Amazons (DC Comics)

Amazons (DC Comics)
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Name	Amazons
Publisher	DC Comics
Debut	All Star Comics #8 (December 1941) (as Wonder Woman's people)
Creators	William Moulton Marston; artist Harry G. Peter
Base	Themyscira (also known as Paradise Island)
Alliances	Justice League, Legion of Super-Heroes (various temporal ties), Justice Society of America (occasional)
Enemies	Ares (DC Comics), Cheetah (DC Comics), Circe (DC Comics), Darkseid, Gaea (DC Comics)
Members	See "Key Characters and Notable Amazons"

Amazons (DC Comics)

The Amazons are a fictional society of superpowered warrior-women appearing in DC Comics publications, primarily as the origin community and allies of Wonder Woman. Introduced by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter during the Golden Age of comic books, they have been reinterpreted across continuities including Silver Age, Crisis on Infinite Earths, post-Crisis and The New 52. Their mythic ties link them to figures from Greek mythology, Roman mythology, and pantheons such as the Greek pantheon and later crossovers with New Gods lore.

Publication History

The Amazons debuted in All Star Comics and were central to the launch of Sensation Comics and Wonder Woman solo titles, with recurring contributions by writers and artists across eras including George Pérez, Gail Simone, Phil Jimenez, and Greg Rucka. Major editorial resets—Crisis on Infinite Earths, the 1987 reboot by George Pérez, Infinite Crisis, Flashpoint leading into The New 52—reshaped Amazon continuity, integrating concepts from Jack Kirby's Fourth World and collaborations with Grant Morrison and J. Michael Straczynski. Tie-ins with crossovers like Genesis and events involving Justice League shifted portrayals from isolated matriarchies to politically engaged actors in the wider DC Universe.

Fictional History and Origins

Origins vary: early Golden Age narratives tied the Amazons to a lost matriarchal island of survivors who rescued Hippolyta (Amazon) and sculpted Diana (Wonder Woman), while later retellings by George Pérez reintroduced them as creations of the Olympian gods—Zeus (DC Comics), Hippolyta serving as queen—and enemies of Ares (DC Comics). Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity complicated origins with mythic births, magical migrations to Themyscira/Paradise Island, and conflicts involving Zeus's descendants and challengers like Phobos (DC Comics). In The New 52, the Amazons were depicted as survivors of a race enslaved by Heracles and later subjects of schemes by Zeus and Hippolyta (DC Comics), while DC Rebirth and subsequent titles restored elements from George Pérez's mythos and introduced new threats such as incursions from Circe (DC Comics) and alliances with Cheetah (DC Comics). Time-travel and multiversal crossovers have linked them to the Legends era and teams like the Justice League International.

Culture, Society, and Abilities

Amazon society blends Greek mythology-derived religion, ritualized training, and a code emphasizing honor, warrior skill, and sisterhood. Institutions include royal succession under queens such as Hippolyta (DC Comics) and councils featuring warriors like Fiona (Amazon—(see Key Characters). Their legal and diplomatic interactions have involved emissaries to Man's World such as Wonder Woman, trade and conflict with nations like Themyscira's neighbors in certain continuities, and interventions in crises involving Apokolips and New Genesis politics. Physical abilities include superhuman strength, longevity, accelerated healing, and mastery of armed and unarmed combat, often augmented by artifacts like the Lasso of Truth, Bracelets of Submission, and mystical weaponry gifted by Athena (DC Comics) or forged by allies like Hephaestus (DC Comics). Amazonic training regimes reference schools and rites led by instructors akin to Diana Prince's mentors; esoteric knowledge connects them to Hecate (DC Comics) and other mythic entities. Amazon society produces specialists—ambassadors, warriors, scholars, and seers—who have participated in diplomatic and military engagements across the DC Universe.

Key Characters and Notable Amazons

- Hippolyta (DC Comics) — Queen and mother figure, central in succession disputes and mythic bargains with Zeus (DC Comics) and Heracles (DC Comics). - Diana (Wonder Woman) — Ambassador, warrior, antagonist-turned-ally in arcs with Ares (DC Comics), Cheetah (DC Comics), and Circe (DC Comics). - Donna Troy — Warrior with complex origin links to the Amazons and the Titan Tower; member of Teen Titans and Justice League. - Cassie Sandsmark — Successor-in-training, also known as Wonder Girl, with ties to Zeus and Ares mythlines. - Artemis of Bana-Mighdall — Champion from the Bana-Mighdall splinter tribe; involved in succession and civil conflict with Hippolyta. - Philippus — Amazon general and royal aide, frequent captain of the guard. - Queen Hippolyta (alternate timelines) — Multiple incarnations across eras, including during Flashpoint and Injustice portrayals. - Other notable Amazons: Myrtle (Amazon), Etta Candy (ally from Man's World), Menalippe, Penthesilea (DC Comics), Eris (DC Comics), Io (Amazon), Io-inspired figures, and Bana-Mighdall leaders like Saidra.

Major Storylines and Conflicts

Major Amazon-centric arcs include Amazons Attack!, a crossover where Amazons clash with Washington, D.C. and United States authorities; George Pérez’s post-Crisis on Infinite Earths relaunch exploring divine bargains and Ares' manipulations; the War of the Gods crossover involving titanic battles with pantheons such as Olympus and Elder Gods; Infinite Crisis and Wonder Woman (vol. 2) storylines that reposition Amazon politics within Metropolis and Gotham City crises; and The New 52's radical reimagining that placed the Amazons at the center of geopolitical machinations alongside Darkseid's agents. Conflicts often feature antagonists from myth and cosmic villains—Circe (DC Comics), Cheetah (DC Comics), Ares (DC Comics), and incursions by Apokolips—and intersect with teams like Justice League and legacy heroes such as Superman and Batman.

In Other Media

Amazons have appeared across media: the Lynda Carter era established televised portrayals; animated adaptations include Justice League (TV series), Justice League Unlimited, and Wonder Woman (2009 film) animated features; the DC Extended Universe film Wonder Woman (film) and Wonder Woman 1984 depicted Themyscira and Amazons with influences from Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johns's screen adaptation; video games feature Amazon characters in Injustice: Gods Among Us, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (cameos), and Batman: Arkham tie-ins. Stage, radio, and merchandise adaptations have also disseminated Amazon iconography alongside comic narratives in collections and trade editions.

Category:Wonder Woman Category:DC Comics superhero teams Category:Fictional warrior races