DRAGONRIDER
Real Name: Unknown
Identity/Class: Sub-species of humanity (Atlantean/Homo mermani) magic user
Occupation: Religious zealot, former rebel leader
Group Membership: Fathom Five (Bloodtide, Llyron, Manowar, Sea Leopard)
Affiliations: Baron von Strucker, Dragonrider's Beasts, Hydra, Mad Twins, Nagala, Proteus, Shakkoth, Tamara Rahn, Jacqueline Trufaut
Enemies: Namor, Thunderbolts (Atlas, Blizzard, Joystick, MACH-IV, Photon (Genis), Radioactive Man, Songbird, Speed Demon), Warbird
Known Relatives: None known
Aliases: None known
Base of Operations:
At'La'Tique
formerly the
colony of Amphitrite,
formerly Pontus
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner II#1 (September, 1984)
Powers/Abilities: Through her mystic conch shell, Dragonrider can control large sea beasts (at least one of which was a mutated eel) to do her bidding. She can ride these beasts and they respond to her will, her mind in effect becoming their minds. She can control at least three beasts at the same time. At least one beast had hypnotic abilities. The extent of Dragonrider's powers is unexplored.
History:
(Sub-Mariner II#2 (fb)) -
The woman who would later become Dragonrider served for years as an
imperial guard in the Atlantean military. She was assigned to the
outer borders of the realm, where she watched poverty take effect while
the capital city thrived. After these issues continued for years,
she became more and more bitter towards Atlantis and she and others
formed a rebellion.
(Sub-Mariner II#4 (fb)) - Dragonrider and other rebel leaders made contact with Jacqueline Trufaut, a surface woman who had discovered mystic artifacts that would empower their users. Trufaut sought revenge on Namor, and offered to empower the rebel leaders in their cause. She gave Dragonrider a mystic conch shell that would allow her to control great sea beasts. Trufaut then mutated at least one eel into a sea dragon that Dragonrider could ride and control. Dragonrider's powers were patterned after Triton, the son of Neptune, who 'rode on the back of a sea monster, trumpeting a conch.' Trufaut empowered three other rebel leaders into Proteus and the Mad Twins.
(Sub-Mariner II#1 (fb)) - When Trufaut contacted Dragonrider, Dragonrider led her dragon in an assault on Atlantis. After destroying a portion of the city with little existence, Dragonrider turned away from the city and swam away.
(Sub-Mariner II#1) - While swimming away, Dragonrider ran into Namor, who was returning to the city unaware that it had been attacked. Dragonrider had her dragon swipe Namor with its claws and tail, and then attempted to hypnotize Namor into defeat unsuccessfully. After Namor impaled the creature with two of its own teeth, the dragon caught Namor in its antennae until Namor dismounted Dragonrider with a small whirlpool. Namor continued battling the creature (who was still under Dragonrider's control) until he fooled the creature into shoving its head into an active undersea volcano, defeating it. Namor unmasked Dragonrider and forced her back to Atlantis, where she gloated over the shock on his face to see Atlantis devastated.
(Sub-Mariner II#2) - When Namor confronted Dragonrider about her actions, she calmly explained the situation on the outer borders of the realm and Namor threw her aside violently, calling her a liar. He sent her away to the dungeons rather than question her further. Meanwhile, Proteus laid plans that led Namor into a trap back in the rebel base, Amphitrite.
(Sub-Mariner II#4) - Dragonrider (on one of her
dragons) gathered at Pontus with Trufaut, the Mad Twins, and Proteus
(in the form of Namor) for final battle with Namor. When Namor
arrived, thinking Trufaut kidnapped, Namor battled the villains and was
knocked aside by each of them. While Namor soon defeated Trufaut, what
happened to Dragonrider at this point is unknown.
(New Thunderbolts#9 (fb) -BTS) - When religious factions in Atlantis became heated, one group decided to break away from Atlantis and form their own colony.
(New Thunderbolts#1-3 (fb) - BTS) - Taking upon themselves the name of At'La'Tique, an ancient Atlantean phrase meaning the 'Fury of the Sea,' the religious rebels followed various leaders, including Nagala, Shakkoth, and Tamara Rahn. They formed a strike force called Fathom Five, which included Dragonrider, Llyron, Bloodtide, Sea Leopard, and Manowar. At'La'Tique's primary religious beliefs involved wiping out life on the surface world. To achieve this goal, they formed an alliance with Baron Von Strucker of HYDRA.
(New Thunderbolts#2 (fb) - BTS) - Fathom Five led attacks against the Persian Gulf and China.
(New Thunderbolts
I#1) - Fathom Five led an
attack on New York City, and were quickly opposed by the New
Thunderbolts. Dragonrider rode one beast and commanded at least
one more. Dragonrider withstood an attack from MACH-IV, then
knocked Blizzard from the air. Blizzard froze the water around
the beasts, restricting Dragonrider's movements. They soon
retreated.
(New Thunderbolts#2 - BTS) - Namor addressed the United Nations with promises of tracking down Fathom Five and punishing them.
(New Thunderbolts#3) - Fathom Five opposed and defeated the small force Atlantis sent to deal with them.
(New Thunderbolts#4) - Fathom Five attacked New York, and one of Dragonrider's beasts destroyed the Brooklyn Bridge.
(New Thunderbolts#5) - Fathom Five did battle with Warbird and the New Thunderbolts. Dragonrider's beasts battled Atlas for a time, and she was horrified when Atlas began slaughtering her beasts with his fists.
(New Thunderbolts#9 - BTS) - Most of Fathom Five, defeated, awaited their trial in a surface world prison.
Comments: Created by J.M. DeMatteis, Bob Budiansky, and Danny Bulanadi.
Clarifications:
Dragonrider has no known connections to
Dragonrider gained the ability to
control certain undersea beasts, sometimes called dragons.
The first such beast she controlled was a mutated eel that had hypnotic
powers (pictured left). Dragonrider has controlled several
similar-looking creatures.
--Sub-Mariner II#2 (3, New Thunderbolts I#1, 3-5
images:
Sub-Mariner II#1, p17, pan4
Sub-Mariner II#2, p3, pan6 (unmasked)
New Thunderbolts I#1, p10, pan2 (w/beast)
(eel) Sub-Mariner II#4, p13, pan3
(dragon) Sub-Mariner II#1, p16, pan1
Sub-Mariner II#1,2,4 (September, October, December,
1984) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Bob Budiansky (penciler), Danny
Bulanadi (inker), Tom DeFalco (editor)
New Thunderbolts#1-6 (January-June, 2005) - Fabian
Nicieza & Kurt Busiek (writers), Tom Grummett (penciler), Gary
Erskine (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
New Thunderbolts#9 (August, 2005) - Fabian Nicieza
(writer), Cliff Richards (penciler), Karl Kesel (inker), Tom Brevoort
(editor)
First Posted: 01/08/2006
Last Updated: 12/26/2013
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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