Wonder Woman #1 Release Date: Summer 1942 and What Sets the Price
Published Oct 10, 2026 · Updated Oct 11, 2026 · 3 min read
Short answerWonder Woman #1, her first solo title from DC Comics, began in Summer 1942, after her debut in All Star Comics #8 and her first cover and regular feature in Sensation Comics #1. Its price depends mainly on grade, page quality and label type, so check recent sold prices for the exact grade you are considering.
Where Wonder Woman #1 fits in her publication history
Wonder Woman's own title is the third step in a sequence of 1941–42 appearances. Each one matters to collectors for a different reason:
| Book | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| All Star Comics #8 | Cover-dated December 1941 – January 1942 | First appearance, in a nine-page origin story |
| Sensation Comics #1 | January 1942 | First cover appearance and first regular feature |
| Wonder Woman #1 | Summer 1942 | First issue of her own title |
The creators were William Moulton Marston, writing as Charles Moulton, and artist H. G. Peter. The publisher at the time was All-American Publications, a sister company that later merged into what became DC Comics. A short history of DC Comics covers how those companies combined, and What is the first appearance of Wonder Woman? explains why All Star Comics #8, not her own #1, is the debut.
The "Summer 1942" date is the issue's cover date. It is a season, not a day, and this article does not give a specific on-sale date.
What a collector of this book should know
Wonder Woman #1 is a Golden Age book, printed on 1940s newsprint. Paper from that era ages in predictable ways, which is why condition on early copies varies so much from one example to the next.
Because it is a first issue with a seasonal date, collectors often compare it with Wonder Woman's other early appearances rather than treating it as a standalone purchase. Her debut and her first cover appearance are separate books with their own markets.
What decides the price of a graded copy
No one number describes Wonder Woman #1. The factors that move the price are:
- Grade. Both CGC and CBCS grade on a 0.5 to 10.0 scale and seal the book in a tamper-evident holder. On an older book, a difference of even a point or two between grades can change the price substantially.
- Page quality. The grading label records paper quality as well as the number. Pages described as whiter or off-white are not equal to brittle or tanned ones, and buyers pay attention to the difference.
- Label type. The colour and kind of label affect what a copy is understood to be, for example whether the book carries a signature or restoration disclosure. Check the label, not just the number.
- Scarcity and demand. How many copies appear for sale at a given grade, and how many collectors want them, shapes what a specific copy brings.
CGC and CBCS look at the same kinds of things on this book: spine condition, cover gloss and colour, corner and edge wear, staples, and signs of restoration. A restored copy is graded and labelled differently from an unrestored one, which also changes its price.
How to check what a copy is worth
Look up recent sold prices, not asking prices, from auction houses and marketplaces, and compare only copies at the same grade, from the same grading company, with a similar label and page quality. Prices can move, so a figure from an older sale may not hold today.
If you hold a raw copy and want to know where it might grade, the grading submission service handles CGC and CBCS submissions. For a collection with several books, the appraisal and valuation service gives a reasoned assessment.
Graded copies and related issues for sale
Later early issues are also available, such as Wonder Woman #105 CGC 3.0 and Wonder Woman #118 CGC 9.8. For the full run of key books, see Wonder Woman: first appearance, key issues and copies for sale, or browse all graded comics for sale and the collector guides.
Frequently asked
- When was Wonder Woman #1 released?
- Wonder Woman #1 is dated Summer 1942. It was the first issue of her own title, following her debut in All Star Comics #8 and her first cover appearance in Sensation Comics #1.
- Is Wonder Woman #1 her first appearance?
- No. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (cover-dated December 1941 – January 1942). Wonder Woman #1 is the first issue of her own series.
- How much is Wonder Woman #1 worth?
- There is no single figure, because the price swings widely with grade, page quality and label type. Check recent sold prices from auction houses and marketplaces for the same grade and holder.
- Who created Wonder Woman?
- William Moulton Marston, writing as Charles Moulton, and artist H. G. Peter. The character was published by All-American Publications, one of the companies that merged into DC.
Drafted with AI assistance from the facts and keywords the Rare Comics Collectors team maintains, then put through an automated fact check and our editorial rules. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
