We planned on putting together a database for Wonder Woman comics that would include a picture of the cover and list the writers and artists. Mind you, we're talking about compiling massive amounts of information from almost seventy <gasp> years of publication! We were overjoyed (serious understatement) to discover that Chris Hayes had already done that - plus much more! whew!!! THANK YOU, Chris!!)

Curious, we asked Chris what prompted him to this immense undertaking. It turns out to be truly a labor of love. Here is his response:

I fell in love with Diana as a young boy when watching the gorgeous Lynda Carter do her thing on TV here in the UK in the late 70's. I instantly fell in love with her - and the whole concept of Wonder Woman - and wanted to find out more. I began buying the comic book and collected quite a few issues before life took over and leaving school, getting a job etc meant that my passions faded and I sold off what issues I had.

During my late twenties though I experienced a renaissance when I happened to come across one of the very first WW websites during the early days of the internet. The flame was rekindled and I vowed that I would start my collecting days again! I spent the next several years visiting comic book marts and stores to gather both issues of "Wonder Woman" and other key titles in which she appeared, such as Justice League, bespoke one shots, crossover mini-series etc. I found the task so difficult - not knowing which non WW books she actually appeared in and which were not worth purchasing - that I decided I would create a website specifically to help others know what issues were worth adding to their collection.

The first incarnation of my site was called the "Wonder Woman Comic Book Reference Site" (horrible name!!) and its aim was simply to provide a list of titles and whether WW appeared in them significantly or not. As I progressed, I ensured wherever possible that I purchased the issues in question, although I don't unfortunately yet have many of the very early titles pre 1960. Those I had to research myself using other sources. However, I DO have every single WW issue starting from around #152 (volume 1) but no issues of either Sensation or Comic Cavalcade. I have a few ad hoc issues of WW prior to 1960, but I DO have almost every single other title that she has appeared in pre and post crisis. They run into hundreds!! As my job entails working on the internet and as the technology and ease of use got better I re-designed the entire site from the ground up, expanding its content, and decided I needed a better name - and so "Amazon Archives" was born!

For me, Diana is something so unique in the superhero genre. And like I quote on my site's home page, I think Greg Rucka summed her up so beautifully. He stated that Wonder Woman embodies the best of us in every way that matters. She embodies every one of our ideals; Wisdom. Intelligence. Compassion. Determination. Strength. Beauty. Grace. Devotion. And it is these qualities that make her so special and unique amongst comic book heroes.

My site is all about leaving a legacy - that even if one day Wonder Woman ever disappeared from our comic book shelves - people would be able to find out about her history and her past adventures and learn to fall back in love with her again the way I did all those years ago.

I am so grateful to William Moulton Marston for creating such an enduring character - one that has uniquely transcended the sometimes "geeky" world of comics and become part of modern day as an icon in her own right. Wonder Woman has become modern day language for female empowerment and the aspiration to become something better. She has shown us men that a woman can be beautiful AND strong, sexy AND compassionate, smart AND courageous. And that Wonder Woman loves us back. She is here for us and we feel comforted and inspired by her presence. Yes, she is simply pen and ink on a page. But she lives and breathes in our imaginations and hopes and dreams. And the world would be a poorer place without her.

Sometimes she is accused of being "out of her time" - a relic from the war that has no place in modern day culture. But I would disagree. In these times or terrorism, oppression and fanaticism she is more relevant now then she ever was during the dark days of World War II. She is a beacon of hope to all - young or old - male or female - gay or straight - black or white. No other character has ever bridged those disparate groups quite so effortlessly. And that is a tribute to her creator and the greatest legacy he could have left us.

So, I hope I have managed in some small way to share my passions with you and I'm so very glad that WW fans the world over can come and visit my site and enjoy what WW has to offer them.

Kudos to you for pulling together the WW family of sites and for helping your father show off such an incredible collection. I'm so envious! :-)

May the Glory of Gaea be with you!

Chris
AMAZON ARCHIVES
www.amazonarchives.com

Wonder Woman Comic Book History

'WHO IS WW' INDEED!