Wonder Woman First Appearance: All-Star Comics #8 and How to Identify It
Wonder Woman first appeared in All-Star Comics #8 (December 1941). 2 checks to confirm an original, the reprints and facsimiles to rule out, with sources.
At a glance
- Character: Wonder Woman
- Publisher: DC
- First appearance: All-Star Comics #8
- Cover date: December 1941
- On sale: 1941
- Creators: William Moulton Marston, Harry G. Peter
- First cover appearance: Her first cover appearance was Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942): that issue was the first to feature her on the cover, and it launched the series largely devoted to her adventures.
Where Wonder Woman first appeared
Wonder Woman first appeared in All-Star Comics #8 (cover date December 1941), published by DC, by William Moulton Marston, Harry G. Peter. The source puts it this way: "This landmark comic book features the very first appearance and original origin of Wonder Woman".
How to tell you have All-Star Comics #8
- Release/cover date: the issue's release date is recorded as December 3, 1941.
- Interior story content: the origin story continues into Sensation Comics #1 and Wonder Woman #1.
Checks that apply to any key issue
- Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
- Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
- Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
- Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.
How to photograph it for identification
Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.
FAQ
What comic is Wonder Woman's first appearance?
All-Star Comics #8, cover-dated December 1941, from DC.
How do I know if my All-Star Comics #8 is an original?
Release/cover date: the issue's release date is recorded as December 3, 1941.
Is Wonder Woman on the cover of the first appearance?
Her first cover appearance was Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942): that issue was the first to feature her on the cover, and it launched the series largely devoted to her adventures.
Should I get it graded?
If it is genuinely this issue and in decent shape, a grading service authenticates it and detects restoration. Read the comic grading guide first so you know what the grade will mean.
Related
Sources
Updated 2026-09-11.