# What did Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman do during WWII, anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981 "2015-11-29T22:27:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/1 "2015-11-29T22:27:51Z")
A new book of old comics holds the answers: [What did Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman do in the war? - cleveland.com](http://www.cleveland.com/comic-books/index.ssf/2015/11/what_did_superman_batman_and_w.html) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/2 "2015-11-29T22:37:19Z")
I have the animated Superman cartoons from the early 40s. In the ones produced by Famous Studios, Superman engaged in some behind-the-scenes sabotage against the Axis powers. And the first season of the Wonder Woman TV series had her fighting the Nazis. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/3 "2015-11-29T22:37:37Z")
So Captain America and even Daffy Duck knocked the noggin of Hitler and Superman did not bother? [Bugs Bunny] What a Maroon! [/BB] ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/4 "2015-11-29T22:42:08Z")
Hey, not a single U-boat made it past the Fortress of Solitude. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/5 "2015-11-29T23:03:47Z")
What did Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Diana Prince do? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/6 "2015-11-29T23:39:34Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > So Captain America and even Daffy Duck knocked the noggin of Hitler and Superman did not bother? [Au contraire!](http://cdn1.tabletmag.com/wp-content/files_mf/comic620.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/7 "2015-11-30T00:02:36Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > What did Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Diana Prince do? Wasn’t the Wonder Woman TV series originally set during WWII? There’s your Diana Prince answer. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/8 "2015-11-30T00:27:31Z")
John Byrne did a story where Bruce Wayne funded the Manhattan Project – to the point where it’s known as _“The Gotham Project”_ – as well as personally protecting the bomb from enemy spies/saboteurs/thieves as Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/9 "2015-11-30T00:40:32Z")
They got rid of that evil Hister guy. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/10 "2015-11-30T01:24:27Z")
According to the comics of the time, there was a magic ray surrounding axis controlled territory that prevented superheroes from operating their because of sciency stuff. The superheroes were busily punching Nazi saboteurs, foiling spies and fighting landing parties, but they couldn’t actually attack the enemy on territory the Axis controlled. IIRC DC was asked to do this by the war propaganda department. The thinking was that having Superman fly in an single handedly demolish the enemy would trivialise the actions of the personell doing the real fighting and dying. Based on fuzzy memories “human” superheroes like Batman were “allowed” to fight the enemy. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/11 "2015-11-30T01:47:55Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > According to the comics of the time, there was a magic ray surrounding axis controlled territory that prevented superheroes from operating their because of sciency stuff. The superheroes were busily punching Nazi saboteurs, foiling spies and fighting landing parties, but they couldn’t actually attack the enemy on territory the Axis controlled. I’m not sure if that was advanced during the 1940s, but a mystical version was offered as an explanation in the 1980s series _All-Star Squadron_ (which starts at Pearl Harbor). The [fourth issue](http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/All-Star_Squadron_Vol_1_4) (December 1981) depicts a superhero counter-attack on Japan as the protective spell takes effect and the most powerful of the characters (explained as anyone whose powerset is based on magic or who is particularly vulnerable to magic, i.e. Superman) would flip to the Axis side as long as they were in Axis-controlled territory. ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/12 "2015-11-30T02:00:41Z")
I have a vague recollection that Hitler’s possession of the Spear of Destiny kept the allied capes out of the fight, as it caused them to join the axis if they entered its sphere of influence. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/13 "2015-11-30T02:01:28Z")
Wonder Woman? Straight-up Nazi fightin.’ [http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=275](http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=275) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/14 "2015-11-30T02:40:34Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I’m not sure if that was advanced during the 1940s, but a mystical version was offered as an explanation in the 1980s series _All-Star Squadron_ (which starts at Pearl Harbor). The [fourth issue](http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/All-Star_Squadron_Vol_1_4) (December 1981) depicts a superhero counter-attack on Japan as the protective spell takes effect and the most powerful of the characters (explained as anyone whose powerset is based on magic or who is particularly vulnerable to magic, i.e. Superman) would flip to the Axis side as long as they were in Axis-controlled territory. Yup. The most powerful JSA members were Spectre, Supes, WW…etc… That leaves the likes of Wildcat and The Red Bee to go head to head with the Nazis! ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/15 "2015-11-30T02:49:37Z")
There was one story in which Clark Kent goes to take the physical exam for his draft board. During the eye exam, he accidentally uses his X-ray vision, and ends up reading letters from the wrong eye chart. He is declared 4F, and remains a civilian. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/16 "2015-11-30T02:49:54Z")
Hey, superman number 17 had Supie right on the cover shaking Tojo and Hitler by the scruff of their necks. I have a copy of that comic! I keep it in an airtight bag in my vault at the stately Mercotan dilatory domicile. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/17 "2015-11-30T03:50:54Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > [Au contraire!](http://cdn1.tabletmag.com/wp-content/files_mf/comic620.jpg) Wow! Where’d he take Adolf and Uncle Joe next? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/18 "2015-11-30T04:32:38Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Wasn’t the Wonder Woman TV series originally set during WWII? There’s your Diana Prince answer. \*cough. Post #2. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/19 "2015-11-30T07:28:42Z")
The caption for this in _ **Playboy** _ was “I know! Let’s wreak vengeance on the forces of evil!” [![](http://comicscomicsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/lf-1.jpg) ](http://comicscomicsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/lf-1.jpg) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981/20 "2015-11-30T14:53:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Wow! Where’d he take Adolf and Uncle Joe next? To [Geneva](http://images.sequart.org/images/How-Superman-Would-End-the-War-Look-magazine.gif), where they were judged by a League of Nations tribunal. Note that this comic was from 1940, predating the USA’s entry into the war, and ran in Look magazine, not a regular comic book. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-superman-batman-and-wonder-woman-do-during-wwii-anyway/738981.md?page=2)