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Water Wizard
Personal Info:
Real Name: Peter van Zante
Also Known As: Aqueduct
Place Of Birth: Chicago, Illinois
First Appearance: Ghost Rider Vol.2 #23 (1977) Bronze Age Villain
Known Associates: Crimson Cowl, Firewall, Firebrand, Skybreaker, Terraformer, Sunstreak
Group Affiliation: Formerly Masters of Evil, Force of Nature
Base Of Operations: Formerly Oregon
Grudges: Ghost Rider
Creators: Jim Shooter and Don Heck
Gallery: Click

Powers:

Hydrokinesis: Water Wizard possesses the ability to psionically manipulate any liquids within about 500 feet of himself. The maximum volume of water he can manipulate at the same time is unknown, although it appears to be many gallons. By psionically increasing the available energy in ordinary water molecules' force of attraction, he can assemble large volumes of water by subliminally stacking the molecules, and making the volume take on certain shapes. He has been observed to direct firehose-like jets of water with sufficient force to stun a man at 25 feet. Water Wizard can use his psionic powers for about one half hour before mental fatigue impairs his control over the phenomena. He apparently has more difficulty controlling small quantities of liquids than large ones. He has not yet been observed to be able to stop the six pints of blood in a human body from circulating, for example. He also cannot change the temperature of a volume of liquid, and thus convert it to ice or steam.

Origins:

Peter van Zante was a soldier in the Vietnam War when he was wounded by an explosion of enemy rocket shells. Airlifted to a hospital ship in the midst of a storm, van Zante was placed under an experimental device designed to keep him alive until the ship stopped rocking enough so surgeons could operate on him. The ship was struck by lightning, however, and this created a power surge in the experimental device irradiating him. He recovered rapidly without surgery, and was discharged from the army. Soon after, he learned that he could mentally influence water.

For years he practiced with his power in secret, not quite certain what to do with it, achieving mastery over greater and greater quantities of water at a time. Finally, van Zante was approached by a petty criminal called the Mole, who convinced him to become his criminal partner. Adopting the name Water Wizard, van Zante began his career as a costumed criminal.

Notes:

Water Wizard at Marvel Database

Water Wizard at WriteUp's.Org

Water Wizard at Comic Vine