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Characters & first appearances

What is the first appearance of Wonder Woman?

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerWonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8, cover-dated December 1941 – January 1942, in a nine-page origin story by William Moulton Marston (writing as Charles Moulton) and artist H. G. Peter, published by All-American Publications, one of the companies that merged into DC. Her first cover appearance and first regular feature followed in Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942), and her own title began with Wonder Woman #1 in Summer 1942.

The debut

All Star Comics was the home of the Justice Society of America. Issue #8 added a backup story introducing Princess Diana of Paradise Island, Steve Trevor and the contest that sends Diana to "man's world". Marston, a psychologist who had helped develop an early lie detector, created the character explicitly as a female hero for girls and boys alike; Peter's art defined her look for the next two decades.

The three early keys

IssueCover dateWhy it matters
All Star Comics #8Dec 1941 – Jan 1942First appearance and origin
Sensation Comics #1January 1942First cover appearance; start of her regular feature
Wonder Woman #1Summer 1942First issue of her own title; expanded origin

All Star Comics #8 is the most valuable of the three and one of the most valuable Golden Age books featuring a female character. Because she appears only in the backup, she is not on the cover.

Later notes for collectors

  • Wonder Woman is one of the few characters published continuously since the Golden Age.
  • The New 52 Wonder Woman (2011) run by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang is represented in the store by issue #49.

See the Wonder Woman character page for what is available, and the DC Comics publisher page for other Golden Age DC.

Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

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Key issueLast copy

DC Comics · Golden Age

All Star Comics #8

CGC 5.0 · Universal Blue

First appearance of Wonder Woman (Princess Diana)

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$385,000
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DC Comics · Modern Age

Wonder Woman (2011) #49

CGC 9.8 · Signature Series

Neal Adams variant cover, CGC Signature Series

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$159

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