The original Wonder Woman was a circular story of re-education, whirling through lessons on gender and power dynamics. One recurrent teaching was mastery over one’s drive to dominate, and choosing submission to the greater good instead. In Wonder Woman #8 (Spring 1944), the Atlantean Princess Octavia petitioned Wonder Woman to be her mentor. Octavia was unusually tall, strong, and hot-tempered.  In their first meeting, ...

Read More

Centuries after the Amazons landed on Paradise Island, Diana was born. On her fifteenth birthday, she pledged herself to Aphrodite’s service and received her Bracelets of Submission, made from the indestructible metal, Amazonium, found only on Paradise Island. It seems safe to infer that the Amazons have all adopted such ceremonial bracelets made from this mighty metal by the time ...

Read More

My Magic Bracelets Both of my grandmothers were delightfully indulgent of my Wonder Woman love, helping me construct costumes from household items. For instance, one hot Saturday afternoon after my weekly cartoon ritual, I wanted to play Bullets and Bracelets. Billie, my mother’s mother, had the idea to fashion protective bracelets from toilet paper rolls.  My grandparents believed at age ...

Read More