Aquagirl
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Aquagirl (also Aqua-Girl) is the codename used by several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. While there were two earlier versions of the characters, introduced as one-off characters, the more definitive versions of the character are introduced as both major supporting characters of Aquaman and the female counterpart of Aqualad.
The most well-known and definitive versions of the character is Tula, who first appeared in Aquaman vol. 1 #33 (May–June 1967), created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. Originally, the character is a orphan adopted into one of the royal familities in Atlantis and a romantic interest to Aqualad. While allied with Aquaman, the character also served as a member of the Teen Titans until her death during Crisis on Infinite Earths. The character would be succeeded by another in the role but following the continuity reboot of the New 52 in 2011, the character is re-introduced as Tula Marius, the half-sister of Ocean Master through their shared father (Orvax Marius) who has assumed high-ranking roles in the Atlantean government, having served as a commander of a covert black-ops faction, a regent for Aquaman's administration, and as an honor guard during Mera's reign as queen. While regarded as Aquagirl, the character herself doesn't use the codename.
The fourth known and other notable incarnation is Lorena Marquez, was introduced in Aquaman vol. 6 #16 (May 2004). A teenage girl of Latina descent, she acquires Atlantean-like powers after being exposed to a serum derived from Aquaman's DNA and eventually assumes the role of Aquagirl, working alongside Aquaman with her exceptionally keen detective abilities and later joins the Teen Titans.
Several incarnations of Aquagirl have appeared in media, including the Tula incarnation in the animated series Young Justice and 2013 animated film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, although she is not identified as her codename in either. Original incarnations of the character also appear, such as Mareena, the future daughter of Aquaman and Mera, who appears in the DC Animated Universe.
Publication history
The Tula version of the character was introduced in Aquaman vol. 1 #33 (May–June 1967), created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy.
Fictional character history
After losing her parents soon after her birth, Tula was found and adopted by one of the royal families of Atlantis. Given the title Princess of Poseidonis, Tula is schooled in Atlantean traditions and never leaves the royal palace until she meets Aqualad (Garth) at age fifteen. Tula sometimes helps Aqualad with missions during his time with the original Teen Titans, using the name Aquagirl. During Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), Aquagirl is killed by the villain Chemo when she drowns in water that he has poisoned.
In the 1996–1997 miniseries Tempest, a woman claiming to be Tula enters Garth's life. In truth, it is a doppelgänger created by the villainous Slizzath as part of a plan to siphon Garth's mystical energy for his purposes. Garth sees through the ruse, is able to defeat Slizzath and finally gain a sense of closure about Tula's death. It is also at this time that Garth adopts a new identity as "Tempest". Aquagirl is brought back to life by Brother Blood—along with Hawk and Dove, Phantasm, and Kole—to fight against the Titans. After being freed by Beast Boy and Raven, Kid Eternity is able to lay the deceased Titans back to rest.
In the Blackest Night miniseries (2009–2010), Tula, Aquaman and Dolphin appear as a group of reanimated Black Lanterns who attack Tempest and Mera. Tula tears out Tempest's heart, killing him and bringing about his reanimation as a Black Lantern. Tula later appears to battle the Titans. However, her body is soon destroyed by a burst of white light emanating from Dawn Granger.
In September 2011, DC Comics relaunched of all of its monthly titles with its New 52 initiative, rebooting the DC Universe continuity. Tula is reimagined as the half-sister of Ocean Master (Orm Marius) via her father, Orvax Marius. Additionally, Tula is a former member of the Drift, an elite special faction in the Atlantean army.
Powers and abilities
Tula possess the typical abilities of an Atlantean; able to breathe underwater, possessed a level of superhuman strength, durability, and senses that enabled her to withstand the intense pressures of the ocean. She also possessed telepathic powers and was skilled in hand-to-hand combatant. Post-Flashpoint, she is considered an adept warrior skilled with Atlantean weaponry. A special forces commander, her skills includes espionage, military tactics, and is a proficient trainer. Her proficiency and leadership has allowed her to also act as a regent.
Other versions
- Lisa Morel is introduced in Adventure Comics #266 (November 1959) as one of several violet-eyed Atlantean children born unable to adapt to the watery world. They had been sent to the surface in waterproof lifeboats so they might survive among land-dwellers, and Lisa was adopted by scientist Hugo Morel and his wife. With Aquaman in danger, Lisa's water-breathing and telepathic powers awaken; she makes herself a costume identical to Aquaman's, takes on the name "Aquagirl" and fights alongside him. However, her new-found powers are short-lived, and she loses them permanently. This is the first and last appearance of the character.
- Selena is a young Poseidonis teenager who temporarily teams up with Aquaman under the name "Aqua-Girl" in World's Finest Comics #133 (May 1963) to make her former boyfriend jealous. She succeeds, making Aqualad jealous of her temporary status as Aquaman's sidekick as well. This is the first and last appearance of the character.
Lorena Marquez
Lorena Marquez is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. First appearing in Aquaman (2003) #16, she was created by Will Pfeifer and Patrick Gleason. Unlike other versions of Aquagirl, the character is not Atlantean but instead a metahuman who gained powers similar to Atlanteans and is of Latina origin.
A native of San Diego, Lorena is injured alongside her family by an earthquake. While nursed back to health, Lorena learns that she is able to breathe underwater. It is revealed that amoral scientist Anton Giest had secretly experimented on the citizens of San Diego by tainting their water supply with Aquaman's DNA with the intent to turn them into ocean-dwellers. With little choice, Aquaman and Lorena rebuild the city as "Sub Diego". Later, Ocean Master unleashes a plot to usurp Aquaman's life with time magic and Lorena is made his "Aquagirl" and given a costume. While foiled, Lorena keeps the costume and identity, resuming heroics as she helps solves a string of homicides.[citation needed]
Later a member of the Teen Titans for a time, she helps Steel in launching an attack on LexCorp when Natasha Irons is captured by Lex Luthor. She is later kidnapped (along with a group of other teen superheroes) by the Terror Titans. While her teammate Molecule is killed by Persuader, Lorena is taken alive, to be mindwiped and forced to fight in the Dark Side Club at the behest of the Apokoliptan gods on Earth. She is defeated twice, once by Rose Wilson after being stabbed, and again by a brainwashed Terra, who crushes Lorena with a pair of boulders. Aquagirl and the others are eventually freed by Miss Martian, and Lorena joins the survivors in a trek to Titans Tower to recover. While resting in the tower, Lorena meets and befriends Static, telling him that she enjoyed her past experience as a member of the Teen Titans. With little else to go in light of Arthur and her family's demise, Lorena accepts Wonder Girl's offer to rejoin the team, taking up permanent residence in Titans Tower. With a close friendship with Static, she also flirts with Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) despite dating Traci Thirteen, Superboy, and has an enmity with Bombshell. During a mission to rescue Raven from an extradimensional being called Wyld, Aquagirl and Bombshell are swallowed by massive sea monster mutated from Wyld's energy. After Static destroys Wyld, Aquagirl and Bombshell are sidelined by Wonder Girl due to concerns regarding inexperienced team heroes in their ranks.
In Brightest Day, Lorena is approached by Mera who had come searching for help against her sister and her Death Squad. She and Mera subsequently reappear when Siren and her army attack Miami as the opening salvo of an invasion. During the battle, Lorena rescues Aqualad by kicking Black Manta in the face just as he is about to stab Aqualad to death. After Mera and Aqualad successfully trap the invaders inside the Bermuda Triangle, Lorena tells Aqualad not to "get any ideas" as the two teens watch Aquaman and Mera kiss.
Alternate universe versions
- In Kingdom Come, Aquagirl is Tula, the estranged teenage daughter of Garth (formerly Aqualad, now Aquaman). She is named Tula after her father's late girlfriend and is part of a team consisting of the other original Titans' children who end up taking Batman's side in the story's key conflict. In her appearances, Tula demonstrates shapeshifting abilities, changing parts of her body to resemble those of sea creatures.
- In "Titans Tomorrow", an alternate timeline story featured in Teen Titans vol. 3 #17–19 (2005) by writer Geoff Johns and artist Mike McKone, Lorena is Aquawoman, a member of a future, alternate version of the Titans. She has developed telepathic powers, which she used to kill (or paralyze) former Titan member Garth.
In other media
- An original, futuristic incarnation of Aquagirl named Mareena appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe, voiced by Jodi Benson. This version is a member of a future Justice League and daughter of Aquaman and Mera who possesses hydrokinesis. Introduced in the Batman Beyond episode "The Call", Mareena later makes a non-speaking appearance in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Epilogue".
- Tula appears in Young Justice, voiced by Cree Summer. This version is Kaldur'ahm's childhood friend who entered a relationship with his best friend Garth after the former left Atlantis to become Aquaman's sidekick and was trained by Mera in aquamancy. In between the first and second seasons, as depicted in Young Justice: Legacy (see below), Tula joined the team, but died while on a mission.
- Aquagirl will appear in Super Powers.
- An alternate timeline version of Tula appears in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox as a member of Aquaman's army who is killed in battle against Wonder Woman's Amazons.
- The Young Justice incarnation of Tula / Aquagirl appears in Young Justice: Legacy, voiced again by Cree Summer. She serves as the Team's mission coordinator until she is killed in battle with Tiamat.