The Secret History of Wonder Woman

In this chapter, Lepore discusses the bondage aspect of Wonder Woman. She (along with many others in the strip) was constantly bound by chains, rope, tape—nearly anything. In part, this was intended as a symbol of women’s lack of equality and freedom, as they were constricted/restricted by men in myriad ways. As Lepore writes, however, “there’s more to it than that” (234). Marston took great pains to describe in detail how Wonder Woman was to be bound and chained so Harry Peter, the artist, would get it exactly as he wanted.

This caused some concern for Gaines, as some people argued it was excessive and harmful for children. One person was a member of the editorial advisory board, Josette Frank, who had worked with Holloway at the journal Child Study. Frank generally viewed comics in a positive light, as opposed to the genre’s many critics, but she thought Wonder Woman went too far and wrote Gaines in early 1943 to tell him so. She objected to Wonder Woman’s skimpy costume and what she thought was the sadism of all the chains, ropes, and whips.

Gaines forwarded her concerns to Marston, who replied that she had never liked the comic to begin with and wasn’t qualified enough in psychology to pass judgment.