Aqueduct (comics)
Aqueduct, originally known as Water Wizard, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The character first appeared in Ghost Rider #23 and was created by Jim Shooter and Don Heck.Fictional character biography
Peter van Zante enlists in the U.S. military as a soldier. After being wounded in action, he is treated with an experimental radiation device while out at sea. A lightning strike during a freak storm destroys the device but van Zante is rejuvenated. While convalescing, van Zante discovers he can manipulate water and create semi-solid water constructs. Becoming a professional criminal, van Zante dons a costume and adopts the alias of Water Wizard, and robs a brokerage house. He is then employed by the criminal the Enforcer and assigned to kill Ghost Rider, but fails.Ghost Rider then breaks van Zante out of prison shortly afterwards to assist a drought-stricken town. At this time, van Zante travels to Saudi Arabia, where he discovers he can also affect forms of liquid other than water, including oil, and after a brief criminal venture and battling the Arabian Knight, he is returned to prison by Ghost Rider.
Gary Gilbert invites Water Wizard to attend a meeting at the Bar With No Name to discuss the threat of the Scourge of the Underworld. Due to a flat tire he is late to the meeting and is not present when the attendees, including Gilbert, are killed by the Scourge. Water Wizard subsequently discovers the 17 victims and turns himself in to Captain America, who later captures the assassin.
Water Wizard eventually reappears with a new costume and alias — Aqueduct. He joins with three other super villains with elemental abilities to form the team Force of Nature. The group is employed by Project: Earth to prevent rain forest razing, and battles the New Warriors.
Aqueduct then joins Crimson Cowl's incarnation of the Masters of Evil and battles the superhero team the Thunderbolts.
During the Dark Reign storyline, Aqueduct is revealed to be back with Force of Nature, now the Initiative's Oregon team.