Marina Maru (Prime Earth)

Colonel Marina Maru, also known as Doctor Poison, is a Japanese toxicologist with a grudge against the United States Government and the superhero Wonder Woman.

History

Origin

Colonel Marina Maru is a Japanese soldier working for the organization founded by her family, the Poison. She created the Maru Virus, a poison that drives its victims to rage-induced murder. During Wonder Woman's first few months in the "Man's World", she discovered a group of men infected with the virus, but managed to resolve the situation with the help of A.R.G.U.S..^[2]^[3]

New 52

This section of the history takes place during the New 52, between the events of Flashpoint and DC Rebirth. It was later revealed that much of Wonder Woman's history from this time was an elaborate illusion created by the Gods of Olympus to keep her away from Paradise Island. All or part of this section may have been part of that illusion and no longer valid in Rebirth.

Doctor Poison Prime Earth 0001 — Doctor Maru

When Maru was young, her parents, both Russian scientists, were approached by the Americans to produce a chemical weapon. They refused, but days later, they were arrested. Maru only learned years later her parents died during their interrogation.^[4]

Maru dedicated herself to her parents' work, but not for the Americans - instead, she would use it against them. She plotted to poison President Obama at a G8 summit in London. One scientist she had abducted managed to get word out, and Wonder Woman countered her plans. Maru planned to disperse the poison close to the president with a cloaked drone, but Wonder Woman disabled it. Maru escaped, but was apprehended shortly after and handed over to the police. With the aid of a concealed poison capsule, she escaped from the prison van.^[4]

DC Rebirth

Team Poison

Wonder Woman Vol 5 13 Textless — Doctor Poison against Wonder Woman

Veronica Cale hired Doctor Poison and her mercenary squad to capture Wonder Woman. Maru and her team were on a helicopter to approach the Amazon, and Maru put in a call to her employer. Cale outlined the need to take Wonder Woman alive to help their mission of finding Themyscira. Maru and the mercenaries went to the camp The Picket in Kirby Road, without making a sound, until they were found by Steve Trevor and opened fire, stopping paying attention for the camp traps and injuring themselves.

As Wonder Woman was weak, Maru managed to intercept her and put her at gunpoint. She threatened her with the gun and asked Steve Trevor about her fugue. Steve, buying time, said he didn't know. Maru then shot Steve in the leg and then got the Amazon to carry him back to the helicopter landing zone. Arriving at the zone, Maru ordered them both onto the helicopter, but Steve said no and pushed himself and Wonder Woman behind a rock, so A.R.G.U.S.. opened fire in the helicopter, destroying it.^[2]

Incomplete
There's something missing here. This section of the article is incomplete, and contains information, but requires more before it can be considered complete. You can help DC Database by editing this page, providing additional information to bring this article to a higher standard of quality.

Doomsday Clock

During the Doomsday Clock, Doctor Poison was among the villains who attend an underground meeting held by Riddler about the "Superman Theory". She talked about a rumor that the Amazons forcefully took Wonder Woman back to Themyscira.^[5]

Infinite Frontier

Maru later became a member of the Villainy, Inc.^[6] She attempted to kidnap Siegfried and Steve Trevor, but was unsuccessful as she was unable to pierce Siegfried's skin with her needle.^[7] She later attempted another abduction, but this time it was successful as she doused Siegfried in chemicals which absorbed into his skin, followed by shooting Steve with a tranquilizer dart.^[8] Etta Candy later arrived at her lab and freed both her hostages. Steve then injected her with her own poison, and she was subsequently incarcerated.^[9]

Powers and Abilities

Abilities

Paraphernalia

Transportation

Military helicopter

Weapons

Maru Virus
Military arsenal

Notes

Doctor Maru was created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter, first appearing in Sensation Comics #2. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Doctor Maru first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Wonder Woman (Volume 4) #48 by Meredith Finch and David Finch.
In her re-introduction to the DC Universe in Wonder Woman (Volume 4) #48, Doctor Poison and her family were cited as being Russian; she was Caucasian with blonde hair. However, following massive universal changes made in DC Rebirth, Maru was retconned to be of Japanese descent as the previous versions were.

Trivia

The scar on the right side of Maru's face resembles the symbol embroidered on the mask of New Earth's Doctor Poison II. During the Doomsday Clock, she used the same suit of her New Earth counterpart.^[5]