Paula von Gunther
Paula von Gunther is a female comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Paula von Gunther
As one of the Nazis' most valuable overseas agents, Paula was aided by two factors: her own scientific brilliance which created many unimaginable inventions, and an army of slave-girls instilled with near-fanatical loyalty to their mistress. These girls, kidnapped from multiple states, eventually attracted the attention of Wonder Woman, who ultimately exposed and apprehended Paula. (Sensation Comics v1 #4)
Von Gunther went to trial, but Wonder Woman acted as her defense and got her off. Murder charges had to be thrown out on double jeopardy, because Paula had previously been tried, convicted and executed for that crime in the electric chair, but her henchmen had revived her with an electrical machine she had invented after the Doctor gave her body to them. (Sensation Comics v1 #7)
This invasion, Paula's most ambitious operation to date, would ironically prove the beginning of her spy career's end. As always, Wonder Woman and her fellow Amazons routed the scheme - but since it had targeted Paradise Island, they were not obligated to return Paula and her slave-girls to American custody. Instead, Queen Hippolyta consigned the would-be invaders to Transformation Island, where they were to be peacefully cured of the Nazi ideology. (Wonder Woman v1 #3)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Paula von Gunther was a descendant of the Norse Valkyries who long ago were massacred by the Amazons of Themyscira after approaching their island. Among their only survivors was Gudra who vowed revenge against them and her descendants became the Von Gudra family that lived over the generations. This was till the modern age where her parents lived in America where they became faction leaders in the Sons of Liberty white nationalist terrorist group. As a child, her parents were involved in a stand-off against A.R.G.U.S. where they were killed and the young Paula was rescued by Wonder Woman. Unaware of her heritage, the young child was taken in by A.R.G.U.S. agents Harold and Petra Paul who raised the girl as Helen Paul where they hid from her the true nature of her parents. Over the years, the young Helen was enamoured with Wonder Woman who she saw as a hero for saving her. Eventually, Helen became an agent of A.R.G.U.S. and came to work alongside Wonder Woman along with Steve Trevor. This included even undertaking a mission in Gorilla City to rescue a captive A.R.G.U.S. agent. When Leviathan struck, its leader came to reveal Helen's true history leading to the young woman retaking her family name as she became Paula von Gunther who operated as a supervillain named the Warmaster. (Wonder Woman Annual v5 #3)
Overview
Personality and attributes
One incarnation of her came to adopt the name Warmaster. (Wonder Woman Annual v5 #3)
Powers and abilities
Paula von Gunther had after receiving training standard Amazon powers, such as superhuman strength capable of breaking chains and leaping great heights, speed and stamina enough to deflect bullets and other projectiles from her Amazon Bracelets. She was also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant.
Notes
- Paula von Gunther was created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter where she made her first appearance in Sensation Comics v1 #4 (April, 1942).
Alternate Versions
- In Wonder Woman: Earth One v1 #2 (2018), an alternate version of Paula von Gunther appeared in the new Earth One reality in the reformed Multiverse. Being defeated, Paula was condemned to the Improvement Island by Queen Hippolyta, wearing for decades the Venus Girdle to heal her of her wickedness. Passionately obsessed with Princess Diana from the moment they met, she wanted to rule a world of women together with her, where men were slaves. It was Paula who murdered Hippolyta in her own royal palace for Diana to take her place as Queen of the Amazons and fulfill her desire and stole her Aphrodite's Magic Girdle. During the fight between Paula and Diana with the Amazons in Washington, D.C., the battle moved to the gardens of the White House, which was considered an act of war. Despite Diana's pain at having her mother murdered by Paula, she was again sentenced to wear the Venus Girdle, confessing in the face of Diana's compassion that she, in her twisted mind, did all that out of love for her.
In other media
Television
- In Wonder Woman, Paula von Gunther appeared in the setting of the 1975 live-action television series where she was portrayed by actress Christine Belford.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Paula von Gunther appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "The Scorn of the Star Sapphire!" where she was voiced by actress Eliza Schneider. This version sported a hooded cloak similar to the one worn by the Wonder Woman (1975) incarnation.
Video games
Appearances
- Sensation Comics v1: (1942)
- Wonder Woman Annual v5:
External Links
This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.
