Paradise Island Lost is a two-issue storyline by Phil Jimenez and George Pérez, published in Wonder Woman (Volume 2). The story focuses on the problems that came with the integration of the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall on Themyscira. Circe, via her agent Ariadne (in Magala's body), engineered an escalation which led to an all-out civil war.
Though the battle was stopped after Circe's involvement was discovered, Wonder Woman had trouble with the aftermath as it dealt a blow to her mission of peace.
Synopsis
Themyscira begins to suffer a series of bombing attacks and instances of sabotage. The Amazons of Themyscira and the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall each suspect the other tribe. The Amazons of Bana-Mighdall complain that the Amazons of Themyscira have never truly accepted them on their island. They believe that the Amazons of Themyscira resent the power that the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall are gaining by developing their own society on the island. The Amazons of Themyscira deny involvement and cite the extremely violent past of the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall as the possible reason that the tribes cannot get along. Both tribes chafe under the rule of Hippolyta with the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall not recognizing her as their ruler and the Amazons of Themyscira feeling that Hippolyta’s wanderlust and acting as Wonder Woman in the Patriarch’s World is causing her to ignore her duties to Themyscira.
Soon, a conference of the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall is held to discuss the attacks and sabotage. Wonder Woman and Donna Troy appear at the conference and deny the involvement of the Amazons of Themyscira. As the conference proceeds, Hippolyta appears, proclaiming that she is indeed the ruler of all Amazons. Diana angers her mother by agreeing that she is not spending enough time on Themyscira. This infuriates Hippolyta, who responds that Diana has no moral authority in this matter because she too has abandoned her role as princess. Donna tells them both that they should spend more time on Themyscira. Hippolyta leaves the island leaving Donna and Diana to rule. Their advisors warn that the attacks and sabotage are dangerously close to causing a war between the tribes.
Later, it is revealed that fundamentalist Amazons of Themyscira have been preparing for war with the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall by bringing modern weapons to the island. They plan to attack the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall starting a civil war. Meanwhile, Artemis of Bana-Mighdall and the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall discover that the bombs all have the insignia of Ariadne. Over two thousand years ago, Antiope, the second in command to Hippolyta, had split with Hippolyta, which led to the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall splitting with the Amazons who would come to be the Amazons of Themyscira. Antiope had met and married Theseus, with whom she had a son named Hippolytus. Determined to cause discord between the Amazons and man, the malevolent witch-goddess Circe had sought out Ariadne, the unstable first wife of Theseus who had been sent away upon his marriage to Antiope. Circe had manipulated Ariadne's mind and magically transported her to Antiope's bed chamber to murder her while she slept. This had led to the Bana-Mighdall Amazons moving on from Greece, and becoming a nomadic and barbarous group of marauders, determined never again to trust the likes of man.
The Amazons of Bana-Mighdall go to confront the Amazons of Themyscira only to find the fundamentalist Amazons of Themyscira ready for them. A massive civil war breaks out. It is soon revealed that this has all been orchestrated by Magala, the Amazon and mage who was a cavewoman murdered by her mate before being pulled from the Well of Souls to become an Amazon. Magala has manipulated Fury, who believes Hippolyta is her mother, into believing that she must join her to secure the true place of the Amazons of Themyscira. Fury attacks and subdues Diana and Donna while the war rages. Fortunately, Hippolyta returns at just the right time. She revives Diana and Donna and the three go to put an end to the civil war. They learn that Magala is the architect of the civil war. When Diana and Hippolyta confront Magala, she reveals the truth. She is actually Ariadne. Magala was killed long ago when one of her spells went awry. Due to her self-imposed seclusion, no one noticed that she had died, which allowed Circe to replace her with Ariadne. Becoming Magala (Ariadne), she would bide her time for years before putting her current plan in place, to create a war that destroys all the Amazon tribes. Before Hippolyta can confront Magala, Fury murders Magala. Hippolyta and Diana agree that they must work together to stop the civil war. They take to the skies addressing the warring factions. Hippolyta and Diana are surrounded by the fires of truth forged by Antiope's girdle so they will know that she speaks the truth. She tells them the truth of Magala and her involvement in bringing about the civil war. Further, she announces abolition of the royal family. Both Hippolyta and Diana lay down their titles, as queen and princess, in hopes of resolving the differences that have long festered between the Amazons of Themyscira and the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall.
In the wake of the war, Hippolyta announces that she will continues to fight alongside the Justice Society of America as Wonder Woman.
Issues
Links and References
  Wonder Woman Storyline |