Comic Title: Wonder Woman #159
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: January 1966
On Sale Date: November 4, 1965 Copyright Date November 4, 1965
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1965

Frequency: Monthly, with the exception of March, June, Sept. and Dec.
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Robert Kanigher

Title: "The Golden Age Secret Origin of Wonder Woman"
Pages: 16

Feature(s):
Wonder Woman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Robert Kanigher
Penciller: Ross Andru
Inker: Michael Esposito

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:Wonder Woman Vol. 4 TPB (2012)

Feature Character(s)

• Wonder Woman (origin retold; last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Steve Trevor (last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)
• Hippolyte (last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)
• Mala (last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)
• Amazons (last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)

Villain(s)

• Mars (last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)
• Hercules (last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)

Other Character(s)

• Aphrodite (last appearance in Wonder Woman #1; next appearance in Wonder Woman #1)
• Athena (last appearance in All-Star Comics #8; next appearance in All-Star Comics #8)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• The Nazis (pictured by Ares)

Comments:
This story retells the origin of Wonder Woman as told in the first story of Wonder Woman #1 and the third story of All-Star Comics #8.

This story continues in part in the second story of Wonder Woman #159.

Since this story references World War II, it cannot take place on Earth-1. Since the story is nearly identical to the one that appeared in the first story of Wonder Woman #1, it is assumed that this is the Earth-2 Wonder Woman.

Synopsis:
Seeking to best the warlike god Mars, the goddess Aphrodite creates a race of women known as the Amazons. She gives the Amazon queen Hippolyte a magic girdle which allows the Amazons to defeat any male army. Angered by Aphrodite's triumph, Mars sends Hecules to battle Hippolyte. Though he fails to best the queen in combat, he tricks her into removing the girdle. Without the magic of the girdle, the Amazons are conquered by Hercules and his army.

Hippolyte pleads to Aphrodite for forgiveness and aid. The goddess helps the queen break her shackles and escape. The Amazons are then required to wear their bracelets as a reminder of falling to man's domination. Aphrodite then guides the Amazons to Paradise Island.

As years pass, Aphrodite and Athena recognize that Hippolyte is lonely. They magically grant life to the queen's clay statue of a little girl. The girl is named Diana and proves to possess godlike gifts and powers.

When Diana has reached adulthood she finds a soldier, Steve Trevor, injured in the waters near Paradise Island. She rescues the soldier and falls in love with him. Aphrodite order Hippolyte to select an Amazon to return with Trevor to the Man's World. A contest is held to determine the best candidate. Despite her mother's protests, Diana wins the competition and is selected to take Steve back to America. She is given a costume, magic lasso, and invisible plane to aid her on her mission.