Ms. Mystic
Encyclopedia
Ms. Mystic is a fictional comic book
superheroine created by popular illustrator Neal Adams
. The comic published nine issues between 1982-1994. Her first full appearance was in Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #3 (March 1982), published by Pacific Comics
. After Pacific published two issues, the character was published by Neal's own company Continuity Comics
.
who was burned at the stake during the Salem witch trials
(1692-1695). Her soul transferred to another plane, and returned to Earth in the modern world. She is strongly concerned with environmental issues. Mystic has long white hair down to her ankles, wears a set of golden spirals in her hair which resemble the insect-antenna of faeries
, and her costume is basically a black spandex
catsuit
created with Zip-A-Tone
.
She can also call upon Mother Nature
for assistance. Ms. Mystic once called upon Mother Nature
for help, and she responded by creating the superhero team Urth 4
. Urth 4 are strongly influenced by the Fantastic Four
: a group of four superheroes based on the four classical Greek elements.
' art director Vince Colletta
in 1977, and went on to co-create the character with Adams. The suit was subsequently dismissed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
on grounds of the Statute of Limitations
. Netzer later publicly apologized for the grief caused Adams by the litigation and acknowledged Adams' sole ownership of the character, while maintaining his claim to initial co-authorship.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
superheroine created by popular illustrator Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
. The comic published nine issues between 1982-1994. Her first full appearance was in Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #3 (March 1982), published by Pacific Comics
Pacific Comics
Pacific Comics was an independent comic book publisher that flourished from 1981-1984. It was also a chain of comics shops and a distributor. It began out of a San Diego, California, comic book shop owned by brothers Bill and Steve Schanes...
. After Pacific published two issues, the character was published by Neal's own company Continuity Comics
Continuity Comics
Continuity Publishing, also known as Continuity Comics, was an American independent comic book company formed by Neal Adams in 1984, publishing comics until 1994....
.
Fictional character biography
Ms. Mystic is a genuine witchWitchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
who was burned at the stake during the Salem witch trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
(1692-1695). Her soul transferred to another plane, and returned to Earth in the modern world. She is strongly concerned with environmental issues. Mystic has long white hair down to her ankles, wears a set of golden spirals in her hair which resemble the insect-antenna of faeries
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
, and her costume is basically a black spandex
Spandex
Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is strong, but less durable than natural Latex, its major non-synthetic competitor. It is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was co-invented in 1959 by chemists C. L. Sandquist and Joseph Shivers at DuPont's...
catsuit
Catsuit
A catsuit is a close-fitting one-piece garment that covers the torso and the legs, and frequently the arms. They are usually made from stretchable material, such as lycra, chiffon, spandex , leather, latex, PVC, or velour, and frequently close using a zipper at the front or back.Catsuits, which...
created with Zip-A-Tone
Screentone
Screentone is a technique for applying textures and shades to drawings, used as an alternative to hatching. In the conventional process, patterns are transferred to paper from preprinted sheets, but the technique is also simulated in computer graphics...
.
Powers and abilities
Ms. Mystic is a magician; her ability to wield magic also gives her the power of flight, the ability to summon a sword of light, and undefined "Elemental powers."She can also call upon Mother Nature
Mother Nature
Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. Images of women representing mother earth, and mother nature, are timeless...
for assistance. Ms. Mystic once called upon Mother Nature
Mother Nature
Mother Nature is a common personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. Images of women representing mother earth, and mother nature, are timeless...
for help, and she responded by creating the superhero team Urth 4
Urth 4
Urth 4 is a comic-book series created by Peter Stone, Neal Adams and Trevor Von Eeden and published by Continuity Comics. The series ran for four issues , and was then revived as Earth 4 in 1993, running for a total of seven more issues.-Series overview:The title featured the adventures of a team...
. Urth 4 are strongly influenced by the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
: a group of four superheroes based on the four classical Greek elements.
Controversy over co-creation
In 1993 comics artist Michael Netzer sued Neal Adams for credit and misappropriation of a jointly created property, claiming that he initially conceived the character of Ms. Mystic at the behest of DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
' art director Vince Colletta
Vince Colletta
Vincent Joseph Colletta was an American comic book artist and art director best known as one of industry legend Jack Kirby's frequent inkers during the 1950s-1960s period called the Silver Age of comic books...
in 1977, and went on to co-create the character with Adams. The suit was subsequently dismissed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
on grounds of the Statute of Limitations
Statute of limitations
A statute of limitations is an enactment in a common law legal system that sets the maximum time after an event that legal proceedings based on that event may be initiated...
. Netzer later publicly apologized for the grief caused Adams by the litigation and acknowledged Adams' sole ownership of the character, while maintaining his claim to initial co-authorship.