Aquarius (DC Comics)
| Aquarius | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Justice League of America vol. 1 #73 (August 1969) |
| Created by |
Denny O'Neil (writer) Dick Dillin (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Notable aliases | Aquarius |
| Abilities | super-resistance, star-like heat, animate images, empower others, fire rain, banishment to another dimension, dimensional travel, yellow energy (aura and projection), flight, mind control |
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
Aquarius is a kind of living star who had been on trial for his crimes by other living stars and sentenced to wandering the multiverse. It despises order and tries to upset the Universe, but has lost most of its power by the Stars' Judgement. When it reaches the Earth-Two dimension, the hero Starman (Ted Knight) confronts it. Aquarius steals Starman's cosmic rod and uses it to increase its own powers and form. Aquarius is seen by Black Canary, who contacts the JSA (Black Canary, Earth-2 Superman, Earth-2 Wonder Woman, Dr. Midnite, Dr. Fate, Red Tornado). The JSA soon find they are no match for Aquarius. Aquarius uses the cosmic rod to banish all people and objects from Earth 2 to another dimension. 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, the inhabitants of Earth 2 will be lost forever. The JSA sends the Red Tornado to seek help from the Justice League on Earth 1. Due to a misunderstanding, the JLA's response is delayed, and they arrive as Dr. Fate's barrier is weakening. Aquarius flees, but uses a hypnotic suggestion to convince the JSA to attack the JLA. The JLA(Superman, Batman, Atom (Ray Palmer), Green Lantern, Flash and Earth-One Green Arrow) are able to subdue the JSA, and Green Lantern uses his power ring to trace Aquarius. Aquarius uses his power to fire a yellow energy ball at the Black Canary. Her husband Larry Lance, throws himself in front of the energy ball, sacrificing his life for his wife. This failed attack allows all residents of Earth-2 to return.
After Larry Lance's funeral, Aquarius reappears to mock the two teams and heads to Earth-1. The combined teams pursue him, but Aquarius locks the entrance of Earth-1. The combined powers of Greens Lanterns Hal Jordan and Alan Scott are able to overcome the barrier. The two Lanterns lure Aquarius into the antimatter universe of Qward. Aquarius is destroyed in a matter/antimatter explosion. At the end, Black Canary decides to move from Earth-1 to Earth-2.
Powers and abilities
Aquarius has the ability to control minds, to give life and three-dimensional form to two-dimensional figures, to increasing the strength of a 4-year-old boy to superhuman levels, to make clouds rain down fire balls, and transport objects to another dimension. It can emanate star-like heat and light, and can change the spectrum of the light emitted to any color. It has the ability to gather energy into a ball and fire it like a projectile. Aquarius' powers increased while in possession of Starman's cosmic rod. Unfortunantly, Aquarius was seriously insane, which was why the Living Stars stripped him of all but the power needed to stay barely alive.