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| Wonder Woman v1 | ||||
| Issue # | 196 | |||
| Cover Date | September/October 1971 | |||
| * Release Date | July 1, 1971 | |||
| Previous Issue | Wonder Woman v1 #195 | |||
| Next Issue | Wonder Woman v1 #197 | |||
"Target for Today?"
- Written by Mike Sekowsky
- Pencils: Mike Sekowsky
- Inks: Dick Giordano
Synopsis
Diana must prevent the assasination of a visiting abassador to the U.S. from the country of Koronia. But all is not as it appears as she thwarts multiple attempts on the ambassador's life while enroute to meet the president.
"Introducing Wonder Woman"
- Written by William Moulton Marston
- Art by Harry G. Peter
Synopsis
Six of the nine original pages detailing Wonder Woman's origin are reprinted from All Star Comics 8. The three omitted pages deal with Steve Trevor's adventure as revealed by the Magic Sphere.
"The Stormy Menace of Goblin Head Rock!"
- Written by Harry G. Peter
- Art by Harry G. Peter
Synopsis
"Found--A Treasure! Searching through H. G. Peter's collection of Wonder Woman art we came across this original story--never before published anywhere--written and drawn by the great man himself more than twenty years ago! Here it is, among comic-book experts, a rare collector's item..."
At Army Intelligence Diana Prince receives a Mental Radio message from her mother, Queen Hippolyte, that Priscilla Rich — The Cheetah — has escaped Transformation Island.
At the same time, Colonel Steve Trevor is alerted to the disappearance of Professor Profundo and all his discoveries — including a weather control machine. Meanwhile, off the Maine coast, the Good Ship Argosy — carrying the Holiday Girls and a cargo of gold bullion — is caught in a sudden wind storm and crashes against a jagged reef just below a lighthouse overlooking a rock in the shape of a disfigured head known as Goblin's Point.
When news of the sinking Argosy reaches Army Intelligence, Diana feigns distress at the fate of Etta and the Holiday Girls. Steve tells her to go home and rest, "this is a man's job." But he secretly wishes Wonder Woman were there. Diana exits into the hallway where she changes into her costume then swoops through Steve's office window, "I met Diana in the hall--she told me all about it. Come on, Steve--we have work to do!"
Back at the Argosy, Etta and the Holiday Girls are suddenly swept straight up to Goblin's Point. Just then Steve and Wonder Woman arrive by invisible plane and mount a rescue of all remaining Argosy passengers and crew. After which the duo split up; Steve to recover the gold from the sunken Argosy and Wonder Woman off to locate her friends.
The crew warns Steve that the Argosy is laying on a ledge just above the ocean floor and it would be suicide to be inside it if it topples over. Steve dismisses this and puts on a diving suit and helmet and slips beneath the ocean surface. Just then the storm starts again, threatening to blow the crew away. They attempt to pull Steve back up.
But below the surface, the Cheetah is following Steve and severs his life line. He falls to the ocean floor as the Argosy begins to topple above him. Meanwhile two of Cheetah's henchwomen pick her up on a motor boat but Wonder Woman spots them from her invisible plane. Setting the robot control, she dives for Cheetah, grabbing her and plunging them both back into the ocean where she sees Steve pinned by the Argosy.
Releasing the Cheetah, Wonder Woman lifts the Argosy off Steve and hurls it out of the ocean onto the beach. She then pulls Steve to shore and retrieves the gold bullion. Later, with the gold and Steve aboard the invisible plane, Wonder Woman takes to the air. But then Cheetah activates the weather control machine which sucks the plane out of the sky and onto Goblin's Point with a bump, rendering Steve unconscious.
Cheetah threatens to use the machine on her hostages — Etta Candy, the Holiday Girls, and Professor Profundo — unless Wonder Woman surrenders. The hostages hang by their wrists which are chained to the lighthouse balcony. Wonder Woman surrenders and Cheetah uses the magic lasso to compel her to retrieve Steve Trevor and join the hostages. Wonder Woman reluctantly obeys as Cheetah uses the lasso to fasten them alongside the others.
In victory Cheetah lets out a rallying cry which draws out from hiding a score of cheering followers. Cheetah joins them and activates the weather machine which sends bolts of lightning shooting at the hostages. But the Magic Lasso absorbs all the electricity, providing Wonder Woman an opportunity to rip the balcony and dome completely away from the lighthouse structure, freeing everyone.
Etta and the Holiday Girls make short work of Cheetah's gang. But the villainess herself flees with Wonder Woman in pursuit. Before the Amazon can overtake her, Cheetah leaps off Goblin's Point to the watery depths below. Steve thinks she's dead. But Wonder Woman can't believe it. Etta reminds her that, "Uncontrolled power brings destruction--and it did!"