Marston explored the subject of a female comic book hero in a 1943 essay titled why 100,000,000 americans read comics, published in the the american scholar. William moulton marston created the heroine to get boys used to the idea of strong women. Mar 21, 2018 william marston was an american psychologist, inventor of an early prototype of the lie detector, and comic book writer who created the character wonder woman. As the inventor of the lie detector, william marston wielded massive influence over the development of american society, but that was nothing compared to the impact he made when he created the comic book character of wonder woman. The fictional dc comics character wonder woman, was created by william moulton marston. Biography of william moulton marston online study book. In the final six years of his life he created wonder woman 1941, the most iconic female superhero of all time. William moulton marston 18931947, american psychologist, inventor and comic book writer who created the character wonder woman william h. The comic book also had a backup feature called wonder women of history. Alamy a biopic of the psychologist who created wonder woman is set to land in cinemas. Unusual for a psychotherapist, marston was also a comics writer. Her realworld conception may be even more interesting. Knowing that, it is no surprise that william moulton marstons most famous work is the creation of the comic book heroine, wonder woman.
Comic books may seem like puerile entertainment to some, but they do have adventurous stories and impressive art. In 1941, under the pseudonym charles moulton, marston created the first great female comic book hero, wonder woman, a displaced amazon princess who helped the allies defeat the axis powers while seeking romance on the side. Nov 09, 2017 while william moulton marston created an overtly feminist and somewhat subversive female superhero, kanigher transformed wonder woman into a more typical female protagonist of the day, and there. Unlike the industry hall of fame comic book writers, stan lee and jack kirby, william marston was a psychologist. Grant morrison blasts batman v supermans take on wonder. But she was not created, as were so many women in comics in the following decades, as an object of teenage lust, but as a radically liberated feminist hero. Marston envisioned his creation as a feminist icon, and that is exactly what she became, boasting a cultural presence that. What comic book creators are in the wonder woman credits. Some would describe him as the father of disc theory, but the story of dr. The creator of the wonder woman comic william moulton marston from boston, massachusetts kept mistresses and had a penchant for bondage, in a stark contrast to what his character represents. The history of the comic book superheros creation seven decades ago has been hidden awayuntil now.
After her introduction to the comic book world, a press release about wonder woman and her creator, william moulton marston, explained the female superhero was conceived to set up a. Marston, who was a famous psychologist, made up wonder woman in 1941. Oct 27, 2014 the man behind the most popular female comic book hero of all time, wonder woman, had a secret past. William marston was not only the creator of the disc personality system, but also the polygraph machine and the character of wonder woman written for dc comics. William moulton marston may 9, 1893 may 2, 1947, also known by the pen name charles moulton. Soon after, wonder woman won a fan poll as the best new comic book character. William marston grew up and was a student during the suffrage movement in. He invented the first polygraph lie detector and later became the creator of the famous comic book character wonder woman. William moulton marston, who published his first wonder woman strip in 1941, led a double life not unlike the superheroes he wrote about.
It would be something that could inject his ideas right into the hearts and minds of america. Marston created a systolicbloodpressuremeasuring apparatus, which was crucial to the development of the polygraph lie detector. William moulton marston was one of the leading psychologists of his time, but these days hes not known for his work studying the human mindhes known as the guy who created wonder woman. The stories they tell either have social commentary or a wider message. William moulton marston was a man who managed to combine interests of several dissimilar fields into an idea that has lasted for decades. William marston the history and systems of psychology. William moulton marston died in 1947, but before his death he accomplished a lot. William marston also invented the polygraph machine or lie detector and created the character of wonder woman for dc comics. He was a multifaceted genius who made notable contributions in diverse fields. Jun 03, 2017 the creator of the wonder woman comic william moulton marston from boston, massachusetts kept mistresses and had a penchant for bondage, in a stark contrast to what his character represents.
The man behind wonder woman was inspired by both suffragists. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman. Jun 09, 2017 the man behind wonder woman was inspired by both suffragists and centerfolds wonder womans. Long interested in finding a scientific way to prove a persons.
Check out this biography to know more about his childhood, family, career, etc. Born in cliftondale, massachusetts, he obtained a law degree in 1918 and graduated from harvard with a ph. Whats more, she was created by a psychologist william moulton marston, who first published under a pseudonym, due in part to his unconventional. William moulton marston, the psychologist who created. Five surprising secrets behind the creation of wonder woman bbc. William marston was born in clifftondale in maryland. Wonder womans creator gave the world disc posted on july 23, 2017 there certainly is a huge buzz about wonder woman, the amazonian princess who is one of the major superheroes in the dc comics universe. And if youve ever seen marston s comics, and your brain is.
William moulton marston, an accomplished psychologist who contributed to the invention of the lie detector before going on to create one of the most enduring and inspiring american comic book. William moulton marston and the threesome that begat wonder woman. In 1941, under the pseudonym charles moulton, marston created the first great female comic book hero, wonder woman, a displaced amazon princess who helped the allies defeat the axis powers while. William marston, harvard psychologist and inventor, and the relationship between his wife and his lover, and the creator of the comic book character wonder woman. Professor marston and the wonder women is a lively. The man behind the most popular female comic book hero of all time. William moulton marston created wonder woman during world war ii in a reaction to what he saw as a dc universe dominated by male characters such as superman and batman. The film spans decades ultimately treating the creation of wonder woman as an afterthought. William moulton marston, his two wives, and the feminist origins of wonder woman. Hes known as an academic, a philosopher, a lawyer, a psychologist, a writer, and an advocate for womens rights. Read more about marston in lepores essays at smithsonian and the new yorker and in her book, the secret history of wonder woman. Five surprising secrets behind the creation of wonder woman. All in all, professor marston and the wonder women may not be reverential enough to induce comic book fans to check it out.
Yet for those looking for a decently paced, boilerplate great biopic it may just be the right ticket for you. Wonder woman may be one of the most important suggestions ever made in comic book history, and. She was created and presented with greek and roman goddess archetypes. The strange story of wonder womans creator william moulton. The true story of wonder womans marston menage a trois. Ans inventor william marston is credited for inventing both. Dr william moulton marston created the wonder woman character in 1941. Oct 20, 2017 christie marston is the granddaughter of wonder woman creator william moulton marston and elizabeth holloway marston, who are portrayed in the new film professor marston and the wonder women. Jun 10, 2017 william moulton marston 18931947 was a psychologist, inventor, and comic book writer who conceived the idea of wonder woman. William moulton marston wikividi documentary youtube. Oct 16, 2017 professor marston and the wonder women hit theaters over the weekend, bringing viewers the story of how the worlds most famous superheroine was created by professor william moulton marston. Busy with the newspaper strip, marston hired an 18yearold student, joye hummel, to help him write comicbook scripts.
Apr 11, 2017 created in response to the prominence of male super heroes at the time superman, batman, captain america marston hoped his female hero would inspire young kids both girls and boys, although. Wonder woman is a popular and wellknown comic book character, but facts about her creator, william moulton marston, are not as equally wellknown. Discover william moulton marston quotes about wonder woman. William moulton marston was an inventor, scientist, psychologist, writer, and comic book character creator, and has a long list of accomplishments for a relatively short life. A psychologist created wonder woman to institute female. The bizarre and kinky life of creator william moulton marston this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Why 100,000,000 americans read comics the american scholar. Thats when he struck upon the idea of creating a female superhero who used love as well as strength to conquer evil. William moulton marston, who published his first wonder woman strip. That character, wonder woman, appeared in 1941, credited to charles moulton the name came from gaines and marston s middle names. William moulton marston, internationally famous psychologist.
William moulton marston was an american psychologist, inventor, lawyer, and author of selfhelp books and comics. Harvard psychologist william moulton marston, claimed that comics worst offense was their bloodcurdling masculinity. In 1944, gaines and marston signed an agreement for wonder woman to become a newspaper strip, syndicated by king features. Professor marston and the wonder women is a disarming. William moulton marston biography facts, childhood, family. Knowing that, it is no surprise that william moulton marston s most famous work is the creation of the comic book heroine, wonder woman. William moulton marston was an american psychologist, inventor, and comic book writer who created the character wonder woman, who made her debut in 1941. William marstons granddaughter denounces professor marston. Biography of william moulton marston assignment point. William moulton marston, a psychologist by trade, was hired by maxwell gaines at the company that was to become dc comics to help hone their new crop of superheroes and to bring legitimacy to an art form that was often criticized for being vapid and too raunchy. Oct, 2017 a look inside the complicated life of the man who created wonder woman. He was an academic, a lawyer, a researcher, a writer, a father, an inventor, and more.
Canonically, wonder womans origins are the stuff of eternal gods and legendary heroes, the living manifestation of the effects of goodness and truth. Oct, 2017 professor marston and the wonder women suffers whenever it tries to tell that story in an ordinary way, boiling the details of marstons life down into a typical biopic format that makes sure to. William moulton marston was a man of many talents and interests. William moulton marston 18931947 was a psychologist, inventor, and comic book writer who conceived the idea of wonder woman. Aside from creating the most iconic female superhero of all time, marston was a. Thanks to marston, psychological scientists have a good reason to claim wonder woman as the most successful comic book hero to emerge from a psychology lab. Wonder woman creators polyamorous relationship the focus. Marston envisioned his creation as a feminist icon, and that is exactly what she became, boasting a cultural presence that far exceeded that of a typical comic character. Gaines was enthusiastic, and encouraged marston to develop this character. The origins of the character reveal an interesting history and a more eccentric individual who created the character.
Since her debut, five regular series of wonder woman have been published, the last launched in june 2016 as part of. Wonder womans creator, william moulton marston, had a secret life. Creator william moulton marston had a wife and a mistress. Harvard psychologist william moulton marston, claimed that comics worst. William marstons granddaughter denounces professor. The history of the comicbook superheros creation seven decades ago has been. William marston was an american psychologist, inventor of an early prototype of the lie detector, and comic book writer who created the character wonder woman. William moulton marston may 9, 1893may 2, 1947 was a psychologist, feminist theorist, creator of the wonder woman character and comic book writer. Angela robinsons film isnt adapted from lepores book but the basic story is the same.
Two women, his wife elizabeth holloway marston and olive byrne who lived with the couple in an extended relationship, served as exemplars for. The history of the comicbook superhero s creation seven decades ago has been hidden awayuntil now. William moulton marston was an american psychologist who invented. William marston as the inventor of the lie detector, william marston wielded massive influence over the development of american society, but that was nothing compared to the impact he made when he created the comic book character of wonder woman. He and his wife, elizabeth holloway marston, had another. Ans inventor william marston is credited for inventing. Marston wrote every issue of wonder woman until his death in 1947.
Wonder womans unexpected connection to the birth control. The man behind the most popular female comic book hero of all time, wonder woman, had a secret past. Wonder woman, american comic book superhero created for dc comics by psychologist william moulton marston and harry g. An american inventor, scientist, psychologist, writer, and comic book character creator who created the character wonder woman, william moulton marston was born on 9 th may 1893, in saugus, massachusetts, the u.
Life of creator william moulton marston the secret story. Over thirty comicbook heroes will appear in 2018s avengers. Christie marston is the granddaughter of wonder woman creator william moulton marston and elizabeth holloway marston, who are portrayed in the new film professor marston and the wonder women. William moulton marston bottomright administers a lie detector test to. What professor marston misses about wonder womans origins.
William moulton marston was an american psychologist who invented the systolic blood pressure test, which forms the basis for another invention. Marston s personal life may have been unusual, and some of his ideas radical for his time, but the author and inventor managed to create the most popular female comic book superhero of all time. Professor marston and the wonder women on hulu stream. Gal gadots take on wonder woman isnt what the character s creator william moulton marston would have wanted at all, according to comic book. William marston, harvard psychologist and inventor, and the relationship between his wife and his lover, and the creator of the comic book character wonder. A psychologist created wonder woman to institute female rule. May 01, 2001 in 1941, under the pseudonym charles moulton, marston created the first great female comic book hero, wonder woman, a displaced amazon princess who helped the allies defeat the axis powers while seeking romance on the side. Jun 07, 2017 william moulton marston was a man of many talents and interests.
A biography of william marston, creator of wonder woman web. And the character who first challenged golden age attitudes about womenwonder woman, created in 1941began her career as perhaps one of the kinkiest superheroes in mainstream comic books. If he was writing comic books today, marston would be eaten alive by the morality police. Wonder womans secret roots in psychological science. William moulton marston biography facts, childhood. William moulton marston, also known by the pen name charles moulton, was an american psychologist, inventor of an early prototype of the lie detector, selfhelp author, and comic book. William moulton marston may 9, 1893 may 2, 1947, also known by the pen name charles moulton, was an american psychologist, inventor and comic book writer who created the character wonder woman.
Marston created the first great female comic book hero, wonder woman, a displaced amazon princess who helped the allies defeat the axis powers while seeking. His disc behavioral studies would become part of the superheros missions. The original captain marvel now known as shazam, green lantern. Wonder women, without marstons creative direction, become more traditional superhero fare. After marstons death in 1947, dc comics downplayed her sexuality and feminist origin.
Marston came back with a synopsis for a character called suprema, the wonder woman. Mar 07, 2020 wonder woman in a recent comic by greg rucka, next to a picture of the 1950s comics created by psychologist william moulton marston, in the invisible history of wonder woman by jill lepore. The strange story of wonder womans creator william. William moulton marston and the threesome that begat. Wonder womans creator, who also invented the liedetector. Jul 23, 2017 later, she came out as bisexual and has become a symbol for both womens rights and the lgbt community. An amazons tiara the cultural history of wonder woman. Professor marston and the wonder women hit theaters over the weekend, bringing viewers the story of how the worlds most famous superheroine was created by professor william moulton marston. He was also known as a selfhelp author and comic book writer who created the character wonder woman. Jul 08, 2016 marston explored the subject of a female comic book hero in a 1943 essay titled why 100,000,000 americans read comics, published in the the american scholar. William moulton marston, learn about william moulton intesi. Bbc five surprising secrets behind the creation of. Although marston was educated in law and psychology, he was more interested in learning about the complexities of human nature.
Gaines encouraged marston to create a female comic book hero. Biopic of psychologist who created wonder woman heading to. Long interested in finding a scientific way to prove a. Marston was unhappy with the cliched male superhero, and suggested to gaines that there was a need for a female superhero. William moulton marston, learn about william moulton. William moulton marston quotes about wonder woman az.
William moulton marston, the psychologist who created wonder. Wonder woman wasnt the first female comic book hero, but she quickly proved. Marston created a systolicbloodpressuremeasuring apparatus, which was crucial. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the. William moulton marston, who created of the first female comic book superhero, was told by jill lepore in the secret history of wonder woman.
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