Superia
Encyclopedia
Superia is a fictional character
, a misandrist
supervillain
and criminal scientist in the Marvel Universe
. She was created by writer Mark Gruenwald
and artist Rik Levins
in Captain America
(vol. 1) #390 (1991).
, would rule the world-spanning matriarchy
of the "Femizons
". Her plan was thwarted by Captain America and his allies (Paladin
, Diamondback
, Asp
and Black Mamba
).
She later appeared alongside a much smaller group of Femizons, consisting of Blackbird, Iron Maiden
, Nightshade
and Snapdragon
. This group fought against the criminal scientists of AIM
, and were defeated, thanks in part to former Femizon M.O.D.A.M.
Superia was saved from certain death by Captain America.
Superia again appeared as "Dr. Deidre Wentworth", and gave a young woman named Cathy Webster superhuman
physical traits and subliminal performance-boosting messages. These messages also bound Webster (now called Free Spirit
) to Superia's control, though Webster was quickly freed. After a failed negotiation with the Baroness Zemo, she convinced Diamondback to join her as penance for having killed her former lieutenant Snapdragon. Superia and Diamondback resurfaced soon after, when Superia was convinced to give Captain America a treatment to partially reverse a paralytic effect resulting from the serum that had given him his powers. The three of them, alongside other allies of Captain America, attacked AIM to steal its new Cosmic Cube
, but were forced to retreat. She offered a permanent cure to Captain America, but the cure was stolen by the Red Skull
, whose mind was at the time living in a body cloned from Captain America; he used the cure on himself, and shot and apparently killed Superia. Superia then reappears as the leader of H.A.M.M.E.R.
She took the leadership role after Green Goblin (Former leader of H.A.M.M.E.R.) was taken into custody. The New Avengers captured her after getting a tip from Victoria Hand
. When Osborn escaped from the Raft, he breaks Superia out also.
Superia later joins Norman Osborn's second incarnation of the Dark Avengers
as the new Dark Ms. Marvel.
scientific genius, Superia demonstrated superhuman strength and the ability to project concussive blasts in her first fight with Captain America. The origin of her powers is unknown. Given that she is a scientific genius, some or all of her powers may be generated by her costume. Superia also claimed to be a highly-trained martial artist, although Captain America derided her abilities (possibly in order to make her act irrationally).
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...
, a misandrist
Misandry
Misandry is the hatred or dislike of men or boys.Misandry comes from Greek misos and anēr, andros . Misandry is the antonym of philandry, the fondness towards men, love, or admiration of them...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
and criminal scientist in the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. She was created by writer 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...
and artist Rik Levins
Rik Levins
Rik Levins was an American comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America, where he worked with writer Mark Gruenwald for over three years ....
in Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
(vol. 1) #390 (1991).
Fictional character biography
Little is known of the past of the woman known as Superia, but she was first seen where she and a small army of female supervillains plotted to sterilize all other women in the world, making their reproductive capabilities valuable beyond measure. She was initially inspired to use her scientific knowledge to conquer the world when she discovered, via use of a "time probe", that a descendant of hers, ThundraThundra
Thundra is a Marvel Comics superheroine who is often aligned with the Fantastic Four. She is a powerful, red haired, amazon-like warrior, or Femizon, from a matriarchal, technologically advanced future timeline where men have been subjugated by women...
, would rule the world-spanning matriarchy
Matriarchy
A matriarchy is a society in which females, especially mothers, have the central roles of political leadership and moral authority. It is also sometimes called a gynocratic or gynocentric society....
of the "Femizons
Femizons
Femizon may refer to one of two groups owned by Marvel Comics and appearing in their Marvel Universe.The first group to be called Femizons were the women of Femizonia, a gyniarchal future world in an alternate timeline where women had become Amazon-like warriors, ruling over male slaves...
". Her plan was thwarted by Captain America and his allies (Paladin
Paladin (comics)
Paladin is a Marvel Comics character, a mercenary. While he claims that Paladin is his real name, he often goes by the name Paul Denning . Though not precisely a supervillain, his mercenary activities often bring him into conflict with superheroes.-Publication history:Paladin first appeared in...
, Diamondback
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
, Asp
Asp (comics)
The Asp is a former supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, most notably a member of the Serpent Society and BAD Girls, Inc.. She was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary, and first appeared in Captain America vol. 1 #310....
and Black Mamba
Black Mamba (comics)
Black Mamba is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, most notably a member of the Serpent Society and BAD Girls, Inc.-Publication history:...
).
She later appeared alongside a much smaller group of Femizons, consisting of Blackbird, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden (comics)
Iron Maiden is a fictional Russian supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe, most notably an enemy of the Black Widow.-Fictional character biography:...
, Nightshade
Nightshade (Marvel Comics)
Nightshade , formerly known as Dr. Nightshade and Deadly Nightshade is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She first appeared in Captain America #164 and was created by Steve Englehart and Alan Lee Weiss....
and Snapdragon
Snapdragon (comics)
Snapdragon is a Japanese supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe. She first appeared in Marvel Fanfare vol. 1 #12 and was created by Ralph Macchio and George Pérez.-Fictional character biography:...
. This group fought against the criminal scientists of AIM
Advanced Idea Mechanics
A.I.M. is a fictional terrorist organization in the . The organization first appeared in Strange Tales #146 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
, and were defeated, thanks in part to former Femizon M.O.D.A.M.
MODAM
MODAM is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:AIM mutated one of their female agents into a large headed creature. This agent claimed to be Henry Pym's deceased first wife, Maria Troyvana. Pym took her in, believing she was his late wife, but she was secretly...
Superia was saved from certain death by Captain America.
Superia again appeared as "Dr. Deidre Wentworth", and gave a young woman named Cathy Webster superhuman
Superhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
physical traits and subliminal performance-boosting messages. These messages also bound Webster (now called Free Spirit
Free Spirit (comics)
Free Spirit is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in Captain America vol. 1 #431 , she was created by Mark Gruenwald and Dave Hoover.-Fictional character biography:...
) to Superia's control, though Webster was quickly freed. After a failed negotiation with the Baroness Zemo, she convinced Diamondback to join her as penance for having killed her former lieutenant Snapdragon. Superia and Diamondback resurfaced soon after, when Superia was convinced to give Captain America a treatment to partially reverse a paralytic effect resulting from the serum that had given him his powers. The three of them, alongside other allies of Captain America, attacked AIM to steal its new Cosmic Cube
Cosmic Cube
The Cosmic Cube, called the Tesseract in the film Captain America: The First Avenger, is the name of a fictional object that appears in the Marvel Universe. The concept was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Tales of Suspense #79 .-Publication history:The first Cosmic Cube...
, but were forced to retreat. She offered a permanent cure to Captain America, but the cure was stolen by the Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
, whose mind was at the time living in a body cloned from Captain America; he used the cure on himself, and shot and apparently killed Superia. Superia then reappears as the leader of H.A.M.M.E.R.
H.A.M.M.E.R.
H.A.M.M.E.R. is a fictional espionage and law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe led by Norman Osborn. The organization is formed in Secret Invasion #8 to replace S.H.I.E.L.D.. The organization plays a large part in Marvel's "Dark Reign" and Siege events.What H.A.M.M.E.R. stands for,...
She took the leadership role after Green Goblin (Former leader of H.A.M.M.E.R.) was taken into custody. The New Avengers captured her after getting a tip from Victoria Hand
Victoria Hand
Victoria Hand is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Her first appearance was in The Invincible Iron Man #8, by the creative team of Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca, although her subsequent appearance in Dark Avengers #1, by...
. When Osborn escaped from the Raft, he breaks Superia out also.
Superia later joins Norman Osborn's second incarnation of the Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is part of a series of titles that have featured various iterations of the superhero team the Avengers...
as the new Dark Ms. Marvel.
Powers and abilities
In addition to being a polymathPolymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
scientific genius, Superia demonstrated superhuman strength and the ability to project concussive blasts in her first fight with Captain America. The origin of her powers is unknown. Given that she is a scientific genius, some or all of her powers may be generated by her costume. Superia also claimed to be a highly-trained martial artist, although Captain America derided her abilities (possibly in order to make her act irrationally).
External links
- Superia at Marvel Wiki