(BTS) - At some point, Joya
escaped Loki's imprisonment in the
underworld and returned to Olympus.
JOYA
Real Name: Joya
Identity/Class: Olympian god
Occupation: Goddess of joy
Group Membership: Gods of Olympus
Affiliations: Cera
Enemies: Venus
(Aphrodite) (loose), Loki
(Pluto(?) (or possibly a demon) - see comments)
Known Relatives: Zeus
(father), Eurynome
(mother);
Gaea
(great-grandmother), Ouranos/Uranus (great-grandfather), Cronus,
Rhea
(paternal grandparents), Oceanus, Tethys (maternal grandparents);
Chiron, Hades/Pluto,
Poseidon/Neptune
(uncles), Typhon
(half-uncle);
Demeter, Hera, Hestia/Vesta
(aunts);
Thalia (sister), Algaea (sister);
Apollo,
Ares,
Dionysus,
Hercules, Hermes,
(half-brothers);
Aphrodite/Venus,
Artemis, Athena,
Eileithyia,
Eris, Hebe, Helen
of Troy, Persephone
(half-sisters),
Neptunia (cousin), Cupid (nephew)
Aliases: Euphrosyne (in Greek)
Base of Operations: The extradimensional realm
of Mount Olympus
First Appearance: Venus#7/1 (November, 1949)
Powers/Abilities: Joya possesses the
conventional powers
of the Olympian gods including superhuman strength (Class 25),
vitality,
longevity and resistance to injury. She can mystically change her form
to appear as someone else. Any other magical abilities are unrevealed.
Height: 5'6"
(by approximation)
Weight: 370 lbs. (by
approximation)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black
History:
(Greek-Roman myth) - Zeus took the sea-nymph Eurynome as a bride and they sired three daughters: Algaea, Joya and Thalia. The sisters were known as the Graces or Charites, and were attendants at feasts and dances, as well as to Aphrodite/Venus.
(Venus#7/1 (fb) - BTS) - Joya grew jealous of Venus
and her powers. Joya also had a reputation for nagging her father.
Venus' trips to Earth, escaping the "boredom" of Olympus, added to
Joya's outrage.
(Venus#7/1) - Watching from Olympus, Joya envied
Venus' freedom and romance on Earth. Joya felt that Venus had betrayed
her immortality and duties as a goddess by cavorting with the human
Whitney Hammond. Spurred by her handmaiden Cera, she gained audience
with Zeus and accused Venus of being a traitor. Zeus had Hermes transport
Venus (and whimsically Hammond) to Olympus to stand trial. Attracted to
Hammond herself, Joya opened the trial with long-winded accusations.
All the Olympian gods were distracted by the trial between the verbose
Joya and the charming Venus; this left the citadel's gates unguarded.
Loki, the conniving lord of the underworld, seized the opportunity and
attacked Olympus with walls of intense flame, intending to banish all
except an Olympian bride. Realizing she had caused Olympus' near downfall, she
swapped appearances with Venus (Loki's most desired goddess) and offered herself to Loki if he would
forgo his ambition over Olympus. Loki disappeared cackling with the
disguised Joya. Venus, then disguised as Joya, tested Hammond's love,
but he refused any other female's advances.
(BTS) - At some point, Joya
escaped Loki's imprisonment in the
underworld and returned to Olympus.
(Marvel
Valentine Special#1/3) - Joya chided Venus, who was once again pining
for Hammond, even though many years had passed and he had greatly aged.
Joya pointed out a passing fireball (actually another attempted attack
by Goom)
that Venus should tackle to protect Earth.
Comments: Uncredited creators.
Joya's Greek name, Euphrosyne, as well as her
mother's name, are given in the Official
Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8. More information on Euphrosyne can
be found here.
There are definite similarities between Joya and the secretary of Beauty magazine, Della, in both appearance and as antagonist of Venus, as well as an occasional rival for Whitney Hammond's affection. It's strongly hinted that there is a connection with Joya secretly wishing to replace Venus with a new editor for Beauty magazine, matching Della's ambition.
I can't be sure, but Joya may be the middle child... She is listed second with Thalia noted as the youngest.
I'm not sure who Loki, lord of the underworld, is
meant to be. Demonic in appearance, he's been there for 1000s of years
holding souls and commanding minor demons in limbo. He may be Pluto,
matching his constant desire to rule Olympus. An earlier,
similar-looking demonic foe was initially called Satan; the name may
have been modified to assuage conservative adults at the time. So this
demonic-looking foe may be just be another demon calling himself Satan
and then Loki (although a red-bearded, lightning bolt-throwing Thor
also helped Olympus a couple of times in Venus - go figure).
Possible penciler for Venus#7/1 may be Don Rico according to the Grand Comics Database.
This profile was completed 1/27/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Joya has no known connections to:
Cera was the handmaiden to Joya. She encouraged Joya's jealousy of Venus and supported Joya's charge of treason against Venus.
--Venus#7/1
images:
(without ads)
Venus#7/1, p2, pan4 (main image)
Venus#7/1, p2, pan1 (headshot)
Marvel Valentine Special#1/3, p2, pan3 (as attendant)
Venus#7/1, p3, pan2 (Cera)
Appearances:
Venus#7/1 (November, 1949) - uncredited writer & artist(s), Stan
Lee (editor)
Marvel Valentine Special#1/3 (April, 1997) - Frank Strom (writer), Dan
DeCarlo (pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8 - Jeff Christiansen
(head writer/coordinator), Jeff Youngquist & Jennifer Grünwald
(editors)
First posted: 09/12/2021
Last updated:
09/10/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com.
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