Shortly after Superman was introduced in 1938, comic books came under fire, and the Man of Steel was branded a fascist by some critics. Possible comparisons (even though they were mostly unfounded) between Superman and the Nazis caused problems for DC Comics with parents, leading them to rethink which characters they should actually be focusing on. After Superman publisher M.C. Gaines read an article which argued that reading about superheroes might actually be good for children, he turned to William Moulton Marston for assistance in helping him save comic books. He recommended a female superhero to try and counter the violence and lack of femininity in them, and Wonder Woman was born.
