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DAVID WATERS

Real Name: Unrevealed; adopted name David Waters

Identity/Class: Unrevealed, possible human mutate (see comments) (circa 18th Century)

Occupation: Captain of his sailing ship

Group Membership: Captain of his crew

Affiliations: His crew (names unrevealed) (loose)

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: Neptune (father), mother unrevealed (see comments);
   Cronus (grandfather), Ouranos (grandfather, deceased), Rhea (grandmother), Gaea (grandmother);
   Zeus, Pluto (paternal uncles); Demeter, Hera, Vesta (paternal aunts);
   various half-brothers and half sisters, including Agenor, Amycus, Antaeus, Arion, Belus, Busiris, Chrysaor, Ephialtes, Eumolpus, Orion, Otus, Pegasus, Pelias, Polyphemus, Proteus, Sinis, Theseus, Triton (half-brothers); Benthiscya, Despoena, Neptunia, Rhode (half-sisters)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile on his sailing ship across the oceans

First Appearance: Journey Into Mystery I#31/1 (February, 1956)

Powers/Abilities: Captain David Waters fearlessly commanded his ship and held the respect of his crew, more out of fear and awe at his seeming ability to chart calm paths through stormy oceans and weather, as well as sea threats (although this was from the protection of Neptune). He stayed on his ship and was committed to rendering goods as offerings to the ocean.

Height: 5'10" (by approximation)
Weight: 160 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Black
Hair: White

History:

(Greek-Romman Myth) - Neptune had several affairs with mortal Earth women and Olympian goddesses, and sired numerous offspring; his children were sometimes born as mortals or immortals.

(Journey Into Mystery I#31/1 (fb) - BTS) - Circa the 18th Century, an infant swaddled in seaweed washed up on a shore. He was raised with the name David Waters (he possibly aged quickly). He eventually became captain of a large sailing ship transporting various merchandise across the oceans. He never accepted money for his work (except to pay his crew), only goods as payment, and then tossed those goods overboard at night as offerings to the ocean god Neptune.

(Journey Into Mystery I#31/1 (fb)) - His crew were both awestruck and fearful of Captain Waters' seeming skill to chart his ship through the fiercest storm and fog-shrouded shoals; his reputation grew but his crew could find no work on other ships as other captains thought Waters worked with magic. Captain Waters continued to ply the oceans, barely talking to the crew except to give orders. When in the open waters, he moved only between his cabin and the bridge. He would stand fearlessly on deck through furious storms, ordering the helmsman on a path that took it on a clear path through. One day, the ship hit a whirlpool but Waters stared down the whirlpool and it subsided. Even though the threat had passed, the fearful crew panicked and all except Waters abandoned ship in longboats. The crew looked back and saw the gigantic form of trident-bearing Neptune rise from the ocean, capsizing the ship, and because the crew had abandoned Waters, pulled down both the captain and the ship.

(Journey Into Mystery I#31/1) - Some time later, three crew members recounted their experiences with the lost Captain Waters.

Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Bill Benulis.

Captain David Waters is described by the crew as "Neptune's son," so I'm taking this literally as the deserting crew also saw a giant Neptune-like figure with trident rise from the ocean to claim the ship and captain. Waters seemed mortal but aware of his heritage and "duty," so his mother may have been a human, Atlantean or a spirit such as a Nereid. It's unrevealed if Waters truly died or was a spirit that later took another form.

So how did he know of his "duty" to the oceans, the continuing safety regardless of threat, and his need for a crew? Was it a curse or a gift?

Although Waters' ship is clearly a sailing ship with crew garb circa 18th Century, the cover picture shows Waters at the wheel with a lifebuoy ring labeled "S.S. Mona" (the rest possibly obscured), with S.S. identifying it as steamship. There's also what looks like a 19th Century lighthouse. The cover image conflicts with the story and indicates how the covers were illustrated at that time without relation to the actual story, only by story title.

Thanks to John Holstein for the scans and identifying the Neptune connection.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Captain David Waters has no known connections to:


images: (without ads)
Journey Into Mystery I#31/1, p2, pan1 (main image)
   p3, pan2 (headshot)
   p2, pan3 (Waters' ship)


Appearances:
Journey Into Mystery I#31/1 (February, 1956) - uncredited writer, Bill Benulis (pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)


First posted: 11/04/2022
Last updated: 11/04/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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