Aquagirl

Aquagirl (Tula)
Tula Marius as depicted in The New 52
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAquaman vol. 1 #33 (May 1967)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoTula Marius
SpeciesAtlantean
Place of originAtlantis
Team affiliations
Supporting character of
Abilities
  • Atlantean physiology: able to breath underwater, superhuman strength and durability, withstand the extreme pressures of the ocean, swim at enhanced speeds.
  • Black ops specialist; proficiency in armed and unarmed combat, politics, espionage, and military tactics.
  • Some versions possess limited telepathic and magical powers.

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. However, her storyline took a tragic turn during the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1985, resulting in her untimely demise. 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.[1]

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 featured in the Batman Beyond series in 2000.

  1. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Wiacek, Stephen; Scott, Melanie; Jones, Nick; Walker, Landry Q.; Cowsill, Alan (July 20, 2021). The DC Comics Encyclopedia (New ed.). New York, New York. ISBN 978-0-7440-2056-4. OCLC 1253363543.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)