Naiad (character)

Last updated
Naiad
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Firestorm, the Nuclear Man (vol. 2) #90 (October 1989)
Created by John Ostrander (writer)
Tom Mandrake (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoMai Miyazaki
SpeciesMetahuman
Supporting character of Firestorm
Abilities
  • Hydrokinesis
  • Hydrokinetic form

Naiad is a character appearing in comics published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man (vol. 2) #90 (October 1989), during the four part Elemental War storyline that ran to issue #93, and was created by John Ostrander and Tom Mandrake.

Contents

Fictional character biography

Mai Miyazaki was a Japanese environmentalist who was murdered by operatives of the Shogun Oil Company. While protesting at a Shogun Oil drilling rig in the sea off the coast of Alaska, she was set on fire by a Shogun Oil employee under orders from his superior. The employee deliberately fires a flare gun into the oil spill surrounding her dingy. Mai died but was reborn as the Water Elemental Naiad. She destroys the drilling rig but oil and other chemicals which spill into the waters poison her, and drive her mad. Enraged and out of control Naiad attacks Firestorm because he is the incarnation of fire, and the last thing she remembers is death by fire. [1]

Swamp Thing begins looking for Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond/Mikhail Arkadin) because his attempts to terraform and heal an African desert valley which ended up mutating and scarring the "Green". Firestorm is able to temporarily calm a mindless Naiad and a discorporate Red Tornado, both of whom were being pushed to attack humanity due to pain being caused them by poisons in the air and water, they believed the only way to "heal the planet" was by eliminating humanity. Naiad and the Red Tornado discover that no elemental can attack another elemental directly, so they use earth to bury Firestorm underwater and head for Japan intending to kill its entire population. [2]

A drowning Firestorm is apparently contacted in a vision by 'Maya the "Earth Mother" who tells him that she created the "Four Elementals" to both guard her body and inspire mankind. She tells him that the job of an Elemental is to force mankind to evolve and leave their homeworld, she supports the actions of Naiad and the Red Tornado. Firestorm is saved from drowning by the Swamp Thing, according to Swamp Thing Firestorm's transmutation powers weaken the cellular makeup of matter, making it unstable. So at the Swamp Thing's request he burns the blighted plant life he created in an African valley. Swamp Thing and Firestorm head to Tokyo intent on stopping their fellow elementals. [3]

The attack on Tokyo by Naiad and Red Tornado is halted by Swamp Thing forming a shield over the city out of his body. Firestorm increases his body mass by absorbing heat and flames until he is the same expanded size as the other three elementals. During a pause in the battle he recounts his meeting with Maya to the other elementals. Naiad agrees to forgo her attack and leaves, and Firestorm creates a new corporeal body for the Red Tornado. [4]

Later, Naiad attempted to get revenge on Shogun Oil, but was stopped by Superman and the Spectre. [5] As Naiad, Mai Miyazaki is the elemental of water for the planet Earth. The Parliament of Waves, is a group made up of older Water Elementals. The five Elemental Parliaments (Trees, Waves, Stone, Flames, Vapors) were destroyed by a Spectre level being called "The Word". Naiad shares the title of "Elemental" with Firestorm the fire elemental, Red Tornado the air elemental, and Swamp Thing the plant elemental.

She also appeared in Aquaman where she fought an intermediate fire elemental named Corona. Corona is the mother of Aquaman's son Koryak, and apparently became the Earth's fire elemental while Martin Stein was traveling through outer space. [6]

She recently appeared during the Brightest Day crossover event, where she was one of the metahumans driven insane by Alan Scott's Starheart powers. She attempted to destroy Gotham City using massive tidal wave, but was defeated and knocked unconscious by the duo of Batman II and Supergirl. [7]

In the Watchmen sequel Doomsday Clock , Naiad is listed as a member of Japan's superhero team called Big Monster Action. [8]

Powers and abilities

Naiad is Earth's current Water Elemental. As such, she possesses the ability to control all water in her immediate vicinity, as well as "teleport" by manifesting in small or large bodies of water anywhere on Earth. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swamp Thing</span> Fictional character, an elemental creature in the DC Comics Universe

The Swamp Thing is a superhero in American comic books published by DC Comics. A humanoid/plant elemental creature, created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, the Swamp Thing has had several humanoid or monster incarnations in various different storylines. The character first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century. The character then returned in a solo series, set in the contemporary world and in the general DC continuity. The character is a swamp monster that resembles an anthropomorphic mound of vegetable matter, and fights to protect his swamp home, the environment in general, and humanity from various supernatural or terrorist threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectre (DC Comics character)</span> Comic book character

The Spectre is the name given to several fictional antiheroes who have appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in More Fun Comics #52. He was created by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily, although several sources attribute creator credit solely to Siegel, limiting Baily to being merely the artist assigned to the feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquaman</span> Comic book superhero

Aquaman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73. The character is a pastiche of Namor. Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo comic book series. During the late 1950s and 1960s superhero-revival period known as the Silver Age, he was a founding member of the Justice League. In the 1990s Modern Age, writers interpreted Aquaman's character more seriously, with storylines depicting the weight of his role as king of Atlantis. Aquaman's villains include his archenemy Black Manta and his own half-brother Ocean Master, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Tornado</span> Fictional comic book superhero

Red Tornado is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firestorm (character)</span> Name of several superheroes in DC Comics

Firestorm is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein fused together debuted as the first incarnation in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #1 and were created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. Jason Rusch debuted as a modern update of the character in Firestorm #1, and was created by Dan Jolley and ChrisCross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Grundy (character)</span> Fictional character, a zombie supervillain in the DC Comics Universe

Solomon Grundy is a supervillain and occasional antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He was originally depicted as a murder victim brought back to life as a corporeal revenant or zombie, though subsequent versions of the character have occasionally depicted a different origin. His name is taken from the 19th century nursery rhyme "Solomon Grundy".

Coast City is a fictional city in the state of California, created by John Broome and Gil Kane, which appears in stories published by DC Comics. It is depicted most often as the home of the Silver Age version of the superhero Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. Ferris Aircraft is one of the largest employers in Coast City.

Anton Arcane is a supervillain appearing in American comic books by DC Comics. the character first appeared in Swamp Thing #2, and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson. He is the archenemy of the Swamp Thing, the protagonist of the comics.

<i>Invasion!</i> (DC Comics)

Invasion! was a three issue comic book limited series and crossover event published in late 1988-early 1989 by DC Comics. It was plotted by Keith Giffen, and ties up a great many plotlines from various Giffen-created DC series, including Omega Men, Justice League International, and Legion of Super-Heroes. A trade paperback collection of the three issues was released on September 3, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mera (character)</span> Fictional superhero character

Mera is a fictional superheroine and warrior appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy, the character first appeared in Aquaman #11.

<i>Justice</i> (DC Comics)

Justice is a twelve-issue American comic book limited series published bimonthly by DC Comics from August 2005 through June 2007, written by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger, with art also by Ross and Doug Braithwaite. Its story involves the superhero team known as the Justice League of America confronting the supervillain team the Legion of Doom after every supervillain is motivated by a shared dream that seems to be a vision of the planet's destruction, which they intend to avoid.

DC Comics has produced many crossover stories combining characters from different series of comics. Some of these are set in the fictional DC Universe, or any number of settings within the DC Multiverse.

Red Torpedo is the name of two fictional characters, one originally published by Quality Comics and another currently owned by DC Comics. The original is a superhero named Jim Lockhart while the second is an android created by T. O. Morrow. Jim Lockhart debuted in Crack Comics #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Stein</span> Comics character

Martin Stein is a fictional character associated with, and sometimes is, the superhero Firestorm appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

Jason Rusch is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He is the second superhero known as Firestorm. He first appears in Firestorm #1 and was created by Dan Jolley and ChrisCross.

The fictional character the Swamp Thing has appeared in five American comic book series to date, including several specials, and has crossed over into other DC Comics titles. The series found immense popularity upon its 1970s debut and during the mid-late 1980s under Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben. These eras were met with high critical praise and numerous awards. However, over the years, the Swamp Thing comics have suffered from low sales, which have resulted in numerous series cancellations and revivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Lantern Corps</span> Fictional organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics

The White Lantern Corps is a fictional organization appearing in comics published by DC Comics, related to the emotional spectrum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Raymond (character)</span> Fictional superhero

Ronald "Ronnie" Raymond is a fictional character, a comic book character published by DC Comics known as one of the superheroes called Firestorm, normally fused together with Martin Stein or Jason Rusch as the character. He first appeared in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1, and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom.

References

  1. ↑ Firestorm, the Nuclear Man (vol. 2) #90. DC Comics.
  2. 1 2 Firestorm, the Nuclear Man (vol. 2) #91. DC Comics.
  3. ↑ Firestorm, the Nuclear Man (vol. 2) #92. DC Comics.
  4. ↑ Firestorm, the Nuclear Man (vol. 2) #93. DC Comics.
  5. ↑ The Spectre (vol. 3) #19-22. DC Comics.
  6. ↑ Aquaman (vol. 5) #8 (April 1995). DC Comics.
  7. ↑ Justice League of America (vol. 2) #46. DC Comics.
  8. ↑ Doomsday Clock #6 (July 2018). DC Comics.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.