Sensation Comics #2
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeSensation Comics #2 (February 1942) is a pivotal early chapter in Wonder Woman's publishing history, delivering two first appearances that would define her mythology for the next eight decades: Doctor Poison — who holds the distinction of being Wonder Woman's first costumed supervillain — and Etta Candy, Wonder Woman's spirited, unabashedly confident best friend and the leader of the Holliday Girls. The issue also introduces Holliday College for Women and its student corps, establishing a recurring female-ensemble dynamic that was genuinely unusual in wartime superhero comics, one in which ordinary college women (not Amazon warriors) decisively help defeat a Nazi spy ring. Together, these debut characters gave Wonder Woman a formidable recurring villain archetype and a civilian support network, both of which have endured into the modern era across comics, animation, and film.
In "The Menace of Doctor Poison," Wanda Wilson—recently rescued by Mr. Terrific—steps into a new role as his trusted assistant, bringing her sharp mind and hidden knowledge to the case. When a famed violinist’s priceless Stradivarius is stolen and his performances threatened with sabotage, Mr. Terrific and Wanda must unravel a mystery that threatens both music and justice. Written by Charles Reizenstein and illustrated by Hal Sharp, with a striking cover by Harry Peter, this 1942 classic blends wartime intrigue with the quiet heroism of a young woman stepping into her own.
In "The One-Man Benefit Show," Wanda Wilson—now aware of Terry's secret identity as Mr. Terrific—steps in as his assistant to help solve a high-stakes case. When a famed violinist’s priceless Stradivarius is stolen and his career held hostage by crooks demanding silence, Terry must use his intellect and ingenuity to restore justice, one performance at a time.
In "Who Is Wildcat?" from Sensation Comics #2 (1942), former boxer Ted Grant takes on the identity of the Wildcat to uncover the truth behind his friend’s murder and clear his own name—only to find himself protecting a key witness from a dangerous gang determined to keep the case buried.
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Published with a February 1942 cover date by J.R. Publishing Company (DC's publishing vehicle of the period), the issue appeared on newsstands in December 1941 — just days after Pearl Harbor — making its wartime, Axis-busting lead story an immediate fit for the national mood. The Wonder Woman feature was written by psychologist William Moulton Marston under his pen name Charles Moulton and drawn by Harry G. Peter, the same creative partnership that had launched the character; Marston's background in psychology and his theories on female-led social structures shaped both Doctor Poison's gender-disguise twist and Etta Candy's assertively unconventional characterization. The anthology's supporting features were handled by an array of Golden Age craftsmen: Sheldon Moldoff scripted and drew the Black Pirate, Charles Reizenstein wrote and Hal Sharp (in his first issue on the feature) drew Mr. Terrific, Gardner F. Fox scripted and Howard Purcell drew the Gay Ghost, and Bill Finger scripted Little Boy Blue (art by Jon L. Blummer) and Wildcat (art by Irwin Hasen).
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Doctor Poison (Princess Maru), created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter — recognized across multiple sources as Wonder Woman's first costumed supervillain.
- First appearance of Etta Candy, Wonder Woman's best friend and leader of the Holliday Girls, also created by Marston and Peter; Etta later appeared in the 1970s live-action TV series, the 2017 Wonder Woman film (played by Lucy Davis), and animated adaptations.
- First appearance of the Holliday Girls and Holliday College for Women — the recurring all-female civilian support group central to Wonder Woman's Golden Age adventures.
- This is Wonder Woman's third overall comics appearance, following the back-up feature in All Star Comics #8 (her debut) and Sensation Comics #1; at this point in the narrative she has not yet acquired the Lasso of Truth, which she gains in Sensation Comics #6.
- The cover and interior Wonder Woman art is by Harry G. Peter (signed H.G. Peter); the cover is his work alone, with Jon L. Blummer contributing additional interior cover art.
- The Wildcat story (script: Bill Finger, art: Irwin Hasen) is titled 'Who Is Wildcat?' and includes Ted Grant winning the World Heavyweight boxing championship — continuing the character's early development directly from his debut in issue #1.
- The Mr. Terrific story (script: Charles Reizenstein, art: Hal Sharp) marks Hal Sharp's first issue on the feature, replacing Everett E. Hibbard; Wanda Wilson, introduced last issue, reveals she knows Terry Sloane is Mr. Terrific and becomes his assistant.
- The Wonder Woman lead story ('The Menace of Doctor Poison') has been reprinted in Wonder Woman Archives Vol. 1; the Black Pirate story 'The Sword of Hate' was reprinted in World's Finest Comics #210; the Mr. Terrific story was reprinted in The JSA All Stars Archives Vol. 1.
Cast · 40 characters
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↩ Reprints Mutt & Jeff #4 (1941)
Reprinted in World's Finest Comics #210 (1972), Wonder Woman Archives #1 (1998), The JSA All Stars Archives #1 (2007), The Wonder Woman Chronicles #1 (2010), Wonder Woman: The War Years 1941-1945 #[nn] (2015), Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus #1 (2016), Wonder Woman: The Golden Age #1 (2018)
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