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Inertia | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | (First) Squadron Supreme #10 (June 1986) (Second)Supreme Power #18 (October 2005) |
Created by | (First) Mark Gruenwald and Paul Ryan (Second) J. Michael Straczynski Gary Frank |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Edith "Eddy" Freiberg |
Team affiliations | (First) America Redeemers Squadron Supreme (Second) The Squadron Supreme |
Abilities | Transfer of kinetic energy into object or person |
Inertia is the name of two separate but related fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
The first Inertia was a character from Earth-712 (the world of the faux JLA characters known as the Squadron Supreme). Like most of the newer characters created for the Squadron Supreme mini-series, Inertia's counterpart in the Detroit Justice League was Vixen.[ citation needed ] Her powers were based on the use of kinetic energy against the enemy. The second Inertia was a member of the rebooted Squadron Supreme, from the Supreme Power universe, also known as Earth-31916.
Edith Freiberg had the power to absorb and redirect kinetic energy. After being recruited by Nighthawk to the team of superpowered "Redeemers", she was one of the Redeemers who joined the Squadron Supreme's "Utopia Program" in hopes of stopping it. [1] Inertia was then revealed to have joined the Squadron Supreme as a double agent. During her time in the Squadron Supreme, she developed a romantic relationship with Haywire. [2] Alongside Nighthawk's Redeemers, she attacked the Squadron Supreme. During the encounter, she battled Power Princess, but was defeated by Doctor Spectrum. [3]
Alongside the Squadron Supreme, Professor Imam, and Master Menace, Inertia attacked the Nth Man, a universe-absorbing entity that was encroaching into the Earth-712 universe. Inertia died after an attempt to use her powers against the Nth Man backfired, as he was too large an entity for her to absorb the kinetic energy from, and her body was overloaded by a surge of energy that caused her to disperse in a pink haze. [4]
Inertia had the ability to transfer "inertia" from one person or object to another.
Edith Freiberg is a lesbian Army private, first introduced in Squadron Supreme: High Command where she is seen trashing a bar and attacking several men (using her powers to redirect kinetic energy) before being introduced to the public as part of the Squadron Supreme. She is portrayed as having problems with men and with authority and in issue #4, her back story is fleshed out.[ volume & issue needed ]
Edith's father was the head of an ultra-conservative church and a highly prejudiced and abusive man. Her powers manifested at a young age when a nurse trying to give her a vaccination could not get the needle through her skin. Her father believed this was a sign of demonic power and, unable to hurt 'Eddy', would beat her mother for any of Edith's perceived transgressions.[ volume & issue needed ]
In high school, she was attacked by three boys from her school. While she could easily have defended herself, Edith was aware that this would only result in her mother receiving a beating and so she did not attempt to defend herself. The stress of this event and her inability to use her powers when she most needed to left her in a catatonic state for some time. Despite this, her father refused to believe she had been beaten (citing the lack of injury), instead accusing her of being promiscuous.[ volume & issue needed ]
Edith's mother soon discovered that her husband was having an affair and confronted him. Edith's father accidentally caused a car accident that killed Edith's mother and attempted to cover up the event to save his reputation. Edith recovered after hearing the news, finding and killing her father—then killing the boys who had raped her.[ volume & issue needed ]
During 'Operation Long Walk' (the Squadron's mission in the Middle East), Edith finds a young girl whose mother and older sister were beaten and then stoned to death by four male relatives on the pretext of erasing the shame of the rape ("honor killing"). The girl had apparently been hiding to avoid a similar fate. Using Emil Burbank as a translator, Edith finds the relatives and buries them up to their necks. She then tears a steel bar off a nearby railing, gives it to the girl, and walks away. The girl apparently kills them.[ volume & issue needed ]
So far, her behavior has been shown to be erratic and possibly psychotic. Stanley Stewart (The Blur) has attempted to reach out to her, and Edith has thanked him for his concern, but she still refuses his offer of friendship.[ volume & issue needed ]
The Squadron Supreme is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, of which there are several notable alternate versions. The original team was created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, derived from the previously created supervillain team Squadron Sinister.
Hyperion is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, of which there are several notable versions. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema, the original Hyperion made his debut in The Avengers #69. The alternate versions are each from a different dimension of the Marvel Multiverse, and consist of both heroes and villains. Thomas says that the character was intended as a pastiche of DC's iconic hero Superman.
Nighthawk is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. There have been several versions of the character: two supervillains-turned-superheroes from the mainstream Marvel Universe continuity (Earth-616), Kyle Richmond and Tilda Johnson ; two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Jackson F. "Jack" Norriss and Joaquin Pennyworth; five from alternate universes, who belonged to various incarnations of the Squadron Supreme, including Kyle and Neal Richmond of Earth-712, and an African-American version of Kyle Richmond from Earth-31916 who primarily kills white supremacists and mentors Tilda upon travelling to Earth-616; and a simulacrum of Kyle Richmond created by Mephisto and programmed by the Power Elite to serve as a member of the Squadron Supreme of America, under the command of Phil Coulson.
Doctor Spectrum is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. There have been five versions of the character to date—three supervillains from the mainstream Marvel Universe belonging to the team Squadron Sinister (Earth-616) and two heroes from different alternate universes. The two heroes each belong to a version of the team Squadron Supreme, the Squadron Supreme of Earth-712 and the Squadron Supreme of Earth-31916 respectively). Doctor Spectrum is a pastiche of DC's Green Lantern.
Zarda, commonly known as Power Princess, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Multiple versions of the character have appeared, each from alternate realities in Marvel's multiverse.
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Moonglow is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She was a member of a team of superheroes, Squadron Supreme.
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Master Menace is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Two different versions of the character appear in two separate continuities, Squadron Supreme and Supreme Power. Both bear the real name of Dr. Emil Burbank, though the former character has the middle name of "Zebediah".
Lilith is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first version is the daughter of Dracula. The second version is a demon.
Ultimate Power is a nine-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics.
Modred the Mystic is a fictional magician appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has alternated between being an anti-hero and an outright supervillain.
Nth Man is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.