coming to Man's World, Wonder Woman saved the infant Donna Troy from a burning house fire. Donna was raised on Paradise Island as the adopted daughter of Queen Hippolyta, and thus Diana's adoptive sister. She returned to Man's World as the teenaged Wonder Girl of the Teen Titans. Meanwhile, Diana had become a founding member of the Justice League of America.

I Ching Era

Wonder Woman then surrendered her powers to remain in "Man's World" (partly to assist Steve Trevor, who was facing criminal charges) rather than accompany her fellow Amazons into another dimension so they could "restore their magick."

Now a mod boutique owner, the powerless Diana Prince soon came under the wing of a Chinese mentor known as I Ching. Under I Ching's guidance, Diana was trained to use her body as a weapon, learning martial arts and weapons skills, and proceeded to undertake secret agent-style adventures.

This lasted for two years, with Wonder Woman finally being restored to her powers and costume.

Following the return of the "original" Wonder Woman, a major adventure consisted of the heroine's attempt to be readmitted to the Justice League of America, the organization she quit after giving up her powers. To prove her worthiness to rejoin the JLA, Wonder Woman voluntarily underwent 12 "trials" (analogous to the 12 labors of Hercules), each of which was monitored in secret by a different member of the JLA.

Wonder Woman fought a series of "epic" battles through the 1970s and 1980s, until she was thought to have been slain during Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986. But in reality, she had been thrown backwards through time, devolving back into the clay from which she had been formed. Thus setting the stage for her eventual re-vamping.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Diana received gifts of power from the Gods:

Beauty: Granted by Aphrodite (Goddess of Love).

Wisdom: Granted by Athena (Goddess of Wisdom). possesses great wisdom and intelligence, though the degree may vary. She is among the most intelligent members of the Justice League of America, along with the Martian Manhunter and Batman.

Super Stamina: Granted by Demeter (Goddess of the Earth). Diana's stamina gives her incredible resistance to blunt force trauma, capable of shrugging off punches from beings such as Superman and Captain Marvel. However, Diana's skin is not totally invulnerable and can be pierced by sharp projectiles with sufficient force distributed over a small surface area (such as bullets).

Super-Strength: Granted by Demeter (Goddess of the Earth). Diana possesses superhuman strength, many times greater than that of a normal human being. While she may very well be the strongest woman on Earth, her strength levels however are not in the same class as Superman.

Enhanced Healing: Granted by Demeter (Goddess of Earth). Like the Earth, Diana is constantly renewing herself, allowing her to quickly heal. In cases where she was gravely injured or poisoned, Diana showed the ability to physically merge with the earth, causing whatever injuries or poisons to be expelled from her body as it regains shape.

Super-Speed: Granted by Hermes (God of Messengers). Diana also possesses incredible speed and reflexes. On the ground, Diana is easily fast enough to deflect bullets with her silver gauntlets.

Size Alteration: At one point in her career, Wonder Woman developed the ability to shrink to minute size. She has used this ability very rarely, and is not considered a part of her standard power set. ^[1]
Abilities

Amazon fighting skill

Strength level

Superhuman

Weaknesses

This incarnation of Wonder Woman could be rendered powerless if she were to be tied up with her own lasso.

Although Wonder Woman is very durable, piercing weapons can still harm her.

Paraphernalia

Notes

This version of Diana of Paradise Island (Earth-One), including all history and corresponding appearances, was erased from existence following the collapse of the Multiverse in the 1985-86 Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series and is now considered apocryphal.
As Diana Prince, Wonder Woman is a legal citizen of the United States with no criminal record. On Paradise Island, Diana is a recognized member of the royal family.

DC Comics has never established an official first appearance of the Earth-One Wonder Woman. However, Wonder Woman (Volume 1) #98 provides Diana with a revised origin as well as new powers such as her ability to glide on air currents. The same issue re-introduces Diana's mother, Hippolyta, this time with a mane of golden hair, as opposed to the dark brown tresses of her Golden Age years. It is reasonable to presume that this issue firmly establishes the introduction of the modernized Pre-Crisis, Earth-One Wonder Woman.

The I Ching era period of the comic book has its supporters and its detractors. Some critics welcomed the change from campy super-heroics to more serious, "topical" storytelling in the wake of the Batman TV series. Others felt that the comic had abandoned its history. Storylines included secret agent-style plots, as well as some occult tales. One controversial cover showed Diana Prince brandishing a machine gun and firing at an airplane; contrary to the traditional depiction of Wonder Woman, the updated version of Diana Prince was not against killing in order to defend herself or others.

The revised series attracted some writers not normally associated with comic books, most notably science fiction author Samuel R. Delany, who wrote two issues.

Part of the credit for the revival of Wonder Woman as a superhero was due to a campaign in which feminist Gloria Steinem - who was offended to see the most famous female superhero depowered - had a hand. The 1972 first issue of Steinem's Ms. Magazine featured Wonder Woman in her 1940s costume on the cover, and contained an essay in appreciation of the character. Ironically, the change in format was originally an acknowledgment of the Women's liberation movement. The I Ching era, despite the controversy, would continue to resonate for some years to come, both in the comic book and in live action adaptations of Wonder Woman a few years later. The 1974 Cathy Lee Crosby telefilm, and the second and third seasons of Lynda Carter's popular series (see below), would borrow heavily from the characterization of Diana Prince in the early 1970s.

"Wonder Girl"

Although not named Wonder Girl, Diana was originally introduced as a girl in "All-Star Comics #8", 1941, and a back story in the Wonder Woman comic as a teen-aged Princess Diana of the Amazons in Wonder Woman v1 #23, May-June 1946, Written by Charles Moulton A.K.A. William Moulton Marston and designed by H.G. Peter.

Wonder 'Girl' first appeared in Wonder Woman v1 April #105, 1958 "The Secret Origin Of Wonder Woman". In this revised 'Silver Age' origin it is assumed Diana was not created from clay and was born before the Amazons settled on Paradise Island as this story reveals, written by Robert Kanigher. Following this issue were several Wonder Girl adventures and years later an additional character, Wonder Tot, (Wonder Woman as a toddler), was also featured. Kanigher restored her original origin in 1966 as part of the 'Golden-Age Revision experiment'. Kanigher also created the Wonder Tot and later, The Wonder Family of characters during the 1950s and early to mid '60s.

From Wonder Woman #124 (August 1961) onwards, all three versions frequently appeared together in stories that were labelled "impossible tales," presented as films made by her mother, Queen Hippolyta, who had the power to splice together films of herself and Diana at different ages. However, by the time the Teen Titans made their first appearance, the characters of Wonder Girl and Wonder Woman had begun to diverge; Haney began writing Wonder Girl stories that took place in the same time period as those of Wonder Woman.

Bob Haney was developing a new junior team: The Teen Titans and used the Wonder Girl character that was depicted in the impossible tales, not realizing it was in fact Diana at a different age. In 1968 the Amazons left this plane to another dimension to refresh their powers and magical abilities. Wonder Woman chose to remain behind and renounced her Amazon powers and heritage and became the mortal, Diana Prince. Readers questioned as to how Diana as a teenager could appear in the Teen Titans fully powered as well as appearing at a younger age. Finally in Teen Titans #22 it was revealed that it was not Diana, but Donna Troy.

Appearances in Other Media

Actress Lynda Carter played the role of Wonder Woman in the 1976 Wonder Woman television series.

Actress Cathy Lee Crosby played the role of Diana Prince in a Wonder Woman television movie in 1974.

Wonder Woman was also one of the founding members of the Super Friends. She appeared in every incarnation of the Super Friends animated series, as well as the Super Friends comic book adaptation. Actress Shannon Farnan provided the voice for Wonder Woman in the cartoon series.

Links and References

Footnotes

↑ Wonder Woman (Volume 1) #103

[0] Wonder Woman (Volume 1) #103

[1]

Diana of Paradise Island (Earth-One)

From DC Database

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