“She’s got legs, she knows how to use them. She never begs, she knows how to choose them. She’s holding leg, wondering how to feel them. Would you get behind them, if you could only find them? She’s my baby, she’s my baby. Yeah, it’s alright.” – “Legs” by ZZ Top. But I digress. Truer words were never spoken. Trust the great poets, ZZ Top, to express my thoughts on the Artemis character perfectly. Sigh. Anyway, moving on to the next part of our tale…..

We begin with Princess Diana descending from the clear skies over Themyscira, dressed in full Wonder Woman garb. She gently lands on the beach, near some of her Amazonian sisters. A close friend, a blonde named Mala, admits that she was worried as Diana suddenly disappeared when her mother decreed that a new Contest would be held to decide the mantle of Wonder Woman once and for all. Diana merely replied that she needed time to think. She continued by asking sarcastically if a victor had been crowned while she was absent. (Reeeowr! A bit catty for this early in the article me thinks.) The other Amazon merely replied that she was being silly and handed her a typical outfit to compete within. She took it begrudgingly. Diana asked offhandedly if Artemis and the other once-exiled Amazons would be competing. The answer didn’t sound very positive.

A short time later, as the Amazons begin to warm up and practice for the upcoming competition, Artemis and her group suddenly stroll into the thick of the others. One of the Amazons murmurs a question aloud: “Who invited them?” Diana’s attention snaps towards the snide comment’s speaker and replies for all to hear that she herself invited them. Queen Hippolyta sits up straight in her throne and looks immediately agitated. Diana looks to her mother and continues that all Amazons should have a vote whether or not Artemis and her sisters should be kept from competing. The Queen allows this with anger clearly visible upon her face. The Amazons vote. It’s nearly unanimous. They will be allowed. Obviously out-voted Hippolyta decrees that all Amazonian sisters will be allowed to try for the right to become Wonder Woman! (Me thinks Diana’s in for a grounding. Or maybe a spanking. Where’s THAT issue I ask you?!)

The Amazons begin with javelin throwing, racing, feats of strength, hand to hand combat, etc. After, many of them decide to rest and recoup in the shade. Diana sits with her sisters and spies Artemis and her cohorts strolling by. She gives a friendly smile as she asks if they would like to join them. The reply is full of spite and disgust. The trio passes Diana and the others by as they make their own camp close by. Both groups sit and talk about one another into the night. (Girls. Am I right, fellas? Always gossiping and fighting. I guess it’s the same even on Paradise Island.) Suddenly, Diana holds her head in anguish as a vision forces it’s way into her mind! She sees the ancient past where it appears as though it wasn’t Hippolyta’s sister, Antiope, which betrayed her sister and the others to Herakles, but rather the other way around! Diana awakens near the campfire with a concerned Mala looking over her. She speaks very little of the vision to her friend. But she wonders about the truth of it silently to herself.

The following morning, the next test is prepared. They are to separate into small teams and work together to defeat their competition. Queen Hippolyta gives them all very little time to prepare before she announces that the test has begun. Diana and three of her sisters are joined by Artemis on a team. (You can just tell this is gonna be a mistake. I sense a cat fight in the near future….. So sexy.) Plans are quickly put together and it begins. Mala wanders through the woods, calling out for Diana and Artemis to help her lug their heavy gear in a very loud and annoyed tone. That’s when she’s suddenly attacked by another small group of Amazons that have been waiting for easy prey in the treetops. But Mala is far from unprepared! She strikes back with fierce skill and cunning as the others spring from their hiding places and take the other Amazons prisoner! But as they’re binding them, backup arrives and they throw a net at Mala and Artemis! But Diana has been hiding for just this reason. She leaps from the heavy foliage and battles the other group by herself! But just as the word of surrender is given, an arrow flies through the air, aimed right at Diana’s vital organs!

To be continued…..