*(Please note that the featured image for this post is of Wonder Woman from issue #67 of Wonder Woman (Volume 2) titled “Barren, Rocky, And Cold”. It’s not from the unreleased The Rape of Wonder Woman comic book but is shown here instead to showcase a similar theme to the obscure comic since The Rape of Wonder Woman has no public images associated with it yet.)
The Rape of Wonder Woman was a comic book proposed by comic book writer Mark Millar to DC Comics sometime in 1993. The comic was never officially released, but was supposed to be similar in concept to The Death of Superman for Superman and Knightfall for Batman around that same time in the early 1990’s. Wonder Woman was supposed to get an edgier story arc like her fellow superheroes, but her story was probably the most controversial of the trio.
A post from Mark Millar describing the origins of The Rape of Wonder Woman comic.
Because as the name suggests, The Rape of Wonder Woman was going to revolve around an actual sexual assault of the world-famous superheroine. The comic book was going to be a twenty-two page feature with Wonder Woman being raped in public throughout the entire story. The end of the comic book was going to end into a gatefold like with The Death of Superman comics.
An image of Mark Millar at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan, New York in October 2, 2009. Sourced from his Wikipedia page.
Mark Millar originally pitched The Rape of Wonder Woman to DC Comics as a joke, but in a very surprising twist, DC Comics actually considered going forward with the project! According to Millar, an artist drew a sketch of the first page of the comic. DC Comics would ultimately scrap the project permanently. Millar suggested that the reason for the comic’s cancellation was the increase in rape allegations in the media at that time, as well as complaints in DC Comic’s writing and art departments. Millar didn’t provide any specific examples of the complaints against DC Comics, nor did he mention what was portrayed in the first sketch of the comic. Still, had The Rape of Wonder Woman actually released, it would have undoubtedly caused a cultural firestorm in the American entertainment industry. Most may be glad that The Rape of Wonder Woman never officially released, but the ill-fated comic book is an interesting example of writers and artists pushing the boundaries of art in society, for better or worse.
What are your thoughts fellow internet detectives? Would you be interested in seeing any media associated with this controversial comic book turn up? Let me know in the comments section below!
Sources
The Hidden Vault 
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