Wonder Woman continues her labors in issue 215 as she and Aquaman defeat Mars, God of War.

Aquaman gets his feet dry as he observes Wonder Woman in New York City. Obstacles take the form of freak occurrences as each attempt to perform routine duties.

Wonder Woman (1942) 215

Wonder Woman is finally compelled to visit Paradise Island when she fails to make contact with her Amazon sisters. Aquaman attempts to follow, but is foiled until quick thinking permits him to find nourishment.

When the two do meet it is in the midst of a war between the merpeople of Atlantis and the Amazons of Paradise Island. The island has drifted thousands of miles to position itself over the city of Atlantis.

Mars delivers a soliloquy to Wonder Woman divulging his plan to pit the two races against each other in order for the god to feed. Aquaman and friend overhear the plot and are later able to defend Wonder Woman’s actions at the Hall of Justice.

Mars is taken into custody to stand accountable for his crime of war.

Readers are promised a team up with Wonder Woman and Black Canary in the following issue as the Amazon continues her labors.

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Wonder Woman finishes the third of her 12 labors for readmission to the Justice League of America.

Green Lantern is the Justice Leaguer appointed to monitor Wonder Woman’s third feat: halting the destruction of Earth.

“Wish Upon a Star” proves to Green Lantern Wonder Woman is ready to rejoin the Justice League. Diana Prince had voluntarily begun the labors in an effort to prove to herself she was capable of being a League member again.

There’s a big back story that has yet to be resolved, so follow as Four Color Holidays provides an advent calendar for Labor Day.

The issue marks Wonder Woman’s sole entry in the 100-page field. Also included are reprints “Wanted – – Wonder Woman,” “The Terror Trees of Forbidden Island,” “The Invisible Wonder Girl,” “The Masquerader” and “Revolt of Wonder Woman.”

Continuing the tale of Wonder Woman and her 12 labors, the second was observed by Flash. The Amazon princess was at odds with a robot bent on spreading peace.

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As America attempted to extricate itself from Viet Nam in the early 1970s and politicians like Henry Kissinger became celebrities, mediums like television, movies and, yes, even comic books took notice.

DC wasn’t the only comic book company to parlay the events of the day into fantasy fodder. Marvel’s Super-Villain Team-Up used the name and likeness of Kissinger. Captain America became a man with no country as Nomad when he turned his back on the United States following Watergate.

At National, pre-DC days, Kissinger became Hans Krissen and even courted Diana Prince.

The issue revolved around the notion Earth had succumb to pacifism. Inhabitants can no longer defend themselves against ordinary dangers. Wonder Woman discovers she and two others are immune and must challenge the cause.

Of course they succeed and the world is allowed to return to its barbaric ways. The Flash, who has been observing Wonder Woman’s trial, reported she proved extraordinary in her efforts. She is therefore recommended for reinstatement to the Justice League.

Enjoy the countdown to Labor Day with Wonder Woman’s 12 labors with more tomorrow.

First, thanks to Dave’s Comic Heroes Blog. He birthed the correlation between Wonder Woman’s 12 Labors and Labor Day.

Taking the cue we’re gonna delve a little deeper into those chores as we lead up to the last hurrah of summer, Labor Day.

The 12 labors were introduced to Hercules as atonement for slaying his wife, son and daughter. Diana’s (Prince) penance was every bit as voluntary, but committed to prove to herself she is worthy to rejoin the Justice League of America.

Wonder Woman (1942) 212

To back up a little, DC, still National Periodicals, was attempting to update their characters. Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams had already revamped Batman, Green Lantern and Green Arrow.

Wonder Woman creators removed her powers. She was given a boutique and sensei named I Ching. He would train her to become a martial arts expert to compensate for the loss of her natural abilities.

The backlash was tremendous. Diana was allowed to return to her Amazonian princess status and regain her powers. Her rebirth was not without pain as creators attempted to reintroduce the heroine with her powers.

It was decided she had memory loss at the time she suffered her power loss. In addition, to prove to herself she was worthy to return to the Justice League fold she would have to perform 12 tasks. During each Wonder Woman would be monitored by a member of the League to determine if she passed.

Issue 212 was her return to William Moulton Marston’s original incarnation. As explained above, Wonder Woman discovered she had suffered memory loss and set about the first of her contests.

Superman was her observer narrating the story after the fact. In his eyes she passed her first test.