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Wonder Woman: A Ms. Book
History of Wonder Woman
171 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 19, 2015
Wonder Woman: 4 stars
Historical essays: 2 stars
If you want an introduction to early Wonder Woman, go read this book! Just be warned, there's a long essay between Gloria Steinem's excellent introduction and the comics, and it's problematic. You'll need to look elsewhere to satisfy any curiosity about women in the ancient world.
The essays by Phyllis Chessler on Amazons and ancient matriarchal societies are, in the words of another reviewer, "nearly ridiculous". I understand why the editors decided to discuss the topic, since it's the basis of Wonder Woman's origin story. However, the essay goes well beyond the bounds of both necessity and fact. A reader must recognize that this book is a product of 1972 historical knowledge, viewed through a particular 1972 feminist's lens. There is confirmation bias on topics where information was available and wishful thinking where it was not. Even though I identify myself as a feminist, I found it deeply frustrating and I had to skip straight to the comics.
Which are great and over far too quickly.
P.S. If you are interested in the facts behind the Amazons of Greek myth and anthropology, I know of no better source than this:
The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World
Historical essays: 2 stars
If you want an introduction to early Wonder Woman, go read this book! Just be warned, there's a long essay between Gloria Steinem's excellent introduction and the comics, and it's problematic. You'll need to look elsewhere to satisfy any curiosity about women in the ancient world.
The essays by Phyllis Chessler on Amazons and ancient matriarchal societies are, in the words of another reviewer, "nearly ridiculous". I understand why the editors decided to discuss the topic, since it's the basis of Wonder Woman's origin story. However, the essay goes well beyond the bounds of both necessity and fact. A reader must recognize that this book is a product of 1972 historical knowledge, viewed through a particular 1972 feminist's lens. There is confirmation bias on topics where information was available and wishful thinking where it was not. Even though I identify myself as a feminist, I found it deeply frustrating and I had to skip straight to the comics.
Which are great and over far too quickly.
P.S. If you are interested in the facts behind the Amazons of Greek myth and anthropology, I know of no better source than this:
The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World
February 18, 2018
A collection put out by Ms. Magazine and DC in the early 1970s, not long after WW recovered from losing her powers. It opens with some essays on why Wonder Woman matters and a look at the history of Amazons in fact and myth. Then we get various sections such as sisterhood (Diana fighting for women's rights), politics (showing that what get dismissed as SJW stories have been around a while) and romance. Well worth reading if you're a fan of the older WW or want to see where she came from.
September 23, 2024
A great introduction to the Golden-Age Wonder Woman. Terrific reproduction of HG Peter’s art. Stories grouped thematically with brief introductions and a long essay in the front. Introduction by Gloria Steinem.
August 23, 2014
I recently did some reading about the origins of Wonder Woman, for professional reasons, and heard that back in the early 70s Ms Magazine put out a special edition comprised of some of William Moulton Marston's original 40s comics. I was able to get my hands on a reprint, and it's a great introduction. Because this is a selection, some of the more intensely problematic issues (the racism and nationalism of the times) are left out (some day, I'll buy the more comprehensive editions and tackled that). But the feminism of this comic shines through very clearly. (After Marston's death in 1947, and at the same time as the post-war push to get women back into the home, the comic moved away from its origins.)
I'm not much of a comics/graphic novels reader (mostly Gaiman's Sandman and things by Alan Moore), though I see enough Marvel movies that I'm completely behind the "Black Widow needs her own movie!" sentiment. But I'm now curious to see what Wonder Woman is up to these days. And what with Genevieve Valentine's run at Catwoman starting in November, it looks like I won't be able to say I'm not a comics reader for much longer.
I'm not much of a comics/graphic novels reader (mostly Gaiman's Sandman and things by Alan Moore), though I see enough Marvel movies that I'm completely behind the "Black Widow needs her own movie!" sentiment. But I'm now curious to see what Wonder Woman is up to these days. And what with Genevieve Valentine's run at Catwoman starting in November, it looks like I won't be able to say I'm not a comics reader for much longer.
May 1, 2012
It was really neat reading thru the older WW comics again. Especially after having read the intro and essay first because then I was reading them with feminism in mind. The essay was nearly ridiculous regarding several points and I disagreed with rather a lot of what Ms. Chessler had to say. The general idea of women being every bit as capable as men is the defining factor. And on that point, there is no disagreement.
April 11, 2008
This is an awesome collection of Wonder Woman comics from the 1940s. I wonder if it's still in my mom's house somewhere.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews