I Ching is the blind martial arts instructor who guided Diana Prince during the time she relinquished her role as Wonder Woman. DC Comics (originally called Detective Comics, Inc. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to the date or issue of a characters first appearance. ... Alter Ego has multiple meanings: Alter Ego is a game for the Commodore 64 computer. ... Wonder Woman is a fictional DC Comics superheroine. ...

Character History

Pre-Crisis

I Ching is the last surviving member of an ancient sect. Their monastery was hidden high in the mountains and their task was to maintain ageless knowledge lost centuries past - a time when men foolishly concluded that magic and science are different. Only the sect knew that they are sides of the same coin. In their Temple rested treasures of precious gems and metals. The agents of Doctor Cyber wanted them and so they struck! The sect resisted bravely but they were helpless before the attackers' guns. Finally, all were dead accept I Ching, who himself was badly wounded. He was however able to escape and hid until the murderers left with their booty. Doctor Cyber is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. ...

I Ching trains Diana Prince in Wonder Woman #179.

Around this time, Wonder Woman surrendered her powers to remain in "Man's World" rather than accompany her fellow Amazons when they relocated to another dimension so they could "restore their magic." Now a mod boutique owner, the powerless Diana Prince acquired I Ching as her mentor. Under I Ching's guidance, Diana trained to use her body as a weapon, learned martial arts and weapons skills, and proceeded to undertake adventures that encompassed a variety of genres, from espionage to mythology. It is also revealed that he has a daughter, Lu Shan. Image File history File links WW179. ... Image File history File links WW179. ... Wonder Woman is a fictional DC Comics superheroine. ...

I Ching (and later, Diana Prince) come to the aid of Superman during the time of the Sand Superman's existence on Earth. Ching is instrumental in healing Superman, in identifying the source of the sand being, and in helping to show a path forward for the Man of Steel. (Superman #240-242) Superman is a fictional character regarded as one of the most famous and popular comic book superheroes of all time, and one of the first to embody several of the aspects modernly associated with them. ...

Wonder Woman's powers and traditional costume were restored in 1973 (issue #204). The issue begins with a lunatic sniper gunning down innocent passersby from his rooftop vantage point. A newly married couple driving to their honeymoon destination are among the fatalities and their car crashes into a nearby restaurant where Diana Prince and her mentor, I Ching are dining. During the chaos, the sniper fires again and this time he kills I Ching, who dies in the arms of a distraught Diana.

One Year Later

Main article: One Year Later#Wonder Woman

In Justice League of America #0, Wonder Woman is shown in her white "Diana Prince" outfit during a flashback. It is unknown if her time as a powerless adventurer has been restored in her history, and if I Ching was her mentor. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this comics-related article or section may require cleanup. ... The Justice League is a DC Comics superhero team. ...

Later in Wonder Woman #2, photos are obtained of Wonder Woman training with an Eastern mystic code-named I Ching. In the photos (presumably obtained during the one-year gap), Wonder Woman is in her white "Diana Prince" outfit.

Trivia

The new format of the comic book was influenced by the British television drama The Avengers (with Wonder Woman influenced by Emma Peel, and I Ching influnced by John Steed). The Avengers is a British 1960s television series featuring secret agents in a fantasy 1960s Britain. ... The Avengers, John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), appear on the cover of a 1994 reprint of an Avengers novel co-written by Macnee. ... Fictional television spy played by Patrick Macnee on the British series The Avengers and The New Avengers. ...

Controversy

Many comic fans deride the character of I Ching -- not because of the Oriental martial arts master stereotyping (which was only a half-hearted stereotype at the time), but because of his name.

External Links

• Superman - The Sandman Saga
• The Diana Prince Era (Fanzing.com)
• The Unofficial I Ching Chronology