The Secret History of Wonder Woman

A single-issue graphic novel published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2014, The Secret History of Wonder Woman is a nonfiction work by Jill Lepore that uncovers the surprising, real-world origins of the iconic superhero. Weaving together the character's creation with the early feminist movement, the history of the lie detector, and the unconventional life of her creator, William Moulton Marston, this book recontextualizes Wonder Woman as a product of early 20th-century activism and psychology. It stands as a vital piece of comics scholarship, revealing the complex social and personal forces that shaped one of pop culture's most enduring heroines.