Wonder Woman

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Her origin and her creator

William Moulton Marston was an educational consultant in 1940 for Detective Comics, Inc. (now known as DC Comics). Marston saw that the DC line was filled with images of super men such as Green Lantern, Batman, and their flagship character Superman. Seeing all these male heroes, Marston was left wondering why there was not a female hero.

Related Topics:
William Moulton Marston - 1940 - Green Lantern - Batman - Superman

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Max Gaines, then head of DC Comics, was intrigued by the concept and told Marston that he could create a female comic book hero—a Wonder Woman. Marston did that, using a pen name that combined his own middle name with the middle name of Gaines: Charles Moulton. Marston reportedly developed the character of Wonder Woman with his wife Elizabeth (Sadie) Holloway Marston http://www.bu.edu/law/history/marston.html. The development of Wonder Woman was also influenced by his former student Olive Byrne (who lived with Marston and Elizabeth in a polyamorous relationship). http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2004/04/04/wonder_working_power?mode=PF

Related Topics:
Max Gaines - Pen name - Elizabeth (Sadie) Holloway Marston - Olive Byrne - Polyamorous

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Marston was the creator of the systolic blood-pressure test, which led to the creation of the polygraph (lie detector). From this work, Marston had been convinced that women were more honest and reliable than men, and could work faster and more accurately. During his lifetime, Marston championed the causes of women of the day.

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In a 1943 issue of The American Scholar, Marston said:

Related Topics:
1943 - The American Scholar

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:"Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power. Not wanting to be girls, they don't want to be tender, submissive, peace-loving as good women are. Women's strong qualities have become despised because of their weakness. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman."

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