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Paula, the Amazon

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Paula
Paula Von Gunta (WW 328)
Information
Real name: Paula
Alias(es): Paula von Gunta
Paula von Gunther
Species: Amazon
Homeworld: Earth
Universe: Earth-One
Hair: Red (former)
Blonde (later)
Base: Paradise Island
Science Island


Paula was the chief scientist of the Amazons, and an occasional foe of Wonder Woman.

Background Information[]

On the parallel earth of Earth-One, little is known of Paula’s origin. She is portrayed as an Amazonian, who lived on Paradise Island providing her scientific know-how to fight truth and justice. Paula was also the Amazons’ chief scientist (above all others) and first thought to be the inventor of Purple Healing Ray.[1] It was later revealed that the Purple Ray was actually invented by Wonder Woman and only improved upon by Paula.[2]

Her laboratory is on Science Island, which is adjacent to Paradise Island.[3]

As chief scientist, Paula aided Wonder Woman on many occasions. On one of those occasions she creates a space suit that can resist the elements and vacuum of space.[4]

Secretly in love with Steve Trevor, Paula comes to America, calls herself, Paula von Gunta (apparently in disguise) and forms the ‘Von Gunta Gang.’ Their objective is to break Wonder Woman and Steve up, so she can have Steve to herself. Her scheme fails.[5] Out of petty spite, (apparently still in disguise) Paula then joins an eccentric millionaire calling himself the ‘collector’, Doctor Psycho and Giganta to steal her Magic Lasso. She almost succeeded, knowing the Amazon princesses’ weakness. She eventually fails and the collector’s misfits are arrested.[6]

In a plot by the nefarious Angle Man Wonder Woman loses her powers, which causes her to go back to Paradise Island to undergo testing in Paula’s lab. Paula finds nothing she can cure. The mighty Amazon decides to fight crime in the same way Batgirl does. She soon defeats Angle Man and her powers are restored.[7]

Paula modified the Purple Ray to alter the molecular structure to give Donna Troy all the powers of Wonder Woman. With her new found powers, Donna becomes the infamous Wonder Girl.[8]

Paula is on hand to help the Mighty Amazon solve a riddle by sending Wonder Woman back in time.[9] She also gives aid to Wonder Woman and other Amazons as they battle giant golden women from outer space.[10] She again is available to help by receiving telepathic commands form Wonder Woman in order to defeat Queen Atomia.[11]

When the Changeling of the New Teen Titans was critically injured and near death, Donna Troy takes him to Paula to have him healed with the Purple Ray.[12] As he recovered, Paula stayed by him during the Amazons' ensuing battle with the Titans of Myth.[13]

Steve Trevor is injured with a head wound as in the hospital.[14] Wonder Woman goes to Paradise Island seeking the aid of Paula. She is granted permission to bring Steve to Paula's lab, because it is on the nearby Science Island.[15] However the trip becomes unnecessary as Steve recovers.[16]

After Titan’s member, Raven collapses; Donna Troy and Koriand'r take her to Paradise Island to be examined by Paula. Later, Queen Hippolyta summons the two girls and tells them that the source of her pain is in another Earth and that she will die within the hour if they don’t stop the pain at the source. Starfire says that they will do whatever it takes. Anticipating the response, the Queen has already directed the Amazons to prepare a cosmic portal. The two Titans hop into the portal to defeat the menace and save their friend.[17]

In a battle against Aegeus, Steve is almost stranded on Paradise Island, but is caught by Queen Hippolyta and brought safely to Science Island to be under the care of Paula. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman defeats the menace and joins her beloved on Science Island.[18]

When Zatanna is severely injured by a Dark Cloud/Grey Mist creature, Wonder Woman decides to take her to Paradise Island, to be examined by Paula and healed with the Purple Ray.[19]

Science Island in receives an unexpected visitor from one of its own. It is the Amazon Sofia Constantinos. She wants to know what secrets the queen is keeping from Wonder Woman. Unable to find Paula, or any of the other scientists, she slips into the memory chair. Hearing the commotion, Paula gets up to investigate. Seeing what Sofia is up to, Paula threatens to tell the Queen. Sophia attacks her claiming that she is on the conspiracy as well. After a brief struggle, Paula is knocked unconscious.[20] Sofia resumes her position in the memory chair and is able to retrieve all she desired. She heads over to the mental radio and tries to contact Wonder Woman to let her know all she's discovered. The message is received in the cockpit of the invisible plane, but nobody is there to receive it.[21] As Sophia tries to contact Wonder Woman, the queen enters the science lab and demands to know what is going on. Sophia confronts the queen and admonishes her for keeping Diana's true love from her. The queen begins to summon the guards when Sophia tells her that Paula is in the memory chair and if she summons the guards she will remove Paula's memories for good. Immediately, the queen races towards the memory chair. While she does, Sophia escapes.[22] Meanwhile, Steve has arrived in the skies above Paradise Island in the invisible jet. As he speaks with hippolyta and confronts her on Sophia's accusations, he spies Sofia on the shores below. She appears in a trance as he rescues her and leaves the island.[23]

Shortly before everything on Earth-One was about to change, Paula was asked to replace Queen Hippolyta as the Amazon queen during a coup d'état, which was abruptly ended when the goddess Kore appeared to enlist the Amazons in a battle against the Anti-Monitor during the Crisis on Infinite Earths.[24]


Notes[]

  • Paula's first Silver Age appearance was in Wonder Woman, #99 (July, 1958)
  • She was created by William Moulton Marston (writer) and Harry G. Peter (artist).
    • She was created as an adversary for Wonder Woman in Sensation Comics, #4 (April 1942), the Baroness would become the Amazing Amazon's first recurring enemy.[25] Though in her earliest appearances she was a cold-blooded Nazi spy and saboteur,[26] the Baroness would reform into Wonder Woman's ally (albeit one who occasionally lapsed into villainy).[27]
  • There are many that believe that the Earth-One version of Paula differs only slightly from her Earth-Two counterpart, having similar origins. Like her counterpart, she moved to Paradise Island, being adopted by the Amazons and becoming the chief scientist. This connection is unnecessary. Mainly because of her final story-line, where she was up for election (if you will) for the position of Queen of Paradise Island. Why would they give this honor to an outsider? It makes no sense. In America, according to Article II of the U.S. Constitution Section 1, Clause 5 there are three qualifications for holding the office of presidency: (1) natural-born U.S. citizenship; (2) be at least thirty-five years of age; and (3) a resident in the United States for at least fourteen years.


Comic Book Image Gallery[]


Reference[]

  1. ↑ It was revealed in Teen Titans, #22/2 (July/August 1969) that Paula was the Amazon’s chief scientist and inventor of the Purple Healing Ray.
  2. ↑ As revealed in New Teen Titans, #11 (September 1981). This issue states that it was actually Wonder Woman who invented the Purple Ray, citing the Golden Story Wonder Woman, #1 June, 1942 as proof.
  3. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #289 (March 1982).
  4. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #99 (July 1958).
  5. ↑ As revealed in Metal Men, #21 (August/September 1966).
  6. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #168 (July 1958).
  7. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #174 (January/February 1968).
  8. ↑ As was revealed in Teen Titans, #22/2 (July/August 1969).
  9. ↑ As reveled in Wonder Woman, #207 (August/September 1973).
  10. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #210 (February/March 1974).
  11. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #211/2 (April/May 1974).
  12. ↑ As revealed in New Teen Titans, #11 (September 1981).
  13. ↑ As revealed in New Teen Titans, #12 (October, 1981).
  14. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #288 (February 1982).
  15. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #289 (March 1982).
  16. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #290 (April 1982).
  17. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #293 (July 1982).
  18. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #299 (January 1983).
  19. ↑ As revealed in World’s Finest Comics, #286 (December 1982).
  20. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #313 (March 1984).
  21. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #314 (April 1984).
  22. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #316 (June 1984).
  23. ↑ As revealed in Wonder Woman, #317 (July 1984).
  24. ↑ This story-line is revealed in Wonder Woman, #322 (December 1984); #324 (April 1985); #325 (May 1985); #326 (July 1985); #327 (September 1985); #328 (December 1985).
  25. ↑ Daniels, Les. Wonder Woman: The Complete History. Chronicle Books, 2000, p. 35-36.
  26. ↑ Beatty, Scott. Wonder Woman: The Ultimate Guide to the Amazon Princess. DK Publishing, 2003. p. 113.
  27. ↑ Jimenez, Phil. The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia, Del Rey Books, 2010, p. 170-173.
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