Aqueduct (comics)

Superherobox


caption=Aqueduct in first incarnation as Water Wizard (bottom right corner) battling Ghost Rider on the cover of Ghost Rider #23 (vol. 1, Apr. 1977). Art by Don Heck.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Aqueduct
real_name=Peter van Zante
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Ghost Rider" #23 (vol. 1, Apr. 1977)
creators=Jim Shooter
Don Heck
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=Thunderbolts Force of Nature Masters of Evil
aliases=Water Wizard
relatives=
powers=Water manipulation|

Aqueduct (Peter van Zante), originally known as Water Wizard, is a super-villain in the fictional Marvel Universe. The character was created by Jim Shooter and Don Heck and first appeared in Ghost Rider #23 (vol. 1, Apr. 1977).

Fictional character biography

Peter van Zante was born in Chicago. He enlisted in the U.S. military, and after being wounded in action he is treated with an experimental radiation device. A lightning strike during a freak storm destroys the device but rejuvenated van Zante. While convalescing, van Zante discovers he could manipulate water and create semi-solid three-dimensional shapes. Turning to crime, van Zante dons a costume and adopts the alias of Water Wizard. He is then employed by the criminal the Enforcer and battles Ghost Rider, but is defeated. ["Ghost Rider" #23 - 24 (vol. 1, Apr. - Jun. (bi-monthly) 1977)] Although Water Wizard is later employed by criminal mastermind Justin Hammer to battle Iron Man with several other villains, he panics and flees the fight. ["Iron Man" #126-127 (vol. 1, Sep - Oct. 1979)] The magician Moondark also recruits Water Wizard to battle Ghost Rider, but both are defeated. ["Ghost Rider" #59 (vol. 1, Aug. 1981)] Ghost Rider then breaks van Zante out of prison shortly afterwards to assist a drought-stricken town. ["Ghost Rider" #61 (vol. 1, Oct. 1981)] At this time van Zante discovers he can also affect oil, and after a brief criminal venture is returned to prison by Ghost Rider. ["Ghost Rider" #62 (vol. 1, Nov. 1981)]

Water Wizard is targeted by the assassin the Scourge of the Underworld, and due to a flat tire was not present at the bar where many minor supervillains are killed. Water Wizard turns himself in to Captain America, who later captures the assassin. ["Captain America" #320 (vol. 1, Aug. 1986)] Several years later during Acts of Vengeance, Water Wizard and many other villains are freed from prison by Doctor Doom to battle the Fantastic Four, but van Zante ends up arguing with and fighting against fellow villain Hydro-Man. ["Fantastic Four" #336 (vol. 1, Jan. 1990)] Failure follows failure as van Zante is sidelined by construction workers during a futile attack on the superhero team the Avengers ["Avengers Annual" #19 (1990)] and is later defeated by Captain America in seconds. ["Captain America" #414 (vol. 1, Apr. 1993)]

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 battles the superhero team the New Warriors on two occasions, but are defeated each time. ["New Warriors" #8-9 (vol. 1, Feb. - Mar. 1990) and "New Warriors" #29 - 30 (vol. 1, Nov. - Dec. 1993)] Aqueduct then joins the fifth generation of the Masters of Evil and battles the superhero team the Thunderbolts. ["Thunderbolts" #24-25 (Mar. - Apr. 1997)]

Civil War

Aqueduct is forced along with many other super villains to join the "new" Thunderbolts during the Civil War. ["Thunderbolts" #107 (vol. 2, Dec. 2006)]

Powers and abilities

Aqueduct has the ability to mentally control and shape water and other liquids, such as oil, and can manipulate tens of thousands of gallons at a time. He has mastered several uses of this power, including the ability to direct a fire hose-like jet of water, to create watery monsters and humanoid servants, to create fists and objects out of nearby water, to remove moisture and leave a dehydrated husk, to create boxing gloves of solidified water to enhance his strength, and to ride on waves of controlled water.

References

External links

* [http://www.marvel.com/universe/Aqueduct Aqueduct] at Marvel.com
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/aqueductwaterwizard.htm Marvel Appendix entry]