Calypso (comics)

Superherobox|

caption=Calypso.
Art by Todd McFarlane.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Calypso
real_name=Calypso Ezili
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Amazing Spider-Man #209" (October 1980)
creators=Denny O'Neil
Alan Weiss
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=
aliases= The Witch
powers=Mind control,
Resurrection|

Calypso is a fictional villain in the Marvel Comics universe, who first appeared in "Amazing Spider-Man" #209. She was created by Denny O'Neil and Alan Weiss.

Fictional character biography

Calypso was a nameless voodoo priestess. She was a psychopathic woman who was associated with Sergei Kravinoff, aka Kraven the Hunter. Calypso seemed to enjoy driving Kraven into fits of rage and furthering his hatred of Spider-Man, which ultimately led to Kraven's suicide.

When artist Todd McFarlane started writing the new "Spider-Man" comic in 1990, he began with the "Torment" storyline that ran through the first five issues. McFarlane transformed Calypso into a dangerous threat for Spider-Man. The explanation for Calypso's supernatural powers was the sacrifice of her younger sister. She used her abilities to hold Curt Connors, The Lizard, in her grasp, and the two nearly succeeded in murdering Spider-Man. However, the webslinger managed to best them both, and Calypso was apparently killed.

Calypso soon returned, and retrieved the Lizard from The Vault so she could control him again. However, the enraged Lizard slashed her throat open and escaped.

Her voodoo preventing her from truly dying, Calypso returned again in "Spectacular Spider-Man" #250-253. Commanding a squad of savages, she attacked Spider-Man and Alyosha Kravinoff, the son of the original Kraven the Hunter. Desiring revenge for losing Sergei, she used her powers to drive Spidey and Aloysha into fighting each other. Spidey and Aloysha fought off her spell, and shared a handshake. Aloysha said that he would hold Calypso at his mansion, so the villainess could tell him about his long-lost father. However, Aloysha slew Calypso instead.

Calypso would use her voodoo to survive yet again, her spirit hopping into a series of host bodies. She has come into conflict with Spider-Man and Daredevil, the latter of which was actually turned into a zombie, though he managed to fight back. Calypso later took possession of Simon Garth a.k.a. Zombie.

Powers and abilities

Calypso was well-versed in the religion and practice of voodoo. She often used voodoo drums, potions, and charms. Calypso used mind control, resurrection, and poisons.

Other media

Television

pider-Man: The Animated Series

In the 1990s "", Calypso was initially introduced as a research scientist named Dr. Mariah Crawford (voiced by Susan Beaubian), who was engaged to Sergei Kravinoff before his mystic serum transformed him into Kraven the Hunter who affectionately calls her "Calypso". She assisted Spider-Man in several episodes. In "The Return of Kraven," Dr. Mariah Crawford (who was in Africa at the time) came down with a disease prompting Sergei to use the serum on her. After returning from Africa, the serum caused Mariah to transform into a feral woman who greatly resembled the comic version of Calypso. Sergei had to take the serum again to track her down when she starts attacking people in the park at night (which at the time Spider-Man thought it was Kraven). After a struggle with Kraven, Spider-Man and Black Cat assisted Kraven into subduing Calypso and administer the cure made by Dr. Curt Connors. She and Kraven eventually left to be alone.

"The Spectacular Spider-Man"

Calypso will appear alongside Kraven the Hunter in the second Season of "The Spectacular Spider-Man". [ [http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0801/21/index.htm Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Monday, January 21, 2008 ] ]

Video games

* Calypso appears as a bonus boss at the end of the video game "Spider-Man 2".

* Calypso also appears as a villain that assists Kraven the Hunter in "Spider-Man 3" voiced by Angela V. Shelton. She provided him with various potions and mutating the Lizard into an even larger, more monstrous form.

References

External links

* [http://www.samruby.com/Villains/Calypso/calypso.htm Calypso]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/2855/calypso.html The Women of Marvel Comics Calypso Page]
* [http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/calypso.html Profile at Spiderfan.org]