Wonder Woman Archives Vol. 1

Rating:
Summary: Great Fun!
Review: For those who are fans of Golden Age comics, or are just crazy about nostalgia, this book is for you! I've always thought Wonder Woman was a well conceived character and being able to read her first adventures (during the early 1940s) was a real treat. While the art and stories are not as sophisticated as what today's comic book readers are used to, they are still incredibly enjoyable. Wonder Woman's character had almost a sarcastic side to her in these early days. Completely different from the very serious character in current issues. Readers will enjoy watching Wonder Woman toss around America's World War II era Axis enemies as well as cleaning up corruption and injustice on the home front. The Amazon princess is also a great role model for young girls. This archive would make a nice gift for the serious comic book collector in your life.

Rating:
Summary: Great Fun!
Review: I always wondered why Wonder Woman made it to the top with Superman and Batman for over 60 years? This collection shows why. Wonder Woman is powerful and fights injustice. The stories are fun. It's hard to put them down. We see Wonder Woman fight Nazis, the Japanese that were allied with the Nazis, and social injustice such as over priced milk. The art is childish but adds a flavor of fun. It is also interesting to see the great changes that Wonder Woman made in a year: her costume, the magic lasso, and even her origin. These are some of the greatest comic stories that I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Wonder Woman.
Review: I always wondered why Wonder Woman made it to the top with Superman and Batman for over 60 years? This collection shows why. Wonder Woman is powerful and fights injustice. The stories are fun. It's hard to put them down. We see Wonder Woman fight Nazis, the Japanese that were allied with the Nazis, and social injustice such as over priced milk. The art is childish but adds a flavor of fun. It is also interesting to see the great changes that Wonder Woman made in a year: her costume, the magic lasso, and even her origin. These are some of the greatest comic stories that I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Diana's Debut
Review: I love this book because it shows a lot of firsts in the life of Princess Diana/Wonder Woman-the first time she sees a man,the first fime she leaves Paradise Island and the debut of her arch-enemy,Cheetah!Beautiful artwork and great writing make this a must for Wonder Woman fans.The colors in these comic stories are bright and vigrant.I've been a Wonder Woman Fanatic for years,but had never seen her beginnings in Sensation Comics.If you love the Amazing Amazonian too,buy this book immediately!

Rating:
Summary: 'Power without self control tears a girl to pieces!'
Review: Like the two previous Wonder Woman Archives, this book includes Golden Age comic reprints in a deluxe format. The paper quality is excellent, and the original comic colors look brighter and fresher than ever. This volume includes stories from Sensation Comics, as well as early issues of Wonder Woman's self-titled book. All were originally offered on newstands in 1943.

This volume has quite a few distinctions: it includes the first appearances of Dr Psycho and the Cheetah, art from newspaper comics veteran Frank Godwin, and some of the earliest long-form comic stories for a superhero. Here's a complete list of the stories/comic issues that appear in this volume:

1. "The Secret City of the Incas" (from Sensation Comics #18, June '43)
2. "The Unbound Amazon" (from Sensation Comics #19, July '43)3. "Battle For Womanhood" and "Etta Candy and Her Holliday Girls," "Mars Invades The Moon" and "The Return of Doctor Psycho" (all from from Wonder Woman #5, June '43)
4. "The Girl With The Gun" (from Sensation Comics #20, August '43)
5. "War Against Society" (from Sensation Comics #21, September '43)
6. "Wonder Woman and the Cheetah," "The Adventures of the Beauty Club" and "The Conquest of Paradise" (all from Wonder Woman #6, Fall '43)
7. "The Secret Submarine" (from Sensation Comics #22, October '43)
8. "War Laugh Mania" (from Sensation Comics #23, November '43)
9. "The Adventure of the Pilotless Plane" (from Sensation Comics #24, December '43)
10. "The Adventure of the Life Vitamin," "America's Wonder Women of Tomorrow," "The Secret Weapon" and "Demon Of The Depths" (all from Wonder Woman #7, Winter '43)

This volume includes an informative foreward by Les Daniels, and a page of biographies for Charles Marston, HG Peter and Frank Godwin. The only bad point I can fault this book with is really moot: the "patriotic" stereotyping and slang used for Germans and Japanese was typical of wartime America. Aside from the occasional lapse into negative stereotypes, characterization in these stories is generally strong. Etta Candy is in fine form, Steve tends to be helpful, and WW's rogues gallery welcomes two formidable members. There are plenty of little "gems" in the dialogue provided by Marston, like the title to this review.

The list price for this book is a bit stiff, but I think this volume of classic WW tales is worth every penny. Do yourself a favor and buy it at Amazon's discount.

Rating:
Summary: These are some of the coolest strories.
Review: This book is well worth the money. The stories are fun. The action is great. Wonder Woman is a true hero. The drawings aren't the greatest, but they all a great overall feeling to the book.

Rating:
Summary: A look at Wonder Woman's first incarnartion
Review: This volume covers the early career of Wonder Woman,as chronicled by Dr.William Martson(Charles Moulton,if you will)and Harry G.Peter.This shows Wonder Woman's debut stories in 1941(ten years before the birth of Lynda Carter)and shows how she became the heroine for the female comic-book reader who didn't want to identify with Lois Lane. (Gloria Steinhem was 7 when these stories first came out,and she loved them...not suprisingly, considering her later career.)These stories very subtly show that Moulton believed in female superiority in many cases-and wanted to show that a woman can be as much a hero as any man.