Wonder Woman #37

(September-October 1949)

The Riddle of the Chinese Mummy Case (Table of Contents)

Wonder Woman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Robert Kanigher

Pencils:

Harry G. Peter

Inks:

Harry G. Peter

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Professor Dorane; Dr. Ling; Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]; Steve Trevor; Paula Von Gunther; Princess Mei; Chang (villain)

Synopsis:

To solve the mystery of an Amazon artifact, Wonder Woman travels to ancient China, where she meets Chinese Amazons and helps them defeat Barbarian invaders.

Indexer Notes

This story was re-written and re-drawn in Wonder Woman (DC, 1942 series) #207.

Wonder Woman travels to China circa 2300 BC. According to Princess Mei, her ancestors were ancient Amazons who conquered Asia Minor and ruled all of China. By the time of Princess Mei, only her province remains a matriarchy, which the barbarians hope to conquer. To help prevent this, Wonder Woman builds the Great Wall of China.

Although Wonder Woman's Amazons have never been depicted wearing trousers or using crescent-shaped pelta shields, she immediately recognizes these as belonging to Amazons.

The Fatal Beauty (Table of Contents)

Wonder Woman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Robert Kanigher

Pencils:

Harry G. Peter

Inks:

Harry G. Peter

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]; Steve Trevor; Queen Hippolyte; Gasher Jewel Gang; Lorelei Lorn; Derek Nason; Chief of Police

Synopsis:

When Steve breaks off with Wonder Woman and takes up with actress Lorelei Lorn, Wonder Woman's heart is tested when she's assigned to protect Lorelei from the Gasher Jewel Gang.

Indexer Notes

Steve Trevor is voted in a radio contest as the "Most Typical American Male."

The Friendly Fruit (Table of Contents)

text article / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Letters:

typeset

Content Information

Synopsis:

The history of the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality.

Berthinia Owens (Table of Contents)

Wonder Women of History / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Julius Schwartz

Pencils:

Paul Reinman

Inks:

Paul Reinman

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Editing:

Julius Schwartz

Content Information

Genre:

biography

Synopsis:

Betehnia Owens overcame the opposition of her family and society to become the first female doctor of the American West, where she singlehandedly stopped a raging epidemic at the age of 65.

Indexer Notes

All credits and editing verified by Jerry Bails (October, 2005).

["Gee, This Muffler is Going Faster Than I Thought"] (Table of Contents)

Bonnie / comic story / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Bob Oksner?

Inks:

Bob Oksner?

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

humor; teen

Characters:

Bonny; Leopold

Synopsis:

Bonny knits a muffler into a sweater, then unravels it back to a muffler.

The Secrets of Circe (Table of Contents)

Wonder Woman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Robert Kanigher

Pencils:

Harry G. Peter

Inks:

Harry G. Peter

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

superhero

Characters:

Wonder Woman [Diana Prince]; Steve Trevor; Professor Owler; Thor; Mr. Sharpe; Mr. Dulle; Paula von Gunther; Lother Gang; Circe (Introduction, villain)

Synopsis:

Wonder Woman travels to the enchanted island planet of Sorca, where Circe has captured Steve and his crew and turned them into animals.

Indexer Notes

First and only Golden Age appearance of Circe in the Wonder Woman series. Circe reappears toward the end of the pre-Crisis period starting at Wonder Woman (DC, 1942 series) #301, and becomes a major adversary post-Crisis.

According to this story, Circe was banished by the Amazons to Sorca for turning unwary visitors to her island of Aiaie into animals. In later depictions, she is dark-haired, but here she is blond. The antidote to her spells, normally moly, is called "molu" here. Humans are turned into the animals they are most like, so Steve becomes a lion, and Wonder Woman becomes a doe.

First: Steve as astronaut.

Smokey the Fire-Preventing Bear Comes to the Rescue of Peter Porkchops (Table of Contents)

Peter Porkchops / public service announcement / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jack Schiff

Pencils:

Rube Grossman

Inks:

Rube Grossman

Colors:

?

Letters:

?

Content Information

Genre:

anthropomorphic-funny animals

Characters:

Peter Porkchops; Wolfie; Smokey the Bear

Synopsis:

Peter avoids becoming dinner by explaining fire preventing tips to Wolfie.