Aqueduct (comics)

Publication history

The character first appeared in Ghost Rider #23 (Apr. 1977) and was created by Jim Shooter and Don Heck.

Fictional character biography

Peter van Zante enlists in the U.S. military as a soldier. After being wounded in action, he is treated with an experimental radiation device while out at sea. A lightning strike during a freak storm destroys the device but van Zante is rejuvenated. While convalescing, van Zante discovers he can manipulate water and create semi-solid water constructs. Becoming a professional criminal, van Zante dons a costume and adopts the alias of Water Wizard, and robs a brokerage house. He is then employed by the criminal the Enforcer and assigned to kill Ghost Rider, but fails.

Ghost Rider then breaks van Zante out of prison shortly afterwards to assist a drought-stricken town. At this time, van Zante travels to Saudi Arabia, where he discovers he can also affect forms of liquid other than water, including oil, and after a brief criminal venture and battling the Arabian Knight, he is returned to prison by Ghost Rider.

Gary Gilbert invites Water Wizard to attend a meeting at the Bar With No Name to discuss the threat of the Scourge of the Underworld. Due to a flat tire he is late to the meeting and is not present when the attendees, including Gilbert, are killed by the Scourge. Water Wizard subsequently discovers the 17 victims and turns himself in to Captain America, who later captures the assassin.

Water Wizard eventually reappears with a new costume and alias — Aqueduct. He joins with three other super villains with elemental abilities to form the team Force of Nature. The group is employed by Project: Earth to prevent rain forest razing, and battles the New Warriors.

Aqueduct then joins Crimson Cowl's incarnation of the Masters of Evil and battles the superhero team the Thunderbolts.

During the Dark Reign storyline, Aqueduct is revealed to be back with Force of Nature, now the Initiative's Oregon team.

Powers and abilities

A power surge in an experimental cell stimulator while out at sea gave Van Zante the psychokinetic ability to control and shape all forms of liquid (including oil) for virtually any effect, such as creating rainstorms, floods, tidal waves, water slides, and mobile animated water creatures. Aqueduct can manipulate thousands of gallons at a time. However, he cannot directly create water or control its temperature.

References

References

1. Rovin, Jeff. (1987). "[[The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains]]". Facts on File.
2. ''[[Ghost Rider (comic book). Ghost Rider]]'' #23 (April 1977)
3. ''Ghost Rider'' #61 (October 1981)
4. ''Ghost Rider'' #62 (November 1981)
5. ''[[Captain America (comic book). Captain America]]'' #320 (August 1986)
6. ''[[The New Warriors]]'' #8-9 (February - March 1990)
7. ''[[Thunderbolts (comic book). Thunderbolts]]'' #24-25 (March - April 1999)
8. ''[[Avengers: The Initiative]]'' #26 (September 2009)