Wonder Woman - by Regina Luttrell (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book looks at Wonder Woman's creation, mysterious identity, and deep roots in the feminist movement, as well as the cultural and psychological impact she has had on five generations of fans, from the Baby Boomers through to today.

Book Synopsis

A remarkable exploration of Wonder Woman's creation, mysterious identity, and evolution--and her extraordinary impact on her legions of fans.

For generations, Wonder Woman has been a symbol of equality and female empowerment, her complex saga deeply rooted within the feminist movement. A staple of the comic book industry, she is arguably the best-known female superhero of all time.

In Wonder Woman: Warrior, Disrupter, Feminist Icon, Regina Luttrell details this legendary superhero's origins, history, and evolution, from an ambassador of peace and love to the fiercest warrior in the DC Universe. Luttrell reveals how Wonder Woman's journeys are a reflection of each wave within the feminist movement and how her impact on culture and society continues to be felt today. Wonder Woman has become the epitome of technological sophistication, globalization, and modern-day feminism. She is truly a warrior, a disrupter, and a feminist icon.

Luttrell's fascinating history includes the perspectives of famed feminist Gloria Steinem in her essay "Wonder Woman," as well as personal interviews with creator William Moulton Marson's surviving family members. Featuring a captivating examination of the oft-overlooked contributions of Marston's life partners and inspirations Elizabeth Holloway Marston and Olive Byrne, Wonder Woman is an incredible, in-depth exploration of this iconic feminist superhero.

Review Quotes

Anyone who is a big fan of Wonder Woman should appreciate this deep dive into her connections to feminism though. Those interested in feminism and the feminist movement will find the connections fascinating as well.

In addition to an engaging and accessible recounting of Wonder Woman's ups and downs, Luttrell's book offers a look at the memoirs of both Holloway and Byrne as well as interviews with their granddaughters.

It is high time that Wonder Woman is given the full documentation and credit she is due. Wonder Woman: Warrior, Disruptor, Feminist Icon serves as a tribute to the legendary keeper of space for all female-identifying mortals deserving their own "super" power to draw inspiration from, while giving her very real-life human muses their own long over-due acknowledgment. While catching us up on these admirable feminist figures, this book offers a well-chronicled and fascinating reflection of the reality that what we ask from our role models and larger-than-life heroes has been ever changing, deepening, demanding, and expanding over this last century. Here's to the truth telling by author Regina Luttrell for lassoing our women warriors and giving us a framework to further appreciate if not finally understand Wonder Woman.

Luttrell's work on Wonder Woman: Warrior, Disruptor, Feminist Icon harkens back to Diana's core--a character that emerged in early feminist theory and has evolved with her readership into something more than just a superhero. By examining Diana through a feminist, political lens, Luttrell shows how Diana continues to teach us about our own power and agency.

Powerful. Engaging. Inspiring. Uplifting. Regina Luttrell does a masterful job guiding her readers through the explosive growth of Wonder Woman's global imprint, distinctly set against the backdrop of the feminist timeline. Wonder Woman motivates girls and women of all ages to push our own boundaries and accomplish the unimaginable by leveraging the powerful, yet truly unique attributes that each of us possess. Wonder Woman: Warrior, Disruptor, Feminist Icon re-orients the reader to the evolution of Wonder Woman, from Marston's original depiction through present day, incorporating the influences of his life partners Elizabeth Holloway Marston and Olive Byrne while reflecting on each wave of the feminist movement. A wonderful connection between an iconic symbol of feminism and source of inspiration for so many and the historical accomplishments of women everywhere.

This work brings new approaches and new sources to the study of Wonder Woman.... She provides useful overviews of subsequent Wonder Woman writers and artists. Luttrell also includes valuable additional content--interviews with Marston grandchildren, autobiographical texts by Holloway and Byrne, and a 2008 essay by Gloria Steinem.

About the Author

Regina Luttrell is the associate dean for research and creative activity and an associate professor of public relations at Syracuse University within the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is the author or coauthor of several books, including Social Media and Society: An Introduction to the Mass Media Landscape and Gen Z: The Superhero Generation. She lives just outside Syracuse, NY.