Coagula

Coagula (real name Kate Godwin) is a fictional character and former member of DC Comics' Doom Patrol. Kate is a trans woman, one of the first transgender characters in comics, and remains one of few transgender superheroines.[1] The character was created by transgender science fiction writer Rachel Pollack. Rachel Pollack based the character's civilian name on two friends of hers, transgender writer and actress Kate Bornstein and the transsexual activist Chelsea Goodwin.[2]

This article is about the fictional comic book character. For the art magazine, see Coagula Art Journal.
Coagula
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceDoom Patrol vol. 2, #70 (September 1993)
Created byRachel Pollack
In-story information
Alter egoKate Godwin
Team affiliationsDoom Patrol
AbilitiesSolidify liquids and dissolve solids.

Fictional character biography

Kate gains her powers while working as a prostitute. One of her customers is Rebis, a radioactive intersex person; after Kate has sex with them, she discovers she can coagulate liquids and dissolve solids at will. She first tries out for the Justice League, but is rejected by them. She meets the Doom Patrol while battling a villain called the Codpiece, who has devices such as a gun, a drill, and a spring-loaded boxing glove built into a special codpiece he designed and built. Coagula dissolves the device.[3][4]

Early on Kate is identified as a lesbian, but as the series progresses it becomes clear she is bisexual. She begins a romance with Robotman.[1]

The name Coagula comes from the alchemical term "Solve et Coagula", meaning "dissolve and coagulate".[5]

A while after the Doom Patrol split, Kate and Cliff take teammate Dorothy Spinner on a camping trip with the intention of telling her she is adopted. However, after hearing this, Dorothy suffers a mental breakdown. This causes her to generate a powerful psychic explosion, killing Kate and supposedly killing Cliff. Following this, Dorothy falls into a coma.[6]

Powers and abilities

After having sexual contact with Rebis (Larry Trainor + Eleanor Poole), Coagula gained the power to turn solids into liquids, and to coagulate liquids into solid. She needs to be in touch with the object to make the change occur.

References
  1. Irvine, Alex (2008). "Doom Patrol". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The Vertigo Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 61–63. ISBN 978-0-7566-4122-1. OCLC 213309015.
  2. "The Heroines of My Life: Interview with Rachel Pollack". The Heroines of My Life. Retrieved 2014-12-29.
  3. Doom Patrol v2, 70 ((Sept 1993)), DC Comics
  4. "Comic Book Crap... The Codpiece of Terror!!!". headinjurytheater.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  5. Davis, Erik. "The Gods of the Funny Books: An Interview with Neil Gaiman and Rachel Pollack". Gnosis. Techgnosis (reprint from Summer 1994 issue). Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  6. Revealed in Doom Patrol vol. 3 #9
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