History ComicBook / MedusaMarvelComics

[[redirect:Characters/TheInhumans]

[[redirect:Characters/TheInhumans]]

%% DON'T MOVE TO COMICBOOK/{{MEDUSA}}. THERE ARE UNRELATED ARTICLES WITH THAT NAMESPACES ALREADY. THIS ONE HELPS KEEP THEM DISTINCT.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/medusa_marvel_comics.jpg]]
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Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon, better known simply as Medusa, is a Creator/MarvelComics character created by Creator/StanLee and Creator/JackKirby, first appearing in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' #36 (dated March 1965).

Introduced as a member of the Frightful Four --an {{evil counterpart}} to the Fantastic Four-- while lost in the human world and suffering from amnesia, Medusa soon regained her memory and was recovered by [[ComicBook/TheInhumans the Inhuman royal family]], who'd been searching for her.

Having grown up on [[BaseOnWheels Attilan]] as part of the Royals, Medusa formed a close (and telepathic) bond with her distant cousin ComicBook/BlackBolt, who she'd later marry and have a son --Ahura-- with. Her sister, Crystal, is a former lover of the Human Torch and the ex-wife of ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}.

Medusa's Inhuman ability (activated upon exposure to the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Terrigen Mist]]) is her {{prehensile hair}}, which she can grow and control as if they were limbs. Like other Inhumans, she also displays advanced strength, and her hair alone can support more than a ''[[StrongerThanTheyLook ton]]''.

Over the years, Medusa became Queen of the Inhumans, even serving as their acting ruler during Black Bolt's frequent disappearance. She became especially prominent in the wake of ''ComicBook/{{Infinity}}'', when a Terrigen Bomb unleashed on Earth activated the powers of latent Inhumans worldwide. Relocating Attilan to New York City, she became the new face of Inhumans on Earth, and played a major role in the [[ComicBook/CivilWarII second superhuman Civil War]] when an Inhuman with precognitive abilities was discovered.

Moreover, she was a key figure during ''ComicBook/InhumansVsXMen'', which concluded with Medusa abdicating from her throne on Earth after the conflict was resolved. With the rest of the royal family, she heads back into outer space, seeking answers about their kind and why they came to be.

Medusa has appeared frequently in other media, showing up in various cartoons based on Marvel characters, like ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'' and Creator/DisneyXD's WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse block. In 2017, she made her live-action debut in the Creator/{{ABC}} series ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'', played by Creator/SerindaSwan.

----
[[AC: Notable Comic Books]]
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 1 (1975 -- 1977)
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 2 (1998 -- 1999)
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 3 (2000)
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 4 (2003 -- 2004)
* ''ComicBook/SilentWar'' (2007)
* ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion: Inhumans'' (2008 -- 2009)
* ''ComicBook/WarOfKings'' (2009)
* ''ComicBook/{{FF}}'' (2012 -- 2014)
* ''ComicBook/{{Inhumanity}}'' (2014)
* ''ComicBook/CharlesSoulesInhumans'' (2014 -- 2017):
** ''Inhuman'' (2014 -- 2015)
** ''[[ComicBook/SecretWars2015 Inhumans: Attilan Rising]]'' (2015)
** ''Uncanny Inhumans'' (2015 -- 2017)
* ''ComicBook/AForce'' vol. 1 (2015)
* ''A-Force'' vol. 2 (2015 -- 2016)
* ''ComicBook/CivilWarII'' (2016)
* ''ComicBook/InhumansVsXMen'' (2016 -- 2017)
* ''ComicBook/{{Royals}}'' (2017)
* ''Death of the Inhumans'' (2018)

[[AC:Television]]
* ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'' (2017), played by Creator/SerindaSwan

[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' (2006)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelAvengersAlliance'' (2012)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelFutureFight'' (added in 2016)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelPuzzleQuest'' (added in 2016)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelHeroes'' (added in 2017)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance3TheBlackOrder'' (2019)

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Fantastic Four|1978}}'' (1978) [[note]]episode: "Medusa and the Inhumans"[[/note]]
* ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'' (1994), voiced by Iona Morris
* Creator/DisneyXD's WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse block:
** ''WesternAnimation/HulkAndTheAgentsOfSMASH'' (2014 -- 2015), voiced by Mary Faber
** ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' (2015 -- 2016), voiced by Mary Faber & Creator/RoseMcGowan
** ''WesternAnimation/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' (2016), voiced by Creator/CatherineTaber [[note]]episode: "Blue Crystal Persuasion"[[/note]]
** ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'' (2016 -- 2019), voiced by Creator/CatherineTaber

----
!! Medusa provides examples of:

* ActionGirl
* FieryRedhead: When she's not trying to act above-it-all as a queen, she's emotional to a fault with a temper as dangerous as her hair.
* FormFittingWardrobe: Most of her costumes are form-fitting, if not {{Stripperiffic}}.
* GracefulLadiesLikePurple: Medusa is the queen of the Inhumans and is often seen wearing purple.
* HappilyMarried: Usually, though some of the things they've gone through have strained their marriage. As of ''Inhuman'', they are estranged. ''Uncanny Inhumans'' sees her in a extramarital relationship with [[spoiler: Johnny Storm]].
* HeelFaceTurn: Was originally introduced as a member of the Frightful Four, enemies of the ComicBook/FantasticFour, though she was suffering from LaserGuidedAmnesia at the time.
* TheHighQueen: Of the Inhumans and has served as such whenever Black Bolt has not been in power. She's since dispensed with the role since the responsibilities wore her down over the years.
* IHaveNoSon: Inverted, during the time Ahura was imprisoned and subject to MindRape, one of the few things he said to her was that he didn't consider her his true mother.
* IllGirl: During ''Royals'', her powers stop working and Medusa begins dying. Noh-Varr explains that it's because [[spoiler:she destroyed the Terrigenesis cloud, meaning terrigenesis itself is rejecting her, a "death by symbolism".]]
* InsistentTerminology: During ''Royals'', she has to keep reminding people (Gorgon in particular) that she's not a queen anymore.
* LovableAlphaBitch: She is this when she's on the side of angels. When she's not and acts according to her own morally dubious code of what's best for the Inhumans, she drops the "lovable" part.
* MamaBear: She's willing to stand up to the Genetic Counsel and even ''Black Bolt'' to protect her son.
* MostCommonSuperpower: She's often drawn with a fairly large bust.
* MundaneUtility: While her main use for her PrehensileHair is as a form of CombatTentacles, she's also seen using for things like signing an autograph.
* PrehensileHair: Her [[RapunzelHair incredibly long]] red hair which cannot be cut unless she allows it to be. And if it is, it can move [[HelpingHands independently of her]]. In the 21st century, a few clever artists have drawn her weaving her hair into battle armor during sustained combat situations. Given its strength and invulnerability, this is an excellent idea both on the character's and the artists' part.
* PurpleIsPowerful: Is often depicted wearing purple outfits, which makes sense, considering how she is the Queen of the Inhumans.
* StatuesqueStunner: Officially stands at 5'11"/180cm tall, and she's quite attractive.
* TookALevelInJerkass: From ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' onwards, she becomes increasingly snide and rude, especially towards her sister. And then she gets worse when Black Bolt apparently died in the T-Bomb detonation. It's died down since Black Bolt came back though not that much.
* WeaksauceWeakness: Since she's long gotten used to movement on the edge of her vision, what with her hair, her peripheral vision is her blind spot.
----

* ''Royals'' (2017)

** ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'' (2016 -- present), voiced by Creator/CatherineTaber

* PrehensileHair: Her incredibly long red hair which cannot be cut unless she allows it to be. And if it is, it can move [[HelpingHands independently of her]]. In the 21st century, a few clever artists have drawn her weaving her hair into battle armor during sustained combat situations. Given its strength and invulnerability, this is an excellent idea both on the character's and the artists' part.

* FieryRedhead

* HappilyMarried: Usually, though some of the things they've gone through have strained their marriage. As of ''Inhuman'', they are estranged. ''Uncanny Inhumans'' sees her in a relationship with [[spoiler: Johnny Storm]].

* TheHighQueen

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uncanny_inhumans_vol_1_1_cheung_connecting_variant_b_textless.jpg]]

Medusa has appeared frequently in other media, showing up in various cartoons based on Marvel characters, like ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'' and Creator/DisneyXD's WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse block. In 2017, she'll make her live-action debut in the Creator/{{ABC}} series ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'', played there by Creator/SerindaSwan.

[[redirect:ComicBook/{{Medusa}}]]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/uncanny_inhumans_vol_1_1_cheung_connecting_variant_b_textless.jpg]]

Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon, better known simply as Medusa, is a Creator/MarvelComics character created by Creator/StanLee and Creator/JackKirby, first appearing in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' #36 (dated March 1965).

Introduced as a member of the Frightful Four --an {{evil counterpart}} to the Fantastic Four-- while lost in the human world and suffering from amnesia, Medusa soon regained her memory and was recovered by [[ComicBook/TheInhumans the Inhuman royal family]], who'd been searching for her.

Having grown up on [[BaseOnWheels Attilan]] as part of the Royals, Medusa formed a close (and telepathic) bond with her distant cousin ComicBook/BlackBolt, who she'd later marry and have a son --Ahura-- with. Her sister, Crystal, is a former lover of the Human Torch and the ex-wife of ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}.

Medusa's Inhuman ability (activated upon exposure to the [[AppliedPhlebotinum Terrigen Mist]]) is her {{prehensile hair}}, which she can grow and control as if they were limbs. Like other Inhumans, she also displays advanced strength, and her hair alone can support more than a ''[[StrongerThanTheyLook ton]]''.

Over the years, Medusa became Queen of the Inhumans, even serving as their acting ruler during Black Bolt's frequent disappearance. She became especially prominent in the wake of ''ComicBook/{{Infinity}}'', when a Terrigen Bomb unleashed on Earth activated the powers of latent Inhumans worldwide. Relocating Attilan to New York City, she became the new face of Inhumans on Earth, and played a major role in the [[ComicBook/CivilWarII second superhuman Civil War]] when an Inhuman with precognitive abilities was discovered.

Moreover, she was a key figure during ''ComicBook/InhumansVsXMen'', which concluded with Medusa abdicating from her throne on Earth after the conflict was resolved. With the rest of the royal family, she heads back into outer space, seeking answers about their kind and why they came to be.

Medusa has appeared frequently in other media, showing up in various cartoons based on Marvel characters, like ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'' and Creator/DisneyXD's WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse block. In 2017, she'll make her live-action debut in the Creator/{{ABC}} series ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'', played there by Creator/SerindaSwan.

----
[[AC: Notable Comic Books]]
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 1 (1975 -- 1977)
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 2 (1998 -- 1999)
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 3 (2000)
* ''Inhumans'' vol. 4 (2003 -- 2004)
* ''ComicBook/SilentWar'' (2007)
* ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion: Inhumans'' (2008 -- 2009)
* ''ComicBook/WarOfKings'' (2009)
* ''ComicBook/{{FF}}'' (2012 -- 2014)
* ''ComicBook/{{Inhumanity}}'' (2014)
* ''ComicBook/CharlesSoulesInhumans'' (2014 -- 2017):
** ''Inhuman'' (2014 -- 2015)
** ''[[ComicBook/SecretWars2015 Inhumans: Attilan Rising]]'' (2015)
** ''Uncanny Inhumans'' (2015 -- 2017)
* ''ComicBook/AForce'' vol. 1 (2015)
* ''A-Force'' vol. 2 (2015 -- 2016)
* ''ComicBook/CivilWarII'' (2016)
* ''ComicBook/InhumansVsXMen'' (2016 -- 2017)
* ''Royals'' (2017)

[[AC:Television]]
* ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'' (2017), played by Creator/SerindaSwan

[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' (2006)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelAvengersAlliance'' (2012)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelFutureFight'' (added in 2016)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelPuzzleQuest'' (added in 2016)
* ''VideoGame/MarvelHeroes'' (added in 2017)

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Fantastic Four|1978}}'' (1978) [[note]]episode: "Medusa and the Inhumans"[[/note]]
* ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'' (1994), voiced by Iona Morris
* Creator/DisneyXD's WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse block:
** ''WesternAnimation/HulkAndTheAgentsOfSMASH'' (2014 -- 2015), voiced by Mary Faber
** ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' (2015 -- 2016), voiced by Mary Faber & Creator/RoseMcGowan
** ''WesternAnimation/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' (2016), voiced by Catherine Taber [[note]]episode: "Blue Crystal Persuasion"[[/note]]
** ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'' (2016 -- present), voiced by Catherine Taber

----
!! Medusa provides examples of the following tropes:
* ActionGirl
* FieryRedhead
* FormFittingWardrobe: Most of her costumes are form-fitting, if not {{Stripperiffic}}.
* HappilyMarried: Usually, though some of the things they've gone through have strained their marriage. As of ''Inhuman'', they are estranged. ''Uncanny Inhumans'' sees her in a relationship with [[spoiler: Johnny Storm]].
* HeelFaceTurn: Was originally introduced as a member of the Frightful Four, enemies of the ComicBook/FantasticFour, though she was suffering from LaserGuidedAmnesia at the time.
* IHaveNoSon: Inverted, during the time Ahura was imprisoned and subject to MindRape, one of the few things he said to her was that he didn't consider her his true mother.
* LovableAlphaBitch: She is this when she's on the side of angels. When she's not and acts according to her own morally dubious code of what's best for the Inhumans, she drops the "lovable" part.
* TheHighQueen
* IllGirl: During ''Royals'', her powers stop working and Medusa begins dying. Noh-Varr explains that it's because [[spoiler:she destroyed the Terrigenesis cloud, meaning terrigenesis itself is rejecting her, a "death by symbolism".]]
* InsistentTerminology: During ''Royals'', she has to keep reminding people (Gorgon in particular) that she's not a queen anymore.
* MamaBear: She's willing to stand up to the Genetic Counsel and even ''Black Bolt'' to protect her son.
* MostCommonSuperpower: She's often drawn with a fairly large bust.
* MundaneUtility: While her main use for her PrehensileHair is as a form of CombatTentacles, she's also seen using for things like signing an autograph.
* PrehensileHair: Her incredibly long red hair which cannot be cut unless she allows it to be. And if it is, it can move [[HelpingHands independently of her]].
** In the 21st century, a few clever artists have drawn her weaving her hair into battle armor during sustained combat situations. Given its strength and invulnerability, this is an excellent idea both on the character's and the artists' part.
* PurpleIsPowerful: Is often depicted wearing purple outfits, which makes sense, considering how she is the Queen of the Inhumans.
* TookALevelInJerkass: From ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'' onwards, she becomes increasingly snide and rude, especially towards her sister. And then she gets worse when Black Bolt apparently died in the T-Bomb detonation. It's died down since Black Bolt came back though not that much.
* WeaksauceWeakness: Since she's long gotten used to movement on the edge of her vision, what with her hair, her peripheral vision is her blind spot.

'''Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon''', better known simply as '''Medusa''', is a Creator/MarvelComics character created by Creator/StanLee and Creator/JackKirby, first appearing in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' #36 (dated March 1965).

[[quoteright:286:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/31530ea9d765a4e54004f19ea48f522e.jpg]]

Medusa has appeared frequently in other media, showing up in various cartoons based on Marvel characters, like ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'' and Creator/DisneyXD's WesternAnimation/MarvelUniverse block. In 2017, she'll make her live-action debut in the Creator/{{ABC}} series ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'', played there by Serinda Swan.

* ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'' (2017), played by Serinda Swan

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/medusa_9.jpg]]

Having grown up on Attilan [[BaseOnWheels Attilan]] as part of the Royals, Medusa formed a close (and telepathic) bond with her distant cousin ComicBook/BlackBolt, who she'd later marry and have a son --Ahura-- with. Her sister, Crystal, is a former lover of the Human Torch and the ex-wife of ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}}.