The Magdalena | |
---|---|
Cover of Magdalena TPB by Eric Basaldua
|
|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Top Cow Productions |
First appearance | The Darkness #15 (June 1998) |
Created by |
Joe Benitez David Wohl Malachy Coney |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Patience |
Team affiliations | Catholic Church |
Abilities | Hand-to-hand combat skills Swordsmanship Athletic skills |
The Magdalena is an American comic book superheroine character created by Joe Benitez, David Wohl and Malachy Coney for Top Cow Productions.
The Magdalena first appeared in The Darkness #15 (June 1998) and only appeared in two brief series. The Magdalena has been featured in The Darkness, Witchblade, Tomb Raider, and Vampirella, and in its own series of twelve issues from April 2010 to April 2011.
The Magdalena is a woman descended from Jesus Christ via his marriage to Mary Magdalene. The Magdalena inherits great powers from the royal bloodline and acts as a warrior in the defence of the Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic Church has been the Magdalena's employer since the Middle Ages, raising her from childhood and training her until she is ready to carry out her role. The Inquisition, a secretive and powerful council of cardinals, oversees the Magdalena's activities and decides her missions.
Sister Rosalia was a former Magdalena who died when she was 33 years old. She was raped as a teenager by a masked assailant. She became pregnant as a result of the assault and gave birth to a girl. The child was stolen from her and raised in an unidentified convent.
In her last mission, she was sent to investigate vampirism in France. She was informed that vampirism is a retrovirus that forces vampires to consume blood to restore their hemoglobin. She decided that they were not evil and aided their escape. She was killed by the soldiers of the Inquisition, the Garduna, for trying to prevent them from slaughtering the vampires. It was hinted that Rosalia might have been infected with the virus and would rise three days after her death, mirroring the Resurrection of Jesus.