When Diana Prince decided that she wanted to once again become a "super-heroine" and leave the life of an adventurer-in-white, she was invited back into the Justice League of America, a grand team that she had in fact helped found. But for whatever reason, she felt that she did not qualify for membership. It was weird, but after an era when her unshakable confidence in herself was her only power we find an Amazon who seems to think she must prove to herself and consequently to her peers that she rates becoming a Leaguer all over again. To that end the heroes of the League agree to observe and report on Twelve of Diana's adventures and after she has demonstrated she can cut the mustard, then they will happily invite her back in.
The adventures are rather zany to say the least. Written by Cary Bates, Elliot S. Maggin, and Marty Pasko we get vintage Julie Schwartz "Be Original" classics which offer up bizarre premises and sometimes bewildering twists. Wonder stops an alien robot which makes the world too peaceful for its own good, she harnesses and corrals twin nuclear explosions, and battles old enemies like Mars the God of War and the Duke of Deception. There are rich guys who just want to see what happens when a man sets foot on Paradise Island and Chronos the Time Thief does just that when he steals time or at least mankind's ability to perceive it. Things get really wild when a duplicate Wonder Woman appears to confuse everyone, even the Leaguers who attempt to dutifully report on WW's doings.
The artwork is top notch with talents like Curt Swan, John Rosenberger, Kurt Schaffenberger, Dick Giordano, and Jose Delbo on tap to do professional jobs all the way through. We have covers by Nick Cardy, Mike Grell, and Ernie Chua among others. Here are those covers by the way.
These "Twelve Labors" are fun DC stories of the era, missing the relevance many comics attempted to get at the time, but offering up some good old fashioned entertainment. Of course Wonder Woman passes the tests and returns to the League, but we knew that all along.
Wonder Woman is opening in theaters today. It looks good and I have plans to see it on my birthday next week. Looking forward to it.
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