Wonder Woman- JSA Legacies Special #2 #JSApril
In celebration of JSApril, I am creating art of JSA members and their legacies characters whether it’s their successor, former sidekick, or even their kids. While I typically post an original JSA member alongside their notable legacy character, today I am going to post the first of a few special pieces celebrating those JSA members without notable legacy characters in the Justice Society. Today I am talking about a character whose history with the JSA gets mangled up and caused some severe knock on effects. That’s right we are talking about DC’s most notable female character- Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman
I cannot do Wonder Woman justice in just this article, but I will give you some key information. First, Wonder Woman would make her debut in All-Star Comics #8 but quickly launches Sensation Comics #1. She would launch her own ongoing with Wonder Woman #1 some time later. Wonder Woman creative origins are things of legend with the character symbolizing many different aspects of peace, love, and sexuality. You can read a great piece about her creation for the Smithsonian Magazine.
While she would debut in All-Star Comics #8, she would largely be sidelined as secretary. This is due to a variety of reasons. 1st being the policy about characters with their own titles being a regular feature in the book. Second, creator Dr. William Marston being particularly protective of how the character was presented in fiction.
Wonder Woman’s Earth-2 History
Her licensing rights to DC was also particular in that they had to continually publish the character in the comics even if the book was a sales failure in order to maintain the rights. That means she, along with Batman and Superman were the only superhero comics to be regularly published through the late-40’s and 50’s when Superheroes largely went fallow. It also means she doesn’t get a clear delineation between Golden and Silver-ages and thus Earth-1 and Earth-2. The decision becomes that Earth-2 Wonder Woman is from WW2.
What makes Earth-2 Wonder Woman different from her Earth-2 Trinity counterparts is that she actually headlines the main Wonder Woman title for a couple years during the 70’s TV series hey day. When Crisis takes place, Dinah (both Earth-1 and Earth-2) get the most dramatic of revisions of the Trinity causing the Earth-2 character to be phased out. Later, John Byrne would have Hippolyta go back in time and serve as the JSA Wonder Woman, allowing the mantle to continue to serve during the 40’s.
Wonder Woman Process- A Series of Failures
Oh this one went sideways. Originally intended to be in the JSA Legacy Project proper with incarnations, a drawing gum accident just shredded the piece up. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to draw up a new one, but I found time to take another pass. I decided to reference Harry Peter’s Sensation Comics #1. It is an iconic reference. Additionally, I tried something different for skin tones and I think it came out looking really well. I am very pleased with this overall piece.
Have a character request?
Do I leave out a JSA member or legacy pair that you love and you want to see me add into the final six slots? Let me know in the comments or over on social media. I may complete them and add them to the sketch book and here on Extremelyuncanny.com.
What is JSApril?
The Justice Society of America made their debut in All-Star Comics #3 in 85 years ago. In celebration, the folks over at Fire and Water Podcasting Network have assembled bloggers, podcasters, and many more creators to honor the world’s first superhero team. Find the full list of participants and more over at Fire and Water Network’s webpage and I truly encourage you all to check out some of the amazing things people have been creating.
Social Media
You can follow along with JSApril all of the other creators on social media with #JSApril. You can always find me here or over on Bluesky and I contribute weekly to The Beat. If you are new here be sure to check out out the archives. Personally, I’m quiet proud of my History of Heroes Reborn posts. You can see my other JSApril posts here.
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