This lesser known story was the template for another tale that would come later in the ‘90s. Diana of course, would assume the title of Wonder Woman again shortly thereafter. The fiery redhead was far more headstrong that Diana, but this disposition ultimately cost Orana her life. This time, Diana lost the challenge, and her Amazonian sister Orana donned the costume. This occurred when a fellow Amazon challenged her for the right to be Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman TV Pilot (1975)ĭuring the late Bronze Age of comics, Diana had to undergo the contest a second time. Going forward, most references to Diana’s competition have only called back to the original ‘40s version. It’s a wacky concept, and one quickly dropped from continuity. In order to make sure that everyone didn’t know they were competing against Diana, Queen Hippolyta ordered all the Amazons to disguise themselves as Wonder Woman. This retcon had Diana as Wonder Woman in costume before leaving for Man’s World, which kind of makes no sense. The first change to the contest story came in 1958, at the dawn of comics’ Silver Age.

This version of the contest was very much the template going forward. It was rare to see blood in a comic of that day, but you saw it there. Part of the original challenge was outrunning a stag! Of course, one violent aspect was the bullets and bracelets challenge, which actually injured an Amazon in the original comic book. It’s noteworthy as well that the original version of the Amazonian contest is more an Olympic-style tournament, less about fighting prowess. I guess it’s no more ridiculous than Clark Kent’s glasses, but it certainly seems silly in the modern day. Diana used a tiny domino mask to cover her identity. One of the more ridiculous aspects of the story found Diana, forbidden by her mother from participating, joining anyway in disguise. Back then, it only took up a handful of panels. In Wonder Woman’s 1941 origin story, the Amazonian contest is there right from the start. Here’s the nearly 80-year history of the Amazons’ contest of champions. It’s been retold and reinterpreted for different generations and for different mediums.

But the film isn’t the first time the contest has been reinvented. Wonder Woman 1984 transposes this event to Diana’s childhood, whereas in the comics she experienced it as an adult. In Wonder Woman 1984, Jenkins found a way to incorporate this iconic piece of of DC Comics’ mythos into the live-action universe. It’s all in the name of proving who is the greatest Amazon of them all. The competitions range from hand-to-hand combat to gymnastic feats. The contest is an Olympic Games-style tournament where the Amazons compete against one another in various forms. But it left out one crucial element of Princess Diana’s backstory: the Amazonian contest. Patty Jenkins’ first Wonder Woman film was extremely faithful to the comic book origins of the character.

Princess diana of the amazons