Wonder Woman #38

Delegates from man's world experience the wonders of Themyscira, while Eris, Ares' daughter, lays a trap for the Amazon Princess.

Ares' daughter, Eris, is causing trouble for the Amazons.

The delegates are at an amphitheatre and watch a play about the origins of the Amazons. Amazons emerge from the centre of the arena, re-creating the time when the Goddesses created the Amazons. The play continues, showing how Hippolyta and Antiope were chosen as queens and given the Girdles. Together, they partnered with men and were taken over. Gaea renewed her spirit and called the Amazons to arms. They fought and once the war was over, Hippolyta wanted a peaceful existence while Antiope had bid farewell. Hippolyta led her group to a new island towards the Aegean Sea and Poseidon answered their prayers and parted the sea for them. It was a difficult journey as they feared the water would crash upon them. They finally reached the soils of Paradise Island and every Amazon had the gift of immortality. They then set a new task of building their new home, called Themyscira.

Menalippe comes to her conclusion of the play and Diana wonders why the oracle sounds so bored in her delivery. Even Lois Lane finds it strange and notices that Diana is embarrassed by such a delivery. As the play ends, Eris watches the events from her magical apple. After the play, Lois makes entries in her journal, describing how the Amazons are finalizing their preparations for the banquet. An Amazon named Clio points out the Golden Apples, neatly set out. Penelope points out that Menalippe should be thanked for that. Just before the banquet, the delegates are invited to mingling. Diana guides them. Felix Zumac wonders about the Garden of Eden and Maritza Nitumbe comments on the richness of the soil. Elsewhere in the library, Phyllis Haller, Alan Witherspoon, Robert Cantwell and Lois Lane are shown by Mnemosyne and the books that are available to read. Cantwell wonders about inbreeding and Phyllis Haller interjects, telling Mnemosyne to ignore him as they are just typical men. Lois continues writing in her journal, explaining what Amazons do when they need medical attention. She writes in her book about a small islet where healing is performed, and Dr. Vladimir Morakov is studying herbology in exchange for modern medical knowledge.

Back in the capital city, Asmund Lindel comments on the Chaos Wall around the island and asks whether Hippolyta has heard of the Iron Curtain or not, because the Chaos Wall resembles the Iron Curtain. Hippolyta replies that she doesn’t rule with terror. Lindel suggests that they remove it before Hippolyta makes her visit to New York. Hippolyta responds that the Chaos Wall is needed for defense and can be removed by the Gods if necessary.

Elsewhere, Henri Claude Tibet is being wheeled by an Amazon named Timandra, and Tibet asks about the architecture. Timandra replies that even thought she is an architect, her expertise is in the design of buildings. Themyscira’s city planner died defending Doom’s Doorway.

At the site of Doom’s Doorway, Hellene and Lin Koo Teng survey the statue commemorating those who died defending the doorway. Lin Koo Teng tells of a similar story, where her friends died defending Tiananmen Square and Hellene tells her that she shouldn’t be so bitter; it will drag her down and that she should forgive. Menalippe appears and points out that without death, there is no life. Hellene and Teng continue the tour and Menalippe says she will catch up with them as she looks up at the statue.

In the city, Diana, Lois and other few Amazons watch Rovo Quashi play the lyre and is asked if he has ever played it before. Quashi replies that he hasn’t. Diana and Lois leave the Amazons and Quashi and Lois takes this opportunity to interview Diana. The both of them talk about her views on peace, despite her baser aspects of human nature. They also talk about Myndi Mayer and her friendship with Julia and Vanessa Kapatelis. And finally, Superman. Lois had expected Diana to choke at the question, though Diana had smiled and asked her about Superman. Rabbi Hecht is then seen running out of the temple and rants about the Amazon’s beliefs regarding religion. Diana is furious at the thought of an outsider disrespecting their religion. Penelope explains to Diana that they do not want outsiders tainting their faith with other religions. Diana asks the rabbi to calm down, but only if Penelope apologises, however, it is unsuccessful. Lois then sees the opportunity for a big story. She now knows that the illusion of peace is in fact an illusion and if she could communicate with the outside world to tell people about this, she could, though a part of her is glad that she can’t. Diana then finds Menalippe and flies towards the Doom’s Doorway and down below, Hellene and Lin Koo see Diana fly, suggesting that they follow her. However, Hellene says that the feast will begin soon and will need to go back to the city.

Diana then reaches Menalippe and calls for her. She then hears a noise and finds that the statute has ripped off. She then hears Menalippe’s cries from a void below and Diana attempts to open the void some more to save her sister. She herself can’t move it open and wonders how Menalippe had done so in the first place. Diana does manage to pull apart the void and calls for Menalippe. The ground below her then disappears and she is kept up by strong winds. She then sees a light and Menalippe’s voice tells her that this is the way to freedom. Diana flies towards it to find a serpent which attacks her. She dodges it, but other heads of the serpent attack her as well. She is grabbed by one and it squeezes her until she cuts the serpent’s throat with her tiara. But the attack on causes an eruption of flames from the wound and her tiara is shot out of Diana’s hand. Twigs then tie around her ankle and wrists and she sees her skin turning into wood. She then sees Menalippe is standing beside Eris, Ares’ daughter. Menalippe tells Diana that their fate is with Ares. Diana turns completely into wood and everything goes black.

Night begins to show itself and the banquet has almost begun. Hippolyta wonders where her daughter and the oracle are. Of all people, how can it be them that are late? Lois replies that they are just being fashionably late, but Hippolyta replies that Menalippe cannot be late because without her, they cannot begin. Lin Koo tells Hellene that perhaps they should have followed Diana, but Hellene replies that they would’ve been late as well and it would be disrespectful to the guests and her queen. Penelope, in a vicious tone, says that they should begin, so they can go back to where they came from. Philippus reminds her of her rudeness, even to her sisters. She asks if there’s something on her mind. Philippus suggests a search party, but she is cut short when Diana and Menalippe walk into the chamber. They apologise for being late, and take a seat at the table, eyeing the Golden Apples. Lois is confused about their behaviour, remembering their talk earlier. Maybe she’s just hiding her true feelings in front of the guests? But Lois thinks otherwise… Lois knows that Diana has eyes that tell her true feelings, and that her eyes right now tell her nothing. Diana then announces, “Let the Feast of Five begin!”