Available as t-shirts, hoodies, and children's clothing: http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/t-shirts/4329390-4-the-return
This is the fourth in my ongoing series of comic book covers based on the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman television show! I'm particularly proud of this one because when I look at it, THAT is the Wonder Woman in my head. I've finally given it form. I decided to add the sketch and digital inks that became this illustration.
Episode No. 15 (including the pilot movie): The Return of Wonder Woman
This episode marked the switch from a World War II setting to the modern day (in this case, 1977), and also a change of networks from ABC to CBS. The premise was: Wonder Woman returned to Paradise Island after World War II since the Nazi menace had been taken care of. In 1977, fate intervenes, and IADC Agent Colonel Steve Trevor crashes on the uncharted body of land in The Bermuda Triangle known as Paradise Island just like his father before him. Princess Diana rescues him and finds out that she's still needed in the outside world: this time, to stop a terrorist plot.
In the "new" series, Major Steve Trevor (Lyle Waggoner) was now Colonel Steve Trevor, Jr., Private Etta Candy (Beatrice Colen) was gone, and Joe Atkinson (Normann Burton) replaced General Blankenship (Richard Eastham) as "the boss" of the series. That wouldn't last very long. Diana Prince was no longer disguised as a mousy secretary: she was on her way to becoming a stylish woman of the 1970s. By the end of the series, she'd even ditched the glasses and bun/ponytail she used to disguise herself. I prefer the CBS series to ABC because of the new confidence Lynda Carter gave Diana Prince and Wonder Woman. In describing the dualities of the role, Lynda Carter has said she always considered Diana Prince as who the woman really was and Wonder Woman as what she could do. I heartily agree with that interpretation.
The first time I saw this particular episode was on the old fX Network in 1994 because it never appeared in syndication on the networks in my area before that. fX edited it down to one hour long episode and one half hour episode, cutting scenes in the process, so I was delighted to finally see it in its entirety when Columbia House released it on VHS. Of course, now it's on DVD, but Warner Brothers edited out the opening teaser and the cannon shot that preceded the theme song. There are a number of odd choices WB made on the DVD release so hopefully one day they'll actually release the complete series, unedited.
OK, let's see the art!
Read More
I was contacted by a March of Dimes volunteer who asked me, along with several other comic book illustrators, to donate some sketches to raise funds for Be a Hero for Babies Day, which is June 3rd. I sketched Black Canary, Flash, Robin, and Diana Prince/Wonder Woman.
The sketches are now up for auction on eBay, so I hope you'll take a look and place a bid (or two, or three, or four) to help the little rugrats! svgallery=MoDimes Other contributing artists include: Aaron Lopresti, Aaron Sowd,Adam DeKraker, Adi Granov, Al Bigley, Allison Sohn, Andrew Wildman, Angel Gabriele, Arley Tucker, Batton Lash, Bill Maus, Billy Tan, Billy Tucci, Bob Almond, Bob Layton, Brendon & Brian Fraim, Brian Murray, Brian Postman, Cadence Comic Art, Cassandra Lovell, Chad Spilker, Chris Summers, Craig Boldman, Dan Panosian, Dan Parent, Daniel Chon, Dave Simons, David Faught, David Hahn, Derek Furman, Drew Johnson, Ed Benes, Ed Quinby, Fabio Redivo, Frankie Washington, Fred Hembeck, Gary Barker, Gene Espy, Geof Isherwood, Geoffrey Shane, Greg Horn, Greg LaRocque, Greg Moutafis, Greg Woronchak, Guy Davis, Herb Trimpe, Howard Bender, Hugh Vogt, Ian Sokoliwski, Jamal Igle, James Lyle, Javier Lugo, Jay Fotos, Jeff Newman, Jeff Shultz, Jeremy Dale, Jerry Loomis, Jessica Hickman, Jim Mahfood, John McCrea, Joe Singleton, John Johnston, John Watson, Kathleen Webb, Keith Dotson, Ken Branch, Ken Hunt, Khoi Pham, Marc Wolfe, Marc Lewis, Mark Bloodworth, Mark Spears, Matt Maguire, Matt Wagner, Michael Borkowski, Michael Dooney, Michael Munshaw, Mike DeCarlo, Mike Lilly, Mike Vosburg, Mikel Whelan, Nat Jones, Nate Lovett, Nate Taylor, Norm Breyfogle, Paul Gulacy, Randy Emberlin, Ray-Anthony Height, Rich Bonk, Rich Koslowski, Rich Molinelli, Robert Summers, Robt Snyder, Rudy Vasquez, Ryan Sook, Sal Velluto, Scott Christian Sava, Scott Johnson, Sean Forney, Shane Peters, Shaun Ward, Shawn McManus, Sherry McCarty, Stan Goldberg, Stephanie Olivieri, Steve Lieber, Steve Lydic, Todd Nauck, Tom Fleming, Tom Hodges, Travis Bundy, Troy Parke, Uko Smith.