Wonder Woman Unbound

July 1, 2014
Hanley traces the long, strange existence of Wonder Woman, the world's most famous female superhero and complicated feminist icon.Wonder Woman's creator, psychologist William Moulton Marston, proves to be by far the most fascinating character in the narrative. An accomplished three-time Harvard graduate, co-inventor of the polygraph (which found an analog in Wonder Woman's truth-compelling magic lasso) and developer of the still relevant DISC theory of human behavior, Marston was also a polyamorous bondage enthusiast who believed in the imminence of a shift in society toward matriarchy. His creation was intended to prepare young boys for their inevitable disenfranchisement-indeed, to make them happy about it. From this heady stew of high-minded theory and sexual kinkiness, Marston added a pastiche of Greek mythology tropes, and his Avenging Amazon was born. Hanley charts the many incarnations of the character over the decades, from bland post-Marston escapist twaddle to the disastrous attempts to make her "relevant" and hip in the mod era to Gloria Steinem's successful campaign to return Wonder Woman to her girl-power roots and establish her as an icon of liberal feminism. At each stage, Wonder Woman was beset by bizarre tonal inconsistencies, muddled ideology and frequent editorial neglect or incompetence. Hanley identifies the character's lack of a coherent, consistent core and, paradoxically, her strength as an icon. Simultaneously semiotically loaded and a blank slate, Wonder Woman is uniquely positioned to reflect whatever values her various constituencies wish to project. Hanley's analysis is well-argued and richly supported, but he is prone to long digressions-e.g., his discussion of Marston's cheesy erotic novel and a fixation on Lois Lane. Ultimately, though, the author offers a compelling and insightful consideration of a cultural icon that has endured and engaged with the culture for many decades without ever truly being known.A richly detailed, often surprising work of comic-book scholarship.

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May 15, 2014

In this biography of Wonder Woman, comic book historian Hanley (blogger, Straitened Circumstances; columnist, "Gendercrunching" bleedingcool.com) offers a whirlwind tour of American comic books with the character as a focal point. Starting with Wonder Woman's creation in 1941, the author takes readers through the height of her popularity in the 1940s and 1950s and then into the 21st century, when she becomes a minor player in the superhero canon. In discussing the character's origins, Hanley provides a detailed exploration of previous work done by creator William Marston that affected the development of the Wonder Woman universe. He helpfully situates his subject in the universe of superhero comics and ably describes what made her seem unique and powerful to readers in her early years. Hanley also includes a helpful bibliography, which will be able to assist novices in the subject. VERDICT An entertaining and informative read, Hanley's book is well suited for a general audience less familiar with comic book history. The expert may enjoy the author's footnotes and the odder bits of trivia he includes.--Hanna Clutterbuck, Harvard Univ. Lib., Cambridge, MA

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2014
With Superman and Batman more popular than ever thanks to successful film franchises, Hanley turns an eye to Wonder Woman, the most famous female superhero. Created in 1941 by William Moulton Marston, an academic whose research helped invent the lie detector test, Wonder Woman was a mighty Amazon who reflected Marston's beliefs that a female-dominated world would be a more peaceful one. Even as Wonder Woman took on Nazis and mad scientists, Hanley notes that the prevalence of bondage in the original comics adds a sexualized element and complicates Marston's assertions that men should submit to women. Nonetheless, Wonder Woman remained a feminist and a fetishist until the 1950s, when censure and societal pressure made her more domestic. The Lynda Carterfronted TV show brought Wonder Woman to the silver screen as a tough and dynamic heroine, but she has since been eclipsed by her male counterparts as her comics have grown stale and attempts to bring her back to the screen have floundered. A lively and important examination of a key feminist icon.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)