Wonder Woman: The 12 Labors is a 12 issue comic book story line from 1975-1976.
It’s a good reminder of how comics used to be, and it also has an infamous trait of the Wonder Woman comics (As well as the Lynda Carter TV show that came out in 1976) Wonder Woman Bondage! (But more on that later)
This story picks up just after Wonder Woman has gotten her powers (And famous costume) back. For several years prior, she was a ‘normal’ woman in a white cat suit similar to the one worn on The Avengers TV show by Emma Peel.
She is asked to rejoin the Justice League of America, but she worries if she is truly worthy to be a part of the team. So, she decides that much like Hercules, who had to endure 12 labors, so shall she, with her former League members keeping watch on her.
A few things of note-in the 1st two stories, her belt is not yellow, for some reason. Her lasso does not just make you tell the truth-you have to do what the holder of the lasso tells you! Wonder Woman does not fly yet. She has her invisible plane, which is called the Robot plane here. She also uses her lasso to change into Wonder Woman here (The spin made famous by Lynda Carter was a few months away from happening..) Also, most of these stories are set in New York City. (DC using a real city is rare)
So, about that bondage….since her creation in 1941 by William Moulton Marston, it seemed as if Wonder Woman was tied up or caught in some form or fashion in almost every issue.
In The 12 Labors, that has not changed. Of the 12 comic book covers in this set, Wonder Woman is tied up on 3 of them(219-221), held in the air by her hair in 1(215), being beat up by another Wonder Woman on 1(222), being hit by a statue on another(218), Being menaced by a giant figure while floating in a cup of water.(The Giant’s finger is pushing her down, very close to her crotch. Cover # 217-look it up) On yet another cover, she is being held back by a gang of people. On the other 4 covers, she is not in distress.
As far as IN the story, the bondage begins in the 3rd issue. And it never lets up…Chained to a wall, tied up by her own lasso(more than once), Chained to a bed of nails. Chained hand and foot to a giant wheel. Strapped to a table. Wrapped in plastic, it’s all here. She even takes her boots off at one point, while tied up. (Yes, they work it into the story..) Of course she is never down for long, and she whips butt in the end.
And in the end, we find out if she makes it back into the Justice League. All in all this is great fun, with many guest appearances by other DC heroes.