Wundarr the Aquarian
Wundarr the Aquarian | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | (as Wundarr) Fear #17 (Oct. 1973)
(as Aquarian) Initiative Project Pegasus |
Notable aliases | Herald of the New Age |
Abilities | Superhuman strength Limited flight, and leaping Null energy field ("entropy field") that nullifies all forms of energy Energy projection Vast knowledge Transmitting knowledge through touch |
Wundarr the Aquarian is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik and first appeared in Adventure into Fear #17. A pastiche of Superman, Wundarr was created based on Gerber's "love of the Superman character and (...) desire to do a little parody/homage".[1]
Publication history
Wundarr first appeared in
Relaunch candidate
In 2005, Marvel.com presented four characters to be relaunched. The Aquarian was one of these choices and took second place to
Legal issues
When Wundarr's first appearance was published, DC Comics claimed that Gerber had committed plagiarism[1] (comics scholar Reed Tucker noted that "the line between homage and simply borrowing everything about Superman to meet (a) deadline (had been) blurred", to the extent that Wundarr even wore a blue-and-red unitard).[4] Roy Thomas (Gerber's editor at the time) said that he had told Gerber prior to publication that the character would need to be changed, but that Gerber had not complied — and that as a result, Stan Lee considered firing Gerber.[4] Ultimately, DC agreed to let Marvel continue using the character if sufficient changes were made to distinguish him from Superman (which, Gerber said in 2006, he had planned to do anyway).[1]
Fictional character biography
Early years
On a distant planet called Dakkam (whose name has been described as "ridiculously similar" to '
In July 1951, Wundarr's ship is caught by Earth's gravitational pull, and passes through a layer of
With his great leaping ability, he eventually reaches
Tuumar and Zeneg use the opportunity to attempt to kill Wundarr "for tranquility." When Ben and Namor team up and destroy the Mortoid, Tuumar and Zeneg flee, and Ben is left to be "Unca Benjy" to Wundarr, whom
Wundarr also finds himself menaced by the Tiger Shark.[9]
The Aquarian
Wundarr is captured by the Project Pegasus leaders in order to test his abilities.[10] During these tests, the project leaders decide to use his energy-dampening abilities to probe the Cosmic Cube, a device of great cosmic power. During the probing, the Cosmic Cube overloads Wundarr's mind and body, sending him into an autistic coma (though his energy-dampening field still functions).[11] This overload of energy greatly boosts his abilities, both mental and physical, giving him his power "dampening" field.[12] Being in communication with the Cube, even for so short a time, he is granted great knowledge and a sense of purpose. He awakens from his coma, and is further transformed by the Cosmic Cube. In light of his new knowledge, he renames himself the Aquarian. His new power allows him to defeat the Nth Man.[13] Since then, he roams somewhat aimlessly, seeking to bring peace and enlightenment to the Earth.[volume & issue needed]
For a time, he leads the Water-Children, a philosophical cult dedicated to pacifism and awaiting the coming of the Celestial Messiah, and while teaching his group Aquarian is attacked by fellow Dakkamite
Aquarian serves as a psychic "nesting place" for the Cosmic Cube, just before it awoke to sentience.[15] Aquarian also aids Doctor Strange in preventing planet-wide disasters on Earth.[16]
The Initiative
After joining the
Wundarr appears soon after, having recovered from the virus, and is shown defending Florida during the Skrull invasion of Earth.[18] Later he is seen attending Ben Grimm's bachelor party.[19]
Powers and abilities
Exposure to cosmic rays granted superhuman powers to Wundarr, and radiation from the Earth's sun causes all Dakkamites to undergo further mutagenic effects.
Initially, Wundarr could absorb energy directly into his body. This energy was converted into kinetic energy which could be used to increase his physical strength (allowing him to bench up to 15 tons), in leaping, or in energy projection. To keep him from building up more energy than his body could handle, Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four built him a suit that would allow him to "drain" the energy in his body.
After the exposure to the energies of the Cosmic Cube, the Aquarian's body generated a field around his body that nullified nearly all forms of energy (kinetic, electrical, magnetic, gamma, gravitational, etc.) that are higher than a certain preset level, which he calls his "null field". For example, a bullet contains a level of kinetic energy higher than what his Null field will allow for, so once the bullet enters his field, its energy is nullified. His own body is subject to this field, and he cannot move any faster than it will allow. This field naturally resides five feet from his body, and he cannot disable it; it is active at all times regardless of whether he is conscious or not. With concentration, however, he can contract this field to within five inches (127 mm), or expand it to 500 feet (150 m).
- Physical strength - He has a great deal of physical strength, as shown in his besting of Man-Thing in battle. After his confrontation with the Cosmic Cube, his strength was lowered to the point of benching 1 ton.
- Leaping/flying - Wundarr has the ability to leap great distances. After his contact with The Cosmic Cube, however, his Null field negated any energy from leaping. However, since his Null field can negate gravity and wind, he can literally walk on air, via directed motion hovering.
- Knowledge - After being in contact with the Cosmic Cube, he is left with an unimaginable knowledge which he calls "Everything and Nothing". He appears to have a strong grasp on the properties of life and death, as well as peace and discourse. He is sometimes shown transmitting (through touch) this knowledge to other beings, often in order to create harmony.
References
- ^ a b c d Steve Gerber Interview, in The Krypton Companion, edited by Michael Eury; published by TwoMorrows Publishing, 2006
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ISBN 978-0756641238.)
In this finale of the 'Project Pegasus' saga, Wundarr became the Aquarian, a prophet of peace and spiritual enlightenment.
{{cite book}}
:|first2=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ a b Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle between Marvel and DC, by Reed Tucker, published October 3, 2017, by Da Capo Press
- ^ Metropolis Marvels: 18 Marvel Characters That Are Just Superman Rip-Offs, by Octavio Karbank, at Comic Book Resources; published May 16, 2018; retrieved November 18, 2018
- ^ Adventure into Fear #17 (Oct. 1973). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Two-in-One #2 (Mar. 1974) and Marvel Two-in-One #4 (July 1974). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Two-in-One #3 (May 1974). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ms. Marvel #15 (March 1978). Marvel Comics.
- ^ implied to have occurred some time before the events of Marvel Two-in-One #42 (Aug. 1978). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Two-in-One #42 (Aug. 1978). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Two-in-One #53 (July 1979). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Two-in-One #55-58 (Sept.–Dec. 1979). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Quasar #4 (Dec. 1989).. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Captain America Annual #7 (1983). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Quasar #25 (Aug. 1991) and Quasar #28 (Nov. 1991). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Zombies 3 #1 (Dec. 2008). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #19 (Jan. 2009). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Fantastic Four vol. 6 #5 (Feb. 2019). Marvel Comics.
External links
- Aquarian at the Marvel Universe wiki