DC Super Hero Girls #1 Read online

  Copyright © 2016 DC Comics.

  DC SUPER HERO GIRLS and all related characters and elements © & TM DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

  WB SHIELD: TM & © WBEI. (s16)

  RHUS36102

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, and in Canada by Penguin Random House Canada Limited, Toronto. Random House and the colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  rand​omhousekids.​com

  dcsu​perh​erogirls.​com

  Hardcover ISBN 9781101940594

  Ebook ISBN 9781101940617

  v4.1

  a

  To Jodi Reamer, an original Super Hero Girl

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Part One

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Part Two

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Part Three

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  About the Author

  It was barely the third week of school, and already someone had been expelled. The rumors were flying so fast that if you weren’t careful, you could get whiplash from trying to follow the speeding gossip. But when anyone asked Principal Amanda “The Wall” Waller about it, she’d cross her strong arms, arch an eyebrow, and say in her booming how-dare-you voice, “You weren’t talking to me, were you?”

  Never had a question elicited so much silence. The super heroes-in-training at Super Hero High weren’t brave enough—or dumb enough—to ask a second time.

  The buzz was big. Even the most studious Supers were finding it hard to focus. In Weaponomics class, Mr. Fox had to resort to stink-bombing the room to get everyone’s attention. If it had been light-fingered Catwoman or chilly Frost or even boisterous Cyborg who had been expelled, you probably would have heard things like…

  “Yeah, I knew that would happen.”

  “Why did it take so long?”

  “Really? Wow. Now tell me something I didn’t know.”

  But quiet and unassuming Mandy Bowin?

  Instead, the most frequently asked question was “Mandy who?”

  As a transfer student, Mandy had the audacity to be fairly normal in a school of abnormally competitive high achievers. Without superpowers, a superior IQ, or—much more important—a strong personality, it was a miracle she’d been accepted in the first place. Or maybe, according to some rumors, her acceptance had been a mistake. That made more sense. Naturally, thoughts of Mandy Bowin vanished as quickly as she had. Besides, there was a fresh new rumor to obsess over—not so much who had been banished, but the reason why behind the reason why.

  Cheetah had come up with the theory, and it quickly spread thanks to Harley Quinn’s penchant for gossip, fueled in no small part by HQTV, her new self-produced “All Harley all the time!” video channel.

  “It wasn’t that The Wall wanted Mandy out,” Cheetah purred to the camera, “but that she wanted a certain someone in. And with enrollment at an all-time high, well, au revoir, Mandy!”

  As with many Internet rumors, it didn’t matter if Cheetah’s theory had any basis in reality…instantly, people began repeating it as gospel, even though most students knew there was no enrollment limit at Super Hero High. So—was it true, or was Cheetah just bored again and trying to scare up mischief? She was famous for her schemes. Like the time she rigged a fake Save the Day alarm just so she could get out of taking a super hero history test.

  Most students were in the process of becoming whichever super hero they were destined to be. They still hadn’t fully mastered their superpowers, and some were not quite as courageous as they would be down the road. And unfortunately, a few might have even lacked much of a conscience. But no one was without an opinion.

  According to Cheetah, there was only one person Principal Waller would forego the normal admissions channels for. Tales of this teen warrior princess’s exploits were legendary. She was, as Bumblebee overheard The Wall saying, a “one-of-a-kind catch.” Every school on Earth—and even a few on other planets—wanted her.

  Which brings us back to the expulsion. When Mandy Bowin was forcibly removed, she was heard yelling at Principal Waller, “I’ll be back!”

  It was hard to tell if that was a promise or a threat. And even more interesting was that if Cheetah was right, Super Hero High was about to be turned upside down.

  Wonder Woman sat with her mouth hanging open. She knew it was unbecoming of a warrior princess and heir to the Amazon throne, but her mind was on other things—specifically, the video streaming on her computer. Without telling her mother, she had sent away for the secret code to access it, and had also emailed a letter that read in part:

  Dear Principal Amanda Waller,

  My name is Wonder Woman, and I am interested in attending the prestigious Super Hero High School. Having been homeschooled all my life here on Paradise Island, I don’t have the required transcripts. However, I am athletic, courageous, and willing to do whatever it takes to make the world a better place.

  As Wonder Woman watched the Super Hero High recruitment video, she was interrupted by an urgent message flashing on her computer screen.

  HIGH ALERT: CALLING ALL SUPER HEROES IN THE VICINITY OF THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE! AN AMERICAN TOUR BOAT CARRYING SECOND GRADERS ON A FIELD TRIP IS IN THE PATH OF A MONSTER TIDAL WAVE….

  Wonder Woman didn’t need to hear anything more before hitting Pause, grabbing her unbreakable Lasso of Truth, and racing out of her room.

  Her mother was rearranging boulders in the garden again. “Where are you going?” she asked.

  “To save second grade,” Wonder Woman explained, already in flight.

  “Be home by dinner!” her mom called after her.

  The first to arrive at the scene, Wonder Woman could hear children screaming as the mountain of water arched menacingly above them. Their boat began to rock violently. Instantly, Wonder Woman whipped out her Lasso of Truth. She had only one chance to save the students before the crush of the ocean would capsize their vessel.

  Wonder Woman raised her lasso high above her head, and with deft precision, threw it hard. On target! She had ringed the mast. With a flip of her wrist, she yanked on the lasso, tightening the loop, then used the rope to keep the boat upright as the giant wave passed under it. The children cheered.

  “Thank you, young lady!” their teacher cried. “You’re our hero!”

  Wonder Woman blushed and waved before heading home. If she hurried, there was still time to watch the rest of the recruitment video before dinner.

  Back home, Wonder Woman leaned forward and studied the video. Super Hero High School was everything she had ever dreamed of. The school boasted an expansive campus with a gleaming high-rise in the center. It offered its students and faculty up-to-the-moment technology, gadgets, and weapons to die for. Plus there was the recently unveiled Flight Track and the much-used on-campus hospital. And the only
thing more impressive than the inspirational statue of Justice herself was the iconic Amethyst from Gemworld that sat atop the school’s highest tower, piercing the clouds and doubling as a welcoming beacon for incoming flyers.

  Oh! And there were classes taught by celebrity super hero alumni, and more clubs than anyone could possibly have time for, like Playing with Poisons, Cooking with Swords, and the ever-popular Knitting and Hitting. But what Wonder Woman found most fascinating were the students.

  Every kind of teenager imaginable was represented—some with multiple superpowers, and others with none at all. Many of the snootier schools, like Interstellar Magnet, only considered students based on their grades, test scores, and superpower pedigree. But Super Hero High had a loftier goal. Here, students were selected not based on who they were today, but on who they could become tomorrow. Girls, boys, animals, insects, aliens, robots, mutants, morphers—they were all in the video. This was an equal-opportunity school, and it appealed to Wonder Woman’s keen sense of justice.

  She also noted that the students looked deliriously happy, especially one peppy, pigtailed blond girl who managed to be in almost every scene. As Wonder Woman imagined herself making friends, she felt a warmth wash over her. This wasn’t like the time she was knocked over by an atomic fireball. No, this warmth made her smile inside and out.

  As the video came to a close, the music swelled and a diverse group of students and teachers stood or hovered behind Principal Waller, who was saying, “So if you want to super-charge your education”—Wonder Woman nodded—“meet super friends”—Wonder Woman nodded—“and make a super difference”—Wonder Woman nodded—“then we welcome you to Super Hero High!”

  There was a lump in Wonder Woman’s throat. Just as tears were starting to form, she heard the boom of a woman’s strong voice.

  “Wonder Woman!”

  Huh?

  Who was calling her?

  It was the computer—or, to be more exact, it was Amanda Waller on the computer. The principal had embedded a personal message at the end of the recruitment video.

  Wonder Woman sat up straight and adjusted the small gold tiara that was nestled atop her long, thick black hair. “Yes, ma’am,” she said, even though she knew Principal Waller couldn’t hear her. Wonder Woman had been raised to be respectful.

  The principal attempted a smile. This did not suit her stern face; it made her look like she had indigestion. In the background, Wonder Woman could see the Federal Service Agent of the Year awards lining the walls. She had read dozens of interviews about the head of Super Hero High, and though Amanda Waller had no traditional superpowers of her own, she was credited with keeping injuries to a minimum, scaring the heebie-jeebies out of the students, and always demanding the best from her young super heroes.

  “Wonder Woman,” Principal Waller said. Her broad shoulders took up the bottom half of the computer screen. “I have had my eyes on you for quite a while, and I feel the time has come for you to join us. You have the potential to become one of the greatest super heroes in history. But you lack formal super hero training. That’s where Super Hero High comes in. I want you to think about this, but listen to your heart as well. It knows where you belong.”

  “What are you watching?”

  Wonder Woman jerked her head around. “I…I was just…”

  “I can see what you are doing,” her mother said, standing tall and looking every bit the warrior queen she was. “Why would you want to leave Paradise Island?”

  It was a fair question. Their home was a lush tropical island surrounded by a turquoise sea so blue, it defied definition. Warm water lapped the golden shores, creating white ribbons of waves that made it look as if the island itself were a gift. Maybe it was. Serene rolling hills played host to majestic green trees. Wispy white willows bent gracefully in the wind—but like so many things, they were not what they seemed. Even a chainsaw couldn’t make a dent in the most delicate-looking willow, because the island, though a paradise, was also a fortress inhabited solely by Amazon warrior women.

  In the heart of Paradise Island—also known as Themyscira—a grand Greek temple rose above the trees. It was here that Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, lived with her only daughter.

  “It’s not that I want to leave.” Wonder Woman struggled to explain to her mother. “It’s just that I want to go places. I want to make a difference to the entire world.”

  Hippolyta’s silence made her nervous. Her mother was always silent before going into battle. Was this what their conversation would be? A battle? The two had always been close. Wonder Woman hoped she could keep it at the level of debate.

  “Please, Mother,” Wonder Woman begged. “I can learn so much at Super Hero High. All the greatest super heroes have gone there.”

  “I didn’t go there,” Hippolyta noted.

  “That’s not what I meant,” Wonder Woman said quickly. “It’s just that, well, I’ve been here on Paradise Island all my life, and I…”

  Hippolyta let out a big sigh—the one mothers reserve for their children when they have so much to say but can’t get it all out.

  “My dearest daughter,” she said, her voice softening. “You were born to be a leader. You have royalty in your blood. Stay here, and someday you will rule Paradise Island and be Queen of the Amazons, just like me.”

  Now it was time for Wonder Woman to be silent. She breathed deeply before saying, “Mother, I love and admire you. But when I grow up, I want to be just like me.”

  Hippolyta loved her daughter more than anything, and she understood the depth of the desire that Wonder Woman had to explore the outside world. And so she finally agreed to let her daughter go, but not before giving her a gift. “These have served me well for years,” Hippolyta said, removing her cuff bracelets. “They will deflect missiles and bullets and other weapons that aim to harm you.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” Wonder Woman said, looking down at the gleaming metal bracelets that now graced her wrists. She used to try on her mother’s cuffs when she was younger, but they were always too big and slid off. Today, however, for the first time, they fit perfectly.

  “I will be checking on you, often,” Hippolyta said. “You will be our Amazon Ambassador and must behave accordingly.”

  “I promise,” Wonder Woman assured her. She wondered how she could feel pain and happiness at the same time. As much as she would miss her mother and Paradise Island, the only home she had ever known, Wonder Woman was excited about the new life that lay before her.

  As if reading her mind, her mother said, “Dearest, you have royal blood and are the princess and heir to this island of Amazon women warriors. But I will not keep you back, for wherever you go, you shall always hold the place of honor in my heart, my beloved daughter.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” Wonder Woman said, wiping tears from her eyes. She wondered if the bracelets really did work. They could not deflect the pain that tugged at her heart.

  They embraced, and before her mother could change her mind about letting her go, Wonder Woman was off, flying faster than she had ever flown before. Having never been away from Paradise Island longer than the short time it took to save lives and right wrongs in nearby locations, she savored her newfound feeling of freedom. Marveling at the great expanse of land below her, Wonder Woman took the long way around the world, stopping to redirect a tornado in Russia, put out a wildfire in Australia and save the koalas, and tidy up a massive landslide on Mount Fuji. But soon enough, she neared something that was perfect just the way it was.

  The Amethyst’s welcoming glow drew Wonder Woman to it, and when she saw Super Hero High, she knew in her heart that this was where she belonged.

  However, not everyone felt the same way.

  Wonder Woman had flown all the way from Paradise Island, stopping only to lend a helping hand and for an occasional snack. She flew across serene seas and angry oceans, over mountains and valleys, through the Serengeti Plain, and along the Great Wall of China. But Wonder Woman had
yet to encounter anything as epic, amazing, and scary as what she now saw directly below her.

  High school.

  Choreographed chaos commenced when a loud bell sounded. Instantly, throngs of students who had been milling about outside crashed through the doorway in a rush to get into the school. By the time Wonder Woman landed, only a few stragglers remained.

  “Excuse me.” Wonder Woman approached a girl dressed in layers of delicate faux-fur-lined cloth. She admired the ice-blue hair that swept the girl’s shoulders. “Can you tell me where I might find Principal Amanda Waller?”

  The girl looked Wonder Woman up and down and smirked at the newcomer’s strange Amazonian warrior gear.

  “Travel far?” the girl asked. Her eyes lingered on the small golden tiara with the ruby-red star nestled in Wonder Woman’s messy hair, and she stared at the gleaming cuff bracelets on her wrists.

  “Yes! I came all the way from Paradise Island,” she answered. “I’m Wonder Woman!”

  “Frost,” the girl declared, clearly unimpressed.

  Wonder Woman felt a sudden chill in the air. Frost tossed back her hair and pointed to the massive brick building. “Up the stairs, through the door, to the right, then to the left, and left, then right, then turn around and go back out again.”

  Wonder Woman blinked a few times. “Excuse me?”

  “Kidding, just kidding,” Frost said, dramatically tossing her hair once more and offering up a brilliant white smile. “Go inside and ask someone who cares.”

  “I’ll do that!” Wonder Woman said brightly. “Thank you!”

  “I’m Hawkgirl. May I help you?” the hall monitor asked. Her tidy brown hairdo matched her efficient personality. With a tilt of her head, the gray-feathered wings on her back folded close to her body. Wonder Woman admired her metal belt and harness with the head of a hawk carved in its center.

  “Yes, please,” Wonder Woman said. “Can you tell me where I can find Principal Amanda Waller?”