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Aqueduct (comics)
Encyclopedia
Aqueduct originally known as Water Wizard, is a fictional character
that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics
. The character was created by Jim Shooter
and Don Heck
and first appeared in Ghost Rider
#23 (Apr. 1977).
and assigned to kill Ghost Rider
, but failed. He salvaged the Enforcer's ring from San Diego harbor, and battled and was defeated by Ghost Rider. The magician Moondark
also recruits Water Wizard in Chicago to battle Ghost Rider, but Water Wizard is burned by Ghost Rider's mystical flames again; he went into shock and was institutionalized. Ghost Rider then breaks van Zante out of prison shortly afterwards to assist a drought-stricken town. At this time van Zante traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he discovers he can also affect other forms of liquid than water, including oil, and after a brief criminal venture and battling the Arabian Knight
, he is returned to prison by Ghost Rider. Although Water Wizard is later employed by criminal mastermind Justin Hammer
to battle Iron Man
with several other villains, he panics and flees the fight, earning Hammer's enmity.
Water Wizard is targeted by the assassin the Scourge of the Underworld
, but due to a flat tire was not present at the bar where many minor supervillains are killed. Water Wizard discovered the 17 victims of Scourge at the Bar With No Name, and turns himself in to Captain America
, who later captures the assassin. Several years later during Acts of Vengeance
, Water Wizard and many other villains are freed from prison by Doctor Doom
to attack Four Freedoms Plaza
and battle the Fantastic Four
, but van Zante ends up arguing with and fighting against fellow villain Hydro-Man
. Failure follows failure as van Zante is sidelined by construction workers during a futile attack on the superhero team the Avengers
, and is later defeated by Captain America in seconds.
Water Wizard eventually reappears with a new costume and alias — Aqueduct. He joins with three other super villains with elemental abilities to form the team Force of Nature
. The group is employed by Project: Earth to prevent rain forest razing, and battles the superhero team the New Warriors
. Battling the New Warriors later, Force of Nature is defeated again. Aqueduct then joins the fifth generation of the Masters of Evil
and battles the superhero team the Thunderbolts
.
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The character was created by Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
and Don Heck
Don Heck
Don Heck was an American comic book artist best known for co-creating the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, and for his long run penciling the Marvel superhero-team series The Avengers during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books.-Early life and career:Born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New...
and first appeared in Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)
Ghost Rider is a fictional character, an antihero in the Marvel Comics Universe. He is the second Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, following the Western hero later known as the Phantom Rider, and preceding Daniel Ketch.Johnny Blaze was portrayed both in the 2007 film Ghost Rider and...
#23 (Apr. 1977).
Fictional character biography
Peter van Zante enlists in the U.S. military as a soldier, and after being wounded in action he is treated with an experimental radiation device while out at sea. A lightning strike during a freak storm destroys the device but rejuvenated van Zante. While convalescing, van Zante discovers he could manipulate water and create semi-solid three-dimensional shapes. Becoming a professional criminal, van Zante dons a costume and adopts the alias of Water Wizard, and robbed a brokerage house. He is then employed by the criminal the EnforcerEnforcer (comics)
Enforcer is the name of two fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Enforcer first appeared in Ghost Rider #22-24 , and was created by Gerry Conway, Don Glut, and Don Heck....
and assigned to kill Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)
Ghost Rider is a fictional character, an antihero in the Marvel Comics Universe. He is the second Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, following the Western hero later known as the Phantom Rider, and preceding Daniel Ketch.Johnny Blaze was portrayed both in the 2007 film Ghost Rider and...
, but failed. He salvaged the Enforcer's ring from San Diego harbor, and battled and was defeated by Ghost Rider. The magician Moondark
Moondark
Moondark is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Moondark first appeared in Marvel Team-Up #12 , and was created by Gerry Conway, Len Wein, and Ross Andru....
also recruits Water Wizard in Chicago to battle Ghost Rider, but Water Wizard is burned by Ghost Rider's mystical flames again; he went into shock and was institutionalized. Ghost Rider then breaks van Zante out of prison shortly afterwards to assist a drought-stricken town. At this time van Zante traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he discovers he can also affect other forms of liquid than water, including oil, and after a brief criminal venture and battling the Arabian Knight
Arabian Knight (comics)
Arabian Knight is a title used by three fictional characters appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. All three characters are superheroes from Saudi Arabia.-Abdul Qamar:...
, he is returned to prison by Ghost Rider. Although Water Wizard is later employed by criminal mastermind Justin Hammer
Justin Hammer
Justin Hammer is a fictional character that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. As a frequent adversary of the superhero Iron Man, Justin Hammer exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
to battle Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
with several other villains, he panics and flees the fight, earning Hammer's enmity.
Water Wizard is targeted by the assassin the Scourge of the Underworld
Scourge of the Underworld
The Scourge of the Underworld is the name of a series of fictional characters that have appeared in various series set in the Marvel Comics universe....
, but due to a flat tire was not present at the bar where many minor supervillains are killed. Water Wizard discovered the 17 victims of Scourge at the Bar With No Name, and turns himself in to Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, who later captures the assassin. Several years later during Acts of Vengeance
Acts of Vengeance
"Acts of Vengeance" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through several titles published by Marvel Comics from December 1989 to February 1990.-Publication history:...
, Water Wizard and many other villains are freed from prison by Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
to attack Four Freedoms Plaza
Four Freedoms Plaza
Four Freedoms Plaza is a fictional structure in the Manhattan of the Marvel Universe; it served as the replacement headquarters for the Fantastic Four when their original dwelling, the Baxter Building, was destroyed by Kristoff Vernard, the adoptive son of Doctor Doom. It is located at 42nd Street...
and battle the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, but van Zante ends up arguing with and fighting against fellow villain Hydro-Man
Hydro-Man
Hydro-Man, also spelled Hydro Man , is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics...
. Failure follows failure as van Zante is sidelined by construction workers during a futile attack on the superhero team the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
, and is later defeated by Captain America in seconds.
Water Wizard eventually reappears with a new costume and alias — Aqueduct. He joins with three other super villains with elemental abilities to form the team Force of Nature
Force of Nature (comics)
The Force of Nature is a group of super villains in the Marvel Comics Universe who each have elemental themed powers: earth, fire, water, and wind...
. The group is employed by Project: Earth to prevent rain forest razing, and battles the superhero team the New Warriors
New Warriors
The New Warriors is a Marvel Comics superhero team, traditionally consisting of young adult heroes. They first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 .-General publication history:...
. Battling the New Warriors later, Force of Nature is defeated again. Aqueduct then joins the fifth generation of the Masters of Evil
Masters of Evil
The Masters of Evil is a name for a number of fictional supervillain teams that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first version of the team appeared in The Avengers #6 , with the lineup continually changing over the years....
and battles the superhero team the Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts (comics)
The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
.
Civil War
Aqueduct is forced along with many other super villains to join the "new" Thunderbolts during the Civil WarCivil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
.
Dark Reign
Aqueduct is revealed to be back with Force of Nature, which is now the Initiative's Oregon team.Powers and abilities
A power surge in an experimental cell stimulator while out at sea gave Van Zante the psychokinetic ability to control and shape all forms of liquid (including oil) for virtually any effect, such as rainstorms, floods, tidal waves, water slides, and mobile animated water creatures. Aqueduct can manipulate thousands of gallons at a time. He cannot control the temperature of water or combine hydrogen and oxygen to create water.External links
- Aqueduct at Marvel.com