#Menalippe

[nerds-yearbook]

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, Wonder Woman was relaunched with volume 2, cover date of Febuary, 1987. ("The Princess and the Power", Wonder Woman 1# Vol 2, DC Comic Event)

[comicbooksaregood]

Wonder Woman

Volume: 2

Issue: 5

The Ares "Assault"

Writers: Len Wein, George Pérez

Pencils: George Pérez

Inks: Bruce D. Patterson

Colours: Tatjana Wood

Covers: George Pérez

DC

[bonniebirddoesgifs]

Bonniebirddoesgifs:

Menalippe (Justice League) - Credit if using

[daughtersofthemyscira]

A lot happened over the holidays and I didn't have the chance to share this. A shared jest of a "Centaur" center piece.

Patreon reward of Antiope presenting Menalippe with the best Xmas ornament ever.

[Image Description: Digital artwork of Menalippe and Antiope from Wonder Woman, shown from the waist up. Menalippe wears a red chiton with a darker sash over her left shoulder and gold cuff bracelets. Antiope wears her training leathers and diadem with her hair pulled back. Antiope is grinning as she presents Menalippe with a Christmas ornament of a Santa centaur (Santaur). Menalippe has clapped her hands to her mouth in delight as she looks at the ornament. /end ID]

[mamawasatesttube]

im finally reading wonder woman '87 and this IS killing me a little bit

issue #18:

but then literally three issues later in #21 we see on themyscira:

girl they are literally asleep naked in bed together. what is this, just girly things???

[fantastic-nonsense]

I wouldn't mind the heavy focus on warrior Amazons so much if they were allowed to be competent instead of just being used as red shirt cannon fodder. But it seems DC only hypes up the Amazons as deadly fighters so other characters can look more impressive when they take them down.

Oh and Happy New Year.

Happy New Year! Forgive me if I use your ask to talk about a piece of the Wonder Woman mythos I've wanted to discuss for some time, because your complaints offered me the perfect segue to write a nice, in-depth meta on it and I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Honestly, I think a lot of people (both creatives and readers) either don't know, forget, or fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the Amazons' warrior status. So they often get reduced to "deadly warriors who strike first," "supposedly deadly but generally incompetent warriors when outside of their own books," or "militant man-haters" by a lot of people. None of which are true.

The Amazons are incredibly competent warriors and have been since Marston's first portrayal of them in the 1940s, so I don't inherently mind them being shown as such. However, where people get bogged down is insisting that they be shown as deadly and trigger-happy offensive fighters who are happy to strike first and hard, which fundamentally goes against the philosophy and thematic messaging built into Amazonian lore.

DC's Amazonia, lore-wise, is traditionally framed as an Aphrodite vs. Ares "peace and love vs. violence and war" story. In Marston's original rendition of the Amazon's backstory Aphrodite is not only their patron goddess but also their sole creator; it was only after Crisis on Infinite Earths and George Perez's long-overdue lore expansions that the rest of the goddesses became co-creators and co-patrons of the Amazons. Regardless, Ares and his domain are consistently invoked as what the Amazons don't want to be like or engage in. That behavior is the antithesis of what Amazons are supposed to be. This lore informs literally everything about how the Amazons view both their combat abilities and their duty to the goddesses.

The contemporary Amazons are, for the most part, women who died in terrible and traumatic ways at the hands of men (usually through domestic violence, murder, or as conquests of war). When the goddesses created the Amazons by reincarnating these women via the Well of Souls, they specifically charged them to become their champions. And what did these goddesses want? They explicitly wanted justice and protection for women in a violently patriarchial world. The Amazons being warriors is thus specifically tied to an understanding of necessary self-defense and protection (both of themselves and other women), not offense.

Which of course is what lands the Amazons on Themyscira in the first place: invoking the goddesses' ire by not obeying these commands after their rebellion against their enslavement by Heracles and his men crosses the line from the necessary battle to achieve their liberation into wanton violence and revenge:

"The battered Hippolyta prayed to her goddesses and found the courage and inspiration to free herself. Athena had reminded Hippolyta of the Amazons' purpose and mission—but not all of the Amazons remembered. Or cared. They yearned for vengeance. For retribution against those who violated them...and under Antiope, many found it." -Wonder Woman: Our Worlds at War (2001)

And as Hippolyta and Menalippe tell Antiope:

"No, Antiope. Never vengeance; never again!" /// "That is Ares' way, Antiope. We achieve no glory by embracing the Dark God's power!" -Wonder Woman (1987) #1

The Amazon way is promoting a society based on love, equality, truth, and peaceful conflict resolution, not vengeance and violent combat. It's a philosophy that defines Diana's mission in Man's World as an ambassador, teacher, and living example of her peoples' way of life:

Enraptured, they listen to her dissertation on equality between the sexes, tolerance, peaceful coexistence. Social Philosophy 101, Amazon Style. -Wonder Woman (1987) #170

Diana's gods-given mission was to spread the Amazonian ideals of conciliation—to give those living in the World of Man the proper tools to peacefully coexist with each other. It was her life's purpose to teach the possibilities of respect and love by being a living example of an upbringing founded in those ideals.

Truth-seeking, diplomacy, and peace are the Amazonian way of dealing with conflict, not violence. And when you are forced to engage in combat (and you should be prepared for that eventuality because sometimes it will happen), your goal should be self-defense and de-escalation, not offense and prolonging the conflict longer than necessary.

This is also, as an aside, why Diana (and specifically Diana in her capacity as Wonder Woman) does not usually carry offensive weapons like a sword and why her primary "weapons" are the Lasso of Truth and protective bracelets. She's the official representative of her peoples' culture and personally deeply believes in that cultural philosophy. Other Amazons have different views on the matter, including her mother, but Diana grew up completely separated from the World of Man and fully immersed in that belief system, which deeply informs how she views her mission as Wonder Woman.

Personally, I think many (but not all) of the problems re: depicting the Amazons in the modern era come from various writers attempting to solve contradictions that don't exist. They see "kickass trained warriors living peacefully on an island" and see that as a contradiction they have to solve: why do they train if they're pacifists? Why do they fight if they're peaceful? In reality, it's not a contradiction: their status as warriors and champions is specifically tied to self-defense and protection (both of themselves and others), but given the choice they don't want to have to take up arms to protect people because that goes against their fundamental cultural philosophy. Outsiders and meddlesome gods are the ones who force them to do that! What they want is for everyone to be treated with love, respect, and understanding so they don't have to!

And there's a lot of problematic elements built into the concept's execution, but this is the core thesis behind the split between Hippolyta's Themyscirans and Antiope's Bana-Mighdall. The Themysciran Amazons have had their fill of violence and war; they just want to live in peace. But a) they were specifically tasked with guarding Doom's Doorway when they were taken to the island, a duty which necessitates perfect combat readiness, and b) their history is littered with examples of people refusing to leave them alone. So they train, in case someone decides to take shots at them, but otherwise live in peaceful isolation. Meanwhile, the Banas looked at that same shared history and went "we need to take the fight to the outside world. Offense is the best defense, and the only way to protect ourselves and the other women of the world is to actively seek vengeance for the violence women face." So they chose to actively intervene in Man's World, fighting constant battles and exacting revenge for any women mistreated at the hands of men.

...which is also why Artemis was such a necessary and interesting addition to the Wonder Woman mythos (even if she's often handled...poorly), because she and Diana represent two diametrically opposed views of how to protect and represent both their cultures and the women of Man's World, but that's a rant for a different time.

Anyway, the Themysciran Amazons' martial pacifism as a cultural value isn't a contradiction; it's one way of looking at a history filled with violence and victimization and saying "no more." And it's a pretty subversive way of doing so, which (well-written) comics tend to note!

So yes, the "Amazons are warriors" mentality has always been there and has been solidly emphasized at various points throughout Wonder Woman's history, and it should be acknowledged and shown that they're all incredibly competent in battle when they're forced to engage in it. But the way in which it gets emphasized is what defines whether a writer has a solid understanding of the history and baggage that comes with depicting the Amazonian struggle and the socio-political issues embedded in their lore. And unfortunately...many writers just don't seem to get it.

[jesamnelovelace]

a child of the waves (ao3)

Fandom: Wonder Woman

Characters: Donna Troy, Hippolyta, Diana of Themyscira, Philippus

From the doorway Menalippe once again spoke up as she dipped into a curtsy. “I am honored to be the first to greet you, Princess Donna of Themyscira.”

When a child arrives on the shore of Themyscira and the ceremony to return her back to where she comes from goes wrong, Hippolyta finds herself raising a new daughter.

My fic for @womenincomicsminibang with art by @val-el.

Also on superlove and CFAA

[womenincomicsminibang]

2024 Bang Masterlist

white knight | black knight by @havendance (AO3 | CFAA | Superlove) with art by @franollie

When breaking into the clock tower, Helena uncovers information that prompts her to view Barbara Gordon in a new light and leads to a new partnership between them. Officially a member of the Birds of Prey, the reality of Helena's role is something... messier. This may be a fresh start, but things have never been easy between Helena and Barbara and the weight of the secrets they keep threaten to tear things apart. - Helena Bertinelli, Barbara Gordon, Dinah Lance

Holy, Ghostly by @loisinherlane (AO3) with art (1 and 2) by @je-suis-un-pamplemousse

When Gwen opens her eyes, she doesn’t know who she expects to see. Her first thought is Uncle Arthur, though she knows she left London to return home to New York, to Peter. Then she thinks of Peter himself (and the guilt floods for not having thought of him first). Then she thinks of Spider-Man, the last person reaching for her—but not Spider-Man, Peter, always Peter—// Gwen Stacy is resurrected—and revealed to be a mutant, amongst the X-Men. She comes to terms with her death and her friends’ reactions, while growing closer to another outsider. - Gwen Stacy, Kurt Wagner, Sean Cassidy, Theresa Cassidy, Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, Harry Osborn

You watch me Bleed until I can't breath by @jokewishes (AO3) with art by @nolanfa (AO3)

You are my god-given solace. - Helena Bertinelli, Barbara Gordon, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain, Kara Zor-El

until we rust by @mamawasatesttube (AO3) with art by @vivictory-draws

She rushes back over to Kara, standing a few paces behind her with a confused little smile, and holds out the rose. Kara’s eyes widen. “Wait. For me?” “Yeah, duh, who else? You think I got it for that pigeon over there?” Nat is so grateful her skin is dark enough Kara probably can’t tell how hard she’s blushing. As is, Kara can definitely hear her heart pounding, but there’s not much she can do about that. Besides, Kara’s blushing now, too, her cheeks going pink as she takes the rose from Nat. Their fingers brush as she takes it in both hands, cradling the stem delicately in her fingers. She caresses a velvety petal, then leans down to inhale the scent. When she lifts her head, Nat swears she can see stars in her eyes. “It’s beautiful,” Kara says, her voice soft and delighted. “Thank you, Nat.”

Roses are red. Kara's eyes are blue. Natasha is a lesbian. What's a girl to do? - Natasha Irons, Kara Zor-El, Kon-El

Lois Lane’s To-Do List for the End of the World (Dead Fiancé Edition) by @suzukiblu (AO3) with art by @ravendraculina

Clark’s dead. So is Superman, but that’s different. Either way, Lois isn’t enjoying the experience. - Lois Lane, Matrix/Mae Kent, Jimmy Olsen, Clark Kent, John Henry Irons, The Eradicator, Hank Henshaw

"Suffering Sappho" by @cer-rata (AO3) with art by @breakingthespacetimewall and art by @strawberrysoop

Sure, having a goddess of love harass her over the state of her personal life wasn't the worst thing she'd had to deal with. But that didn't mean Cassie wasn't desperate for it to be over. - Cassandra Sandsmark, Cissie King-Jones, Rose Wilson, Kon-El, Diana of Themyscira, Ishtar

a child of the waves by @jesamnelovelace (AO3) with art by @val-el

From the doorway, Menalippe once again spoke up as she dipped into a curtsy. “I am honored to be the first one to greet you, Princess Donna of Themyscira.” When a child arrives on the shore of Themyscira and the ceremony to return her back to where she came from goes wrong, Hippolyta finds herself raising a new daughter. - Donna Troy, Hippolyta of Themyscira, Diana of Themyscira, Phillipus

thawed out my freezerburnt feelings by @theriveroflight (AO3) with art by @hyperglqvcovs

Rose has left the Titans, and Cass has left the Bats. For the first time, they meet unburdened by anyone else. - Rose Wilson, Cassandra Cain

Scenes From the First Life and Death of Jean Grey by @caelumsthelimit (AO3) with art (1 and 2) by @ffverr and art by @roguesrevenge

"all you have is your fire, and the place you need to reach" - Arsonist's Lullabye by Hozier - Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Charles Xavier

Catwoman: Footfalls by @raan-miir-tah (AO3) with art by @the-dracologist and art by @loisinherlane

Tell me if you've heard this joke before; a jewel thief walks into a jewelry store, bored out of her mind. — Selina gets more than what she bargained for. - Selina Kyle, Zatanna Zatara, Bruce Wayne

Left Behind, or Something About Relationships by @roguesrevenge (AO3) with art by @telepathlover

Jean-Paul has left to join the X-men. Mac has reformed Alpha Flight with other people. Jeanne-Marie is left to herself. At least, until she gets a call from Heather promising a mission. (Otherwise known as. Heather has marital problems and lies to her friends. Jeanne-Marie and Aurora yell at. everyone actually) - Jeanne-Marie Beaubier, Wanda Langkowski, Heather MacNeil-Hudson, Jean-Paul Beaubier, Paige Guthrie, Bobby Drake

You're Ripe For The Picking (You're So Awful) by @bellabaxtrrr (AO3) with art by @mysteriousbeetle

“Did you buy me breakfast just to grill me about my crushes at school?” Lian picks at her food. “No, that’d be stupid.” Mia waves her hand dismissively. “I just wanted to spend some time with my favorite niece.” “I’m your only niece.” “And my favorite.”

On a regular night out on patrol, Mia gets a lead in her case.

[letsplaydcttrpg]

Strangers in Paradise pt 8 - Consult the Oracle

Start this module here!

Previous part here!

Links to all posts for this module in the pinned post!

Consult Menalippe: Clutching the strange amulet in one hand, you sail through the air toward the Royal Palace. You land gracefully outside and jog into the Temple of the Oracle. Menalippe sits inside, unmoving, staring distantly into the Fires of Divination. "Menalippe," you say quietly. "Greetings, sister. I am confused about this symbol." You continue, holding out the amulet, "Can you tell me something of it?" Menalippe turns to you, then glances down and studies the amulet. For a moment, the distant look returns to her eyes. Suddenly, Menalippe shakes, startled. Her breath catches in her throat and she trembles. "I see terror," Menalippe reveals. "There will be great fear...discord. I see Paradise Island in flames!" Soon she collects herself, her eyes focusing on you again. She continues, calmer. "This amulet, Princess, is a symbol of an ancient presence, a presence that delights in disharmony and confusion. The symbol links that presence to this world." She grips your hand impulsively. "Be careful, Diana." "I shall," you promise. "And thank you." You leave the temple, contemplating the symbol during your return to the ambassadors.

[themyscirah]

Okay friends a question for you all:

May be unfair of me to put Philippus here because she has like 200+ more appearances than the next most character so she'll probably sweep but I want her here so idc 🤷‍♀️

[justicescreaming]

“So it is,” she agreed neutrally. She and Menalippe shared another look but didn’t say anything aloud.  They didn’t need to.  Her lover understood how she felt about the man that had taken their Diana from the island.

“The queen has been made aware there was a newcomer on our island but not who it was.  I will send riders to inform her.”

@godkillersblood​

[wishesofeternity]

“Tudor historians ... write at length about Margaret (of York)’s involvement in the plots against Henry VII. They presented all attempts to overthrow Henry as part of her own malicious and obsessive vendetta against him. Polydore Vergil expressed the general view most succinctly when he stated that Margaret, ‘pursued Henry with insatiable hatred and with fiery wrath never desisted from employing every scheme which might harm him as a representative of the hostile faction.’

Edward Hall, who followed Polydore Vergil very closely, elaborated on this and added several fearsome phrases for ‘this diabolicall duches.’ Margaret was ‘lyke a dogge revertynge to her olde vomyte’ and ‘lyke a spyder that dayly weaueth when hys calle is tarne’. Hall examined the dowager’s motives in a paragraph which has been echoed by many later historians:

This lady Margaret although she knewe the familye and stocke of the house of Yorke to be in maner distroyed & vtterly defaced by her brother kyng Richard, yet not being saciate nor content with the long hatred & continual malice of her parentes which subuerted and ouerthrew almost the progeny and lignage of kyng Henry the vi and the house of Lancaster, nor yet remembryng the newe affinitie & strong alliaunce that was lately concluded, by the whiche the heyres of bothe the houses and progenies were vnited & conioyned together in lawfull matrimony, lyke one forgetryng bothe God & charite, inflamed with malice diabolicall instinction, inuented & practiced all mischiefes, displeasures and damages that she could deuyse against the kyng of England. And farther in her fury and frantyke moode (accordyng to the saiyng of the wise man, there is no malice equiualent nor aboue the malice of a woman) she wrought all the wayes possible how to sucke his bloud and copasse his destruccion as the principal head of her aduerse parte & contrary faccion, as though he should be a dewe sacrifice or an host immolated for the mutuall murder & shamefull homicide comitted and perpetrated by her brother and progeny.

In this extract Hall elevated Henry by comparing him with the sacrificial Lamb of God, and relegated Margaret firmly to the role of the devil’s agent.

Another major analogy for the Dowager, which became entrenched in the history books, originated with Bernard André, the blind tutor of Prince Arthur, Henry VII’s eldest son. As befitted a classical scholar he portrayed Margaret as the goddess Juno, notorious for her implacable desire for revenge, ceaselessly attacking the noble Henry who was cast in the role of Hercules. In the ‘Twelve Triumphs of Henry VII’, an epic poem also ascribed to André, Margaret was also compared to Menalippe, the Queen of the Amazons, another of Hercules’ enemies, and also to one of the heads of the monster Geryon, the other two heads being those of Philip and Maximilian. Here at least there was a recognition of how closely Margaret worked with the rulers of Burgundy.

...More recent English historians have echoed the Tudor line with considerable regularity. Even the charitable Hume considered that the Dowager’s behaviour towards Henry showed ‘a spirit of faction who entrenched somewhat the probity which shone forth in other parts of her character’. For Professor Mackie, Margaret was ‘always ready to play the kindly aunt to Henry’s enemies’. Writers in other fields have picked up this general verdict. The art historian, Professor Wilenski, suggested that Dirk Bouts portrayed Margaret as the wicked queen in his great dyptich ‘The Judgment of Otho’ because she was ‘rancourous and given to political intrigue’.

The source for all these opinions on the Dowager’s character was no less a person than Henry VII himself. He expressed his attitude towards Margaret with great conviction in a letter written to Sir Gilbert Talbot in 1493:

"not forgetting the great malice that the Lady Margaret of Burgundy beareth continually against us, as she showed lately in sending hither a feigned boy surmising him to have been the son of the Duke of Clarence … And forseeing now the perseverance of the same her malice, by the untrue contriving eftsoon of another feigned lad called Perkin Warbeck … wherethrough she intendeth by promising unto the Flemings and other of the Archduke’s obeissance to whom she laboureth daily to take her way, and by her promise to certain aliens, captains of strange nations, to have duchies, counties, baronies, and other lands, within this our royaume to induce them thereby to land here."

The King repeated his opinions in his instructions to his ambassador to France, who was told to inform the French King that the Dowager was misleading Maximilian and was wholly responsible for the past and for the threatened invasions of England. Although Henry had, by this date, very valid reasons for regarding Burgundy as a source of danger, his motives for accusing the Dowager rather than Maximilian were entirely diplomatic and totally ignored the fact that Margaret and Maximilian worked very closely together in their attempts to dethrone Henry.

Henry VII had an exaggerated notion of Margaret’s political influence, although he was not the first to respect and fear her authority. Louis XI of France had emphasised her role in diplomatic affairs and from the moment of her marriage to Duke Charles, the French King had regarded her as an active agent of the Anglo-Burgundian alliance. After 1477, Louis recognised the Dowager as one of the most vigorous opponents of France [...].

- Christine Weightman, “Margaret of York: the Diabolical Duchess”

[comicbooksaregood]

Wonder Woman

Volume: 2

Issue: 2

A Fire In The Sky

Writers: Greg Potter, George Pérez

Pencils: George Pérez

Inks: Bruce D. Patterson

Colours: Tatjana Wood

Covers: George Pérez

DC

[legofanguy]

DC Amazon: goddesses of the Amazons

This is a entry for @dccomicsamazonsweek event DC Amazons Week 2024 day 3: God(Desses) & Monsters. I have to look up Wikipedia for a list of Ancient Greek Goddesses.

Menalippe and Penelope arrived at the Temple of Areia, the Amazons' goddess of love and war, and walk to the priestess which Penelope ask her, "Priestess, we need your guidance. We need to know which goddess will blessed our union." and the priestess said to the pair of Amazons, "I understand your worry about which goddess to choose, sisters. As you know, we Amazons are blessed by Areia as her daughters to protect man's world, but she agree with the other goddesses that we Amazons will worship them as well in return for her creation. Beside Areia, the pantheon include Hera, Aphrodite, Demter, and Athena. Areia blessed us with being skilled in peace and warfare as well knowledge that we fight to protect our loved ones. Hera blessed us with a empire to rival some of the greatest among man's world. Aphrodite blessed us with beauty and love for each other. Athena blessed us with wisdom and knowledge to make great science technology ahead of much of man's world. Many countries of man's world fear us and Zeus send his demigod son Hercules to defeat our queen in battle to teach us women a lesson for daring to challenge his laws. Areia guide our people to Themyscira to hide from man's world, and we keep worshiping our goddesses." After hearing this, Menalippe said to the priestess, "I think we choose the blessing of Aphrodite."

[zahri-melitor]

I have been restraining myself SO HARD but…

“Menalippe? My Menalippe?” - Wonder Woman #58 (1987)

Yeah I’m pretty sure I’ve already seen these two sleeping together in the same bed but that is some OPHELIA level art choices.

(They’re lesbians)

[wlwrentfreefics]

Here be ships! FanFiction Couples on my list.

F/F

Emily Prentiss/JJ (Criminal Minds)

Emily Prentiss/Penelope Garcia (Criminal Minds)

Emily Prentiss/Tara Lewis (Criminal Minds)

Hecate Hardbroom/Ada Cackle (The worst witch)

Hecate Hardbroom/Julie Hubble (The worst witch)

Constance Hardbroom/Imogen Drill (The worst witch)

Larissa Weems/Morticia Addams (Wednesday)

Larissa Weems/Marilyn Thornhill (Wednesday)

Kate Lethbridge Stewart/Petronella Osgood (Doctor who)

Tissaia De Vries/Yennefer Of Vengerberg (The Witcher)

Max/Esther (A league of their own)

Ripley 8/ Call (Alien: Resurrection)

Moraine Damodred/ Liandrin (The Wheel of time)

Moraine Damodred/Siuan (The wheel of time)

Thirteen/Yasmin Khan (Doctor who)

Korra/Lin Beifong (Legend Of Korra)

Lin Beifong/Kya (Legend Of Korra)

Andrea Sachs/Miranda (The Devil wears Prada)

Korra/Asami (Legend Of Korra)

Female Shepard/Liara (Mass Effect)

Female Shepard/Karin Chakwas (Mass Effect)

Joan Ferguson/Vera Bennet (Wentworth)

Minerva McGonagall/Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

Zelda Spellman/Mary Wardwell (The Chilling adventures of Sabrina)

Madam Vastra/Jenny (Doctor Who)

Sabrina Spellman/

Raffi/Seven (Star Trek: Picard)

Borg queen/ Agnes (Star Trek: Picard)

Thirteen/River Song (doctor Who)

Kathryn Janeway/seven (Star Trek: Voyager)

B’Elanna/Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)

B’Elanna/Seven (Star Trek: Voyager)

Grace Augustine/Mo’at (Avatar) Suyin Beifong/Kuvira (Legend of Korra)

Sarah J Smith/

Rey/ Leia Organa (Star Wars)

Regina Mills/Emma Swan (Once upon a time)

Mazikeen/Linda Martin (Lucifer)

Carol Danvers/

Diana/Etta Candy (Wonder Woman 2017)

Antiope/Menalippe (Wonder Woman 2017)

Dr Wendy Lawson/Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel)

-

It's not my entire collection but definitely a good chunk.