Fictional character biography
Walter Newell first appears in the title Tales to Astonish as an oceanographer working for the United States government. The character encounters the human/Atlantean hybrid hero Namor the Sub-Mariner and his lover Lady Dorma, while supervising the construction of a domed sub-sea city whose purpose is to harvest food for mankind. The city, however, is destroyed by the villain the Plunderer. [11] Newell becomes a perennial character in the title Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner and aids the hero and Dorma against the villain Tiger Shark [12] and is coerced by the government into investigating the disappearance of water from the Earth's oceans. This is attributed to aliens who are believed to be in league with Namor. Ordered to capture Namor, Newell develops a suit based on the form of the sea creature the manta ray, and as 'Stingray' captures Namor, who was weakened at the time. Newell, however, believes Namor to be innocent and allows him to escape. [13]
Stingray aids Namor and the Inhuman Triton against a group of Atlanteans who destroy an ocean liner and falsely claim to have done so for Namor. The culprit is revealed to be Atlantean warlord Attuma, who is eventually defeated. [14] Stingray assists Namor in a search for his father Leonard Mackenzie, with Mackenzie being accidentally killed in a battle with villains Llyra and Tiger Shark. [15]
After brief appearances in titles the Hulk [16] and The Defenders, [17] Newell becomes a regular guest-star in the title Marvel Two-In-One . The character moves his oceanographic facilities and research to Hydro-Base, an artificial island previously used by the insane ecologist Doctor Hydro (occupied by Dr. Henry Croft and the passengers of an airplane, who were captured by Hydro and changed into merfolk known as the Hydro-Men). As Stingray, Newell aids Fantastic Four member the Thing, Triton, and heroine the Scarlet Witch against the villains the Serpent Squad and company Roxxon Oil to prevent them from obtaining the artifact the Serpent Crown. [18] Stingray is present when Mister Fantastic cures Croft and the other passengers, and aids the Thing and Inhumans Gorgon and Karnak against Maelstrom's Minions, who steal a dose of the healing compound. [19]
Newell marries Diane Arliss, the sister of Todd Arliss (Tiger Shark) [20] and leased part of Hydro-Base to superhero team the Avengers, and becomes an associate member of the team. [21] During the first "Armor Wars" storyline, Avenger Iron Man confronts Stingray, mistakenly believing that Newell's suit was based on technology stolen from Stark Enterprises, forcing Stark to publicly fire Iron Man to protect his company from being affected by his current actions after he confirmed that Stingray's suit had been independently created. [22] Stingray aids the Avengers when Hydro-Base is invaded by Heavy Metal, a team of robot villains. [23]
During the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline, the Hydro-Base is damaged by an attack from Doctor Doom's Doombots and sinks, with Stingray aiding the Avenger Quasar in a salvage operation. [24] In the title Marvel Comics Presents , Stingray encounters his brother-in-law Tiger Shark. After a battle, they work together to save Diane Arliss, who is trapped after a cave-in. [25] Diane confirms to him sometime later that she is pregnant, although the details have never been mentioned or seen since. [26]
During the "Civil War" storyline, Stingray is a member of the Secret Avengers – led by Captain America – who oppose the Superhuman Registration Act. [27] After Captain America's arrest and subsequent death, Stingray accepts Tony Stark's (Iron Man's alter ego) offer of a full pardon, and joins The Initiative. [28]
During the "AXIS" storyline, Stingray is among the heroes recruited by an inverted Doctor Doom to join his team of Avengers. This group tries to focus on the innocent people put in danger where Scarlet Witch, now uncaring of morality, attacks Latveria. Stingray does his part by rescuing several people from a debris-filled river. His actions earn him the respect of U.S. Agent. [29]
As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel", Stingray is seen as part of Deadpool's Mercs for Money. [30] It is later revealed that he is a double agent who Captain America assigned to monitor the team. [31]
Stingray is later sent by the Avengers to issue a reprieve to an imprisoned Namor to settle a raging civil war in Atlantis. [32] After Namor quells the civil war and assumes the title of Last King of Atlantis, Stingray is appointed an ambassador from the surface world and is invited to the newly transformed Atlantis. [33]
Powers and abilities
Walter Newell designed and wears the Stingray battlesuit, an armored exoskeleton composed of a superhard artificial cartilage designed mainly for underwater use. [34] It enhances his strength and durability to superhuman levels, which allow him to operate within the crushing pressures of the ocean depths. His suit is equipped with an oxygen-diffusing system providing breathable air almost indefinitely, allowing him to breathe underwater. The suit also gives him enhanced swimming speed, [35] and its streamlined wings allow him to glide through air for great distances. The Stingray battlesuit's chief offensive weapon is a powerful electrical discharge device built into the exoskeleton, [36] able to project bolts of up to 20,000 volts through air or water and released through the gloves. The suit grants protection against radiation. [37]
Additionally, Walter Newell has a gifted intellect and has a Ph.D. in oceanography. He is an experienced oceanographer and a skilled inventor of experimental oceanographic equipment. [38]
