Coagula
Encyclopedia
This article is about the fictional comic book character. For the art magazine, see Coagula Art Journal
Coagula (real name Kate Godwin) is a fictional character
and former member of DC Comic's Doom Patrol
. Kate is a male-to-female transsexual, one of the first transsexual characters in comics, and remains one of the only transsexual superhero
ines. The character was created by transsexual science fiction
writer Rachel Pollack
. According the Comics Journal, Rachel Pollack based the character's civilian name on two friends of hers. The friends in question are transgender writer and actress Kate Bornstein and the transsexual activist Kate Godwin. Rachel wanted to create a positive portrayal of a lesbian transsexual lady.
, a radioactive hermaphrodite
; after Kate has sex
with him/her, she discovers she can coagulate liquids and dissolve
solids at will. She first tries out for the Justice League
, but is rejected by them. She meets the Doom Patrol
while battling a villain called the Codpiece, who has devices such as a gun, a drill, and a spring-loaded boxing glove built into a special codpiece
he designed and built. Coagula dissolves the device.
Early on Kate is identified as a lesbian
, but as the series progresses it becomes clear she is bisexual
. She begins a romance with Robotman.
The name Coagula comes from the alchemical
term "Solve et Coagula", meaning "dissolve and coagulate".
A while after the Doom Patrol split, Kate and Cliff take fellow teammate Dorothy Spinner
on a camping trip with the intention of telling her she is adopted
. However, after hearing this, Dorothy suffers a mental breakdown. This causes her to generate a powerful psychic
explosion
, killing Kate and supposedly killing Cliff. Following this, Dorothy falls into a coma
.
Coagula Art Journal
Coagula Art Journal was founded in 1992 by Mat Gleason as a freely distributed contemporary art magazine. Since its inception, the publication remains free as a PDF download, however readers may still obtain a hard copy via "print on demand"....
Coagula (real name Kate Godwin) is a fictional character
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...
and former member of DC Comic's Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol
The Doom Patrol is a superhero team appearing in publications from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80...
. Kate is a male-to-female transsexual, one of the first transsexual characters in comics, and remains one of the only transsexual superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
ines. The character was created by transsexual science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer Rachel Pollack
Rachel Pollack
Rachel Pollack is an American science fiction author, comic book writer, and expert on divinatory tarot...
. According the Comics Journal, Rachel Pollack based the character's civilian name on two friends of hers. The friends in question are transgender writer and actress Kate Bornstein and the transsexual activist Kate Godwin. Rachel wanted to create a positive portrayal of a lesbian transsexual lady.
Fictional character biography
Kate gains her powers while working as a prostitute. One of her customers is RebisNegative Man
Negative Man is a fictional superhero from DC Comics. He first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80.-Larry Trainor:The original Negative Man, Larry Trainor, is a founding member of the Doom Patrol, along with Elasti-Girl, Robotman, and The Chief...
, a radioactive hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
; after Kate has sex
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
with him/her, she discovers she can coagulate liquids and dissolve
Solvation
Solvation, also sometimes called dissolution, is the process of attraction and association of molecules of a solvent with molecules or ions of a solute...
solids at will. She first tries out for the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
, but is rejected by them. She meets the Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol
The Doom Patrol is a superhero team appearing in publications from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80...
while battling a villain called the Codpiece, who has devices such as a gun, a drill, and a spring-loaded boxing glove built into a special codpiece
Codpiece
A codpiece is a covering flap or pouch that attaches to the front of the crotch of men's trousers and usually accentuates the genital area. It was held closed by string ties, buttons, or other methods...
he designed and built. Coagula dissolves the device.
Early on Kate is identified as a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, but as the series progresses it becomes clear she is bisexual
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
. She begins a romance with Robotman.
The name Coagula comes from the alchemical
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
term "Solve et Coagula", meaning "dissolve and coagulate".
A while after the Doom Patrol split, Kate and Cliff take fellow teammate Dorothy Spinner
Dorothy Spinner
Dorothy Spinner is a fictional character created by Paul Kupperberg and owned by DC Comics. She was a former member of the Doom Patrol with the ability to bring imaginary beings to life. She first appeared in Doom Patrol vol...
on a camping trip with the intention of telling her she is adopted
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
. However, after hearing this, Dorothy suffers a mental breakdown. This causes her to generate a powerful psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
explosion
Explosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
, killing Kate and supposedly killing Cliff. Following this, Dorothy falls into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
.