The "Queenly" Psyche

Once there was an unnamed couple on an unnamed planet who both had "the ability of enhanced empathy" (Comic Vine).  To this enigmatic union was born an unnamed daughter who wound up being even more powerful than her parents, because she could, "control the emotions of others, bending them to her will" (Comic Vine).

Feared by their neighbors, this unnamed family lived in a remote stronghold away from the most populous areas of their unnamed planet.  Until the day when, for some unexplained reason, the recluse young girl's powers came to the attention of the space-faring Wanderers, who recruited said unnamed girl into their ranks with no more rationale given to her parents than, "Look, I just have to...okay?"

And that, dear reader, is the complex and intricately woven backstory to the heroine Psyche,  today's Wanderer of the Week.

While all the resurrected Wanderers received new looks, an interesting thing occurred with Psyche.  Whereas Quantum Queen when from a pretty modest costume to a "feelin'-cute-maybe-I'll-give-up-heroing-and-become-an-exotic-dancer" look:

Original Quantum Queen

Quantum Queen Redivivus

Psyche went from a 60's mini-skirt number to a far more formal-looking outfit.  

Original Psyche

Psyche Redivivus

 I just find it quite ironic that the "queen" wound up looking like a rebellious teenage daughter who thought it'd be cool to strip at the local "gentleman's club," while the gal whose whole power-set is based on emotions and emotionalism wound up looking like the more mature character.

Anywho, let's look briefly at the first issue of the Wanderers.

The Wanderers #1 (JUN 1988)
The beginnings of the Wanderers Redivivus occurred--appropriately enough--in their series.  In this series, it's revealed that the original Wanderers had all been killed and were "resurrected" via the technologies of Clonus, an apparently renegade member of the powerful race known as Controllers.

Recognizing that simply bringing them back in the same form they were originally defeated in, Clonus used his advanced technology to enhance the powers of most of the Wanderers. 

Curiously, however, not all of the Wanderers were returned. This first issue explained that Celebrand's DNA was too degraded for him to be brought back -- though the writers seemed to be trying to leave the door open for a return by explaining even in this first appearance that, "a small fragment" of his DNA was implanted into Immorto/Re-Animage.  

From Immorto to Re-Animage

The uninspired figure you see below was the original look of the Wanderer Immorto.  Aside from his gun (which made him more useful than Dartalg, though less than the better-armed Celebrand) his primary contribution to the team was that he couldn't die (which, apparently, wasn't actually the case since he did die and was later resurrected by Clonus.)  Sadly, the power to not die does not inherently imply the power to win fights.

Immorto in Adventure Comics #375 (DEC 1968)

Now, I'll be the first to admit that the idea of a un-killable superhero sounds good.  That makes it all the more surprising, that despite both DC (with Immorto/Re-Animage) and Marvel (Mr. Immortal) taking a swing at it, no publisher has really been able to construct a compelling character on this basis.

Following his resurrection in Wanderers #1 (JUN 1988), Immorto got a fashion upgrade, moving from the puke-and-poop ensemble pictured above to this fetching red-white-and-blue look.

Obviously, he got a name change as well.  Whether or not Re-Animage is an "upgrade" from Immorto is up for debate.   The new name is weird and definitely didn't implicitly signal the character's powers in the same way his original name did.  On the other hand, following his resurrection, not only was Re-Animage near immortal he could now temporarily share his revivifying power with others--even to the point of resurrect recently the recently deceased!  (I'm guessing this explained the name change.  He could now "re-animate" others; and since his unexplained power seemed so fantastic as to be near magic the "mage" moniker seemed appropriate.)

Another (never quite explained so far as I'm aware) aspect of the revived Wanderers was Steve Dillon's decision to leave Celebrand on the other side of the River Styx.  In Celebrand's absence, Re-Animage took over leadership duties.

Finally--at a later date--Re-Animage got to trade in his cap gun for a more Cable-esque sidearm.  I've never heard or read an explanation for this.  Maybe it was his way of overcompensating for perceived leadership failures? 

(Now I'm envisioning one of the others accessing their inner Lloyd Bentsen to announce:  I knew Celebrand.  Celebrand was a friend of mine; and Re-Animage, you're no Celebrand.)

Next Week:  Psyche and the tale of Wanderers #1

You down with O.Q.Q.?

No, he shouldn't; And yet...

Quantum Queen has the distinction of being the first Wanderer to appear in comics.  Furthermore, at the time, she wasn't a Wanderer, but a deceased future member of the Legion of Superheroes in Adventure Comics #354 (MAR 1967).  This appearance is now considered to reflect an alternative future because QQ is depicted in her original costume, rather than the skimpy clone version introduced in the 80s.  Furthermore, the story of how she became a Legionnaire has never been revealed.  While that could still happen, I won't hold my breath.  Neither of the Big Two seem to interested in maintaining continuity these days...and this little Legion loose end is long-forgotten.  If, for some reason, it ever became necessary to tie things up, I figure DC would just explain it away as being some kind of Elseworlds story. 

Adventure Comics #354

As alluded to in the opening pic, Quantum Queen's original appearances were dramatically underwhelming.  In her battle with Sun Boy (which I would've expected her to win, or at least to put up a severe challenge, she was taken out within a couple of panels.  As Comicvine speculates:

Quantum Queen's inexperience showed, however, in her battle with Sun Boy...The veteran Legionnaire was able to outmaneuver the Wanderer in combat despite her greater powers. It is possible that the original Quantum Queen never really understood the full range of her own abilities up until her untimely death.

Upon her resurrection, like the other Wanderers, QQ became more powerful...boy did she ever.  Initially she was a near-analogue to (Marvel's) 1980s Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), but ultimately  something closer to the godlike powers of Dr. Manhattan in the Watchmen.



Legion of Superheroes #300 (JUN 1983)
As near as I can tell, this issue was largely a collection of visions of alternate timelines--a sort of mini "what-if" anthology.  While the Wanderers do technically make an appearance, it's yet another near-meaningless cameo--as they are depicted in a huge shot of the various heroes of the Legion universe.

Our heroine-of-the-week is in the upper right, with her teammates.