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Calypso (comics)

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Calypso
File:Calypso.png
Calypso.
Art by Todd McFarlane.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAmazing Spider-Man #209 (October 1980)
Created byDenny O'Neil (Writer)
Alan Weiss (Artist)
In-story information
Alter egoCalypso Ezili
PartnershipsKraven the Hunter
Notable aliasesThe Witch
Kraven Witch
AbilitiesMind control
Resurrection
Use of potions

Calypso is a fictional villain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

Calypso first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #209 and was created by Denny O'Neil and Alan Weiss.

Calypso initially appeared as a minor character The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1, #209 and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1, #65, where was she was an ally of Spider-Man's enemy Kraven the Hunter. After Kraven's death, Calypso bewitched the Lizard into helping her attack Spider-Man in Spider-Man Vol. 1, #1-5, then made guest appearances in Daredevil Vol. 1, #310-311 and Daredevil Annual Vol. 1, #9. Calypso next appeared in Web of Spider-Man Vol. 1, #109-110 and Spider-Man Annual 1997, and was killed-off in a storyline that spanned The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1, #249-253.

Fictional character biography

Calypso was a nameless voodoo priestess of Haitian nationality.[1] She was a psychopathic woman who was associated with Sergei Kravinoff. Calypso seemed to enjoy driving Kraven into fits of rage and furthering his hatred of Spider-Man, which ultimately led to Kraven's suicide in the Kraven's Last Hunt storyline.[2]

When artist Todd McFarlane started writing the new Spider-Man comic in 1990, his opening five-issue story arc, "Torment", featured Calypso, whom McFarlane transformed 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 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.[3]

Her voodoo prevented her from truly dying and Calypso returned again. 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 Alyosha into fighting each other. Spidey and Alyosha fought off her spell, and shared a handshake. Alyosha said that he would hold Calypso at his mansion, so the villainess could tell him about his long-lost father. However, Alyosha slew Calypso instead.[4]

Calypso survived by using voodoo to enter a series of host bodies which she used to fight Spider-Man and Daredevil.[5] Calypso did a number of campaigns against them that involved her servant Zombie.[6]

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 versions

What If?

An issue of What If? which asked the question "What If Spider-Man Killed the Lizard?" had Calypso in it. When Spider-Man is forced to kill the Lizard in an alternate version of the "Torment" story-arc, Calypso approaches the Lizard's distraught son Billy and offers him the chance to get revenge on Spider-Man via a potion that will make him "just like daddy".[7]

In other media

Television

  • In the 1990s Spider-Man: The Animated Series, 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, most notably helping him develop a cure for the Man-Spider mutation where even Professor X had expressed doubt about his ability to develop a cure. During the confrontation with Man-Spider, Dr. Crawford was shown to be familiar with Punisher's backstory and persuaded him to help Kraven the Hunter subdue the Man-Spider. She was able to administer the antidote to Spider-Man's Man-Spider form with the help of Kraven the Hunter and Punisher. In the episode "The Return of Kraven," Dr. Mariah Crawford came down with a disease at the time when she was in Africa. This prompted 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 with this form also being depicted with claws, green eyes, and lion-like ears. 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 which was able to reverse some of the transformation's mental effects while getting rid of the claws, green eyes, and lion-like ears. She and Kraven eventually left to be alone.
  • Calypso appears alongside Kraven the Hunter in the The Spectacular Spider-Man episode "Destructive Testing" voiced by Angela Bryant.[8] In this series, Calypso is Kraven's lover and there is some indication she is a voodoo priestess. She presents to Kraven pictures of Spider-Man from a mysterious American friend and encourages him to go to New York and hunt him. After Kraven's first attempt at killing Spider-Man, she suddenly appears in a robe and says, "You have need of me, love?". He states that he did not call her and declines her offer of help. After Kraven's second defeat at the hands of Spider-Man, Calypso rescues him and reveals that their friend has revealed himself as the Master Planner. The Master Planner then asks Kraven if he would like to "hunt in a pack."

Video games

References

  1. ^ "Spiderfan.org".
  2. ^ The Spectacular Spider-Man #132
  3. ^ Spider-Man #5
  4. ^ The Spectacular Spider-Man #249-253
  5. ^ Daredevil Annual #9
  6. ^ Spider-Man Annual 1997
  7. ^ Simon Furman (w), Dane McCart (p), Dane McCart (i), Mark Bernardo (col), Janice Chiang (let), Rob Tokar (ed). "What If Spider-Man Killed the Lizard?" What If?, vol. 2, no. 53 (10 September 1993). United States: Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Monday, January 21, 2008
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