CORONA

Real Name: Dagny Forrester

Identity/Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Scientist

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Spider-Man (Peter Parker);
   formerly Cedric Forrester

Enemies: Lenny "The Operator" Flynn, Cedric Forrester, Roger Hochberg;
   formerly Spider-Man (Peter Parker)

Known Relatives: Cedric Forrester (brother)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
   formerly the Forrester Building, SoHo, New York City
   formerly a lab in the south of France

First Appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man II#176 (May, 1991)

Powers/Abilities: Corona possesses superhuman strength and durability, and can fire energy blasts from her hands and fly; she is surrounded by a glowing aura of energy at all times. She can control the molecular structure of an object, changing its state of matter (for instance, turning a liquid into a solid). She has precise control over this ability, allowing her to leave certain molecules in a solid state and render others gaseous, allowing her to create new compounds; for instance, she once turned a truck into tear gas. Her mutation is unstable; when drained of energy, she mutates into a scaly-skinned withered form with sharp teeth and claws; in this form, she can infect those she bites and scratches with the toxins in her system. She briefly attained a "perfect" form, in which her mutation was totally stabilized, and her entire body gave off golden light. Corona is also a highly gifted biochemist.

Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lbs.

History: (Spectacular Spider-Man II#176 (fb) ) - Wealthy scientist siblings Dagny and Cedric Forrester believed that with great power comes great privilege, and totally disregarded all environmental laws and safety regulations while conducting their experiments. Drawn from their lab in the south of France to New York City by social obligations, they constructed Forrester Tower in SoHo to act as a backup lab. They collaborated on an experiment to prove that human cells are capable of converting matter to energy, using Dagny as a test subject. Cedric lost his nerve halfway through the experiment, leaving Dagny superhuman, but physically unstable; due to her glowing aura, Cedric dubbed her "Corona". Confused, she fled. During the experiment, toxic chemicals were flushed into New York's water supply, resulting in the "SoHo Flu", a disease causing fever and exhaustion.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#176) - Calling herself "Corona", Dagny attacked the Forrester Building, only for Cedric's guards to disable her with energy-absorbing foam. When one guard got too rough with her, Spider-Man intervened, allowing Corona to escape with Cedric's laptop computer. Spider-Man chased after her and asked for an explanation; Dagny lied and claimed that Cedric had transformed her against her will, and that she only wanted Cedric's notes to learn how to become human again. Later, she attacked the Forrester Building again, hoping to steal the antitoxin Cedric had prepared and use it to complete her transformation; when Spider-Man arrived again, she told Spider-Man about the source of the SoHo Flu (which had by now afflicted Parker's wife, Mary Jane), but claimed that Cedric had a cure, but was keeping it a secret to prevent anyone from finding out that he was responsible. Spider-Man busted into the building...only to find out that while Cedric did have the antitoxin, he planned to give it to the city. Corona then revealed that she had lied, and that she wanted the antitoxin for herself, but had another seizure before she could take them. Corona claimed that she could cure the afflicted once she had the chemicals, and that she would explode without them, killing thousands - Cedric claimed that he didn't have the chemicals to produce another batch in time. As Spider-Man tried to decide, Corona lashed out and destroyed the vat of antitoxin. As it gushed down the drain, Corona's powers overloaded, transforming her into a withered monster. She swore to kill Spider-Man for what he'd done...

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#177) - She tackled Spider-Man out the window, and beat him badly, inadvertently infecting him with the SoHo Flu from the chemicals in her fingernails, but fled when Cedric's guards fired on her. She attacked a lab at Empire State University, scattering grad student Roger Hochberg's class, and used their field acceleration chamber to catalyze the chemicals in her system, restoring her to full power. She attacked the Forrester Building once more, where Spider-Man and Harry Osborn were helping Cedric produce more antitoxin, planning to kill Cedric so he could never take her power away again. Spider-Man led her away; when he tried to appeal to her sense of responsibility, she blasted a window-cleaner off a building, and when he tried to appeal to her sense of superiority, she trapped him in molten truck and gassed him with tear gas. Eventually, he gave her his word that he wouldn't let Cedric experiment on her; she agreed, but as soon as they arrived at the lab Cedric's men attacked her with a power siphon, reverting her to monstrous form. Enraged, she fled, and tried to leap to her death, unwilling to live in an imperfect form. Spider-Man saved her, and, although suffering from the SoHo Flu, beat back Cedric's men as they tried to apprehend her. Spider-Man also contacted Reed Richards to help restore Corona, but both men were powerless to stop Cedric, who had obtained a court order remanding Dagny to his custody as her only living relative. She screamed for help as Cedric's men took her into custody.

(Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2 (fb) ) - Cedric implanted Dagny with a bio-monitor that stabilized her body chemistry, preventing her from mutating any further; Cedric could also use it to stimulate the pain centers of her brain if she disobeyed him. One of Cedric's employees sold knowledge of Dagny to Lenny "The Operator" Flynn, a criminal, who promptly bribed his way into Cedric's labs and took the bio-monitor controls. He then threatened to have Corona kill Cedric if he didn't lease the lab to Flynn indefinitely. Flynn used Corona to commit several crimes for him.

(Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2) - When a back-alley transaction was interrupted by Spider-Man, Flynn called in Corona, who delayed Spider-Man while Flynn and his customer escaped. Having learned of Corona's situation from Cedric, Spider-Man attacked the Forrester Building with Cedric in tow, but Corona trapped him in a melted wall. Flynn announced his intention to sell Corona and Spider-Man to the Silvermane family of the Maggia for $4 million, prompting Cedric to offer $5 million for Corona and the lab. Spider-Man broke free and began taunting Corona; enraged, she fired energy blasts all over the lab, destroying Cedric's equipment...including the bio-monitor controls. Now free, Corona helped Spider-Man defeat Flynn's men, although Flynn himself escaped. She then moved to kill Cedric, but Spider-Man stopped her. She resolved to control her own destiny, and flew away.

(Marvel Knights Spider-Man#6) - Corona attended the Tinkerer's auction of Eddie Brock's Venom symbiote.

Comments: Created by Kurt Busiek & Sal Buscema.

The caption in the last panel of the Corona story in Unlimited I#3 says "Want to see more Corona? Write in and let us know!" That was 17 years ago, at this point...uh, keep sending those letters, guys.

Profile by Minor Irritant.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dagny Forrester, alias Corona, should be distinguished from:

Cedric Forrester

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#176 (fb) ) - Wealthy scientist siblings Dagny and Cedric Forrester believed that with great power comes great privilege, and totally disregarded all environmental laws and safety regulations while conducting their experiments. Drawn from their lab in the south of France to New York City by social obligations, they constructed Forrester Tower in SoHo to act as a backup lab. They collaborated on an experiment to prove that human cells are capable of converting matter to energy, using Dagny as a test subject. Cedric lost his nerve halfway through the experiment, leaving Dagny superhuman, but physically unstable; due to her glowing aura, Cedric dubbed her "Corona". Confused, she fled. During the experiment, toxic chemicals were flushed into New York's water supply, resulting in the "SoHo Flu", a disease causing fever and exhaustion. Cedric began preparing an antitoxin to counteract it.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#176) - While being interviewed by Daily Bugle reporters Joy Mercado and Peter Parker, Calling herself "Corona", Dagny attacked the Forrester Building, only for Cedric's guards to disable her with energy-absorbing foam. When one guard got too rough with her, Spider-Man intervened, allowing Corona to escape with Cedric's laptop computer. Later, as Cedric prepared to complete his antitoxin, she attacked the Forrester Building again, hoping to steal the antitoxin and use it to complete her transformation, with a deceived Spider-Man in tow; Cedric soon revealed the truth to Spider-Man. Corona claimed that she could cure the afflicted once she had the chemicals, and that she would explode without them, killing thousands - Cedric claimed that he didn't have the chemicals to produce another batch in time, and callously suggested that Spider-Man let Corona die. As Spider-Man tried to decide, Corona lashed out and destroyed the vat of antitoxin. As it gushed down the drain, Corona's powers overloaded, transforming her into a withered monster.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#177) - Besieged by reporters, Cedric tried to persuade a political contact to keep the Environmental Protection Agency off his back, but failed. He was approached by Spider-Man, who offered him Harry Osborn's resources to produce more antitoxin. While Cedric argued with Osborn over using the synthetic Asticane B over parsystacane, Corona attacked the Forrester Building once more, having completed her mutation. Spider-Man led her away, and returned, having promised her that Cedric wouldn't try to experiment on her. As soon as she reentered the building, Cedric had his men attack her with a power siphon, reverting her to monstrous form. Enraged, she fled. While Cedric sent his men to retrieve her, he and Osborn perfected the antitoxin and delivered it to the mayor. Cedric also obtained a court order remanding Dagny to his custody as her only living relative.

(Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2 (fb) ) - Cedric implanted Dagny with a bio-monitor that stabilized her body chemistry, preventing her from mutating any further; Cedric could also use it to stimulate the pain centers of her brain if she disobeyed him. One of Cedric's employees sold knowledge of Dagny to Lenny "The Operator" Flynn, a criminal, who promptly bribed his way into Cedric's labs and took the bio-monitor controls. He then threatened to have Corona kill Cedric if he didn't lease the lab to Flynn indefinitely. Cedric continued his research at a rented lab space at Empire State University.

(Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2) - Spider-Man, who had been attacked by Corona at Flynn's command, came to see Cedric at ESU. He informed Spider-Man of his plight, and suggested that he help him break into his old lab. Having learned of Corona's situation from Cedric, Spider-Man attacked the Forrester Building with Cedric in tow, but Corona trapped him in a melted wall. Flynn announced his intention to sell Corona and Spider-Man to the Silvermane family of the Maggia for $4 million, prompting Cedric to offer $5 million for Corona and the lab. Spider-Man broke free and began taunting Corona; enraged, she fired energy blasts all over the lab, destroying Cedric's equipment...including the bio-monitor controls. Now free, Corona helped Spider-Man defeat Flynn's men, although Flynn himself escaped. Cedric suggested that they resume their work together, angering Corona, but Spider-Man stopped her from hurting him. After she left, Cedric offered to hire Spider-Man to recapture her, prompting him to stuff Cedric into a garbage can.

Cedric is a gifted and highly ruthless biochemist and engineer.

--Spectacular Spider-Man II#176 (176 (fb), 176, 177, Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2 (fb), 3/2

Lenny "The Operator" Flynn

(Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2 (fb) ) -One of Cedric Forrester's employees sold knowledge of Cedric and his super-powered sister Corona to Lenny "The Operator" Flynn, a criminal, who promptly bribed his way into Cedric's labs and took the bio-monitor capable of controlling her. He then threatened to have Corona kill Cedric if he didn't lease the lab to Flynn indefinitely. Flynn used Corona to commit several crimes for him.

(Spider-Man Unlimited #3/2) - When a back-alley transaction was interrupted by Spider-Man, Flynn called in Corona, who delayed Spider-Man while Flynn and his customer escaped. Having learned of Corona's situation from Cedric, Spider-Man attacked the Forrester Building with Cedric in tow, but Corona trapped him in a melted wall. Flynn announced his intention to sell Corona and Spider-Man to the Silvermane family of the Maggia for $4 million, prompting Cedric to offer $5 million for Corona and the lab. Spider-Man broke free and began taunting Corona; enraged, she fired energy blasts all over the lab, destroying Cedric's equipment...including the bio-monitor controls. Now free, Corona helped Spider-Man defeat Flynn's men, although Flynn himself escaped.

Flynn is a skilled criminal.

-- Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2 (3/2 (fb), 3/2

images: (without ads)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#176, cover (main image)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#176, p22, pan2 (monstrous form)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#177, p10, pan4 ("perfect" form)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#176, p19, pan4 (Cedric)
Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2, p26, pan2 (Flynn)

Appearances:
Spectacular Spider-Man II#176-177 (May-June, 1991) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Sal Buscema (art), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Spider-Man Unlimited I#3/2 (November, 1993) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Sam DeLaRosa (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Marvel Knights Spider-Man#6 (November, 2004) - Mark Millar (writer), Terry Dodson (pencils), Rachel Dodson (inker), Axel Alonso (editor)

Last updated: 03/01/10

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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