Tim Hanley “Wonder
Woman Unbound” (Chicago Review Press, 2014)
Of all the Golden Age heroes, Wonder Woman may be the most
difficult to get a handle on. Superman
is an aspirational character: an alien
who is better than us in every way.
Batman is more of an adolescent power fantasy: a rich guy who trains really really hard in
order to get revenge. Wonder Woman is…. What
exactly? Her story seems to change at
least once per decade. Is she a goddess,
a princess, or a human female? Is she
war like or conciliatory? And what’s up with that plane anyway?
Hanley’s Wonder Woman
Unbound is a survey of the various iterations of the character. He focuses on three primary periods: the initial run by William Marston, the
silver age run by Robert Kanigher, and the 70s time notable by its championing
by Gloria Steinem among others. Hanley
does a great job of balancing the information presented. There’s enough depth and new information that
all but the most ardent fans of the character will learn something new, while
not overwhelming the casual reader with minutiae.
As a way of adding balance and counterpoint, Hanley
periodically checks in on other female characters from the same era being
discussed. Lois Lane, Supergirl, or the
women from Marvel comics all seem to be on par with or ahead of Wonder Woman.
Hanley has constructed a fantastic narrative of the history
of this character. While obviously a
labor of love, he is not afraid to criticize when necessary. This is no hagiography: it’s a look at the Wonder Woman’s history
warts and all. Accessible enough for
newcomers and yet informative and provocative for the hardcore fan, Wonder Woman Unbound has something for
everyone interested in comics and their role in popular culture.
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