A super-hero published by
DC Comics.
Wonder Woman is likely the best known of all female
super-heroes. Ask someone to name a male super-hero,
you are going to get answers ranging from Superman
and Batman to Spider-man and Wolverine. But, ask
someone to name a super-heroine, they are most likely
to say Wonder Woman.
Three women have held the mantle of Wonder Woman. The
most famous is Diana of Themyscira. Diana is one
of the legendary Amazons, created by the five goddesses
of Greek mythology (Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hestia,
and Aphrodite) as a warrior race who were peaceful at
heart. Their queen, Hippolyta, longed for a child, which
the goddesses granted by endowing a clay figure Hippolyta
had created with life. So was born Diana, the Amazon
who would one day be known as Wonder Woman.
Threats from Ares, the Greek god of war, caused the
Amazons hold a contest to choose a champion to go into
the world. Diana was forbidden to participate, but did
anyway, hiding her identity. When she won the contests,
Diana was given the mantle of Wonder Woman, along with
the costume and the Lasso of Hestia (also known as the
Lasso of Truth). Diana's reflexes and strength enabled her
to deflect bullets with her bracelets and she wears a
headband that is made of a nearly indestructable metal,
which can be used as a thrown weapon.
Diana left her home, lived for a time in Boston, fighting
the forces of evil Dubbed Wonder Woman by the press,
Diana had many adventures, joining the Justice League
for a time as well as fighting along side many other heroes.
Eventually returning to Themyscira (or Paradise Island as it is
also called), Diana found that her mother was not
pleased with her actions while she was in "man's world"
and another contest was held to see if she would continue
to hold her position as Themyscira's representative in
the world. Diana lost the contest and an Amazon named
Artemis was given the title of Wonder Woman. She only
held the title for a short time before dying in battle
against the White Magician. Diana then took up the
mantle again. Soon however, Diana was also killed due
to wounds inflicted upon her by the Demon Neron.
The Greek gods decided that since she had died heroically
that she should be rewarded, so they transformed her into
the goddess of truth, causing Thomas Bulfinch to roll over
in his grave.
The mantle of Wonder Woman now vacant, the gods decided
that Diana's mother should become the next Wonder Woman,
so Hippolyta took up the call. she was only active for a
short time, until Diana returned to Earth to continue
her heroics as Wonder Woman. She was finally transformed
back into a mortal after angering the gods for her
disobedience.
The character of Wonder Woman appeared in as one of the
heroes in the 1970's cartoon show the Super-Friends. She
was also the star of a 1970's movie starring Cathy Lee
Crosby of That's Incredible fame. Finally also in the
1970's a television series starring Lynda Carter aired for
a couple of seasons.