No, Mr. Modern. I'm your daughter's slave in Grown-Down Land -- I'm here to kidnap you! 
Sensation Comics #31 is an issue of the series Sensation Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1944.
Synopsis for Wonder Woman: "Grown-Down Land"
In Florida, Diana Prince's Ladies Club throws a luncheon in her honor, where she meets Selfa Modern, a glad-handing, social-climbing phony. Mrs. Modern gets word from her household staff about a dangerous situation that her children have gotten into, in the process of running away from home, but she cavalierly brushes it off. Diana, in contrast, goes into action; she steps out of the room, changes into Wonder Woman, scoops up the childrens' nursemaid Dellie, sprints to the riverside, and dives in. The river is teeming with alligators, the children are in a canoe, and it is right now in the process of getting tipped over! Wonder Woman outswims the reptiles and reaches the canoe in time to pull off a gator-wrestling rescue and whisk the children back to shore. Mrs. Modern is completely a self-absorbed witch about the entire affair, is now spending some time being bedridden with "nervous shock," and absolutely wants nothing to do with those mischievous children of hers. Wonder Woman persuades the kids to not attempt another runaway, and they promise her they won't. Then Diana speeds back to her club, arriving just in the very nick of time, to be introduced, as "America's Number One Woman Secret Agent".
The next day, before leaving Florida, Diana Prince learns that little Babs and Lonny Modern haven't woken up that morning, and that their doctor is mystified as to why. Wonder Woman rushes to their house, sits between the childrens' beds, and takes their hands, then puts herself into a trance; soon she has joined them in "Grown-Down Land". The infantile authorities in Grown-Down Land judge Wonder Woman to be an adult and rule that she must be imprisoned, and must take a dose of "Grow-Down Syrup," a magic medicine. The toddlers tie up Wonder Woman with her own rope, and have her do some tricks for them, then send her off to the big world, to kidnap Babs and Lonny's parents and bring them back to Grown-Down Land. So she does that, abducting Selfa Modern right out of her own dressing room, then carrying her to Frank Modern's office, and scooping him up also, for a quick return to Grown-Down Land. In recognition of this deed, the Queen of Grown-Down Land awards Wonder Woman the Order of Distinguished Service Kiss, and a brisk spanking with a hairbrush.
Meanwhile in the big world, Steve Trevor and Etta Candy have heard that Wonder Woman has contracted a strange sleeping sickness, so they fly to Florida to help out. The situation at the Moderns' house reminds Etta of an earlier adventure of theirs, in which she and Steve had simply gone to sleep, and found themselves in a strange dreamworld. They decide to repeat that technique, and soon find themselves in Grown-Down Land. Meanwhile Grow-Down Syrup has taken effect on Wonder Woman (who now looks and feels about 9 years old and calls herself "Wonda") and on Frank and Selfa Modern. All of them soon find themselves playing tag and romping like children. As the magic medicine has done its work, little Babs unties Wonda's magic lasso and sets her free, because only adults can be slaves in Grown-Down Land.
By this time Steve and Etta have arrived at the gates, and the guards let Etta in, but not Steve. Wonda ropes Steve with her lariat and declares him her slave. Commanding him not to untie the knots, Wonda leaves him parked outside the prison, as night falls. Some of the children head for their beds, others want to play all night in a well-lit playground. Etta puts a penny in a light socket and blows the fuses, darkening the playground, sending fear and panic thru many of the children. Wonda unties Steve, and he puts a penny into the fusebox, (dangerously) restoring the circuit and re-lighting the area. Now all the children are crazy about Steve, and the girls think he's handsome. This is when Wonda realizes that she can grow back to her usual size and age, just by exerting her imagination. But once she's done so, she realizes Grown-Down Land is not real, so she hastily grabs all four of the Modern family, and races to get them back home, before they realize the same thing. It works; and soon Selfa and Frank have new and improved attitudes towards child-rearing and togetherness.
Appearing in Wonder Woman: "Grown-Down Land"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Frank Modern
- Selfa Modern
Other Characters:
- Dellie, the Moderns' Nursemaid
- Ephram, the Moderns' Butler
- Babs Modern
- Lonny Modern
- the Moderns' Doctor
- the children of Grown-Down Land
- Mr. Gatekeeper
- Chief Baba
- the Judge
- Prison Chief Susie
- the Queen
Locations:
- Florida
- Grown-Down Land
Synopsis for Gay Ghost: "Photo of an Old Tramp"
Newly-elected Governor Philip Law and his friends, including Charles Collins, drive thru the snow to a tavern in the country for some celebration. Proprietor Jimmy Brennan has a photo on the barroom wall, of an old tramp, and young Philip has a strange reaction to seeing it, and slumps into a deep reverie.
- Thirteen years earlier, in 1930, a much younger version of the tramp in the photo is a prosperous gangster, Handsome Dan Law, who has just pulled off a sensational jewel theft. His arch-enemy is District Attorney Phillip Law. At many crime scenes, D.A. Law and his friend Charles Collins examine evidence, but are unable to catch Handsome Dan. Despite his success and wealth, Dan Law is grieved by the absence of his wife and their young son.
- For weeks this new king of crime expands his territory and influence, but he and his thugs are silently, invisibly stalked by the Gay Ghost. The phantom swashbuckler disrupts a bomb-planting job, but he gets blown up, and buried under several tons of rock. Minutes later the police dig his dead body out of the rubble, then with macabre comic timing, the Ghost brings it back to life, and politely thanks them. But the gang has gotten away again.
- Handsome Dan Law frames Phillip Law for the murder of "Lippy" Logan, an informant, and then he kidnaps young Law also. His plan is to release Phillip in a few days, and let him spend the rest of his career trying to beat the frame-up. Meanwhile the Gay Ghost is exhaustively researching the background and history of Handsome Dan Law, who has a terrible secret. Overtaking Handsome Dan riding a hansom cab in the park, the Gay Ghost confronts him with his findings: Phillip Law is actually Dan Law's lost son! Dan doesn't believe it at first but soon he does, and he returns to his hideout, to release young Phillip. His underthugs catch him at this, and there's some arguing then some shooting. Dan is wounded, shoots three henchmen, and leaves, just before the Gay Ghost bounds into the room. The elder Law staggers into a railroad yard, and catches a passing freight train out of town.
Over the following years, Phillip Law is exonerated from the murder charge, and has a great deal of political success, while fugitive Dan Law, haggard and hopeless, skids to rock bottom hobo life.
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Appearing in Gay Ghost: "Photo of an Old Tramp"
Featured Characters:
- the Gay Ghost, as Charles Collins
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Handsome Dan Law
- his gang
- Lippy Logan (Dies)
- Dopey
- his gang
Other Characters:
- Phillip Law, Governor, former District Attorney
- Edith Law
- Dan & Edith's son
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Brennan's Stone House
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Little Boy Blue: "Boys' Week in Big City"
Appearing in Little Boy Blue: "Boys' Week in Big City"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for The Black Pirate: "Land of the Little People"
Appearing in The Black Pirate: "Land of the Little People"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Captain Thunder
- his crew
Other Characters:
- Prince Haroum
- his subjects, the Little People
Locations:
- "Land of the Little People"
Items:
- Chart Locating the Land of the Little People (Destroyed)
Vehicles:
- Valor's Ship
Synopsis for Mr. Terrific: "The Blindfold Test"
Appearing in Mr. Terrific: "The Blindfold Test"
Featured Characters:
Synopsis for Wildcat: "The Case of the Corn Corners Cow Killers"
Appearing in Wildcat: "The Case of the Corn Corners Cow Killers"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Stretch Skinner
Villains:
- Sheriff Homer Heifer
- gang of smugglers
Other Characters:
- Tulip Trance
- Mr. Trance
- Residents of Corn Corners
- Willy Hog
- Zeke Rake
- Ezra
- many others
Locations:
- Corn Corners
Notes
- Published by J.R. Publishing Company.
- Wonder Woman: Grown-Down Land is reprinted in 'Wonder Woman Archives Vol. 4'.
Trivia
- Gay Ghost: In the 6th panel of the 2nd page, Phillip Law is described as "the young boy wonder of Gotham City".
See Also
Links and References
- Read Wonder Woman: "Grown-Down Land" online.
- Read Gay Ghost: "Photo of an Old Tramp" online.
