25 things you didn’t know about Wonder Woman

8. She was created to beat up Nazis

Captain America wasn’t the only comics-based superhero who went around defeating representatives of the Axis powers. After all, Wonder Woman first appeared in 1942, while World War II was well under way. With four more years until the end of the war, Diana had plenty of time to come up against Nazi foes and show them just how much she didn’t like them.

Of course, American comics created during the World War II era were often grounds for militaristic patriotism. They were also, unfortunately, places where you could encounter some outright and frankly terrible examples of racism (especially against Japanese forces). Fair warning before you delve into World War II comics on your own.

As it turns out, however, Wonder Woman didn’t just face off against Nazis on the comics page. In fact, these villains formed a major plot during an episode of the 1970s Wonder Woman series, starring Lynda Carter. In “Fausta: The Nazi Wonder Woman”, set during World War II, the titular Fausta is a German spy and former Olympic athlete. She attempts to capture Wonder Woman and very nearly succeeds.

Along the way, she also captures Diana’s love interest, Steve Trevor, and even masquerades as Wonder Woman herself. Steve even mistakes her for the actual Wonder Woman, meaning either Fausta’s costume is just that good or Steve perhaps isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.