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Wonder Girl:Original Origin
Prelude: Donna's first appearance
Brave & The Bold #60Flash, Aqualad and new arrival Wonder Girl were teamed on the cover against a puffy-skinned giant wading hip-deep through the sea. The menace was The Separated Man, the comic was The Brave and the Bold #60, and the team was called The Teen Titans. The creative team was, once again, Haney and Premiani. Wonder Girl was added as a token female. She presented a knotty problem in herself. According to the version of Wonder Woman then current, Wonder Girl was actually Wonder Woman herself as a teen-ager, just as Wonder Tot was the Amazing Amazon as a pre-teener. All three "ages" of Wonder Woman frequently teamed up in fantasy adventures, somewhat akin to teaming Superboy, Superbaby, and Superman without the benefit of time-travel.
This was Wonder Girl's first crossover into the mainstream DC universe, and many a fan wondered about the continuity hassles implicit therein.
The First Origin, part one: Teen Titans #22 [1969]
It was finally revealed, four years after this issue, that Wonder Girl had been orphaned by a fire which killed her parents. Wonder Woman had saved her, taking her to Paradise Island where she was given Amazon powers by the mysterious Purple Ray. She later took the alias of Donna Troy and remained on Earth. It all was revealed in Teen Titans [first series] #22.
Synopsis: In that issue, upon the Titans' return to Earth, Wonder Girl unexpectedly collapses, the result of a recently recurring series of fainting spells. In explanation, she tells the other Titans her origin for the first time. As a child, she had been saved from an apartment building fire by Wonder Woman, and taken by her to Paradise Island to live after all attempts to ascertain her identity or those of her parents (presumed to be a couple killed in the blaze) had failed. Becoming Queen Hippolyta's foster daughter and Wonder Woman's foster sister, she was unable to compete with the Amazons on a physical level, lacking their special powers, and so was given powers almost identical to those of Wonder Woman by scientist Paula von Gunther's Purple Ray. Returning to the outside world to join the Teen Titans, she was forced to stay behind when the other Amazons sojourned to another dimension to recharge their magical powers (as shown in Wonder Woman), and had been secretly living in Titan Lair since that time.
Now, she takes the name Donna Troy as a civilian identity and moves into an apartment in Greenwich Village with new girlfriend Sharon Tracy. Later, she is contacted by Queen Hippolyta, who informs her that the Amazons' use of the Purple Ray had been accidentally responsible for her recurring weak spells, a problem which has now been corrected. Wonder Girl celebrates her new life by designing a new costume and changing her hairstyle.
Donna Troy in TEEN TITANS
Donna, as Wonder Girl, was a consistent member of the Teen Titans for its entire run, from Teen Titans #1-53.
With the second disbanding of the group, Donna and Sharon moved to San Francisco, where Donna enrolled in Dr. Tammines's School for Exceptional Girls, an experimental college which proved to be merely a front for the activities of Justice League nemesis Headmaster Mind, whose schemes Wonder Girl teamed with Wonder Woman to smash [Adventure Comics #461]. She was then involved in solving the kidnapping of former Titans mentor Mr. Jupiter [Wonder Woman #265-266].
The First Origin, part two: "Who is Donna Troy?" New Teen Titans #38 [1984]:
George Pérez comments: "There is no doubt that issue #38, the classic "Who is Donna Troy," made Wonder Girl's validity as a character quite irrevocable. While Grayson had to develop his identity. Wonder Girl had no identity to develop. She was originally created as a younger version of Wonder Woman co-existing with her adult-self. One of the original Titan series' finest stories established Wonder Girl as an orphan and an amnesiac rescued by Wonder Woman and raised as her sister."
"When we did 'Who is Donna Troy.' we were determined that she was going to have a background of normalcy. She was not going to be the daughter of some villain. A minority of letters came in asking why we had not established who her father was, thinking that we were going to introduce some big villain as her father."
An especially touching point in the story is the introduction of the Evans household, the surrogate family discovered by Donna near the tale's climax. "At that plotting session, we had such a wonderful time. When we finished plotting that book, we knew we had a hit on our hands. We had to decide 'Is she going to find a family? Is it going to be happy or sad?' We worked on making it happy at the end. "The fact is that it became more than a detective story. It became a detective love story. Thanks to Marv's handling of Robin (our joint idea) through the first person, it became a Robin story, too. A very important Robin story, virtually his signature story.
Synopsis: In New Teen Titans #38, Dick Grayson works to help Donna Troy discover the truth about her past; Donna meets Elmira Cassiday - the woman who ran the orphanage where she once temporarily resided - and learns that her real mother, Dorothy Hinckley, left her with Elmira because she was dying; Donna was adopted by Carl and Fay Stacey, but when Carl died in a work-related accident, Fay also had to give up Donna, who was given to a child-selling operation; Two people who were posing as Donna's new parents died in the fire that Donna remembers; Donna is reconciled with her adopted mother, Fay Stacey Evans, and then visits the grave of her real mother.
Donna Troy in NEW TEEN TITANS
Donna, as Wonder Girl, was a consistent member of the New Teen Titans for its entire run, from New Teen Titans/Tales of the New Teen Titans #1-91. [New Teen Titans changed title name to Tales of the Teen Titans as of issue #41, April 1984. Began reprinting New Teen Titans (Baxter) stories in the regular format as of #60, December 1985. Final issue was #91, July 1988].
She served as a Titan in the second series as well, New Teen Titans (second series)/New Titans #1-54. [New Teen Titans, second series #1, August 1984 changed title to New Titans as of issue #50]. She adopted the Troia identity in New Titans #55.
Post-Crisis Changes & Becoming Troia
Who Is Wonder Girl?
Post-Crisis Revisionism: New Titans #50-55This explaination worked until the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The 1985-86 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths, which rewrote DC Comics continuity and consolidated the proliferating parallel universes into one; while most closely resembling Earth-One, the new Earth-DC did find several major characters' histories altered.
Following the Crisis, DC re-launched Wonder Woman and introduced her into 'man's world' in 'present day.' Thus, Wonder Woman was not in America to rescue Donna Troy as a child - so Donna Troy was once again a woman without a past. DC rectified the situation in NEW TITANS #50-55, wherein Donna learned her true past: she was rescued by the Titans of Myth and trained on New Chronos and sent back to earth as a teenager. Upon her arrival, she joined the Teen Titans.
Marv Wolfman explains (in an article from 1989): We're going to answer the question of exactly 'Who Is Wonder Girl?' It will be clear that the New Teen Titans #38 story of 'Who Is Donna Troy?' still happened, but all references to Wonder Woman have been excised." So who rescued Donna from the burning building? Where did she come up with the name and costume of Wonder Girl? And, where did she get her powers? "We're tying this in to the Titans of old, the predecessors to the Olympian Gods. I'm not going to reveal to much about that, except that the title I want is 'Once A Titan, Always A Titan; referring to both the ancient Titans, and the New Teen Titans. There will be mythology and science-fantasy mixed in to the story."
Pérez reveals that all of the original Teen Titans will be included [...] "All references to Wonder Woman, and a few of the Teen Titans stories will be rendered moot with this book. At the end of it, Donna Troy is (physically) another character. She has a new name and a new costume, but as Donna Troy, she is the same person we have always read about."
"Her name is going to be Troia, which is another way of saying Troy in Greek. Her powers have yet to be decided. In fact, I'm working on that story now, and I've yet to figure them out too. Her powers may be nebulous and get introduced on a gradual basis."
Synopsis: "Who Is Wonder Girl?" the post-Crisis origin of Donna Troy. The Titans of Myth return to Earth to collect Wonder Girl so that she might help the gods defeat Sparta, a renegade Titan. Wonder Girl learns that she was raised by the Titans of Myth, is given new powers, and takes on the code name Troia. After this adventure, the team drops the "teen" part of their name and refer to themselves as "the New Titans."
Troia Appearances
Donna assumed her Troia identity in New Titans #55 [1989] to New Titans #92 [1992]; She gave up her powers following that issue in Team Titans #3 [1992].
In between, she met Wonder Woman for the 'first time' in Wonder Woman #47-48 [1990]: Donna Troy's dreams lead her to Greece - where she meets Wonder Woman at last. But a more immediate concern is Circe's magics, which are transforming people into were-beasts.
Troia Plans That Never Emerged...
Donna Troy was not originally going to lose her powers at the end of TOTAL CHAOS; From the letters' page of #99: "Waaay back when, before "Total Chaos" was even near completion, it was our intention to basically give Troia a new costume at the story's end. That costume, as designed by Tom Grummett, is what found its way into DC'S house ads, the Titans mobile, Cosmic Cards series, etc. But as the tale of Lord Chaos unfolded, things started to move in a different direction. and the decision was made to de-power Donna Troy. That's not to say that her powers are gone forever, but that is the situation for the present. Still, we have no intention of letting Donna fade into the woodwork. Donna is a fighter. She's a hero. And she's just as important to the Titans Universe without powers as she was with them. She's part of the family and will not be neglected, I promise. For more on her development, as both a non-super-powered Titan and a mother, check out current issues of TEAM TITANS. Thanks for writing (but write to us more often, not the subscription department)"
Powerless Den Mother
Powerless Den Mother:
Team Titans #3-21 [1992-1994]Donna Troy soon found out she was pregnant [New Titans #86-87]. As her pregnancy continued, a group called the Team Titans emerged, claiming to be from the future. The Team Titans mission: Kill Donna Troy before she can give birth to the man who, in their future, would become the evil Lord Chaos.
Lord Chaos also emerged, determined to ensure his own future. Troia eventually gave birth, and with the help of the New Titans and the Team Titans, she saved her son Robert while defeating Lord Chaos. The Titans of myth helped in the ensuing battle as well. Ultimately, Donna Troy decided to give up her Troia identity, and become a normal human. The Titans of myth granted this wish, and left Donna Troy powerless. It all happened in the 9-part TOTAL CHAOS storyline, in Total Chaos: New Titans #90-92, Team Titans #1-3, Deathstroke #14-16 [1992].
Donna Troy and the Team Titans relocated to a farm in New Jersey. Donna tried to live a normal life, and provide a home for the time-lost Team Titans [Team Titans #4-20]. Fate was not kind. Villains and disasters struck their new home. This led Donna to rethink her decision. She petitioned the Titans of myth to grant her powers once again. She was rejected [in Team Titans #21]. Undaunted, Donna Troy found her new calling - as part of a galactic police force - she became Darkstar!
Donna as a Darkstar
The Series
Darkstars #1-38, October 1992 to January 1996
Written by Michael Jan Friedman
Art by Travis Charest, then Mike CollinsLaunched in 1992 with Darkstars #1, "Green Lanterns with attitudes" was how DC described the concept to the series. "Crime is universal. That's one of the theories behind Darkstars, a new DC series following the adventures of Ferrin Colos, a Darkstar who has one of the toughest beats in the galaxy - Earth. Where the heroes of the Green Lantern Corps are akin to Arthurian knights in shining armor, Darkstars are cops with cosmic powers. And, just like real police officers, they suffer from extraordinary job stress."
"Do we need another superteam?" [writer Michael Jan] Friedman muses. "Yes! They fill niche in the DC Universe. There's a role for them, apart from LEGION. and the Green Lanterns, and an audience for them: People who like the Green Lantern concept, but whose sensibilities take a more no-nonsense form than those books have. Those other groups show up in Darkstars and maybe Darkstars will show up in their books."
Donna Troy as a Darkstar
Later in the series, Darkstars tied more directly into the DC Universe, featuring crossovers with Green Lantern and LEGION. The ties were strengthened with the addition of new Darkstars: Former Green Lantern John Stewart and former Titan hero Donna Troy.
Following their battle with Lord Chaos, Donna Troy decided to give up her Troia identity, and become a normal human. The Titans of Myth granted this wish, and left Donna Troy powerless [Team Titans #3].
Donna Troy and the Team Titans relocated to a farm in New Jersey. Donna tried to live a normal life, and provide a home for the time-lost Team Titans. Fate was not kind. Villains and disasters struck their new home. This led Donna to rethink her decision. She petitioned the Titans of myth to grant her powers once again. She was rejected. Undaunted, Donna Troy found her new calling - as part of a galactic police force - she became Darkstar! [Darkstars #22-23]
Donna sought a new direction in her life through the Darkstars and the Titans [New Titans #0, 115-116]. Soon, she met Kyle Rayner, the new Green Lantern, who helped ease her pain and loneliness. Events led to the break up of the Titans, and shortly after, Donna Troy gave up her Darkstar identity to live the life of a 'normal' woman for awhile [Green Lantern #75].
Donna's Darkstar Appearances
Donna's career as a Darkstar was chronicled in New Titans and Green Lantern, as well as the Darkstars series. Most of the Darkstars issues aren't of much consequence, as far as Donna is concerned. The only highlights are seeing her assuming the Darkstar mantle [Darkstars #22-23]; For hard-core Titans fans, I suppose Darkstars #26-27 is of note, as Starfire assists the Darkstars and says goodbye to Donna as she leaves earth.
The best handling of Donna as a Darkstar was in the pages of Green Lantern. For assuming the Darkstar mantle for a short time, Donna made quite a few appearances at the time; Here are the most notable ones, in the best 'chronoligical order' that could be determined. Donna stops him; Minion also learns his father is alive.
Coming Together
Donna met Kyle shortly after her divorce to Terry. Although they teamed up with all the heroes during the Zero Hour conflict, they didnt start to know each other until Kyle crossed paths with the Titans in a battle involving the evil Psimon [New Titans #115, then Green Lantern [second series] #57, then New Titans #116]. Following this, Green Lantern joined the team.
Kyle moved to Greenwich Village, NY and fellow Titan Donna Troy helped him set up his new apartment [Green Lantern #58]. The two heroes bonded as Kyle revealed not only his secret identity, but that he had a crush on Wonder Girl when he was a kid! Kyle and Donna grew closer, and shared a first kiss under the mistletoe [Green Lantern #59]. They had their first date on the moon, as Kyle tried to take Donna's mind off her troubles with Terry and the divorce. The date was interrupted by Kalibak, unfortunately [Green Lantern #61].
Kyle and Donna continued to date and their relationship seemed to be progressing [Green Lantern #61-69 and New Titans #117-130], despite Kyle's slight immaturity and Donna's slight apprehensions about trust in relationships.
Then in Green Lantern #70, everything came to a head. Donna caught Kyle sketching a naked woman in his apartment - a woman he was obviously attracted to. Donna was hurt and felt betrayed, partly because Kyle neglected to tell her about it. Donna had misgivings; she wondered if Kyle was mature enough to enter into the type of relationship she was looking for. Donna broke off their relationship.
Kyle and Donna remained Titans team mates [although not a couple] until the team broke up [later told in Titans Secret Files #1].
Shortly after the break up of the Titans, there was a conflict on the planet Rann involving Darkseid's son Grayven. With Darkstar ranks were severely depleted, Donna reluctantly asked Kyle for help. Grayven cut a swath of destruction that decimated the Darkstar forces, destroying most of their super-powered uniforms. John Stewart was crippled in the conflict, and Donna Troy opted to abandon her Darkstar uniform and live a normal life for awhile [Green Lantern #73-75].
After Donna and Kyle re-examined their lives, they realized they cared for each other quite a bit and decided to resume their relationship. Donna and Kyle became closer than before; Kyle expressed his love and gave Donna a necklace made from his power ring energy as a sign of that love. [all in Green Lantern #78]. Their bond strengthened as Kyle bonded with Donna's son, Robert [Green Lantern #82] and Donna met Kyle's mother [Green Lantern #88].
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
In Green Lantern #89, Donna received horrifying news: her ex-husband, Terry and son, Robert [as well as stepdaughter, Jenny] were all killed in a car accident. After getting this news, Donna left Kyle and withdrew from their blossoming relationship [detailed in Green Lantern #90].
Donna sought solace in her close friend, Diana [Wonder Woman] and Kyle and Donna's next confrontation in Wonder Woman #125 was awkward and painful. Donna and Kyle have since talked and sorted through their feelings, to some extent. Although they still have feelings for each other, they have decided to remain friends [as seen in Titans #6 and Green Lantern #118].
Behind the Scenes
The Green Lantern creative team [Kevin Dooley and Ron Marz] had plans to keep Donna as a supporting character; At the time, however, John Byrne 'claimed' her to use during his stint on Wonder Woman; Donna appeared in Wonder Woman as a supporting character in Wonder Woman #123-136.
The Green Lantern team said they would have liked to have used Donna and kept her as a supporting character, but they were forced to abruptly write her out of the book.
John Byrne has this to say: "We (the Wonder Woman Office) informed the GL Office we might like to have Donna back -- remembering that Donna officially "belongs" to Wonder Woman's continuity -- if it caused them no problems. Kevin Dooley's response was that it not only caused no problems, but actually worked for them. That was a year and a half before we "took" the character back. The GL Office had plenty of time to address the situation. That they chose to do little or nothing with it was their decision.
Diana & Donna: Sisters Again
Sisters Again: Wonder Woman #132-136 [1998]
This origin remained intact, but when John Byrne took over on WONDER WOMAN, he decided to re-define Donna Troy. His strongest contribution was to re-forge her ties as Wonder Woman's 'sister.' In Byrne's revisionist add-on, Diana longed for a companion her own age. The Amazon sorceress Magala used her magics, she created a magical double of Diana. The evil sorceress, Dark Angel, kidnapped the duplicate princess and forced her to live multiple tragic lives [including the life of Donna Troy]. So Byrne preserved the Titans of Myth origins, but added a stronger tie to Wonder Woman and Paradise Island. Upon discovering her true 'origin' as Wonder Woman's magical 'sister,' Donna Troy has been accepted as an Amazon. It all happened in WONDER WOMAN #132-136.
Synopsis: Donna Troy is erased from existence by the evil Dark Angel. As Flash and Wonder Woman race to restore the Donna Troy they knew, Donna's true origin is revealed: Magala created a mystical twin as a playmate for Princess Diana; Dark Angel abducted the twin and cursed her to live multiple tragic lives, one of which as Donna Troy [Wonder Girl]. Donna defeats Dark Angel and is restored through Flash's memories and Wonder Woman's lasso of truth. First appearance of Dark Angel in issue #131. Origins of Donna Troy and Dark Angel revealed in this story.
Wonder Woman Appearances in Byrne's Run:
- Wonder Woman #121: Terry and Robert Die
- Wonder Woman #123: Donna arrives in Gateway City
- Wonder Woman #124: Magala laments her ancient spell over a picture of Diana & Donna; Donna locates WW to find her dead
- Wonder Woman #125: Many heroes mourn Diana; Donna has a tense moment upon seeing Kyle Rayner;
- Wonder Woman #126: Donna and Hippolyta go through a 'fever dream' where Donna sees hints to her true nature
- Wonder Woman #127-130: Donna involved in adventures with Artemis & Hippolyta as Diana is re-born as a godess
- Wonder Woman #131: Hippolyta travels to the past and becomes the Golden Age Wonder Woman and Donna is visited by Dark Angel
- Wonder Woman #132-133: The Golden Age Wonder Woman & Justice Society defeat Dark Angel; Donna is sent into further tragic lives by Dark Angel, as no one remembers her.
- Wonder Woman# 134: Flash remembers Donna and works with Wonder Woman to bring her back
- Wonder Woman #135: Donna's full past as avatar to Diana is revealed, along with how it ties to Magala & Dark Angel's curse.The heroes are able to track down Dark Angel, and Donna's touch defeated the evil sorceress... but at a cost.. it turns Donna into a lifeless husk!
- Wonder Woman #136: In an effort to restore the Donna Troy they all knew, Wonder Woman uses her magic lasso of truth forged with Wally West's memories of Donna and turned them into a living truth ... restoring Donna Troy as the woman they had all known!
Reunited: JLA/Titans
The original Titans were reunited in a mini series that also featured the Justice League of America [JLA/Titans: the Technis Imperitive #1-3, December 1998 to February 1999]. With a story by Devin Grayson and Phil Jimenez, and art by Phil Jimenez, everyone who had ever been a Titans was reunited. Former Titan Vic Stone threatened to carry out his Technis Imperitive and turn the earth's moon into a new Technis world. The JLA and Titans first clashed, then united to save the earth and Vic Stone. The mini series was designed as a primer to re-start the Titans series with the five original members (Nightwing, Troia, Flash, Arsenal and Tempest) as the core.
Donna is made a full, official Amazon in a coronation ceremony [JLA/Titans #1 (1998)]. She also now regards Diana as a sister and Queen Hippolyta as a mother. Donna decides to resume the nom-de-guerre of Troia in JLA/Titans #3.
Readers demanded the return of the original members of the team, and DC Comics obliged with The Titans #1 in March 1999. Written by Devin Grayson with art by Mark Buckingham, the series returned the team to the feeling of 'family' that made it so popular during the 1980's.
Redefined: Titans #1-25
Devin Grayson: "Donna [first as Wonder Girl, then Troia] used to be the den mother, but we're not going to see a lot of that She's been through a really difficult time lately. Basically, she's been told that she was [wiped from existence in Wonder Woman#134-#136], but then was restored through the memories of Wally [West, aka. Flash]. When we start, she's going to be examining those issues. But she will have her Amazonian powers back... and some new ones."
Troia went through an identity crisis upon rejoining the team. She wondered if she had been fully restored as the woman she truly was upon her 'rebirth' after the defeat of Dark Angel. Furthermore, Donna's memories of her life were vague and incomplete. Donna served as a member of the team and briefly resumed a romantic relationship with fellow Titan, Arsenal (Roy Harper).
Donna confronted her identity crisis in teh three-part "Who Is Troia" saga in Titans #23-25 [2000-2001]. Soon after, Dark Angel returned, vowing to destroy every incarnation of Donna Troy in every timeline! With the help of the Titans' children from an alternate timeline [Nightstar, Aquagirl, Darkstar, Red Hood and Kid Flash from the Kingdom Come timeline], the Titans were able to prevent Dark Angel's mad scheme and trap her in Nightstar's treehouse fortress. Upon Dark Angel's defeat, Donna Troy was fully restored with all her previous memories. She resumed her life with renewed confidence and vigor.
Titans #25 features the final part of the three-part "Who Is Troia?" story arc, "a story designed to reinvigorate the character of Troia, and also clear up any confusion about her origin," Faerber explained.
"As we get closer to this "Who is Troia?" arc, I should re-emphasize that I'm not changing ANYTHING about Donna's backstory. This isn't another retcon. We're just telling a big story, focusing on Donna, and hopefully clearing up (not changing) some of her history as we go."
Short List of Notable Appearances
Secret Origins
Teen Titans #22 [1969]: Original Origin story
New Teen Titans #38 [1984]: "Who is Donna Troy?"
New Titans #50-55 [1989]: "Who Is Wonder Girl?" post-Crisis origin
Wonder Woman #131-136 [1998]: "Donna as Diana's mystical twin" revisions
Wonder Woman Secret Files #2 [1999]: Featuring "Who is Troia", a 6-page story by Devin Grayson and Phil Jimenez. This is the definitive Donna origin story.
Donna as Wonder Girl
Brave & The Bold #60
Teen Titans #1-53
Adventure Comics #461
Wonder Woman #265-266
New Teen Titans/Tales of the Teen Titans #1-59
New Teen Titans/New Titans #1-54 [becomes Troia in #55]
Donna as Troia the First Time
Secret Origins Annual #3 [Teen Titans, post-Crisis history]
New Titans #55-92 [becomes Troia in #55]
Wonder Woman #47-48
Team Titans #1-3 [loses powers in #3]Powerless Donna Troy
Team Titans #4-21
New Titans #100Darkstar Donna Troy
Darkstars #22-38
New Titans #115-130
Green Lantern #57-75 [recurring]Green Lantern Appearances: Darkstar & Powerless Donna Troy
Green Lantern #57-90 [recurring; Darkstar #57-75; Powerless in #76-90], 118
Wonder Woman Appearances: Sisters Again
Wonder Woman #121-136 [recurring]
Powerless throughout; new revised origin in #132-136
Troia Reborn
JLA/Titans #1-3
Titans #1-present
Wonder Woman #164-present [recurring]
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