In "Our Lives Together," I spotlight some of the more interesting examples of shared comic book universes. You know, crossovers that aren't exactly crossovers.

Today, we look at why Wonder Girl finally got an origin! AND a first name!

As you may or may not know, when Wonder Girl was added to the Teen Titans, she did not have an origin of her own because she was meant to be a younger version of Wonder Woman. Since that set-up obviously didn't make sense with the Titans, it was simply ignored and she was just referred to as "Wonder Girl" by the other Titans.

Things changed, though, when Wonder Woman gave up her costumed identity in 1968...

The Amazons then left this dimension, taking away Wonder Woman's superpowers in the process...

Naturally, then, that would be an issue for Wonder Girl, so Teen Titans #22 by Marv Wolfman, Gil Kane and Nick Cardy decided to resolve this apparent conflict (Wonder Girl still having powers when Wonder Woman did not and Wonder Girl no longer having a home) by working in some shared continuity and make some shocking revelations!

First up, Wonder Girl began to develop a loss of powers, so the other Titans assume it is from the same reason that you would think (the Amazons leaving this dimension), but then Wonder Girl drops a bombshell - she's NOT an Amazon!

She then explains that she was an orphan saved by Wonder Woman...

and then given superpowers...

However, she then reveals that since the Amazons are gone, she has no where to live...

The Titans help her find a roommate, and Wonder Girl gains a name, Donna Troy! She then learns that her power fluctuation was due to the Amazons doing some weird stuff with the purple ray in the other dimension...

A new lease on life, Donna decides to design herself a new costume and so the new Wonder Girl was born!

Fun stuff by Wolfman. Clever use of shared continuity.

If you have a suggestion for another clever piece of shared continuity, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!