Number 2276: Chained to a torpedo

It has been noted before (many times) that original Wonder Woman stories featured bondage. This tale, from Wonder Woman #24 (1947) is no exception. In this one WW and a modern Aztec queen, Azta, are chained to a torpedo. Wonder Woman thinks she can break the bonds and free herself and Azta, but then realizes she will break Azta’s wrist in the process. Ouch! One wonders if breaking a wrist is preferable to a horrible death by explosion.

Some people see tying someone up as erotic. I am not one of them. But we live in a different world than that of 1947. This sort of activity is more out in the open now. William Moulton Marston (alias Charles Moulton), creator of Wonder Woman, would have had ulterior motives for showing a tied-up Wonder Woman and any other female in the plot. It would go over the heads of most young readers of 71 years ago.. Those readers who were in the know would have known that Marston was kinky, and they might’ve been kinky, also.

“The Curse of Montezuma” begins with something of a history lesson about the conquistadors conquering Montezuma and stealing gold to ship back to Spain. In this version Wonder Woman’s mother, Queen Hippolyte, intercedes. You probably don’t need me to tell you that part of the lesson is fictional, but being me I must say it anyway. Something I find interesting is Diana Prince’s “mental radio,” which is a means of communication with her mother. It is not fiction, but prophecy. Today we would call it Facetime or Skype.

Grand Comics Database gives credit for writing to Marston, and pencils and inks to H.G. Peter, assisted by “Arlene.” Arlene (no last name) is listed in Jerry Bails’s Who’s Who.

Number 1781: Bound to be popular: the original Wonder Woman

The creation of Wonder Woman was one of the most successful achievements of William Moulton Marston’s career, helped in no small part by the women in his life. Jill Lepore’s excellent book, The Secret Life of Wonder Woman, is an education in the early years of the women’s rights movement, Marston’s polygamous living arrangements with two women and their children, and Marston’s background as a psychologist, inventor, and self-promoting huckster.

As has been mentioned before, Marston was into bondage, domination and submission. It was the key plot element in many of the early Wonder Woman stories. When challenged, he used his psychology training to defend it. He claimed that the chains that held Wonder Woman were symbols: she was being shown breaking the chains with which men had bound women for centuries. He may not have passed his own lie detector test telling that whopper. The old boy liked seeing girls tied up, and used symbolism as an excuse.

This story is from Sensation Comics #4 (1942), which would be the fifth published Wonder Woman adventure (number one was in All Star Comics.) Slavery with bondage is a major story device. It also introduces the German spy and dominatrix, Baroness Paula Von Gunther. The haughty baroness became Wonder Woman’s first recurring villain.

Number 1646: Wonder Woman’s hot feet

Wonder Woman stories written by her creator, Charles Moulton (William Moulton Marston), seldom disappoint. They have elements that elevate the character above the run-of-the-mill super-doer. This delightfully oddball tale is set in Mexico with a beautiful eight-foot-tall señorita, bandits with bandoleros, Wonder Woman’s invisible plane, chains, bondage, and even Wonder Woman in bare feet walking over hot coals. Wow.

This Mexican melange is drawn by H.G. Peter, and is scanned from Sensation Comics #45 (1945).

More wonderful wacky Wonder Woman. Click on the thumbnail.

The New Yorker for September 22, 2014, had a fascinating article by Jill Lepore on the character and Marston. Click on the thumbnail.

Number 1558: “What in ding-dong goes on here?” Wonder Woman’s costume ruse

I love the crazy, kinky and cool Wonder Woman tales by the original crazy-kinky-cool crew who created her. They would be William Moulton Marston, writing as Charles Moulton, and Harry G. Peter, signing his artwork as H. G. Peter.

Here is a story of switched identities, an exotic spy, and tying up girls. It would hardly be a Wonder Woman story worth reading if it didn’t include the latter.


From Sensation Comics #40 (1945).

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Here are two more Wonder Woman stories, including the last issue H. G. Peter drew, and a Wonder Woman story unpublished until it appeared in The Amazing World of DC Comics #2 in 1974. Just click on the thumbnails.