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Amphibian (comics)
Encyclopedia
Amphibian is the name of two different fictional character
s that have appeared in publications from Marvel Comics
.
The first debuted as a member of the team of superhero
es called the Squadron Supreme
in Avengers
(vol. 1) #147 (May 1976). The other first appeared in Supreme Power #2 (Nov 2003), later joining a team of super heroes also called the Squadron Supreme. Both characters are not from the main reality where stories are set in the Marvel Universe, but are from two separate alternate universes
.(See Sidebar)
The character subsequently appears in Avengers (vol. 1) #148-149 (June–July 1976), Defenders (vol. 1) #112-114 (October–December 1982), Squadron Supreme (vol. 1) #1-6 (September 1985-February 1986), #9 (May 1986), #12 (August 1986), Avengers West Coast Annual #4 (1989), Web of Spider-Man Annual #5 (1989), Squadron Supreme: New World Order #1 (September 1998), and Exiles #78 (May 2006).
Amphibian appeared as part of the "Squadron Supreme" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition
#12.
" arc in Avengers (vol. 1). In this story arc, he along with the rest of the Squadron are employed by the Roxxon Corporation
to contain the Avengers. The two teams eventually work together to thwart Roxxon and the Serpent Crown, which had been working in both realities through Roxxon's CEO on the Avenger's Earth and the President of the United States on the Squadron's. The story leaves Amphibian and his teammates setting out to repair the damage the Crown has done to their world.
The story presented Amphibian as already being a long-standing member of the Squadron and did not provide an origin for the character. This was filled out by comments and flashbacks in later issues, instead of a full origin story. Over time, it is revealed that he is a mutant, whose name may be Kingsley Rice, and that he claims to be the fourth strongest being of his world, after Hyperion
, Redstone
, and Power Princess
. The character's role in the founding of the Squadron Supreme is also shown in flashback.
In 1985, Mark Gruenwald
wrote a limited series for Marvel which focused on the Squadron's efforts in their home reality. Early in the story, Amphibian questions the team's actions and goals. As the rest of the team supports the "Utopia Project", with the Squadron taking the role of a world government, he resigns rather than be part of the autocratic plan.
The character is brought back in later stories. Here he rejoins the team along with a new Nighthawk and Skymax
at the request of Power Princess.
This Amphibian's abilities are adaptive; the greater the ocean depth he inhabits, the more fish-like his physiology becomes. He is super-strong and can lift approximately ten tons when on land.
entitled Supreme Power under its MAX imprint. For this series he created characters based on the Squadron Supreme works of both Roy Thomas
and Gruenwald, including Amphibian. While Straczynski kept some aspects of the characters the same or very similar to the previous works, he did make some notable alterations. With Amphibian he gave the character an origin that actually played out during the series, changed gender, and, with artist Gary Frank
, reworked the physical appearance to incorporate fish
-like elements, making the character appear more non-human.
Amphibian was introduced into Straczynski's story in Supreme Power #2 (Nov 2003). In that issue she is left to die in the ocean after her mother commits suicide and her father goes insane, both as a result of their strange-looking daughter's birth. Due to her amphibious nature, she is able to survive and grows up as a feral child
, not encountering humans until she is an adult. The point in the story where this encounter occurred was one of two pivotal events for Amphibian. In this encounter, she comes across a female diver who panics when confronted with her inhuman appearance. The diver's air hose breaks, causing her to suffocate in front of Amphibian. She surfaces with the dead body, returning it to a nearby boat where the diver's husband is waiting. He also panics, assuming she had killed his wife, and attacks her with a spear gun. She retaliates, killing him.
The second pivotal event for the character happened after the confrontation between Hyperion and Doctor Spectrum. At this point, Amphibian discovers Doctor Spectrum on the ocean floor, regenerating in a cocoon generated by his power crystal. When he awakens, they discover that she has some form of telepathic ability, and are able to converse. Spectrum finds himself attracted to her, and promises to return after reporting to his superiors. When he does, he takes her to a remote vacation home that once belonged to one of his targets. He's integrated the house with a giant open-air salt-water aquarium
, and Amphibian is quite pleased with her new accommodations. Spectrum then voices his attraction to her and christens her "Kingsley Rice".
In the follow-up series, Squadron Supreme (vol. 2), also written by Straczynski, Kingsley is among the superhumans that either volunteer or are drafted into the Squadron Supreme. As a member of that team she is also given the codename "Amphibian".
In keeping with the premise of her being a feral child
, Straczynski has played up two character elements. First, that she does not speak in the stories, but instead relies on a telepathic ability. This follows from her growing up in an environment that prevented vocalization, and not having had anyone to teach her speech. Second, aside from public appearances with the Squadron, the character is seen in the nude. This also follows from her environment, clothes not being a natural or needed thing. The latter was also a visual element that was supported by the series being published under the MAX imprint. Since the imprint was designed for stories containing material for mature readers, Gary Frank had a freer hand in showing this aspect of the character.
In addition to a telepathic ability, the character has been shown to possess superhuman strength and retractable organs similar to that of a predatory fish (gills, spines, fins, sharp claws) that she extends when expressing intense emotion. She is able to perceive luminous auras around certain individuals, including Power Princess
and Doctor Spectrum, which apparently allude to their nature.
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...
s that have appeared in publications from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
The first debuted as a member of the team of 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 —...
es called the Squadron Supreme
Squadron Supreme
The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers #85 - 86 The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first...
in Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
(vol. 1) #147 (May 1976). The other first appeared in Supreme Power #2 (Nov 2003), later joining a team of super heroes also called the Squadron Supreme. Both characters are not from the main reality where stories are set in the Marvel Universe, but are from two separate alternate universes
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
.(See Sidebar)
Publication history
Amphibian first appeared in Avengers (vol. 1) #145 (March 1976), and was created by Steve Engelhart.The character subsequently appears in Avengers (vol. 1) #148-149 (June–July 1976), Defenders (vol. 1) #112-114 (October–December 1982), Squadron Supreme (vol. 1) #1-6 (September 1985-February 1986), #9 (May 1986), #12 (August 1986), Avengers West Coast Annual #4 (1989), Web of Spider-Man Annual #5 (1989), Squadron Supreme: New World Order #1 (September 1998), and Exiles #78 (May 2006).
Amphibian appeared as part of the "Squadron Supreme" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
#12.
Fictional character biography
Amphibian debuted in the second appearance of the Squadron Supreme during Steve Engelhart's "The Serpent CrownSerpent Crown
The Serpent Crown is a fictional mystical power object which has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It exists within Marvel's main shared universe...
" arc in Avengers (vol. 1). In this story arc, he along with the rest of the Squadron are employed by the Roxxon Corporation
Roxxon Oil
Roxxon Energy Corporation is the name of a fictional massive petroleum corporation owned by Aleksander Lukin and run by August D'Angelo. The company appears in comic book stories published by Marvel Comics and exists in that company's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
to contain the Avengers. The two teams eventually work together to thwart Roxxon and the Serpent Crown, which had been working in both realities through Roxxon's CEO on the Avenger's Earth and the President of the United States on the Squadron's. The story leaves Amphibian and his teammates setting out to repair the damage the Crown has done to their world.
The story presented Amphibian as already being a long-standing member of the Squadron and did not provide an origin for the character. This was filled out by comments and flashbacks in later issues, instead of a full origin story. Over time, it is revealed that he is a mutant, whose name may be Kingsley Rice, and that he claims to be the fourth strongest being of his world, after Hyperion
Hyperion (comics)
Hyperion is the name of several fictional characters that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. The first character debuted in The Avengers #69 Hyperion is the name of several fictional characters that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. The first character debuted in...
, Redstone
Redstone (comics)
Redstone is the name of two characters from Marvel Comics.-Various incarnations of Redstone:The first Redstone is a superhero who is a native to the alternate universe of the original Squadron Supreme...
, and Power Princess
Power Princess
Zarda, more commonly known as Power Princess, is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Two different versions of the character have appeared in two separate continuities.-Various incarnations:...
. The character's role in the founding of the Squadron Supreme is also shown in flashback.
In 1985, Mark Gruenwald
Mark Gruenwald
Mark E. Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler. Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity...
wrote a limited series for Marvel which focused on the Squadron's efforts in their home reality. Early in the story, Amphibian questions the team's actions and goals. As the rest of the team supports the "Utopia Project", with the Squadron taking the role of a world government, he resigns rather than be part of the autocratic plan.
The character is brought back in later stories. Here he rejoins the team along with a new Nighthawk and Skymax
Skrullian Skymaster
The Skrullian Skymaster is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics, who exists in the universe of the Squadron Supreme. The character is the Squadron's counterpart of the Martian Manhunter, a member of DC Comics' superhero team, the Justice League of America.-Publication history:The Skrull...
at the request of Power Princess.
This Amphibian's abilities are adaptive; the greater the ocean depth he inhabits, the more fish-like his physiology becomes. He is super-strong and can lift approximately ten tons when on land.
Supreme Power
In 2003 Marvel published a series written by J. Michael StraczynskiJ. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
entitled Supreme Power under its MAX imprint. For this series he created characters based on the Squadron Supreme works of both Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and Gruenwald, including Amphibian. While Straczynski kept some aspects of the characters the same or very similar to the previous works, he did make some notable alterations. With Amphibian he gave the character an origin that actually played out during the series, changed gender, and, with artist Gary Frank
Gary Frank
Gary Frank is a British comic book artist, notable for pencilling on Midnight Nation and Supreme Power, both written by J. Michael Straczynski...
, reworked the physical appearance to incorporate fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
-like elements, making the character appear more non-human.
Amphibian was introduced into Straczynski's story in Supreme Power #2 (Nov 2003). In that issue she is left to die in the ocean after her mother commits suicide and her father goes insane, both as a result of their strange-looking daughter's birth. Due to her amphibious nature, she is able to survive and grows up as a feral child
Feral children in mythology and fiction
Feral children, children who have lived from a young age without human contact, appear in mythological and fictional works, usually as human characters who have been raised by animals...
, not encountering humans until she is an adult. The point in the story where this encounter occurred was one of two pivotal events for Amphibian. In this encounter, she comes across a female diver who panics when confronted with her inhuman appearance. The diver's air hose breaks, causing her to suffocate in front of Amphibian. She surfaces with the dead body, returning it to a nearby boat where the diver's husband is waiting. He also panics, assuming she had killed his wife, and attacks her with a spear gun. She retaliates, killing him.
The second pivotal event for the character happened after the confrontation between Hyperion and Doctor Spectrum. At this point, Amphibian discovers Doctor Spectrum on the ocean floor, regenerating in a cocoon generated by his power crystal. When he awakens, they discover that she has some form of telepathic ability, and are able to converse. Spectrum finds himself attracted to her, and promises to return after reporting to his superiors. When he does, he takes her to a remote vacation home that once belonged to one of his targets. He's integrated the house with a giant open-air salt-water aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, and Amphibian is quite pleased with her new accommodations. Spectrum then voices his attraction to her and christens her "Kingsley Rice".
In the follow-up series, Squadron Supreme (vol. 2), also written by Straczynski, Kingsley is among the superhumans that either volunteer or are drafted into the Squadron Supreme. As a member of that team she is also given the codename "Amphibian".
In keeping with the premise of her being a feral child
Feral child
A feral child is a human child who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, and has no experience of human care, loving or social behavior, and, crucially, of human language...
, Straczynski has played up two character elements. First, that she does not speak in the stories, but instead relies on a telepathic ability. This follows from her growing up in an environment that prevented vocalization, and not having had anyone to teach her speech. Second, aside from public appearances with the Squadron, the character is seen in the nude. This also follows from her environment, clothes not being a natural or needed thing. The latter was also a visual element that was supported by the series being published under the MAX imprint. Since the imprint was designed for stories containing material for mature readers, Gary Frank had a freer hand in showing this aspect of the character.
In addition to a telepathic ability, the character has been shown to possess superhuman strength and retractable organs similar to that of a predatory fish (gills, spines, fins, sharp claws) that she extends when expressing intense emotion. She is able to perceive luminous auras around certain individuals, including Power Princess
Power Princess
Zarda, more commonly known as Power Princess, is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Two different versions of the character have appeared in two separate continuities.-Various incarnations:...
and Doctor Spectrum, which apparently allude to their nature.