IRIDIA

Real Name: Iridia (presumably)

Identity/Class: Sub-species of humanity (Inhuman) mutate

Occupation: Unrevealed

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Avius, Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon), Crystal (Crystalia Amaquelin), Gorgon, Karnak, Leonus, Luna Maximoff, Medusa (Medusalith Amaquelin), Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff), Stallior, Starfox (Eros), Thraxon, Triton

Enemies: Aireo, Maximus the Mad

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Attilan

First Appearance: Inhumans I#1 (October, 1975)

Powers/Abilities: Iridia is an Inhuman woman who originally appeared as a wrinkled old woman before undergoing an intense Terrigenesis process, at a higher dose than many of her peers. After coming out of her cocoon, Iridia found herself transformed into a beautiful woman with multi-colored butterfly wings, allowing Iridia to fly. Iridia also has small antenna growing from her head. The full extent of her powers is likely unrevealed.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Light brown
Hair: Yellow; formerly white

History: (Inhumans I#1 (fb) – BTS) – Iridia was born in Attilan in a form many considered ugly. Hating her hideous appearance, Iridia longed for Terrigenesis, knowing she would likely never be granted it.

(Inhumans I#1) – Iridia was granted an audience before Black Bolt and the Royal Family (Medusa, Triton, Karnak, Gorgon) and she begged to be allowed to submit to Terrigenesis to alter her appearance. Gorgon initially yelled at Iridia for her request but Black Bolt silenced Gorgon then he gestured Iridia to the nearby wall, where he opened up the Terrigen lab. Iridia was instructed to enter the chamber and Black Bolt doused her with the Mists, leaving Iridia inside a cocoon.

(Inhumans I#2) – Iridia emerged from her cocoon, beautiful and with butterfly wings, as an assembled crowd looked on in awe.

(Inhumans I#5 (fb)) – Iridia saw a comet fall toward Attilan and she narrowly avoided it but it struck Leonus full in the chest, taking mental control of him. Iridia then watched as Leonus touched Stallior and then Maximus, taking over their minds as well. Iridia then witnessed Maximus seeking to control Attilan again as he captured Quicksilver and Crystal, promising to fire a cannon at them if the populace did not surrender.

(Inhumans I#4) – Seeing the Royal Family returning to Attilan, Iridia flew up to warn them about Maximus but she was shot out of the air by a laser cannon.

(Inhumans I#5 (fb) – BTS) – Iridia and many others escaped into the Himalayas, finding shelter. When Maximus sent raiding parties to capture the rebels and many were captured, Iridia did her best to protect those who remained.

(Inhumans I#5) – Nine days later, Lockjaw teleported Karnak and Triton to the Himalayas, where Iridia waited. Iridia took them to the refugees and explained all that had happened. Iridia then witnessed Avius returning, warning the Inhumans that Maximus was preparing an ark to take Inhumans to the Kree. Maximus was later defeated.

(Inhumans I#7) – The Royal Family went to find a new location for Attilan, leaving Iridia to help run the city with Quicksilver. Iridia noticed one suspicious man in the crowd.

(Inhumans I#12 (fb) – BTS) – When Attilan sustained serious damage, the Royal Family left it behind to look for a new home. While they were gone, Thraxon started making a play for power and Iridia believed in him.

(Inhumans I#12) – Thraxon continued gathering followers and he instructed Iridia to deliver resources to the western perimeter. Quicksilver and Crystal worried about Thraxon's intentions.

(Avengers I Annual#12) – When the Avengers visited Attilan in the Blue Area of the Moon, Iridia and others flirted with Starfox.

(Marvel Fanfare I#14/2) - Iridia flew over Attilan with other fliers. When Quicksilver was accused of stealing the Royal Scepter, Iridia tried to help stop him but Aireo was soon exposed as the real thief.

(X-Factor I Annual#2) – Iridia gladly looked after baby Luna Maximoff when Karnak asked her to.

(Uncanny Avengers III#6) – Iridia was present in New Attilan, at its new location in New York City, when Medusa took charge of New Attilan.

Comments: Created by Doug Moench, George Perez and Frank Chiaramonte.

Iridia's name is likely derived from the word "iridescent," meaning "showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles."

Iridia's introduction was a big deal—Black Bolt broke years of tradition to grant Terrigen to one ugly old woman who wanted to be beautiful. The heavy dose of the mists seem to put her in a cocoon (a plotline later picked up in Infinity and afterwards) and made her lovely then she just became a background character afterwards. I feel like there is more to explore here.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Iridia should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Inhumans I#2, p19, pan4 (main)
Inhumans I#1, p11, pan6 (face, old woman)
Inhumans I#5, p11, pan6 (face, transformed)
Avengers I Annual#12, p17, pan1 (with Starfox)

Appearances:
Inhumans I#1 (October, 1975) – Doug Moench (writer), George Perez (penciler), Frank Chiramonte (inker), Len Wein (editor)
Inhumans I#2 (December, 1975) – Doug Moench (writer), George Perez (penciler), Fred Kida (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Inhumans I#4 (April, 1976) – Doug Moench (writer), George Perez (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Inhumans I#5 (June, 1976) – Doug Moench (writer), Gil Kane (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Inhumans I#7 (October, 1976) – Doug Moench (writer), Gil Kane (penciler), Don Perlin (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Inhumans I#12 (August, 1977) – Doug Moench (writer), Keith Pollard (penciler), Bob Wiacek (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Avengers I Annual#12 (November, 1983) – Bill Mantlo (writer), Butch Guice (penciler), Rick Magyar (inker), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Marvel Fanfare I#14 (May, 1984) - Mary Jo Duffy (writer), Alan Weiss (art), Al Milgrom (editor)
X-Factor I Annual#2 (October, 1987) – Jo Duffy (writer), Tom Grindberg (penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Uncanny Avengers III#6 (May, 2016) – Gerry Duggan (writer), Carlos Pacheco (penciler), Dave Meikis, Scott Hanna, Mariano Tabo (inkers), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First Posted: 03/19/2020
Last updated: 03/22/2020

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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