Number 2023: Wonder Woman: Duke of Deception’s Dream Dooms

I don’t know if there was a legal arrangement made after Wonder Woman’s creator, William Moulton Marston, died in 1948. H. G. Peter, who was 61 when he began drawing Wonder Woman in 1941, continued as artist until his retirement in 1957 at age 77. (See link below for Peter’s last job as Wonder Woman’s artist, which appeared in 1958.) For some time when Wonder Woman was a big seller Peter had a studio where assistants were employed to help him with the artwork. I don’t know if he was still using assistants when Robert Kanigher took over editing and writing chores.

Peter’s distinctive artwork seemed more quaint as time went on. “The Dream Dooms” was published in Wonder Woman #81 (1956), the same year the Silver Age was aborning, with the revival of the Flash in Showcase #4, cover dated October, 1956. Kanigher may have been obliged to use Peter for the art chores until Peter chose to quit, but he chose a more contemporary style for the covers. The cover of #81* was drawn by Irv Novick.

Kanigher used two of Marston’s original characters, Paula Von Gunther, and the Duke of Deception, in this story.

*GCD entry for Wonder Woman #81

H.G. Peter’s last job as Wonder Woman’s artist was Wonder Woman #97 (1958). Just click on the thumbnail.

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