Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!: Today in Comics History, July 24: Happy birthday, Lynda Carter!

theme from Wonder Woman (Warner Bros. Television, 1975), composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel
Get out your ceremonial Amazoian attire and dance around with your kanga: it's the birthday of actor, singer, songwriter, model, activist and wonderful woman Lynda Carter!

It's just a shame we never got an on-screen team-up with her and Adam West and Burt Ward.

It's just a shame we never got an on-screen team-up with her and Adam West and Burt Ward.

from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Lynda was not merely Wonder Woman and has played so many parts, but it's her role as the Amazing Amazon that made her so popular and has given us an actor role model who truly lives up to the heroic deatails of her character!

Every actor who plays a superhero oughta need to read this.

Every actor who plays a superhero oughta need to read this.

"Wonder Woman Can Save the World" from Wonder Woman #600 (DC, August 2010), text by Lynda Carter
In 1973 DC had brought back after four years of "Emma Peel" Diana Prince, the original Wonder Woman costume and powers, but while they certainly rode on the publicity the 1975 Wonder Woman TV show and subsequent seasons brought, the comic itself never directly adapted or tied in their stories to the show. It took until 2015 for there to be a true Lynda Carter-inspired series: Wonder Woman '77!

Also: special rare cover variant made with actual spangled tights!

Also: special rare cover variant made with actual spangled tights!

cover of and article from Wonder Woman '77 #1 (DC, June 2015),
pencils and inks by Nicola Scott, colors by Annette Kwok, article by Andy Mangels
(Click bottom picture to Wonder-size)
The "77" comic even inspired two spin-off team-up, Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 and Wonder Woman '77 Meets the Bionic Woman. i mean, there was everything we ever wanted from our TV heroes right there!

In complete seriousness, I love how these books are titled 'Meet' rather than 'Vs.'

In complete seriousness, I love how these books are titled 'Meet' rather than 'Vs.'

cover of (L) Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 #5 (DC, July 2017), pencils and inks by Mike Allred, colors by Laura Allred,
(R)Wonder Woman '77 Meets the Bionic Woman #1 (DC/Dynamite, December 2016), painted art by Alex Ross
Mind you, MAD had already done it in 1977!:

'Call the Dynasty set and tell Alexis and Krystle I won't be coming in today.'

'Call the Dynasty set and tell Alexis and Krystle I won't be coming in today.'

from MAD #193 (September 1977), script by Lou Silverstone, pencils and inks by Angelo Torres
A couple pages from a much-longer DC-published interview with and article about Lynda Carter:

'We finally have our Wonder Woman!' 'What happened to Cathy Lee Crosby?' 'LET US NEVER SPEAK OF THAT AGAIN.'

'We finally have our Wonder Woman!' 'What happened to Cathy Lee Crosby?' 'LET US NEVER SPEAK OF THAT AGAIN.'

'Totally-*unnecessary* car chases?' Article author, that is a slur upon the good face of world cinema.

from The Amazing World of DC Comics #15 (DC, August 1977)
I would tell you how much more I love Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman, but as you can see, she's all tied up at the moment.

And yes, I did steal that joke from the original photo caption.

And yes, I did steal that joke from the original photo caption.

A very happy birthday to you, Ms. Carter, and wishing you much love and joy!

The smile that twinkles even more than Lyle Waggoner's!

cover of and article from Wonder Woman '77 #2 (DC, November 2015),
pencils and inks by Nicola Scott, colors by Annette Kwok

"Us Amazonians" by Kirsty MacColl (V2 Records, 2000), written by Kirsty MacColl and Pete Glenister

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Today in Comics History, July 24: Happy birthday, Lynda Carter!

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