Available as a t-shirt: http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/t-shirts/4329390-4-the-return

This is the fourth in my ongoing series of comic book covers based on the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman television show!  I’m particularly proud of this one because when I look at it, THAT is the Wonder Woman in my head.  I’ve finally given it form.  I decided to add the sketch and digital inks that became this illustration.

Episode No. 15 (including the pilot movie):  The Return of Wonder Woman

This episode marked the switch from a World War II setting to the modern day (in this case, 1977), and also a change of networks from ABC to CBS.  The premise was:  Wonder Woman returned to Paradise Island after World War II since the Nazi menace had been taken care of.  In 1977, fate intervenes, and IADC Agent Colonel Steve Trevor crashes on the uncharted body of land in The Bermuda Triangle known as Paradise Island just like his father before him.  Princess Diana rescues him and finds out that she’s still needed in the outside world:  this time, to stop a terrorist plot.

In the “new” series, Major Steve Trevor (Lyle Waggoner) was now Colonel Steve Trevor, Jr., Private Etta Candy (Beatrice Colen) was gone, and Joe Atkinson (Normann Burton) replaced General Blankenship (Richard Eastham) as “the boss” of the series.  That wouldn’t last very long.  Diana Prince was no longer disguised as a mousy secretary:  she was on her way to becoming a stylish woman of the 1970s.  By the end of the series, she’d even ditched the glasses and bun/ponytail she used to disguise herself.  I prefer the CBS series to ABC because of the new confidence Lynda Carter gave Diana Prince and Wonder Woman.  In describing the dualities of the role, Lynda Carter has said she always considered Diana Prince as who the woman really was and Wonder Woman as what she could do.  I heartily agree with that interpretation.

The first time I saw this particular episode was on the old fX Network in 1994 because it never appeared in syndication on the networks in my area before that.  fX edited it down to one hour long episode and one half hour episode, cutting scenes in the process, so I was delighted to finally see it in its entirety when Columbia House released it on VHS.  Of course, now it’s on DVD, but Warner Brothers edited out the opening teaser and the cannon shot that preceded the theme song.  There are a number of odd choices WB made on the DVD release so hopefully one day they’ll actually release the complete series, unedited.

OK, let’s see the art!

This is the third in my ongoing series of comic book covers based on the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman television show!

Episode No. 45 (including the pilot movie):  The Deadly Dolphin

Wonder Woman No. 45: The Deadly Dolphin

This is the second in my ongoing series of comic book covers based on my favorite television show ever, Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman!

Episode No. 44 (including the pilot movie): Skateboard Whiz
“A teenage skateboarder is manipulated into helping an extortionist win at illegal gambling.”

Wonder Woman No. 44: Skateboard Whiz

Lynda Carter’s “The New Adventures of Wonder Woman” television series could continue…in comic book form, at least!

The New Adventures of Wonder Woman No. 61
11″ x 17″

First, Kevenn T. Smith and I collaborated on an illustration, just like last year!  This one, based on the ABC TV series starring Lynda Carter, has Private Etta Candy (played by Beatrice Colen) and Yeoman Diana Prince (Lynda Carter, of course), who we wanted to make sure were represented in the auction this year.

Etta Figures it Out?
8.5″ x 11″ on Bristol Board
Ray Caspio:  Pencils
Kevenn T. Smith:  Inks and Colors (Prismacolor)

This is my solo piece.  Wonder Woman often falls prey to cheesecake-y depictions, so I thought I’d turn the tables and supply her with a bevy of beefcake boys – love interests of past and present:  Andros (played by Dack Rambo on the Lynda Carter TV series), Steve Trevor, Beowulf, Tom Tresser/Nemesis, Trevor Barnes, and Hermes.  Think of it as her Mr. Amazon 2008 contest.

Mr. Amazon 2008
11.75″ x 8.75″ on Bristol Board
Ink

After 1-1/2 years, this piece is finally complete! In 2006, I researched, penciled and inked this illustration depicting Wonder Woman and Diana Prince in her most definitive costumes since 1941. A comprehensive history of Wonder Woman’s look hasn’t been done since George Perez’s 1990’s poster, and even then it wasn’t approached from the original artists’ styles. Over the past few months, Kevenn T. Smith and I have been working on the colors in Photoshop. Between my drawing and his color expertise, we produced this result.

Almost every definitive version of Diana that has appeared in the comic book and other media is in this drawing, drawn by me but based on the original artists’ artwork: H.G. Peter, George Perez, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Mike Deodato, Phil Jimenez, Terry Dodson, Jose Delbo, Ross Andru, Irv Novick, Curt Swan, Don Heck, Gene Colan, Jill Thompson, Mike Sekowsky, Alex Toth, Bruce Timm, and Darwyn Cooke. In addition, I included the Lynda Carter and Cathy Lee Crosby versions of Wonder Woman because no true history of Diana would be complete without them. Earth-2 Wonder Woman is based on Lynda Carter since there really isn’t a definitive depiction of her. Lynda Carter (including her Diana Prince and the motorcycle outfit), Cathy Lee Crosby, and Earth-2 are in my art style and not based on another artists’ work.

Wonder Woman 1941-2008
Pencils and inks by Ray Caspio
Colors by Kevenn T. Smith and Ray Caspio
10″ x 15″ printed art space. Final piece measures 11″ x 17″ with black border.
Pencil, ink, Photoshop CS2

Wonder Woman is copyright and property of DC Comics.

Put the blame on Mame, boys.

Lynda Carter in Concert
17×11 inches
Pencil, Copic pen, Photoshop

Prints are available. Contact me here if you’re interested.