Medusa

History

Origin

Medusa was born to Quelin and Ambur, who were both Inhumans. Quelin was the brother of Rynda, wife of King Agon. Because of that family connection, Medusa was considered a member of Attilan's Royal Family. Her parents had elected to expose her to Terrigen Mist when she was young, and in return, she had long, thick hair which she could use like an appurtenance.

During her adolescent years, she began to visit her cousin, Black Bolt and learned to communicate with him in a special sign language. Because of these regular visits, Medusa fell in love when Black Bolt when he was let out of his cell at 18.

When the Kree refuges came to Attilan for refuge, they actually came to kill Medusa and the rest of the Inhuman Royal Family. Medusa was seen along with Gorgon, Black Bolt, Ahura and Karnak in a garden since the Inhuman Royal Family renounced their claim of power. Before they can shoot Black Bolt senses them and sends a bolt of energy towards their way. Medusa uses her hair to protect Ahura and herself and tells Ahura he will not help because he will be in the line of danger. Medusa sees her husband captured and attacks the soldiers, she is hit behind and knocked out. Medusa is then held knife point by a Kree soldier while he tells Black Bolt to give up. She awakes and buts his arm off with her hair. She then announces that her and the Royal Family will become the protectors of Attilan once again. She with the rest are teleported outside of Attilan to see Kree tents. She asks the Kree soldier what is this and that's when a group of Kree soldiers come. She attacks them until their boss comes and tells them the situation. She then goes to the Genetics council to hear the decision. Medusa is teleported to the mists to attack the Kree. She is told by Karnak which spots to hit an energy based creature on, but she and Karnak is easily knocked out.

When mutiny spread across the Alpha Primitive workers, Medusa battled their leaders, the Trikon. During the battle, her sled crashed to the ground, and she lost her memories, until the Wizard found her. He was creating an evil version of the Fantastic Four called the Frightful Four. The Wizard needed a woman to join his Frightful Four. Medusa agreed and the evil foursome tried many times to defeat the Fantastic Four. They were unsuccessful, but their exploits brought attention to her Inhuman family. Gorgon came along and tried to capture her along with the Human Torch. A fight between Medusa and the Human Torch awakened the imprisoned Dragon Man. He protected Medusa against Gorgon and the Fantastic Four as he was confused by her and originally thought she was Sue Storm, until the actual Invisible Girl came along to help stop Dragon Man and Gorgon. The four were distracted and Gorgon had enough time to capture Medusa and bring her back.

She stopped fighting against the Inhumans, and joined them in a fight against the Fantastic Four, who came to save the Human Torch. The Human Torch had fallen in love with Medusa's sister, Crystal. But when Crystal announced that Triton had been captured by the Seeker, Medusa teleported her family to Attilan. They arrived, as Maximus and Medusa both knew Black Bolt could not use his voice. Maximus then tried to claim Medusa has his bride, but Black Bolt ran to steal back the Inhuman crown, reclaiming himself as the leader of the Inhumans, with Medusa by his side.

When the Fantastic Four arrived, the Human Torch was reunited with Crystal and Maximus fired his atmo-gun. When his machine didn't work, Medusa realized that the Inhumans and humans were all the same and it angered Maximus. He reversed his machine and it created a Negative Zone around Attilan that trapped them, while the Fantastic Four escaped just in time. Black Bolt realized he had no other choice but to use his voice, to destroy the Negative Zone around Attilan. Black Bolt had revealed his secret in the end: he could use his voice.

Medusa talks to Marista, about how he wish she can hear Black Bolt speak. Medusa goes on to tell her everyday Black Bolt goes to meditate to make sure he wont say a word that will kill all them. Marista ask if Medusa is afraid he will loose his grip. Medusa says no, but she is afraid how Black Bolt can so easily close everything out including herself.The Council of Elders and Black Bolt, later sent Medusa and the royal family to study human society, where Medusa was led into conflict with Spider-Man. Medusa was then captured by Maximus, who stole the Inhuman crown once again and imprisoned Black Bolt. Black Bolt used his powerful voice once again and freed the people of Attilan. She then tried to restore Black Bolt's voice under the Enchantress' influence to join the Lady Liberators. When Susan Richards left the Fantastic Four, Medusa took her place. After several months of service, Medusa convinced Sue to join the Fantastic Four once again, allowing Medusa to return to Attilan.

Kree Attacks Attilan

Medusa asks Arvak if any humans plague their borders. He tells her they are safe another night. She then by Black Bolt gives the order for the Inhumans to sleep. Not long comes a ship which attacks the Inhumans. Her and Black Bolt goes to see who it is. They find out it is the Kree. Medusa wonders how do they defeated there best warriors so quickly.Black Bolt sends an order to her and she knows what she must do. A beetledroid comes and dismantles the ship Medusa was on. She falls but her hair cushions her fall. The machines neutralize her powers and wrap there legs in her hair so it wont grow. She then faints, thanking the gods that Luna and Crystal are not in Attilan that night. Medusa with Gorgon and Black Bolt goes to Sparto's planet to assassinate Lilandra. But unknown to them Karnak and Triton are part of the Imperial Guard.

Prehensile Hair

The Royal Family had their troubles with Maximus, but Medusa remained the interpreter for Black Bolt. After Attilan was moved to the Blue Area of the Moon, she and Black Bolt were married and Medusa was made queen. When Medusa became pregnant, Attilan's Genetics Council argued that mating should be banned, due to the unsteadiness of Maximus and ordered the pregnancy terminated. Medusa fled to Earth and lived in the desert until the child was born. Medusa returned to Attilan and turned her son over the Genetics Council, in which they smuggled to Earth for testing. Medusa found out and went after her child. When this exposed a grab for power, both the Genetics Council and the Royal Family gave up leadership, though the Royal Family resumed leadership. Medusa has led an effort to bring the Inhumans and humans together, beginning with the learning of each others cultures.

Powers and Abilities

Perhaps the most notable feature on her is her hair, which is more tensile, more strong and more resistant yet the same thickness of average hair. She also has a psychokinetic ability to use her hair to move heavy objects to performing delicate operations like picking a lock. If she concentrates, she can snap her hair as if it were a whip or rotate it like a fan. She can also bind people and lift more weight than her arms could. Even though her hair has no nerves, she can feel sensations through her psionic field.

She also possesses enhanced strength and endurance, though only beyond any human norms. This enhanced strength and endurance is normal towards the Inhumans.

Medusa is also a translator for Black Bolt.

Alternate Versions

1602 Medusa

Marvel 1602 (Earth-311)

Madame Medusa is a member of the Four who are Frightful (this universe's version of the Frightful Four) and is featured as the Wizard's lover. Her hair is now made of snakes and she has to wear a veil to prevent her from turning anyone she see into stone. Although her origin was not mentioned, she was describe as an "inhuman". She maybe also French because of how she is addressed as "madame".

Earth X (Earth-9997)

Medusa is still queen of the Inhumans but her husband, Black Bolt, is dead fears for the emotional loss of her son, Ahura. Many of her allies and friends are mutated by the accident that happened on earth. As a way to combine the remaining factions on earth, Captain Britain proposed to her.

Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610)

Medusa is still the queen of the Inhumans and the wife of their leader, Black Bolt. Her appearance is much like her 1602 counterpart, with green skin.

Unlike the 616 version, she doesn't believe that Inhumans and humans can co-exist peacefully and she is very patriotic to her people, but she feels regret over her husband's inability to speak.

Marvel Zombies Earth-2149)

In the issue of the Ultimate Fantastic Four, where Mr. Fantastic entered the Marvel Zombies Universe, Medusa was one of the featured zombie along with the other super-powered zombies attacking him. Her hair is much like the 616 version.