DC COMICS: Tex Avery Wonder Woman 1942

DC COMICS IN THE MEDIA

WONDER WOMAN IN THE MEDIA

WHAT WE KNOW:
In 1942, MGM sensing the success of Max Fleischer's SUPERMAN cartoons decides to compete with Paramount by optioning the rights to Wonder Woman from DC Comics (Detective Comics Inc./National Periodical Publications).

Happy to leave Hanna-Barbera with the Tom & Jerry cartoons, MGM handed the Wonder Woman assignment to their newest director Tex Avery. Avery was reluctant to adapt the super-heroine, as it was not his style at all. Preston Blair animated Diana Prince in an incredibly sexy performance. Avery made the Japanese Wolf character the real star of the cartoon, limiting Wonder Woman to a few brief sexy shots.

The cartoon, was only partially finished and the negative ordered destroyed, was titled THE TRICKY CHICK. One great line on the existing story board has Wonder Woman asking the disguised spy, "Is that a Rising Sun or are you just happy to see me?".

Fred Quimby cancelled the cartoon series when he saw that it could not compete with the Fleischer Superman series. The option was cancelled - the rights reverted back to DC. The animation of Wonder Woman was reused in various Red cartoons, such as SWING SHIFT CINDERELLA and WILD AND WOLFY. Avery stuck to humor cartoons. This rare cel set up (above) has just been located in the estate of Douglas Mayer (nephew of Louie B. Mayer) and will be auctioned at Christies later this year.