Bacchae (comics)

The Bacchae are a fictional group of woman warrior characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Fictional history

Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons

In ancient times Hippolyta and her sisters set about war mongering various lands. In each attack she would steal female children, raising them to be her faithful warriors. This gave rise to the origin of the mythological Amazons. Hippolyta served as their queen and she called them her Bacchae. This arrangement served for many years until the arrival of Hercules.

Hercules

Hercules eventually arrived at Themyscira, the home of the Amazons, with some other famous heroes (Jason, Theseus, and Telamon). Together they wiped out the Amazons while trying to capture their queen's golden girdle. Theseus, the second most important person on the ship, kidnapped who he thought was the Queen of the Amazons but was actually the Queens sister Antiope who had dressed up like Hippolyta to protect her.

Forming the Bacchae

Hippolyta, being immortal, then decided to restart her Bacchae cult in order to advance her standing in modern day. She did this by initiating female street people and runaways, providing them with weapons and fighting skills. This modern day Bacchae also became former associates of the Golden Horde and once sought vengeance on the Invisible Woman for interfering with their affairs. They then formed a private New York club called Tartarus as a front based in the heart of Wall Street. Outsiders see it as a private pleasure palace for those of the international business elite who consider the Hellfire Club too passe. It was here during a kidnap attempt that they were foiled by the X-Men.^[1]

Footnotes

• Fantastic Four vol. 3 #7, 20
• Peter Parker: Spider-Man Annual 2000