Since the Ghost Rider movie comes out next Friday (Feb. 16), I thought I look at a few Ghost Rider villains. What I found wasn't pretty. I'll update one a day (Mon-Fri) until the movie comes out.

First up is the Water Wizard. Since he can control water, he might be a good match for a hero with a flaming skull. It looks like at some point in his career his decided to stop using the "worse than Water Wizard" name Aqueduct. Just remember, although he can control water and make creatures of water, he can't "control the temperature of water or combine hydrogen and oxygen to create water." Meaning he's out of luck if he's surrounded by ice or steam. Come to think of it, unless he's near a body of water or in the city near a water main, he's out of luck.

Water Wizard - Lame Ghost Rider Villain

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Real name: Peter Van'Zante
Other current aliases: Aqueduct
Former aliases:
None
Dual identity: Known to the authorities
Current occupation: Professional criminal
Former occupation: Soldier
Citizenship:
United States of America
Legal status:
Criminal record in America
Place of birth:
Chicago, Illinois
Marital status: Single
Known relatives:
None
Known confidants:
None
Known allies:
Enforcer (deceased), Moondark, Force of Nature
Major enemies: Ghost Rider I (Johnny Blaze), Arabian Knight, Justin Hammer
Usual base of operations:
Mobile
Former bases of operations: Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois
Current group membership:
None
Former group membership:
None
Extent of education: High school graduate

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Height: 5'10"
Weight:
210 lbs.
Eyes:
Brown
Hair:
Brown
Other distinguishing features:
None

POWERS AND ABILITIES

Intelligence: Normal
Strength:
Normal
Speed:
Normal
Stamina:
Normal
Durability:
Normal
Agility:
Normal
Reflexes:
Athlete
Fighting skills:
Military training
Special skills and abilities:
None
Superhuman physical powers:
None
Superhuman mental powers:
Water Wizard can psychokinetically control all forms of liquid within 500 feet of himself for a variety of effects including rainstorms, floods, and mobile animated water-creatures.
Special limitations:
Water Wizard cannot control the temperature of water or combine hydrogen and oxygen to create water.
Source of superhuman powers:
Power surge in an experimental cell stimulator while out at sea.

PARAPHERNALIA

Costume specifications: Synthetic waterproof stretch fabric
Personal weaponry:
None
Special weaponry:
None
Other accessories:
None
Transportation:
Different vehicles constructed from water
Design and manufacture of paraphernalia:
Inapplicable

BIBLIOGRAPHY

First appearance: GHOST RIDER Vol.1
Origin issue:
GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #23
Significant issues:
GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #23 (robbed brokerage house, contacted by the Enforcer, assigned to kill the original Ghost Rider, failed); GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #24 (salvaged the Enforcer's disintegration ring from San Diego Harbor, battled and was defeated by Ghost Rider); GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #59 (contacted by Moondark in Chicago, sent to battle Ghost Rider again, burned by Ghost Rider's mystical flames again, went into shock and was institutionalized): GHOST RIDER Vol 1 #61 (broken out of the institution by Ghost Rider to help drought-ridden town); GHOST RIDER Vol.1 #62 (traveled to Saudi Arabia, learned he could control other forms of liquid than water, battled the Arabian Knight and Ghost Rider): IRON MAN #126 (hired by Justin Hammer): IRON MAN #127 (ran away during battle with Iron Man earning Hammer's enmity); CAPTAIN AMERICA #320 (discovered the 17 victims of Scourge at the Bar With No Name, alerted Captain America for protection); FANTASTIC FOUR #336 (encountered Hydro-Man while attacking Four Freedoms Plaza), NEW WARRIORS #7-9 (first appearance as Aqueduct, member of Force of Nature, employed by Project: Earth to prevent rain forest razing, battled the New Warriors).