''Aphrodite IX'' is a

superheroine A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses Superpower (ability), ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, t ...

created in 2000 by writer

David Wohl David Wohl is an American comic book writer and editor. He is best known as an editor at Marvel Comics and Top Cow Productions and, at the latter, writing '' The Darkness'' and ''Witchblade''. Career David Wohl began his creative career as a h ...

and artist David Finch, published by the American comics studio

Top Cow Top Cow Productions is an American comics publisher, an imprint (trade name), imprint of Image Comics. It was founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992. The company is known for publishing titles such as ''Cyber Force (comics), Cyberforce'', ''The Darknes ...

, an imprint of

Image Comics Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...

. Aphrodite IX is a self-aware female android designed as a spy and assassin who retains no memory of her missions. A sequel series was launched in 2013, and the character was rebooted in the 2018 ''Cyber Force: Awakening'' series.

Publication history

The first series of ''Aphrodite IX'' was written by

and drawn by comic book artist David Finch. Issue number #0 was released with an issue of '' Wizard'' magazine in April 2000. Originally appearing on the Top Cow solicitation schedule as a monthly title, to date only 6 issues and one trade paperback have ever been published. The 2000 publication year saw the release of issues #1 and 2. Before issue number #3 was released in early 2001, Finch was replaced with artist Clarence Lansang (the issue features artwork by both artists), yet only two more issues would be published during Lansang's tenure (number #1/2, a place-holder issue recapping previous story events and containing ten pages of "

pin-up A pin-up model is a model (person), model whose mass-produced pictures and photographs have wide appeal within the popular culture of a society. Pin-up models are usually glamour photography, glamour, actresses, or fashion models whose pictures ...

s" by various artists, and number #4 which continued the story but did not finish it). A trade paperback, ''Aphrodite IX: Time Out of Mind'', collecting all extant issues, was released in 2003.

Aphrodite IV

An android similar to Aphrodite IX, identified as Aphrodite IV, appeared in a page from Top Cow's ongoing series ''

Cyberforce A cyber force is a military branch of a nation's armed forces that conducts military operations in cyberspace and cyberwarfare. The world's first independent cyber force was the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force, which was establis ...

''. An Aphrodite is featured on the cover ''

Witchblade ''Witchblade'' is an American comic book Ongoing series, series published by Top Cow Productions, an imprint (trade name), imprint of Image Comics, which ran from November 1995 to October 2015. The series was created by Top Cow founder and owne ...

'' #119, where she is shown wielding the Witchblade itself. The Aphrodite is confirmed to be IV, the same one stalking the

. The cover, showing Aphrodite IV wielding the Witchblade, may seem a bit misleading, as she does not actually wear the Witchblade in this issue. During the ''Artifacts'' limited series, Aphrodite IV is hired by an unknown person who desires to bring all thirteen artifacts together.

Aphrodite IX

The 15th model of the Aphrodite series.

Vol. 2

Top Cow released a free preview issue for Vol. 2 of ''Aphrodite IX'' on May 4, 2013, with the first new issue released in June and the 11th and final issue released in July 2014. The preview is set in the distant future of the previous issues in the series. The artist of the series is

Stjepan Šejić Stjepan Šejić (born 27 November 1981) is a Croatian comic book writer and artist, known for his work on the series '' Witchblade'', '' Aphrodite IX'', ''Sunstone'', and '' The Darkness'' among others. Career Šejić was born in Vinkovci and re ...

Plot

Aphrodite IX is a female android who has amnesia shortly after being sent on undercover missions. This leads to ongoing confusion about what she does and for whom. Although she becomes aware that she is intended as an assassin, she finds the idea increasingly distasteful and experiences dreams and desires like a human. This begins to undermine her morale but not her efficiency, for her conditioning takes over as her masters or survival circumstances require. When she seeks out clues to her past and true identity, she stumbles onto a conspiracy involving a secret society of cyborgs attempting to undermine the legitimate government.

Main characters

Aphrodite IX – Aphrodite IX is a self-aware gynoid designed to carry out undercover missions of infiltration and assassination. Although she has been trained to kill, Aphrodite IX retains no memory of her actions; her brain is designed to experience an episode of

amnesia Amnesia is a deficit in memory caused by brain damage or brain diseases,Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G. (2009) Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. but it can also be temporarily caused by t ...

at the end of each mission, apparently to protect her masters if not herself. The character's appearance is her trademark:

Kelly green Varieties of the color green may differ in hue, chroma (also called saturation or intensity) or lightness (or value, tone, or brightness), or in two or three of these qualities. Variations in value are also called tints and shades, a tint be ...

makeup and hair (including an oversized spot on one cheek), form-fitting outfits ringed with ammo belts, and thigh-high lug soled boots. She typically carries a very large knife on her belt and one or more large guns.

In other media

An anime of ''Aphrodite IX'' was being developed, but aside from a trailer released at the Top Cow booth during the 2005

San Diego Comic-Con San Diego Comic-Con is a comic book convention and multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center. Founded in 1970, originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fant ...

, nothing ever came of the project.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aphrodite IX 2000 comics debuts Comics characters introduced in 2000 Fictional assassins in comics Fictional characters with amnesia Fictional female assassins Fictional gunfighters in comics Fictional gynoids Fictional marksmen and snipers Image Comics characters with superhuman strength Image Comics female superheroes Science fiction comics Superhero comics Top Cow characters Top Cow titles