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Hippolyta (Marvel Comics)

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Hippolyta
Hippolyta as depicted in The Fearless Defenders #3 (April 2013). Art by Mark Brooks.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThor #127
(April 1966)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoHippolyta
SpeciesHuman / Olympian hybrid
Team affiliationsFearless Defenders
Gods of Olympus
Amazons
Bacchae
Notable aliasesQueen of the Amazons
Warrior Woman
Abilities

Hippolyta is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Thor #127 (April 1966). She is the queen of the Amazons and the daughter of Ares.[1] Hippolyta is known under the codename Warrior Woman.[2] She has faced the X-Men and the Fantastic Four at various points in her history.[3]

Development

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Concept and creation

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The character is inspired by the queen of the Amazons Hippolyta in Greek mythology.[4]

Publication history

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Hippolyta debuted in Thor #127 (April 1966), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.[5] She appeared in the 1998 Fantastic Four series.[6]

Fictional character biography

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Hippolyta is the daughter of the Greek god of war Ares and Otrera, and the step-sister to Phobos. She and her sister Amazons would help create war, stealing the female children in the process to enlarge their armies. The group protected the cow-goddess Io as a favor to her grandfather Zeus.

After many years of ruling the Amazons, Hippolyta meets Hercules when he, Jason, and the Argonauts land near her city stronghold of Themiscyra. There, they attempt to steal Hippolyta's enchanted girdle and any slaves they could along the way. Fearful for her sister's life, Hippolyta's sister Antiope willingly disguises herself as Hippolyta. Jason, thinking her to be the Amazon queen, kidnaps Antiope and made her his bride. She eventually has a son with him, Hippolytus, whom Antiope named after her sister. Initially resenting Hercules for the initial invasion, Hippolyta eventually falls in love with him. Over the centuries, she tries various attempts to win his affection, forming a love/hate relationship with him.

As shown in a Howard the Duck story, Hippolyta has historically been one of the bearers of the Amulet of Pazuzu. As the Howard the Duck comic involves storylines that are both in and out of continuity, it is unclear if the Amulet exists in the Marvel Universe.[7]

In her first modern-day appearance Hippolyta helped Pluto, the Roman god of the dead, in his plan to avenge himself on Hercules by posing as a movie actress and tricking the hero into signing a "movie contract" that in reality bound him to Pluto's realm, Hades, while Pluto was disguised as the director. When Hercules was given the contract she told him that in the film he conquered the Netherworld by defeating Pluto and she remained by his side all the time, causing him to sign the contract. She then revealed who she really was to Hercules. But Thor came to his aid, and the heroes caused so much damage to Hades that Pluto himself broke the contract just to be rid of them.[8]

Hippolyta also formed a new generation of Amazons from female runaways in New York City called the Bacchae. The group has clashed with such heroes as the Fantastic Four and the X-Men.[9]

Much later, Hippolyta reappeared in the pages of The Incredible Hercules, visiting her father Ares in an attempt to rally him to one of Hera's new schemes. Ares rebuffs her, however, and when Hippolyta returns, she is murdered by her daughter Artume, who is tired of her mother's obsession with Hercules.[10] During the Dark Reign storyline, Hippolyta is among the dead people in Erebus when Hercules travels to the Underworld.[11]

Hela later brings Hippolyta (under the moniker "Warrior Woman") from the Underworld to help the Valkyrior defeat the Doommaidens.[12] Hippolyta then joins Valkyrie's Fearless Defenders as a full-time member of this group.[13]

During the Monsters Unleashed storyline, Valkyrie and Hippolyta battle the Leviathon Tide monsters in Edinburgh.[14]

Powers, abilities, and equipment

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As a human/Olympian hybrid, Hippolyta has immense strength, stamina, durability, speed, agility, reflexes, and healing, as well as virtual immortality. She is a highly skilled unarmed combatant and possesses the Gauntlet of Ares, which increases her physical powers a hundredfold.[15] Hippolyta also has access to various melee weapons.

Reception

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Brad Hill of Sportskeeda called Hippolyta one of the best Greek gods from Marvel comics.[16]

In other media

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Hippolyta appears in the "Thor" segment of The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Mona O'Hearn.

References

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  1. ^ O'Brien, Megan Nicole (May 6, 2021). "Marvel: 10 Most Powerful Olympians, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Raymond, Charles Nicholas (May 11, 2021). "Every Marvel Hero & Villain Thor 4's Zeus Can Set Up In The MCU". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. ^ Gramuglia, Anthony (April 23, 2020). "How Thor Brought Wonder Woman's Mom & the Amazons Into the Marvel Universe". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  4. ^ Wolford, Bryan (November 21, 2020). "10 Public Domain Characters Marvel & DC Co-Opted". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Meylikhov, Matthew (May 19, 2015). "10 C-List Marvel Heroines A-Force Should Spotlight". Paste. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Nolan, Liam (April 6, 2023). "Meet the Bacchae, Marvel's Amazonian Warriors". Marvel.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Howard the Duck (vol. 2) #3
  8. ^ Thor #127-128
  9. ^ Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #7 and #20; The Uncanny X-Men #450-451
  10. ^ The Incredible Hercules #121
  11. ^ The Incredible Hercules #129
  12. ^ The Fearless Defenders #2 (March 2013)
  13. ^ The Fearless Defenders #3
  14. ^ Monsters Unleashed (vol. 2) #2
  15. ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol 1 #14 (June 2010)
  16. ^ Hill, Brad (July 11, 2022). "Exploring 10 best Greek gods from Marvel comics amid MCU debut of Olympians in Thor: Love and Thunder". Sportskeeda. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
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