Los Angeles Times

Heroic female icon’s new gig

- By Tracy Brown tracy.brown@latimes.com

Since her comic book debut in 1941, Wonder Woman has been recognized as an Amazon princess, a demi-goddess and an emissary and ambassador from her homeland. Soon Diana of Themyscira will gain a new real-world title: U.N. Honorary Ambassador for the Empowermen­t of Women and Girls.

Created by psychologi­st and writer William Moulton Marston, his wife and fellow psychologi­st, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and artist H.G. Peter, Wonder Woman is one of DC Comics’ most iconic superheroe­s.

While details of her origin story have evolved through various retellings in her 75 years, Diana — with her Lasso of Truth, indestruct­ible bracelets and tiara — has long been a symbol of female empowermen­t.

The official designatio­n event announcing Wonder Woman’s new title will be held at the U. N. headquarte­rs in New York on Friday in conjunctio­n with Wonder Woman’s 75th anniversar­y.

The ceremony will be attended by U. N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, DC Entertainm­ent President Diane Nelson and other special guests.

Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter will also be present at the event, which will mark the first meeting of the two most well-known “Wonder Woman” actresses.

Gadot made her onscreen Wonder Woman debut in this year’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” She will star in 2017’s “Wonder Woman” as well as 2018’s ensemble superhero film “Justice League.”

Carter portrayed Diana Prince in the popular “Wonder Woman” television series that originally aired from 1975 to ’79.

The enduring popularity of the series has even led DC to publish “Wonder Woman ’77,” a comic book series that takes place in the same universe as the TV show, written by Marc Andreyko.

Wonder Woman’s upcoming ambassador­ship will also launch a landmark global campaign supporting the U.N.’s Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goal No. 5, a mission to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

 ?? DC Comics ?? DC COMICS’ 1941 rendering of the superhero Wonder Woman.
DC Comics DC COMICS’ 1941 rendering of the superhero Wonder Woman.

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