"The Challenge of Artemis" | |
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Publisher | DC Comics |
Publication date | January – August 1995 |
Genre | |
Title(s) | Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #94-100 |
Main character(s) | Wonder Woman, Artemis, Hippolyta |
Creative team | |
Writer(s) | William Messner-Loebs |
Penciller(s) | Mike Deodato |
The Challenge of Artemis is a comic book story arc that occurred in 1995 written by William Messner-Loebs and drawn by Mike Deodato. It compiled a segment of the second volume of the DC Comics Wonder Woman comic book from issues 94 through 100 into a collected book edition.
After winning a contest to see who will become the new Wonder Woman in "Man's World", the Amazon Artemis makes her debut to the public. Upset and confused by the ordeal, the original Wonder Woman (Diana) dons a new black outfit and returns to her life in America. Although Artemis tries to distinguish herself from her predecessor in both New York City and Boston, her approach to various situations is seen as more violent than beneficial. Because of this, and due to Man's World's respect for Diana, Artemis often receives the cold shoulder from those she tries to help, like the Justice League. [1] According to Superman, Batman refused to allow Artemis to sit in Diana's chair during Justice League [2] meetings. [3] Diana's twin sister Donna Troy resented Artemis carrying the Wonder Woman title, causing their first meeting to escalate into a heated argument. [4] Because of the unwelcome reception, Artemis starts to see Diana as a rival and would often belittle Diana in public.
Diana continues to use her abilities to help the citizens of Boston, causing the White Magician to still view her as a threat. H tries to keep Diana preoccupied by stirring up the rivalry between Boston's mafia families while he plans his next course of action to take over the city. Unfortunately for him, Artemis continues Diana's investigation of him in her place.
Artemis meets a representative from a PR company to help her with her public likeability. Behind her back, the company has set up several battles for her with superhuman men with the help of the White Magician. However, she helps downtrodden groups like as immigrant workers and abused women [5] and once she uncovers the truth she sets out to prove herself by single-handedly taking down Boston's biggest mob boss: Julianna Sazia. Unable to capture Julianna, Artemis destroys her army of robots and Sazia's booby-trapped mansion.
When the White Magician learns that Artemis is going to battle him, he use the life force of two women: his lover, anchorwoman Cassandra Arnold and The Cheetah, to transform himself into a giant demon, capable of defeating the Amazon. In the process, the remains of his two victims became super, savage demons with extraordinary power, obeying only The White Magician's commands. Overwhelmed, Artemis keeps up the fight valiantly until Diana is able to aid her, thanks to a disguised Circe teleporting her to her side. During the fight, Circe attempts to use her magic on the demon, but the sorcery failed, as she was tied to her false mortal identity of Donna Milton. Using the last of her power, Circe teleports the two lesser demons and herself away, leaving Diana and Artemis to battle The White Magician alone. Near death, Artemis gave the Gauntlet of Atlas [6] (which gave its wearer 10 times their normal strength) to Diana to finish the battle. Diana beats the demonic White Magician with her tremendously enhanced strength. However, before she can finish him off, he is consumed by his own demonic powers and incinerated, leaving only a pile of smouldering ashes behind. While Circe and the Cheetah eventually return to their former selves, Cassandra Arnold has not been seen since and her whereabouts remain unknown. [7] Once the battle is over Diana went to Artemis' side and told her she battled as a true Wonder Woman. Before dying, Artemis tells Diana to take back her title as Wonder Woman.
The Cheetah is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media, commonly as a major recurring adversary of the superhero Wonder Woman. Like her nemesis, she was created by William Moulton Marston & H. G. Peter, originally debuting in the autumn of 1943 in Wonder Woman #6. With her distinctive sleek, spotted appearance, she is recognized as "one of Wonder Woman's most iconic enemies", and has been featured significantly as a persistent foe throughout every era of the hero's comic book adventures.
The Silver Swan is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media, commonly as a recurring adversary of the superhero Wonder Woman. Capable of flight and possessing the superhuman ability to generate a devastating sonic cry, she first appeared in 1982 in Wonder Woman #288, written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Gene Colan. Since then, the character has undergone several updates as comic book continuities have evolved and shifted. Indeed, there have been three different Silver Swans since the character's debut, including Helen Alexandros, the original Silver Swan; Valerie Beaudry, the second Silver Swan, debuting in 1988 in Wonder Woman #15; and Vanessa Kapatelis, the third and current Silver Swan, debuting in 2001 in Wonder Woman #171. The backstories of all three characters are inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Ugly Duckling: Alexandros, Beaudry and Kapetelis all believe in different ways that they are undesirable, unattractive or unwanted, only to find themselves transformed into extraordinarily beautiful super-powered women.
Donna Troy is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She is the original Wonder Girl and later temporarily adopts another identity, Troia. Created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani, she first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #60. Donna has been commonly featured in stories involving the Teen Titans, which she originally joined during their second adventure and is since depicted as a founding member of the team.
Themyscira is a fictional unitary sovereign city-state and archipelagic island nation appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Previously known as Paradise Island and the Amazon Isles, it first appeared in All Star Comics #8.
Queen Hippolyta is a fictional DC Comics superhero, based on the Amazon queen Hippolyta from Greek mythology. Introduced in 1941 during the Golden Age of Comic Books, she is the queen of the Amazons of Themyscira, the mother of Wonder Woman, and in some continuities, the adopted mother of Donna Troy.
The Lasso of Truth is a weapon wielded by DC Comics superhero Wonder Woman, Princess Diana of Themyscira. It is also known as the Lariat of Truth, the Magic Lasso, the Lasso of Hestia or the Golden Perfect. It was created by William Moulton Marston, inventor of the lie detector, as an allegory for feminine charm, but it later became more popular as a device to extract truth from people.
Artemis of Bana-Mighdall is a fictional Amazon superheroine and antihero, a comic book character published by DC Comics. The character was created by William Messner-Loebs and Mike Deodato, and debuted in Wonder Woman #90 as a rival to Princess Diana of Themyscira. Artemis had briefly succeeded Diana as the new Wonder Woman, but was later killed while assuming the role, fulfilling a prophecy of Wonder Woman dying. After her death, Artemis was sent to the Underworld, but eventually returned to the world of the living.
Cassandra "Cassie" Sandsmark, also known as Wonder Girl, is a superheroine appearing in DC Comics. She was created by John Byrne and first appeared in Wonder Woman #105. The second Wonder Girl, Cassie is a sidekick of the superheroine Wonder Woman and has been featured as a member of the Teen Titans.
Circe is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. Based upon the eponymous Greek mythological figure who imprisoned Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey, she is a wicked sorceress and major recurring adversary of the superhero Wonder Woman. She has been presented variously since first appearing in 1949’s Wonder Woman #37, though her characterization has consistently retained a key set of features: immortality, stunning physical beauty, a powerful command over sorcery, a penchant for turning human beings into animals and often, a delight in humiliation.
War of the Gods is an American four-issue comic book mini-series published by DC Comics in 1991.
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Shim'Tar is a fictional character owned by DC Comics and was co-created by penciler Chris Marrinan and writer George Pérez. According to the Wonder Woman comic book, the name Shim'Tar can also be a title given to the chief warrior of the fictional Bana-Mighdall tribe of Amazons.
Amazons Attack! is a six-issue comic book limited series that was published by DC Comics. Written by Will Pfeifer and pencilled by Pete Woods, the first issue was released on April 25, 2007.
The Children of Ares are several fictional characters appearing in DC Comics publications and related media, commonly as recurring adversaries of the superhero Wonder Woman. Primarily based on eponymous Greek mythological figures, they are malevolent progeny of Wonder Woman's nemesis, the war god Ares. Three in particular – Deimos, Phobos and Eris – have emerged as especially enduring characters, appearing in every era of Wonder Woman's comic book adventures since debuting in 1969's Wonder Woman #183. Beginning in the Silver Age of Comic Books, these three characters have often been presented as Ares’ principal legates in his campaigns for universal conquest, and have also confronted Wonder Woman on their own, individually as well as with one another, as antagonists independent of their father.
Mala is the name of two fictional characters who first appeared in the DC Comics' universe as two members of Wonder Woman's fellow Amazons.
"Who is Wonder Woman?" is a five-issue comic book story arc written by Allan Heinberg with art by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson.
The Hellenders are a fictional comic book superhero team owned by DC Comics and created by writer William Messner-Loebs.
Philippus is a fictional character created by DC Comics. She made her first appearance in February 1987 as an Amazon character in the Wonder Woman comic book. The character was created by writer/artist George Pérez.
The Contest is a comic book story arc that occurred in 1994 written by William Messner-Loebs and drawn by Mike Deodato. It compiled a segment of the second volume of the DC Comics Wonder Woman comic book from issues #90 through #93 and issue #0 into a collected book edition.
Medusa is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics publications and related media, commonly as a recurring adversary of the superhero Wonder Woman. Based upon the eponymous Greek mythological figure whose story was chronicled in Ovid's Metamorphoses, she is a snake-haired Gorgon with the ability to turn living creatures to stone with her gaze. Since her debut in 1964, Medusa's physical appearance has been presented variously as DC Comics' continuities have shifted and evolved. Though she has routinely been depicted with snakes for hair, she has sometimes been shown as bipedal and sometimes with a serpentine lower body. However across continuities, she has consistently been written with the ghostly ability to possess or influence other beings after her physical body has been killed, as well as an uncanny capacity for resurrection after death. Her characterization has been that of a dangerous immortal creature who is at turns both vengeful and sympathetic.