WONDERLAND • The Ultimate Wonder Woman Site

	There is a supreme male leader in the galaxy whose myth is currently being promoted by one of the most popular movies around. There's a powerful woman capable of great feats of strength and daring who is vying with him for the title of the world's greatest. Who, everyone wonders, will win? Is Superman stronger than Wonder Woman? Or is Wonder Woman wilier than her Kryptonite rival?

	One thing the Superman character has over Wonder Woman is age. Ile's been around a lot longer, having made his debut in Action Comics #1 back in 1938. On the other hand, Wonder Woman has only been around since 1942 (and that's still 37 years!), when an artist named Charles Moulton decided it wasn't fair for the boys to have Superman and Captain Marvel to root for while the girls went idolless. So he created Wonder Woman.

	Wonder Woman is really Diana, an immortal Amazon fom Paradise Island who wears golden belt that gives her superhuman powers, carries a golden lasso that forces victims to tell only the truth, and wears magical bracelets that deflect both bullets; and missiles. In love with Steve Trevor, a U.S. Army pilot who crash-landed on Paradise Island, Diana has come to America in the role of his secretary. He has no idea of her secret identity.

Superman, as we're currently concerned with him, is the Superman of two movies (the first has been released, the second is yet to come) written in part by Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather.

Superman's parents on the planet Krypton, Jor-El and Lara, leam that Krypton is due to explode because of internal stress. Jor-El tries to convince his fellow Kryptonites that this disaster is going to befall their planet, but no one will listen. So Jor-El builds a space capsule and in it he places his and Lara's small son Kar-El. The baby leaves Krypton in his spacecraft just before the planet explodes.

The spacecraft lands in a field in Kansas, where it's discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Kent. They rate the baby as their own, even though they realize it is different and from another world, and they name it Clark.

As he grows older, Clark, who was educated by mental tapes inside his spaceship, realizes he is not like other boys. Finally, he discovers the spacecraft and learns the secret of his birth. He grows up outside Smallville, Kansas convinced to use his special gifts for the good of humankind as soon as he can.

He does this by heading for Metropolis, U.S.A., where he becomes a reporter for Perry White's newspaper, The Daily Planet His chief rival at the paper is Lois Lane, the girl reporter. Lois just happens to be around every once in a while when Superman himself shows up to rescue a victim. Little does she guess that the amazing creature in the flowing cape with the "S" emblazoned on it is the mild-mannered reporter she scorns by day. For Lois Lane loves Superman and shrugs off Clark Kent.

Superman, as played by handsome Christopher Reeve in the film, has limitless powers. He can fly almost anywhere including through the time barrier. He has super-speed, super-breath, super-intellect and super-vision. On the other hand, Wonder Woman's powers are pretty modest, almost puny in comparison.

Does this mean that Superman is better than she is? Wonder Woman's fans say no. One of the nicest things about Wonder Woman is that her fans get to see her every week on television. And she's certainly a fearless, red-blooded freedom fighter who won't take any guff from anybody. The fact that-Wonder Woman is really in love with Steve Trevor shows that she's got a softer heart than Superman, whose feelings towards Lois Lane are surely affectionate but never overly serious.

Is there really room for only one leader in the galaxy? Yes, say Superman fans. Yes, insist Wonder Woman boosters. We say the answer is yes-for them. People who think only one can be best are free to choose whomever they want as the ruler of the galaxy. The rest of us can appreciate them all. Heroes are wonderful, whether we're talking about. Batman, the Green Hornet, Wonder Woman, Superman or the Shadow. Deep down inside they all have the same goal-to make the universe a better place to live in.

We have Superman to thank for bringing us one of the year' most fabulous films. Beside: starring Reeve as the magic man himself, the movie stars Marlon Brando and Susannah York as Jor-El and Lara, Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter as Jonathan and Martha Kent, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Noel Neill (TV's former LOIS Lane) and Kirk Alyn as Lois' parents and a host of others, including Jackie Cooper, Terence Stamp, E.G. Marshall, Jeff East, Ned Beatty, Trevor Howard and Valerie Perrine. Superman was written by Robert Benton and David and Leslie Newman along with Puzo and was directed by Richard Donner. No expense was spared in the $30 million epic, destined to become pan of America's moviemaking legend.

Wonder Woman is, of course, a more modest effort, but it's not a cheap show by any means. There's plenty of excitement and special effects in each show as Diana (Lynda Carter) turns into Wonder Woman and helps her true love Major Trevor, played by Lyle Waggoner, rid the world of dangerous nuisances.

Is it the Baffle of the Century? It could be, but so far both Superman and Wonder Woman feel there's room for both of them. The only battle we can foresee is between their fans over which of their idols they think is the greatest in the Milky Way!