Wonder
Woman Ashcan #1 (DC, January 1942). The Wonder Woman ashcan is one
of the few that were machine stitched and trimmed. In other words,
it's not hand-stapled and trimmed like the Superman ashcan was. It
looks like a regular Golden Age comic book with a black and white
cover. Only one copy is known to exist. The cover features cover art
by H. G. Peter, that would eventually be used for Sensation # 1. The
most noticeable difference is the logo that has been changed to
"Wonder Woman". The interior presents the Wonder Woman
story from Sensation Comics # 2. Since Sensation Comics # 1 is cover
dated January, 1942, it's clear that M.C. Gaines and his business
partners at DC produced this ashcan immediately upon their
realization that Wonder Woman was going to be a huge hit. They rushed
this ashcan into production to secure the trademark for what would
become the world's most popular female superhero. The first issue of
Wonder Woman, dated Summer 1942, quickly followed.
