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Calypso (comics)

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Calypso Ezili
Textless variant cover of The Amazing Spider-Man #20 (April 2019).
Art by Lucio Parrillo.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #209 (October 1980)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoCalypso Ezili
SpeciesHuman
PartnershipsKraven the Hunter
Notable aliases
  • The Hunter of Souls
  • The Witch
Abilities
  • Use of potions with different effects
  • Resurrection
  • Mind control

Calypso Ezili is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Denny O'Neil and artist Alan Weiss, the character first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #209 (October 1980).[1] Calypso Ezili is a voodoo priestess of Haitian descent.[2] She serves as an adversary of the superhero Peter Parker / Spider-Man.[3] The character is the occasional lover and partner of the Kraven the Hunter.[4] Ezili is also known under the codenames The Witch and The Hunter of Souls.[5]

Since her original introduction in comics, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, including animated television series and video games. The character will make her live-action debut in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe (SSU) film Kraven the Hunter, played by Ariana DeBose.

Publication history

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Calypso Ezili debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #209 (October 1980), created by Denny O'Neil and Alan Weiss.[6] She initially appeared as a minor character The Amazing Spider-Man #209 and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #65, where she was an ally of Spider-Man's enemy Kraven the Hunter. After Kraven's death, Ezili bewitched the Lizard into helping her attack Spider-Man in Spider-Man Vol. 1, #1–5,[7] then made guest appearances in Daredevil Vol. 1, #310–311 and Daredevil Annual Vol. 1, #9. Calypso next appeared in Web of Spider-Man Vol. 1, #109–110 and Spider-Man Annual 1997, and was killed off in a storyline that spanned The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1, #249–253.

Fictional character biography

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Calypso Ezili is a nameless voodoo priestess who was born and raised in Haiti.[8] She was a psychopathic woman who was associated with Kraven the Hunter. She seemed to enjoy driving Kraven into fits of rage and furthering his hatred of Spider-Man, which ultimately led to his suicide in the "Kraven's Last Hunt" storyline.[9][10]

When artist Todd McFarlane started writing the new Spider-Man comic in 1990, his opening five-issue story arc "Torment" featured Ezili as the main antagonist, whom McFarlane transformed into a dangerous threat for Spider-Man.[11] The explanation for her supernatural powers was the sacrifice of her younger sister. She used her abilities to hold Lizard in her grasp and the two nearly succeeded in murdering Spider-Man. However, the webslinger defeats them both and Ezili is apparently killed.[12]

Calypso as she appears in art by Todd McFarlane

She resurfaces abducting Haitian refugees, turning some into zombie slaves and selling the rest back to her homeland's government. Her actions bring her into conflict with Daredevil and his Infinity War doppelganger Hellspawn.[13] Ezili briefly enthralls Daredevil, but he breaks free of her control, and she seemingly dies yet again when the spirits of those she turned into zombies overwhelm her.[14] Cheating death once more, she flees to New Orleans, where her obsession with necromancy leads her to the resting place of Simon Garth, a self-aware zombie. Reviving Garth, Ezili tests his abilities and pits him against Hellspawn, though he eventually breaks free of her control and wanders off, leaving one of his Amulets of Damballah with Ezili.[15]

Ezili subsequently breaks into the Vault and attempts to make the incarcerated Lizard her servant again, but he resists and mauls her.[16][17] However, she transfers her spirit into the Amulet of Damballah and later possesses Glory Grant. Despite interference from Spider-Man, Garth, and Shotgun, she exhumes her own corpse and revives herself using the Amulet.[18]

Commanding a squad of savages, Ezili later attacks Spider-Man and Alyosha Kravinoff, the son of the original Kraven the Hunter. Desiring revenge for losing Sergei, she uses her powers to drive Spider-Man and Alyosha into fighting each other. Spider-Man and Alyosha fight off her spell and shared a handshake. Alyosha says that he will hold Ezili at his mansion so she can tell him about his long-lost father. However, Alyosha kills Ezili instead.[19][20][21][22]

Powers and abilities

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Calypso Ezili gained supernatural abilities by sacrificing her sister in a ritual.[23] She is a trained practitioner of voodoo,[24] being skilled with voodoo drums, potions, and charms.[25] She created a magical potion that enhanced Kraven the Hunter’s abilities and make him the best hunter in the world.[26] He was notably granted superhuman strength, speed, and heightened senses.[27] Ezili also possesses the power of mind control and resurrection.[28][29] She used her powers to take control of the Lizard and increase his aggression.[30]

Other versions

[edit]

An alternate version of Calypso Ezili appears in the What If Spider-Man Killed the Lizard? storyline. After Spider-Man is forced to kill the Lizard during an alternate retelling of the "Torment" story-arc, Ezili approaches the Lizard's grieving son, Billy Connors. She offers him a potion that will make him "just like daddy," giving him the opportunity to seek revenge on Spider-Man.[31]

In other media

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Television

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  • A character inspired by and nicknamed Calypso named Dr. Mariah Crawford appears in Spider-Man,[32] voiced by Susan Beaubian.[33] This version is a research scientist who was engaged to Sergei Kravinoff before a serum made by a colleague transformed him into Kraven the Hunter. Throughout the series, she assists Spider-Man and Kraven in their adventures, such as creating a cure for the former's Man-Spider mutation, until she contracts an African plague she was helping to fight. To save her, Kraven injects her with the same serum that she used on him, which eventually mutates her into a feral feline monster. Subsequently, Kraven joins forces with Spider-Man and Black Cat to cure Crawford before the two leave to live in Africa.
  • Calypso Ezili appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man episode "Destructive Testing,"[34] voiced by Angela Bryant.[35]

Film

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Calypso Ezili will appear in Kraven the Hunter, portrayed by Ariana DeBose.[36]

Video games

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Leonte, Tudor (June 20, 2023). "Kraven the Hunter Movie Calypso: Who Is She and Is She a Villain?". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Lerner, Jamie (July 27, 2022). "The MCU Could Give Us an Actual Coven in Agatha Harkness's Spinoff Series". Distractify. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  3. ^ Marnell, Blair (March 1, 2022). "Ariana DeBose will play Calypso in Kraven the Hunter movie". Digital Trends. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 1, 2022). "'Kraven The Hunter': Oscar Nominee Ariana DeBose To Play Calypso In Sony's Marvel Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  5. ^ Dinh, Christine (March 1, 2022). "Caught in Spidey's Web: Who is Calypso?". Marvel.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  6. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  7. ^ Norman, James (Mar 17, 2022). "Kraven's New Villain Makes Sony's Spider-Man Problem Even Worse". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Wiacek, Stephen; Lee, Stan; Bray, Adam, eds. (2 April 2019). "Marvel Encyclopedia New Edition". FK Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 9781465497819.
  9. ^ Denny O'Neil (w), Alan Weiss (p), Janson, McLeod, Rubinstein, Wiacek and Milgrom (i), Bob Sharen (col), Mark Rogan (let), Allen Milgrom (ed). "To Salvage My Honor!" The Amazing Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 209 (October 1980). United States: Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Bill Mantlo (w), Bob Hall (p), Jim Mooney (i), Sharen (col), Novak (let), Tom DeFalco (ed). "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 65 (April 1982). United States: Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Manning, Matthew K. (2012). Spider-Man Chronicle: Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. DK Publishing. p. 115. ISBN 978-0756692360.
  12. ^ Todd McFarlane (w), Todd McFarlane (p), Todd McFarlane (i), Bob Sharen, Todd McFarlane and Gregory Wright (col), Rick Parker (let), Jim Salicrup (ed). "Torment" Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 1–5 (August 1990 – December 1990). United States: Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Glenn Alan Herdling (w), Scott McDaniel (p), Bud Larosa (i), Max Scheele (col), Bill Oakley (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Devil Ge Rouge" Daredevil, vol. 1, no. 310 (November 1992). United States: Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ Glenn Alan Herdling (w), Scott McDaniel (p), Bud La Rosa (i), Max Scheele (col), Bill Oakley (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Soul Search" Daredevil, vol. 1, no. 311 (December 1992). United States: Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Glenn Herdling (w), Scott McDaniel (p), Bud LaRosa (i), Max Scheele (col), Steve Dutro (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Resurrections" Daredevil Annual, vol. 1, no. 9 (July 1993). United States: Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Terry Kavanagh (w), Alex Saviuk (p), Stephen Baskerville (i), Bob Sharen (col), Steve Dutro (let), Eric Fein (ed). "The Savaging Prelude – Death Becomes Her!" Web of Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 109 (February 1994). United States: Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Terry Kavanagh (w), Alex Saviuk (p), Stephen Baskerville (i), Bob Sharen (col), Steve Dutro (let), Eric Fein (ed). "The Savaging Part 1 – Final Sanction" Web of Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 110 (March 1994). United States: Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ Glenn Herdling (w), Shawn McMannus (p), Shawn McMannus (i), John Kalisz (col), RS/Comicraft/KS (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Dead Men Walking" Spider-Man '97, vol. 1, no. 1 (March 1997). United States: Marvel Comics.
  19. ^ J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Bernard (w), Luke Ross (p), Dan Green (i), John Kalisz (col), Richard Starkings and Comicraft/KS (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Into the Light" The Spectacular Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 249 (September 1997). United States: Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ J.M. DeMatteis (w), Luke Ross (p), Dan Green and Al Milgrom (i), John Kalisz (col), Richard Starkings and Comicraft/KS (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Citizen Osborn!" The Spectacular Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 250 (October 1997). United States: Marvel Comics.
  21. ^ J.M. DeMatteis (w), Mike Deodato (p), Al Milgrom (i), John Kalisz (col), Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Kiff Scholl (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Son of the Hunter! Part 2" The Spectacular Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 252 (December 1997). United States: Marvel Comics.
  22. ^ John Marc DeMatteis (w), Luke Ross (p), Dan Green (i), John Kalisz (col), Richard Starkings and Comicraft's Kiff Scholl (let), Ralph Macchio (ed). "Son of the Hunter! Part 3" The Spectacular Spider-Man, vol. 1, no. 253 (January 1998). United States: Marvel Comics.
  23. ^ Stone, Sam (April 13, 2020). "Spider-Man: Kraven the Hunter Has Marvel's WILDEST Family Tree". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  24. ^ Nath, Debangshu (June 20, 2023). "Who is Calypso? Meet Ariana DeBose's voodoo priestess in Kraven the Hunter". Sportskeeda. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  25. ^ Kumar, Roshan (March 2, 2022). "Ariana DeBose to Play a Marvel villain in 'Kraven the Hunter' Movie". Midgard Times. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  26. ^ Doyle, Jack (June 23, 2023). "How 'Kraven the Hunter' Reimagines the Comic Book Villain's Powers". The Mary Sue. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  27. ^ Haines, Samuel Wyatt (June 29, 2023). "That's Not Really How Kraven the Hunter Got His Powers... Is It?". Collider. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  28. ^ Paur, Joey (March 1, 2022). "Ariana DeBose Set to Play Calypso in Sony's KRAVEN THE HUNTER Marvel Movie". GeekTyrant. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  29. ^ Outlaw, Kofi (July 28, 2021). "Kraven the Hunter: Sony Reportedly Eyeing Jodie Turner-Smith For Calypso". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  30. ^ Stevens, Tim (March 4, 2019). "Meet the Kravinoffs! The Family of Kraven the Hunter". Marvel.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  31. ^ Simon Furman (w), Dane McCart (p), Dane McCart (i), Mark Bernardo (col), Janice Chiang (let), Rob Tokar (ed). "What If Spider-Man Killed the Lizard?" What If?, vol. 2, no. 53 (10 September 1993). United States: Marvel Comics.
  32. ^ Donohoo, Timothy (September 13, 2023). "Spider-Man: The Animated Series Changed Spidey's Next Movie Foe – For the Better". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  33. ^ "Voice of Dr. Mariah Crawford (Spider-Man) – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  34. ^ Victor Cook, Greg Weisman, Stan Lee (writers) (January 18, 2009). "Destructive Testing". The Spectacular Spider-Man . Season 2. Episode 2. Disney XD.
  35. ^ "Voice of Calypso Ezili (The Spectacular Spider-Man) – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  36. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (March 1, 2022). "'West Side Story' Star Ariana DeBose to Play Calypso in Sony's 'Kraven the Hunter'". Variety. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  37. ^ Miller, David (January 18, 2024). "Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man Universe Secretly Has Way More Superheroes & Villains Than You Realize". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  38. ^ "Voice of Calypso (Spider-Man 2) – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  39. ^ "Voice of Calypso Noir (Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions) – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
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