LAMIA

Real Name: Lamia 

Identity/Class: Mystically-Altered Human

Occupation: Mercenary, former Queen of Libya (c. 1450 BC)

Group Membership: None

Affiliations:  Arachne, Argus, Delphyne Gorgon, Eris, Hephaestus, Hera, Huntsman, Typhon

Enemies: Athena, the Avengers (Amadeus Cho, Hercules, Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), U.S. Agent (John Walker), Wasp (Henry Pym), Wolverine (James Howlett)), Zeus
formerly Hera

Known Relatives: Belus (father, deceased), Anchinoe (possible mother, deceased), Poseidon (grandfather), Libya (grandmother, deceased), sons (names unrevealed, deceased), Aegyptus, Danaus, Cepheus (possible brothers, deceased), Hercules (brother's descendant)

Aliases: None known

Base of Operations: New Olympus
formerly Mobile
formerly an unidentified city in Libya, 17th Century BC

First Appearance: Incredible Hercules#138 (January, 2010)

Powers/Abilities: Lamia possibly possesses the mystical powers of a vampire, particularly the ability to increase her strength (potentially Class 25), speed, endurance and longevity to the level of the Olympian gods by drinking blood. She also may still possess some precognitive visions of potential but not improbable futures. Her full rang of abilities are unrevealed. Lamia has an enlarged and extended jaw line with large inhuman teeth.

History: (Greek and Roman Myth) - Lamia is the daughter of Belus, the son of Poseidon and Libya, and ruler of Ancient Egypt and Libya. When Belus passed down the throne, he surrendered Libya to Danaus and Aegyptus to Egypt who named it for himself. Lamia possibly became Queen of Libya after Danaus left the throne in order to make his claim on Argos. Extremely beautiful, Lamia was seduced by Zeus, the Ruler of the Olympian gods, and had several children, but his jealous wife, Hera, robbed Lamia of her beauty and turned her into a snake-like beast who devoured her own children. Anguished, Lamia retreated to a cave where unable to strike at Hera, she insulted the goddess by killing and drinking the blood of children from human mothers, whom Hera held in regard. A repentant Zeus gave Lamia the power to have visions of the future. 

(Incredible Hercules#138 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Hera obtained Lamia's obedience in order to battle Hercules and the Avengers on her behalf. 

(Incredible Hercules#138) - Lamia appeared with the rest of Hera's legion of mercenaries to defend the Olympian gods' Manhattan-based New Olympus from Hercules and the Avengers.

(Incredible Hercules#139) - Lamia briefly squared off with Spider-Man before going up against Spider-Woman.

(Incredible Hercules#141 - BTS) - Following Hera's death at the hands of Typhon, Lamia was defeated by the Avengers.

Comments: Adapted by  Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Rodney Buchemi and Reilly Brown 

Lamia's bio from the Vampire Encyclopedia by J. Gordon Melton. Info for Belus and Danaus from Crowell's Handbook on Classical Myth by Edward Tripp.

Lamia is also alternately called the daughter of Libya, but as is the custom in several Greek myths, it wasn't unusual for characters to call themselves the children of their ancestors.

It is unrevealed as to why Lamia is obedient to Hera given their history. Either Hera has powerful spells to keep her in control or Lamia's memories are so addled that she has no memory of her past.

Lamia is considered the first vampire in Greek myth. Ancient Greek writings record the existence of three vampire-like beings: the lamia, the empusa and the mormo. They also had the strigoi, a vampire-witch. However, as the Vampire Encyclopedia adds, they were spirits rather than animated corpses. The Ancient Greeks also had vrykolavas, who could become true vampires. The term originated from the Slavic vblk'b dlaka which initially meant "wolf pelt wearer," suggesting connections between the legends of vampires and werewolves.

Profile by: Will U

Clarifications: Lamia is not to be confused with:

• Lamia, vampire, former vampire priestess of Varnae in ancient Atlantis, @Blade: Vampire Hunter I#6 
• Lamia, denizen of the alternate earth of Earth-Seeker 3000, Seeker 3000#2 
• Any other "lamia" in the Marvel Universe

Images:

Incredible Hercules#138, page 19, panel 1, bottom right

Issues:

Incredible Hercules#138 (January 2010) - Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente (writers), Rodney Buchemi, Reilly Brown (artists), Guilleri Mari (colors), Simon Bowland (lettering), Michael Bierek (cover), Irene Y. Lee (production), Jordan D. White (assistant editor), Nathan Cosby (associate editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)  
Incredible Hercules#139 (February 2010) - Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente (writers), Rodney Buchemi, (artists), Guilleri Mari (colors), Simon Bowland (lettering), Adi Granov (cover), Irene Y. Lee (production), Jordan D. White (assistant editor), Nathan Cosby (associate editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)