Ice (comics)

Last updated
Ice
Icepic.jpg
Ice, art by Adam Hughes
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Justice League International #12 (April 1988)
Created by Keith Giffen (writer)
J. M. DeMatteis (writer)
Kevin Maguire (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoTora Olafsdotter
Team affiliations Justice League
Global Guardians
Cadre
White Lantern Corps
Justice League International
Partnerships Fire
Icemaiden
AbilitiesCryogenesis and cryokinesis
Snow control & manipulation
Snow creation
Snow/ice magic
Cryokinetic constructs
Blizzard creation
Snowstorm creation

Ice (Tora Olafsdotter) is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine in publications from DC Comics.

Contents

Publication history

Created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire, she first appeared in Justice League International #12 (April 1988). [1]

Ice is a separate character from Icemaiden, although the two are similar in appearance, group affiliation, and powers. When Icemaiden first appeared, she had blue skin and pointy ears, and was named Sigrid Nansen. When the character joined Justice League International, the comic book creators believed that her real name had never been given but were mistaken; it was revealed in the Global Guardians entry in Who's Who in the DC Universe .

After Ice was killed, the original Icemaiden (Sigrid Nansen) joined the Justice League. A backstory revealed that she was the first Icemaiden, who quit the Global Guardians when Tora appeared.

A new origin was revealed in Justice League: Generation Lost #12 (2010), written by Judd Winick and art by Fernando Dagnino Guerra.

Fictional character biography

Origin

The princess of an isolated tribe of magic-wielding Norsemen, Tora Olafsdotter has the natural ability to create and manipulate ice.

In the Danish graphic novel Superman: A Tale of Five Cities , Superman and Lois Lane visits Oslo and encounter Ice (Isjomfruen), a local superhero, and her sister Ice Flower (Isblomst), in the famous Frogner Park.

Revised origin

A different origin was presented in Justice League: Generation Lost. It has not been revealed in what respects this story replaces Tora's original history.

In the Justice League: Generation Lost story, Tora's parents and brother are Romanifolket, and her grandfather was the head of a small sect of Romanifolket known as the Is Bygd. Tora was trained to stay calm in order to control her metahuman abilities to create and manipulate ice, to ensure that her grandfather (from whom Tora's parents sought to hide their daughter) could not find her and force her to use her power to keep control over the other Bygd residents. Eventually Tora's grandfather tracked his family down and, after seeing her father being beaten, she lost control, causing the death of several, among them her own father. [2]

It was this event, which she repressed due to the dissociative trauma tied to her accidental patricide, along with the result of the training to stay calm and her father's dying wish that she prevent herself from interacting violently with others that caused Tora's shy personality. [2]

Global Guardians

When an engineer named Rod Schoendienst discovered the ice people, he made a pact with the King that allowed Tora to leave their kingdom. After Rod introduced Tora to Doctor Mist and the Global Guardians she joined the team as the second Icemaiden. [3] Soon after, she became friends with Beatriz DaCosta (aka Green Flame). After the Guardians lost their U.N. funding in the wake of the Justice League's reformation as the Justice League International, Beatriz talked her into walking up to a JLI embassy and asking for a job. Remarkably, in the wake of Black Canary's resignation and the abduction of several members, the short-handed JLI took them on.

Justice League

Green Flame and Icemaiden FireandIce.jpg
Green Flame and Icemaiden

Ice's personality is a mix of girl-next-door wholesomeness and innocent-abroad naiveté, which served as a contrast to the impulsive, libidinous traits of her friend and teammate Fire. The two change their names from Green Flame and Icemaiden to Fire and Ice.[ volume & issue needed ]

Ice serves with the Justice League International for years (remaining with the American branch even after a European branch was opened), occasionally dated Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and expresses an open (albeit unrequited) crush on Superman after he joins the team. Ice is present at Superman's death (in Superman #75). She is one of the few Justice Leaguers still standing after Doomsday, Superman's killer, has dispatched the team.[ volume & issue needed ]

Later she returns to her kingdom after being called by her dying father, King Olaf, who wants to make her his successor to the throne of their kingdom when he dies. [4] However her father passes away during his sleep and is Ice's brother, Ewald, that becomes the successor to the throne, [5] yet, Ewald's evil intentions become quite clear as he begins to assert control of what is not rightfully his. [6] As it turns out, Ewald had been in contact with a powerful entity who considered himself a celestial force beyond good and evil, with the purpose to "act when judgment has been passed" [7] (later revealed to be the villainous Overmaster, an alien being who destroys worlds he does not find worthy). The JLA set out to rescue Ice and when they reach her kingdom they discover that Ewald's power has increased due to an ancient staff he carries, and he is controlling the people of the kingdom. As they come near to Ewald, they find themselves under attack from ancient Norwegian giants summoned by Ewald to do his bidding. [8] In the midst of battle Booster Gold's new armour shorts out, leaving both him and Blue Beetle running for cover. Guy and Fire lead the mission to rescue Ice from her brother while the rest of the Leaguers battle the mythic giants summoned by Ewald. One by one, the weapons that the giants hold are destroyed, and this removes the creatures' power as well. A similar tactic is tried on Ewald, causing his staff to overload and explode, killing him. Ice is free to take the throne of her kingdom, but believes the people should choose a leader for themselves – she leaves to rejoin her friends in the Justice League. [9]

Ice eventually falls also under the mental influence of Overmaster. During a JLA confrontation, Ice breaks free of his mental control and is slain by Overmaster. Mark Waid, who wrote those issues, has admitted that the death was a mistake. [10]

Before her death, Ice displayed enhanced powers which was revealed to be the result of the battle with her brother. When Ewald's staff exploded, Tora actually absorbed the overload energy into herself.

After her death, Guy Gardner smashes his way into her home city to pay his respects. Ice's mother, Queen Olaf, assures Guy that due to the happiness he brought her daughter, he is welcome at any time. Queen Olaf calls him 'son'. [11]

Ghost appearances

Ice has appeared on several occasions since her death. In Showcase '96 #7, Fire and Cruiser are involved in an accident which leaves them cold, tired, and snowbound. They swap their life stories, and as she begins to drift into unconsciousness, which would be fatal following her concussion, Fire sees a vision of her late friend Ice, who helps her decide to live. It is not revealed if Ice was a ghost or a figment of Fire's imagination, but Fire awoke to a warm burning fire and she and Cruiser had traded sitting positions.[ volume & issue needed ]

Ice's spirit once again appears in JLA Annual #2. She and several other deceased JLA members are resurrected by Felix Faust. In the end, she sacrifices herself again to save the JLA from his dark magic, and recites the same final words she spoke when killed by the Overmaster.[ volume & issue needed ]

Either the spirit or an illusion of Ice appeared in I Can't Believe It's Not The Justice League , in which she was damned to Hell (or a similar dimension) "because of an error somewhere." [12] Due to a mistake by Booster Gold, he and his friends were lost inside this dimension. The group is soon allowed to leave via walking. In an Orpheus clause, they are told that Ice can join with them if none look back to see her following. Plagued by doubt, Fire looks back once and Ice, if it was her, is lost. It is stated that Ice vanished off to her proper Valhalla. [12]

Resurrection

While on a mission in Azerbaijan, Barbara Gordon's Birds of Prey discover Ice unconscious within a Rocket Red exosuit which they wrest from the possession of an underworld figure, Kerimov. Kerimov has hired the Secret Six to transport the exosuit, and the Birds of Prey and Secret Six would come to blows after Big Barda and Huntress capture it. Kerimov plans to use the resurrection of a goddess to manipulate the Russian people by playing on their superstitions about ice princesses, and to use her great power to make himself a powerful ruler. [13]

Tora is awakened by Creote, a member of the team and native Russian who addresses her as "goddess". She is enraged and unleashes her wrath upon both the Birds of Prey and Catman's Secret Six: she seeks to avenge her own murder. Huntress' mention of Guy Gardner, in addition to a hard slap, brings Ice back to her senses, while Deadshot dispatches Kerimov (as her savior, he retained influence over Tora). Ice leaves the country in the company of the Birds of Prey. [14]

She meets up with Fire at a facility belonging to the United Nations-affiliated intelligence service Checkmate, where they talk about old times and catch up on current ones.[ volume & issue needed ]

Although Ice is in the care of Fire and Checkmate, she has ventured out on occasion, helping Earth's heroes during the Sinestro Corps War. In the aftermath of the war, she decides to ice up Times Square in order to provide temporary fun for local children. There, Guy Gardner surprises her with a public kiss. She quickly rebukes his advances, indicating she needs more time. Guy agrees, then swiftly sets up a date for one month from that point.

Later Guy blames Bea for Tora's refusal to accept a cohabitation on Oa.

During the "Final Crisis" storyline, Tora is one of the first metahumans infected by the Anti-Life Equation and turned into a new Justifier. In such role she attacks Checkmate, infecting Beatriz and her collaborators. Under the influence of the Equation, they murder anyone who gets in their way. [15]

Blackest Night

In spite of earlier events of the "Blackest Night" storyline, Tora is described as Guy Gardner's "on-off girlfriend" and is briefly seen in his arms as the former members of Justice League International visit the grave of Ted Kord. [16] She is one of the heroes who have tried to defend Earth against the universal invasion from the Black Lantern Corps led by the demon lord Nekron. Despite being resurrected, Tora's previous deceased status allows a black power ring from the Black Lantern Corps to transform her into a Black Lantern. [17] Black Lantern Ice attacked her lover Guy in Coast City until she was defeated. [18] Later, in the final battle, Ice is freed by the power of white light. [19]

Generation Lost

Ice appears as one of the central characters in Justice League: Generation Lost , a maxi-series that takes place during the wider "Brightest Day" storylines. At the start of the series, Ice is recruited as part of a massive group of superheroes tasked with hunting down the JLI's founder and Ted Kord's murderer, Maxwell Lord. During an encounter with Max at the Justice League's former New York headquarters, Ice is rendered unconscious alongside Fire, Booster Gold, and Captain Atom. The former Justice League members awake to discover that Lord has used his mental abilities to erase his existence from the minds of every single human on the planet, save for those present at the embassy. and the others. [20] After trying to talk to Guy and tell him what has transpired, Tora discovers that Max has mentally influenced the world into believing that she had attempted to murder Guy shortly after the events of Blackest Night, thus ruining any credibility she has. [21]

Ice, Fire and new Rocket Red arrive at a robotics labs only to be confronted by the Metal Men, who are being controlled by Professor Ivo. [22] Ice loses control after nearly being beaten to death, causing her costume to become ripped and turning her skin and hair into living ice. [23] Ice nearly kills the entire team, but as the repressed memories involving the truth about her origins began unlocking themselves and overwhelming Tora, she began calming down as she remembers her father's dying wish. After Ice returns to normal, she becomes sorrowful when she realizes what she had done. [2] Later, she explains her origin to Fire. [24]

The New 52

In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Ice is recruited as part of the new U.N.-sponsored Justice League International. [25] She appears to still have some sort of existing relationship with Guy, though it is not expanded upon. [26]

Powers and abilities

In addition to being a proficient hand-to-hand combatant, Ice can project in various forms quantities of ice and snow through her hands just enough to down an opponent. She can create platforms of ice upon which she can skate. Before her initial demise, she was powered-up mysteriously (later revealed to be the result of the Overmaster). She was able to generate larger amounts of ice and snow, and gained super strength and the ability to fly. After her resurrection in Birds of Prey, Ice's powers seem incredibly destructive, expelling people from the building she's in as she awakens with bright white eyes, and conjuring a massive icy figure before her as well as controlling the weather to some degree, by causing the beginning of a blizzard far stronger than those known in that area.

Other versions

In Tangent Comics (taking place on Earth-96 of the Old Multiverse and Earth-9 of the New Multiverse) Ice is a female supervillain with cryo-kinetic powers and is a member of the Fatal Five.

In the future continuityof Justice League 3000, Ice has become long-lived. Her sheer number of years has installed a darker mood and contributed to less heroism. Her original mindset comes back when she encounters Beatriz.

In other media

Television

Ice as seen in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Iceanimated.jpg
Ice as seen in Batman: The Brave and the Bold .

Films

Video games

Ice appears as a non-player character in DC Universe Online .

Merchandise

Related Research Articles

Justice League Group of fictional characters of DC Comics

The Justice League is a team of fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team was conceived by writer Gardner Fox during the Silver Age of Comic Books as a reimagining of the Golden Age's Justice Society of America. Originally consisting of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, they first appeared together as the Justice League of America (JLA) in The Brave and the Bold #28.

Guy Gardner (comics) DC comics fictional character

Guy Gardner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in books featuring the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters. He usually appears in books featuring the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force in which Gardner has usually been depicted as a member. Gardner's original design was based on actor Martin Milner.

Power Girl Fictional character

Power Girl, also known as Kara Zor-L and Karen Starr, is a fictional DC Comics superheroine, making her first appearance in All Star Comics #58. Power Girl is the cousin of DC's flagship hero Superman, but from an alternative universe in the fictional multiverse in which DC Comics stories are set. Originally hailing from the world of Earth-Two, first envisioned as the home of DC's wartime heroes as published in 1940s comic books, Power Girl becomes stranded in the main universe where DC stories are set, and becomes acquainted with that world's Superman and her own counterpart, Supergirl.

Hal Jordan Fictional superhero published by DC Comics

Hal Jordan, also known as Green Lantern, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created in 1959 by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, and first appeared in Showcase #22. Hal Jordan is a reinvention of the previous Green Lantern who appeared in 1940s comic books as the character Alan Scott.

Gnort

G'nortEsplanade G'neesmacher is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. G'nort is a member of the Green Lantern Corps and later a Darkstar and a member of the Justice League Antarctica. He resembles an anthropomorphic dog and is thoroughly incompetent and generally disliked by other heroes; in fact, he is usually portrayed as being a loser and used as comic relief.

Global Guardians DC comics superhero team

The Global Guardians is a team of fictional DC Comics superheroes whose members hail from countries around the world. The concept originated in the Super Friends Saturday morning cartoon, in which several heroes were added to the Justice League to give it more ethnic diversity.

Big Barda Fictional comic book character

Big Barda is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Mister Miracle #4, and was created by Jack Kirby. Jack Kirby based Barda's physical appearance on Lainie Kazan, who had recently appeared topless in Playboy. Mark Evanier, Kirby's assistant on the Fourth World comics, has explained the genesis of the character: "Jack based some of his characters on people in his life or in the news... the characterization between Scott 'Mister Miracle' Free and Barda was based largely—though with tongue in cheek—on the interplay between Kirby and his wife Roz". In 2011, Big Barda was ranked 75th in Comics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.

Maxwell Lord

Maxwell Lord IV is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Justice League #1 and was created by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire.

<i>Justice League Europe</i>

Justice League Europe (JLE) was a comic book series published by DC Comics that was a spin-off of the comic book Justice League America.

Kilowog

Kilowog is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character is a member of the Green Lantern Corps.

Justice League International Group of fictional characters in DC Comics

Justice League International (JLI) is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.

Fire (comics) Superheroine in the DC Comics universe

Fire is a fictional comic book superheroine from the DC Comics universe.

John Stewart (comics) Fictional superhero published by DC Comics

John Stewart, one of the characters known as Green Lantern, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics and was the first African-American superhero to appear in DC Comics. The character was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams, and first appeared in Green Lantern #87. Stewart's original design was based on actor Sidney Poitier.

Icemaiden is a fictional comic book superheroine in the DC Comics universe. She was the first heroine to use the name, and for a time was replaced by Ice. She is also one of the few ice themed superheroines in the DC Universe. She first appeared in Super Friends #9.

Evil Star is the name of two supervillains appearing in DC Comics publications.

Cadre (comics)

The Cadre is a DC Comics supervillain group, except for members of the Cadre of the Immortal, most of whom were redeemed and became heroes by story's end.

Superman (Earth-Two) Version of the superhero Superman from an alternate reality called Earth-Two

Superman of Earth-Two is an alternate version of the fictional superhero Superman, who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was introduced after DC Comics created Earth-Two, a parallel world that was retroactively established as the home of characters whose adventures had been published in the Golden Age of comic books. This allowed creators to publish Superman comic books taking place in current continuity while being able to disregard Golden Age stories, solving an incongruity, as Superman had been published as a single ongoing incarnation since inception. The character first appeared in Action Comics No. 1.

Arisia Rrab

Arisia Rrab is a fictional comic book superheroine in appearing in publications by the American publisher DC Comics, usually those featuring the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force of which she is a member. Arisia is a humanoid alien with golden-yellow skin, hair and eyes, and has pointed, elven ears.

<i>Brightest Day</i>

Brightest Day is a 2010 - 2011 crossover storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of a year-long comic book maxiseries that began in April 2010, and a number of tie-in books. The story is a direct follow-up to the Blackest Night storyline that depicts the aftermath of the events of that storyline on the DC Universe.

Shiera Sanders Hall

Shiera Sanders Hall is a fictional supporting character and later superheroine as Hawkgirl appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Shiera Sanders Hall was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, and first appeared in Flash Comics #1 as a romantic interest of Hawkman. Then later as one of DC's earliest super-heroines, she has appeared in many of the company's flagship team-up titles including the Justice Society of America.

References

  1. Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 148. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Justice League: Generation Lost #12 (October 2010)
  3. Greenberger, Robert (2008). "Global Guardians". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 138. ISBN   978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC   213309017.
  4. Justice League America (Vol. 1) #80
  5. Justice League America (Vol. 1) #81
  6. Justice League America (Vol. 1) #82
  7. Justice League America (Vo. 1) #83
  8. Justice League America (Vol. 1) #84
  9. Justice League America (Vol. 1) #85
  10. "WiR – Mark Waid responds". Unheardtaunts.com. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  11. Guy Gardner: Warrior #25 (November 1994)
  12. 1 2 JLA Classified 07 (2005)
  13. Birds Of Prey #106 (July 2007)
  14. Birds Of Prey #107 (August 2007)
  15. Final Crisis #1–7 (July 2008 – March 2009)
  16. Blackest Night #1 (September 2009)
  17. Blackest Night #5 (January 2010)
  18. Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #46 (March 2010)
  19. Blackest Night #8 (March 2010)
  20. Justice League: Generation Lost #1 (May 2010)
  21. Justice League: Generation Lost #2 (May 2010)
  22. Justice League: Generation Lost #10 (September 2010)
  23. Justice League: Generation Lost #11 (October 2010)
  24. Justice League: Generation Lost #15 (December 2010)
  25. Justice League International (vol. 2) #1 (September 2011)
  26. Justice League International (vol. 2) #2 (October 2011)
  27. "USA Weekend article". Whosnews.usaweekend.com. 2010-09-17. Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  28. Lamar, Cyriaque (February 4, 2012). "In this semi-drunk movie about Superman's death, Elijah Wood is Cyborg Superman". io9 . Gizmodo Media Group . Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  29. Trumbore, Dave (February 3, 2012). "Chronicle Writer Max Landis Vents About The Death and Return of Superman". Collider . Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  30. Collin David (2008-11-14). "Toy Fair 2007 : Mattel | Collectors' Quest". Collectorsquest.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-01-16.