Aquagirl (Tula)

Aquagirl (also Aqua-Girl) is the alias used by several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, typically depicted as supporting characters of Aquaman originating from the realm of Atlantis. The first two incarnations of the character, Lisa Morel (1959) and Selena (1963), were introduced as one-offs.

Tula, the third version of Aquagirl, debuted in ''Aquaman'' vol. 1 #33 (May–June 1967), representing the definitive version of the character. Initially depicted as an ally of Aquaman and the romantic interest of his sidekick Aqualad ( Garth), Tula also served as a member of the Teen Titans before being killed in ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Following the continuity reboot of ''The New 52'' in 2011, the character was reintroduced as Tula Marius. In this iteration, Tula is portrayed as the half-sister of Aquaman's half-brother, Ocean Master. While she does not actively adopt the Aquagirl codename, the character assumed significant roles within Atlantis such as a high-ranking commander of a covert black-ops faction, a regent for Aquaman's administration, and as an honor guard during Mera's reign as Queen.

Another iteration of Aquagirl, Lorena Marquez, was introduced in ''Aquaman'' vol. 6 #16 (May 2004). Lorena is a teenage girl who acquires Atlantean-like abilities after being exposed to a serum derived from Aquaman's DNA by an ethically questionable scientist. As part of a catastrophic event orchestrated by the scientist, a portion of San Diego sinks into the ocean following a triggered earthquake. Some of the affected population survives and develops sub-aquatic abilities. Aquaman and Lorena, together, contribute to the reestablishment of the community, which becomes known as "Sub Diego." Lorena subsequently assumes the role of Aquagirl, working alongside Aquaman as a costumed heroine. She exhibits notable detective skills alongside her aquatic powers. In her continued superhero journey, Lorena later joins the Teen Titans.

Several incarnations of Aquagirl have appeared in media, including the Tula incarnation in the animated series ''Young Justice'' and 2013 animated film '' Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox,'' although she is not identified as her codename in either. Original incarnations of the character also appear, such as Mareena, the future daughter of Aquaman and Mera, who appears in the DC Animated Universe.

Publication history

The Tula version of the character was introduced in ''Aquaman'' vol. 1 #33 (May–June 1967), created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy.

Fictional character history

Tula

Tula is an Atlantean orphan who is adopted by one of the royal families of Atlantis. She is given the title of princess and does not leave the palace until she meets Aqualad at age fifteen. Garth and Tula enter a relationship before she is killed by Chemo during ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''.

Following Tula's death, Garth's evil uncle Slizzath creates an evil clone of her to siphon his energy. Additionally, she is temporarily resurrected by Brother Blood and the Black Lantern Corps on two separate occasions. In ''The New 52'' continuity reboot, Tula is permanently resurrected and depicted as Ocean Master's half-sister.

Lorena Marquez

Lorena Marquez is a resident of San Diego who gains Atlantean powers alongside many of its residents after scientist Anton Geist experiments on them. After Geist destroys much of San Diego, killing thousands, Lorena helps the survivors rebuild underwater. Lorena later joins the Teen Titans, where she befriends Static and flirts with Blue Beetle and Superboy. Lorena does not appear following ''The New 52''.

Powers and abilities

Tula's skill and abilities

In her original iteration, Tula possess the typical abilities of an Atlantean; able to breathe underwater, possessed a level of superhuman strength, durability, and senses that enabled her to withstand the intense pressures of the ocean. She also possessed telepathic powers and was skilled in hand-to-hand combatant.

In more recent continuities, Tula retains most of her original abilities typically seen of an Atlantean as her previous iterations (breathing underwater, superhuman strength, swimming at extreme speeds, enhanced senses and reflexes) though portrayed at a greater degree and unlike Atlantean, is trained to be able to survive outside the surface for extended periods of time similarly to a human. She is also considered a adept Atlantean warrior, skilled with many weaponry possessed by Atlantis and has considerable skill as a special forces commander, her skills including espionage, military tactics, and military training. Tula is also proficient in politics, having enough experience and leadership qualities to act as a regent of Atlantis under Aquaman's administration. Due to her status as regent, Tula possessed special governmental privileges during and even after her tenure.

Other versions

Lisa Morel

Lisa Morel is introduced in ''Adventure Comics'' #266 (November 1959) as one of several violet-eyed Atlantean children born unable to adapt to the watery world. They had been sent to the surface in waterproof lifeboats so they might survive among land-dwellers, and Lisa was adopted by scientist Hugo Morel and his wife. With Aquaman in danger, Lisa's water-breathing and telepathic powers awaken; she makes herself a costume identical to Aquaman's, takes on the name "Aquagirl" and fights alongside him. However, her new-found powers are short-lived, and she loses them permanently. This is the first and last appearance of the character.

Selena

Selena is a young Poseidonis teenager who temporarily teams up with Aquaman under the name "Aqua-Girl" in ''World's Finest Comics'' #133 (May 1963) to make her former boyfriend jealous. She succeeds, making Aqualad jealous of her temporary status as Aquaman's sidekick as well. This is the first and last appearance of the character.

Alternate versions

In ''Kingdom Come'', Aquagirl is Tula II, the estranged teenage daughter of Garth (formerly Aqualad, now Aquaman). She is named Tula after her father's late girlfriend and is part of a team consisting of the other original Titans' children who end up taking Batman's side in the story's key conflict. In her appearances, Tula seemingly demonstrates a partial shapeshifting ability, changing parts of her body to resemble those of sea creatures. She is last seen battling Donna Troy during the climactic battle at the superhuman Gulag and is possibly killed by the nuclear explosion that ends the conflict.

This Tula's mother is possibly Deep Blue, described in annotations for the series as "Mizuko Perkins", daughter of Tsunami and Neptune Perkins. In standard DC Comics continuity, Deep Blue is Aquaman's half-sister Debbie, the daughter of Tsunami and Atlan, raised by Tsunami and Neptune Perkins.

In "Titans Tomorrow", an alternate timeline story featured in ''Teen Titans'' vol. 3 #17–19 (2005) by writer Geoff Johns and artist Mike McKone, Lorena is Aquawoman, a member of a future, alternate version of the Titans. She has developed telepathic powers which she had used to kill (or paralyze) former Titan member Garth.

In other media

Television

* An original, futuristic incarnation of Aquagirl named Mareena appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe, voiced by Jodi Benson. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a member of a future Justice League and daughter of Aquaman and Mera who possesses hydrokinesis. Introduced in the ''Batman Beyond'' episode "The Call", Mareena later makes a non-speaking appearance in the ''Justice League Unlimited'' episode "Epilogue".
* Tula appears in ''Young Justice'', voiced by Cree Summer. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is Kaldur'ahm's childhood friend who entered a relationship with his best friend Garth after the former left Atlantis to become Aquaman's sidekick and was trained by Mera in aquamancy. In between the first and second seasons, as depicted in ''Young Justice: Legacy'' (see below), Tula joined the team, but died while on a mission.
* Aquagirl will appear in ''Super Powers''.

Film

An alternate timeline variant of Tula appears in '' Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox'' as a member of Aquaman's army who is eventually killed in battle against Wonder Woman's Amazons.

Video games

The ''Young Justice'' incarnation of Tula / Aquagirl appears in '' Young Justice: Legacy'', voiced again by Cree Summer. She serves as the Team's mission coordinator before being killed in battle with Tiamat.

References

External links

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Tula
on ComicVine

{{Teen Titans

Aquatic superheroes
Characters created by Bob Haney
Characters created by Robert Bernstein
Comics characters introduced in 1959
Comics characters introduced in 1967
Comics characters introduced in 2004
DC Comics Atlanteans
DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
DC Comics characters with superhuman senses
DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
DC Comics female superheroes
DC Comics metahumans
DC Comics sidekicks
DC Comics orphans
DC Comics telepaths
Fictional characters with water abilities
Fictional environmentalists
Groups of fictional characters
Superheroes who are adopted