Collectors have accepted this as the Wonder Man ring, but it has not been officially documented

In Scoop 10-4-02, we took a look at the legal drama that played out between DC Comics and the wayward accountant Victor Fox regarding similarities between DC's Superman and Fox's Wonder Man. Today, we'd like to continue with a look at an ultra-rare premium from the short-lived but historically significant Wonder Comics #1.

According to the cover of Wonder Comics #1, there were to be 1,000 prizes given away for free. Strangely enough, many collectors know little about this prize. This is due to the fact that, as we said earlier, Wonder Comics had a very short life as a comic. As it turned out, DC won the lawsuit against Fox and Wonder Man did not last more than one issue and the title survived only two issues.

Featured inside Wonder Comics #1, however, was an advertisement on the last page of the Wonder Man story. The ad noted that you could get a free Wonder Man ring just like the one that gave Wonder Man his powers. The issue also featured an opportunity to receive a free Wonder Man premium ring if you sent in a letter to the publisher. The letter needed to tell the publisher what you liked best about the comic. You could also give suggestions for ideas for the comic. Interestingly enough, one can only "wonder" how many of the Wonder Man rings were given away due to the lawsuit against Fox.

When comparing the Wonder Man premium ring with other known rings, it would easily rank along side the top premium rings. The January 1940 issue of Action Comics formally offered the Supermen of America prize ring - of which 1,600 were produced. Today, only 17 examples of the Superman of America prize ring are known. When looking at all the facts surrounding Wonder Comics and the Wonder Man premium ring, it is easy to see that this ring is also indeed rare.

Thanks to Tom Gordon for this information. Also thanks to John Chruscinski for supplying the interior photos.

+ click to zoom
Collectors have accepted this as the Wonder Man ring, but it has not been officially documented		Wonder Comics #1		A tempting offer...
Just give 'em some ideas and the ring is yours...