The character of Xena first appeared on the syndicated series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," making her entrance as a merciless warrior with a dark past. But under the tutelage of the hunky Hercules, Xena eventually renounced evil and set off to seek redemption and a syndication deal of her own. With "Xena: Warrior Princess," the statuesque heroine in the metal-studded breastplate and little leather skirt soon amassed a cult following; her Greek and Roman mythology-inspired adventures spanned the globe and defied time, space and, often, logic. But "Xena" was a trip worth taking. Let's salute it now with an alphabet of the show's charms -- from A to Xena.

A is for ass-kicking, which Xena did mightily. Despite that skimpy costume, the formidable Xena was in the forefront of the action heroines who muscled into TV and the movies in the mid-'90s and beyond: Buffy, Nikita, Max on "Dark Angel," "The Powerpuff Girls," Lara Croft, the sword-fighting women of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Xena inspired little girls (and big girls) to superhero dreams.

B is for battle cry. Xena had the best one since Tarzan. Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi!

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C is for campy, which "Xena" most definitely was. And that's why you had to love it. But while it was often tongue in cheek, it never turned Xena -- or her fans' faith in her -- into a joke.

D is for death defying. Xena and her sidekick Gabrielle died more times than you can count. In one spectacular demise, they were crucified by the Romans, became angels (well, Xena ended up in hell) and were resurrected by the eternal healing power of love. In the Xenaverse, no goodbye was final.

E is for epic. It may not have had a Hollywood budget, but "Xena" was an epic in spirit, an energetic, affectionate tribute to the sword-and-sandals movies (and Ray Harryhausen mythological spectacles) of the '50s and '60s -- with a nod to literary epics like "The Odyssey" and "Beowulf," just for fun.

F is for feminism. "Xena" was a sly feminist subversion of the traditional hero's tale. Xena underwent all of the journeys, trials and transformations usually reserved for men in myth and legend as she struggled to reclaim her warrior's soul from the dark side. Xena was tutored by two female spiritual mentors; she duked it out with female nemeses. In the Xenaverse, women were realistically complex beings; they were leaders in battle, mothers, queens, concubines, Amazon warriors, healers, witches, poets.

Everywhere Xena went, she spread the gospel of women's equality and wisdom. And how do we honor her in return? With reruns on the Oxygen cable channel that are mutilated by "humorous" little post-feminist comments scrolling across the bottom of the screen. Oh, sisters, you are not worthy of Xena's labors!

G is for Gabrielle. Xena's plucky pal, played by the adorable Renee O'Connor, was an aspiring bard who ran away from her dull village and fiancé to follow Xena to hell and back (literally). Over the course of the series, Gabrielle learned how to wield a fighting staff, became a full-fledged Amazon princess, gave birth to the spawn of an evil deity and acquired a short, fetching hairdo and flattering bare-midriff ensemble. Why did Gabrielle endure all manner of pain and torment (and death, don't forget death) to stick with a woman who was often emotionally aloof and stubborn? See "L."

H and I are for historical inaccuracy. Over the course of her journeys, Xena inspired the Hippocratic oath, defeated Caligula in a chariot race, intervened in the Trojan War and exposed Marc Antony and Brutus as the murderers of Cleopatra. Did it matter that Xena's influence on ancient history was all over the map? Not one bit.

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