365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs
Princess Diana of Themyscira is the daughter of the Amazonian Queen Hippolyta. The queen had sculpted the body of an infant girl out of a mystical clay and the god Zeus breathed his life essence into the vessel thus transforming the sculpture into a child of flesh and blood.
Diana grew up on the island raised by her mother and her aunts Antiope and Menalippe, learning, playing and training with her sister Amazons. As she grew older, Diana began to realize the incredible abilities she possessed. These powers included superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and longevity (later she would additionally gain the ability to fly).
Many years later, an American pilot named Steve Trevor crash landed on the island of Themyscira. A tournament was held to determine whom would be assigned to return him to the human world. Queen Hippolyta disallowed Diana from participating in this tournament, yet Diana did so anyway and easily won the contest.
To aide Diana in her journey she was presented with the lasso of truth (an unbreakable lariat that compels those in its grasp to speak only the truth) and a pair of indestructible bracelets that can deflect any attack. Upon arriving at the world of man Diana witnessed the atrocities being waged by the Axis Forces during he Second World War. She decided to stay and fight alongside the Allies. She became known as Wonder Woman and became a member of both The Justice Society as well as The All-Star Squadron. While not in action, Diana assumed the secret civilian identity of Diana Prince (Steve Trevor’s secretary).
The timeline and details of Wonder Woman’s origin story have been updated, retconned and re-retconned on a number of occasions, but the essentials have remained consistent - that she is a demigoddess princess of The Amazons who acts as a champion for peace in the human world. She became a pivotal member of The Justice League and acquired a colorful galley of arch foes that ranged from mythical adversaries (like the sorceress Circe and the war god Ares) to more traditional super villains (like Cheetah and Gigantia).
For a short while Diana denounced her super powers, offering them back to the gods, yet continued on as a heroine having mastered the martial arts under the tutelage of the sensei known as I-Ching. She ultimately regained these powers and once more joined the Justice League.
She met her long lost sister, Nubia, and also mentored a pair of young heroines who have acted as her sidekick, Wonder Girl (Donna Troy and Cassie Sandsnark). Diana has aided the Department of Metahuman Affairs and has also acted as a member of The Justice League Dark. Diana temporarily became a Star Sapphire during the Darkest Night/Brightest Day events. As a principle member of the Justice League, Wonder Woman has been at the forefront of the various challenges and crises that has belabored the world; and she has always succeeded in helping to save the day.
Actresses Cathy Lee Crosby, Lynda Carter, Adrianne Palicki, Bella Heathcote, Lilly Aspell and Gal Gadot have portrayed live-action version of Wonder Woman. The heroine has additionally featured in many animated projects, voiced by actresses Lucy Lawless, Susan Eisenberg, Stana Katic, Keri Russell, Shanon Faron, Colbie Smukders, Rosario Dawson, Maggie Q, Michelle Monaghan, Rica Matsumoto, B.J. Ward, Jameela Jamil, Connie Cawfield and Grey DeLisle.
Wonder Woman first appeared in the pages of All Star Comics #8 (1941).