Maya

Origin

Chandi Gupta manifested her elemental powers at an early age, barely into her teenage years. Her parents, unsure of what to do, left her in the care of a strange Indian cult that they themselves had become followers of. The leaders of this cult were convinced that she was the reincarnation of one of the Hindu gods, Shiva. Chandi, confused and terrified, realized that the cult was evil and planning to sacrifice her. Horrified, she escaped, and fled to the city of London.

Creation

Maya is a character who first appeared in the DC Comics published series titled Justice League International. She made he debut in issue Justice League International Annual #4; Bloody London!, January 1996.

Character Evolution

Joining the Justice League Europe

Newly arrived in England, now under the alias Maya, she witnesses the Justice League Europe brawl with the supervillain Sonar. She reluctantly uses her powers to assist them in their battle, and manages to single-handedly defeat the threat. The JLE, grateful for her timely assistance, offer her official membership with them. Feeling she had nowhere else to go, she gladly accepts. One of her earliest missions with them was a return to her homeland of India. There, she came under attack from her supposed protector, the Mahayogi. Fortunately, she fends him off long enough to escape and rejoin her team.

Bloodlines

Maya was alone in the Justice League castle headquarters when it came under attack by three of the Bloodlines parasites. She manages to evade them for some time and summons help by firing bursts of energies high into the night sky. She is rescued by her teammates and the armored superhero, Lionheart.

Overmaster: Vox Humana

The JLE later journeyed to Nepal, where she encountered a boy with powers similar to hers. However, the child was killed, and Maya learned that the cult that had held her as a young girl was a front for a villain called the Overmaster, who planned to destroy the Earth. Overmaster took control of her mind and used her against her teammates, but the Mahayogi, whom she had fought earlier with the League, sacrificed himself in order to free her mind. After a climactic confrontation with the Overmaster, the JLE disbanded. Maya's parents (her mother's name is Bharata, her father is unnamed). They demonstrate fire-based powers of their own that involved an amulet and calling upon Shiva. Realizing they were no longer part of the cult, Maya decides to give her parents one more chance. Their reunion is marred by a confrontation with the armored, League-hating 'Vox Humana'. Though the League backs them up, the villains are driven away by human League supporters.

Maya leaves with her parents and currently resides with them in India. She attended the "funeral" of Maxwell Lord. She was also seen in an adventure in which she aids Wonder Woman in issue #174 of her series. Her current whereabouts and activities have not been accounted for.

Powers and Abilities

• Maya was originally only able to manifest a mystical bow. She has used it as a conventional bow, able to fire sometimes devastatingly powerful projectiles usually made of mystical fire or water, or, on one occasion, to enhance her speed and strength.
• She later developed the ability to manifest large amounts of fire or water without using the bow as a focus. Her powers are similar to those of the Indian heroine Celsius.