Aquarius (DC Comics)

Aquarius was a fictional villain from DC Comics. He first appeared in Justice League of America vol. 1 #73 (August 1969), and was created by Denny O'Neil and Dick Dillin.

Fictional character biography

Apparently, Aquarius was a kind of living star who had been on trial for their crimes by other living stars and sentenced to wandering the multiverse. When he was reaching the Earth-Two dimension, the hero Starman (Ted Knight) confronted him, only to the villain steal his Cosmic rod. The Starman's cosmic rod could absorb cosmic energy and therefore Aquarius used it to increase its own powers.

Soon, the Justice Society (formed by Black Canary, Earth-2 Superman, Earth-2 Wonder Woman, Dr. Midnite, Dr. Fate, Red Tornado), went against him, only to discover that they were no match for Aquarius. (Curiosity: It marked the first appearance of Earth-2 Superman in Silver Age of comics). In a fit of rage, the villain uses all the energy accumulated from cosmic rod to banish to another dimension all people and objects from Earth 2. Dr. Fate manages to save the JSA by erecting a mystical shield. Dr. fate theorizes that the consciousness of the Justice Society members are the only link that the banished population had with that reality, and if the heroes die, they will never return. The Justice Society then sent the Red Tornado (android) to seek help for the Justice League on Earth 1. Due to the lack of attention to Tornado, the Justice League only listened and offered help to him over a week later. Aquarius, not understanding how there were more humans in that world, decided to flee, leaving behind a hypnotic suggestion that made the Justice Society of America attacking the League. The League (formed by Earth-One Superman, Earth-One Batman, Atom (Ray Palmer), Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Flash Barry Allen and Earth-One Green Arrow) was winning and Green Lantern Hal Jordan uses his power ring to trace Aquarius. Aquarius answer erecting yellow aura, becoming immune to the effects of the ring, and concentrated this radiation in a energy ball that he projected. The ball was then directed the Black Canary (the nearest human). Her husband Larry Lance, at the critical moment, stands in the way, saving the live of his wife in exchange for his own. This latest attack did Aquarius return all people who moved back to Earth-2, as well as neutralize the hypnotic suggestion.

Following a funeral for Larry Lance, Aquarius reappeared during the burial and mocks the inferior mortals and heads to Earth-1. The heroes of both groups pursue him, but Aquarius locks the entrance of Earth-1 with a Spacewarp. The Greens Lanterns Hal Jordan and Alan Scott are the only ones who can overcome this barrier. The two then begin to insult the villain to lure him to the antimatter universe of Qward. The Lanterns cover their bodies with a protective aura against antimatter. Aquarius, however, does not have the same fate, and his body of positive matter explodes violently against the anti-particles.

At the end of this story, Black Canary migrated to Earth-1, because the Earth 2 still brings many memories of her late husband.

Notes

• Later, at Earth-1, Dinah Lance (Black Canary) falls for Oliver Queen (Green Arrow). To explain how the heroine of the Earth 2 (who had participated in the World War II) had not aged, DC writers tried to circumvent this situation: the Black Canary that migrated from Earth 2 to Earth 1, was actually the daughter of the Black Canary who fought in World War II. These situations caused much confusion for writers as for readers, which resulted in the restructuring of the DC universe through the saga Crisis on Infinite Earths.
• In this story, Earth-One Wonder Woman do not appear, but is mentioned she was without powers (I-Ching phase). Obviously the same did not happen with her Earth-Two's counterpart.

Aquarius had almost childlike personality, characterized by facial expressions that the artist gave him. Apparently, it caused destruction purely on a whim. Doctor Mid-Nite categorized him as the maniac-depressive and schizophrenic.

Powers and abilities

• There seems no limit to the Aquarius powers when he is in possession of Starman's cosmic rod. These powers are mystical in nature.
• He demonstrated the ability to control minds, to give life and three-dimensional form to two-dimensional figures (neon figures), to increasing the strength of a 4 year old boy to superhuman levels, to make clouds rain down fire balls, and transport to another dimension the whole population a planet.
• He, like a living star, can emanate cosmic heat. He could also erect a yellow aura, becoming immune to the effects of the ring of Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and focus this radiation into a ball of energy that he could throw (this radiation power is overcharging, and all effects caused before by his other powers are neutralized).
• He could also prevent others from traveling between dimensions.

External links

• Cosmic Teams: Aquarius
• DC Database: Justice League of America vol. 1 #73