Wonder Woman Comics Pay Perfect Tribute to WWII Female Pilots
Warning: contains major spoilers for Wonder Woman: Black and Gold #4!
DC's Wonder Woman is often associated with stories involving World War II. It was occurring around the time of her creation, making the Axis Powers a predominant enemy in her early comic adventures. However, in Wonder Woman: Black and Gold #4 she pays tribute to the less well-known military members from the era: the W.A.S.P.
Wonder Woman: Black and Gold is an anthology comic series that brings together new, original stories from multiple comic creators that involve the Goddess of Truth. These stories have brought back older characters from Wonder Woman comics, revisited older eras in her comic history, and they showcase her skillsets and abilities. Now, one story is also paying tribute to the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (W.A.S.P.).
"Wing Woman" has the creative team of Sherri L. Smith, Colleen Doran, Andworld Design, and Brittany Holzherr. It focuses on Delia "Big Deal" Burns, who is a pilot in the W.A.S.P. group. She finds herself in a confrontation with a Nazi jet while flying in her P-51 Mustang near Jersey. Right when Delia finds herself in big trouble, Wonder Woman shows up in her own jet.
While this is a short comic story, it does an excellent job of bringing attention to the women who served in the military - even though for a long time they were only considered civilians and not legitimate veterans. Their story isn't one that is well-known, although Wonder Woman is one of DC's most iconic heroes - and one associated with the period fictionally. The W.A.S.P. flew stateside missions, allowing male pilots to be able to engage in combat overseas. The W.A.S.P. transported planes for the military completed flight tests and engaged in other non-combat missions. They were the first women to fly for the United States military. This Wonder Woman story doesn't only pay homage to the W.A.S.P., however.
Before Wonder Woman saves her, Delia also mentions the W.A.C. and the W.A.V.E.S. (Women's Army Corps and Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). The W.A.V.E.S. was the Navy's branch of volunteer servicewomen. Additionally, on the side of Delia's plane, the insignia of the W.A.S.P. is visible - Fifinella, a character originally designed by Walt Disney for a film that was never completed titled The Gremlins, which involved Roald Dahl. This Wonder Woman comic brings forgotten history to the forefront while emphasizing what it is that has made the heroine so popular for years. Diana is strong and can do anything she sets her mind on. She can save the day, even if it wouldn't have appeared to be the norm for women in the 1940s.
The W.A.S.P. were definitely real-life Wonder Women. The military themes of Wonder Woman's early comics and during assorted runs throughout her comic history have often revolved around Steve Trevor. However, she is a heroine that appreciates and saves all service members equally when given the opportunity. She is similar to the W.A.S.P. in that she is a pilot herself, even though she has the ability to fly even without her invisible plane. This homage is beautiful and it captures the spirit of Wonder Woman as a hero celebrating her 80th anniversary.