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The Classical Reception and Impact of Wonder Woman in Comics and Film

The Classical Reception and Impact of Wonder Woman in Comics and Film cover

The Classical Reception and Impact of Wonder Woman in Comics and Film

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Pre-order. Available Apr 30 2026
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Description

Employing a wide range of scholarly approaches, such as reception studies, feminist studies, racial studies and posthumanism studies, this volume examines the classical influence on the character of Wonder Woman. In particular, the contributors look at the cultural phenomenon of this female superhero across comic books and film. The result is an in-depth study that examines the influence ancient Greek mythology has on popular culture and, reversely, how modern media shapes contemporary views of the ancient Mediterranean world.

Introduced to the world via Sensation Comics in 1941, Wonder Woman remains one of the most identifiable superheroes today, and her narratives that frequently involve love, inclusion and empathy continue to speak to readers and viewers around the world. Engaging with her long and complex history, the chapters examine the history of this influential character and her associates, alongside her relevance within the field of classical reception, and her gender identity. As such, this book presents Wonder Woman as the complex heroine that she is, and one who has both influenced and been influenced by our understanding of the ancient world.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface: What Wonder Woman Means to Us
List of Illustrations
List of Contributors

Introduction, Amanda Potter (Open University, UK), Connie Skibinski (University of Newcastle, Australia), and Natalie J. Swain (University of Winnipeg, Canada)

Section I: Wonder Woman Comics through the Ages
1. The Two Wonder Women: Gender Subversion and Audience in Marston/Peter Comics and Newspaper Strips Natalie Beglin (Indiana University, USA)
2. George Perez and the Reinvention of Wonder Woman, Tony Keen (University of Notre Dame, UK)
3. Wonder Girl (Cassandra Sandsmark) and the Teen Titans C. W. Marshall (University of British Columbia, Canada)
4. Compelling Love: Tracing Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth Theresa Ashford (University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia), and Amanda Potter (Open University, UK)


Section II: Gods, Faeries and Amazons
5. "This is OUR Story": Wonder Woman Historia, History, and the Evolving Nature of the Amazons Jeremy Brett (Texas A&M University, USA) and Jessica Tucker (University of North Texas, USA)
6. Amazons and Ares: Battle Lines Through Time Anneka Rene (University of Auckland, New Zealand)
7. Animating Wonder Woman: Mythological Resonances in Wonder Woman (2009) Krishni Burns (University of Illinois, USA)
8. Themyscira in the Otherworld Translation Madelaine Sacco (University of Newcastle, Australia)
9. What is the Godkiller? Artificiality, Intention, and Purpose in the Origins and Development of Diana Prince, Tannika Koosmen (University of Newcastle, Australia)

Section III: Wonder Woman and the Politics of Feminism
10. The United Nations Decade for (Wonder) Women: Wonder Woman, the U.N., and Women's Liberation, Christina M. Knopf (SUNY Cortland, USA)
12. Blurring the Boundaries: Gald Gadot, Wonder Woman, Peace and Violence Lisa Maurice (Bar-Ilan University, Israel)
13. The New Wonder Woman and the Saviour of Western Civilization Anise Strong (Western Michigan University, USA)
13. Themysciran Racial Framing & Anti-Racism in DC's 'Trial of the Amazons' Natalie J. Swain (University of Winnipeg, Canada)

Afterword Joan Ormrod (Independent Scholar)

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Apr 30 2026
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 272
ISBN 9781350439375
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations 30 bw illus
Series IMAGINES – Classical Receptions in the Visual and Performing Arts
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

Amanda Potter

Amanda Potter is a Visiting Fellow in Classics at…

Anthology Editor

Natalie J. Swain

Natalie J. Swain is Assistant Professor of Classic…

Anthology Editor

Connie Skibinski

Connie Skibinski is a doctorate candidate in Class…

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