Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)

Medusa
Name	Medusa Gorgon
Current Alias	Medusa
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	formerly Athena, Neptune, Olympian Gods, Hand
Relatives	Grandparents: Set (paternal grandfather); Gaea (maternal grandmother) Siblings: Echnida, Scylla, Sirens (Venus), Thoosa, and Gorgon sisters (Euryale, Stheno) (sisters) Children: Amphisbaena (offspring) Descendants: Delphyne Gorgon (descendant) Other Relatives: Damballa, Dragon of the Moon, Sligguth, Yamata-no-Orochi (paternal uncles); Ishiti, Tartessus (paternal aunts)Chthon, Hyppus (great-uncles); Isuus, Oshtur (great-aunts); Demiurge (great-grandfather);
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Female
Eyes	Irises: Green
Hair	Green
Skin	White
Unusual Features	Scaly skin, has snakes for hair
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Gorgon; Deity
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Place of Birth	Olympus
Personal Information
Identity	No Dual
Citizenship	Pre-Cataclysmic Atlantean
Occupation	Hermit Formerly priestess of Athena, photographer
Base of Operations	Formerly Atlantis
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Syd Shores, Al Avison
First	U.S.A. Comics #6 (October, 1942)
First	U.S.A. Comics #6 (October, 1942)

 Never let it be said Medusa isn't one to learn from her mistakes. No reflections for you two. If you boys want to beat me... you'll have to look at my beautiful face to do so. 

—Medusa

Medusa Gorgon was the sister of the Gorgons Euryale ("wide-stepper") and Stheno ("strength") and daughter of the primeval sea beings Phorcys and Cetus.

History

Pre-Cataclysmic Age

The Gorgon sisters did not worship their grandfather Set, but instead the Olympian gods, and all three of them served as chaste priestesses of Athena. Deities in their own right, the Gorgons were among the most beautiful in the world, and Medusa was the comeliest. Medusa lived on the remote isle in the shadow of Atlas, Atlantis.

Eventually, Medusa laid with Poseidon on Athena's very altar. Enraged, Athena transformed the Gorgon sisters into scaly hags with snakes for hair. All their descendants bore the same curse, creating the snake-haired Gorgons.

Perseus

During the 14th century BC, Perseus located the Gorgons' hermitage in the wilderness surrounded by the petrified victims. Using his shield's reflective surface, Perseus beheaded Medusa and subsequently used her head as a weapon. The Shield of Perseus was then imbued with Medusa's power, turning those who look in its eyes to stone. It was wielded by Hercules as part of his post-invulnerability armament.

Medusa-Land

After Medusa's death, her daughter relocated to the subterranean world below Olympia: Medusa-Land. Medusa's daughter, who took her mother's name, became the ruler of the city.

Hercules

Generations later King Kreon of Pylos sent Hercules to retrieve the gold of Medusa from the Isle of Fear. On the island he encountered Medusa, alive and well, concealing her face behind a hood. Hercules and the Argonauts ended up slaying her once again. With Medusa's death, Jason and all her prior victims reverted back to flesh.

20th Century

Some time later Medusa moved to Paris, France with her husband, a blind Greek man. He won an art competition by using one of Medusa's victims as an art piece.

Years later Mr. and Mrs. Grey bought the cursed European castle with Medusa imprisoned inside. Mr. Grey unknowingly released Medusa from her prison, but she failed to turn to stone. Thinking that her own curse had been somehow lifted, Medusa looked at herself in the mirror turning herself to stone.

Modern Age

Medusa's Head

In modern times the head of Medusa was found in an archaeological dig in Greece by J. Collins Stacy. He held on to the head for many decades, until it was stolen from him by. Mr. Collins hired Marc Spector to recover the head of Medusa. Spector managed to recover the head but in a petrified state.

Wolverine/Hercules

More recently the original Medusa was brought back to life via the Hand's resurrection ritual alongside with a number of Ancient Greek monsters to be used by Matsu'o Tsurayaba against Wolverine and Hercules. Medusa's attack was unsuccessful and resulted in beheading. Ironically enough, her head was used as a weapon against another resurrected Ancient Greek monstrosity, the Kraken.

Medusa sees the body Deadpool got her.

Dracula's Gauntlet

Sometime thereafter Medusa returned, only to be beheaded by Dracula once again. He then used her visage to turn Shiklah to stone. Upon defeating Dracula after a fierce battle, Deadpool struck a deal with Medusa to reverse the petrification of his wife in exchange for helping her get a new body, which turned out to have previously belonged to Frankenstein's Monster.

Attributes

Powers

Rock Transmutation: Can turn people into stone with a simple gaze. Also able to reverse the effect of petrification.

Paraphernalia

Weapons

Wielded dual Greek broadswords at least on one occasion.

Notes

Medusa's body was used by Athena to produce numerous artifacts with mystical power, such as flutes made from Medusa's ribs.

Trivia

Medusa's name means a guardian or protector.

See Also

• 15 appearance(s) of Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)
• 1 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)
• 3 minor appearance(s) of Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)
• 13 mention(s) of Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)
• 6 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)
• 3 image(s) of Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)
• 3 quotation(s) by or about Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)
• 1 victim(s) killed by Medusa Gorgon (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Medusa Gorgon on Wikipedia.org