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Coagula
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Coagula
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance"The Laughing Game"
Doom Patrol
, no. 70 (September 1993).
Created byRachel Pollack
In-story information
Alter egoKate Godwin
Team affiliationsDoom Patrol
AbilitiesAlchemy

Coagula (Kate Godwin) is a character from DC Comics' Doom Patrol series, the first transgender superhero by the publisher. Created by Rachel Pollack in response to other poorly written trans comic characters, the lesbian Coagula obtained her powers—to coagulate and dissolve material—from having sex with Doom Patrol member, Rebis. An actively-written character from September 1993 through February 1995, Coagula cameoed in other comics until her resurrection in 2024.

Character

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Description

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Coagula is a transgender lesbian, former prostitute and programmer.[1] After having sex with former Doom Patrol member Rebis ("an alchemical hermaphrodite"), Coagula gained[2] "alchemical powers[1] […] the power to dissolve things on the one hand and coagulate them on the other hand".[2] She tried to join the Justice League, but "it's implied that she was rejected in part for being an out transgender lesbian activist"; she instead joined the Doom Patrol.[3]

History

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Coagula first appears in issue 70—"The Laughing Game"—defeating The Codpiece, a spurned man-turned-villain with a multifunctional, mechanical codpiece. After her introduction in the next few issues, Coagula takes center stage in "The Teiresias Wars", a five-part story combining "Greek mythology with [Pollack's] twisted retelling of the Tower of Babel". The character last featured in "Imagine Ari's Friend (Part Four of Four: A Cry for the Great Face)" Doom Patrol, no. 87 (February 1995).[3] She was abruptly killed off in a flashback, a decision that was controversial with her fans, and an example of the women in refrigerators trope.[4]

In DC Pride 2022, Coagula cameoed in the stories "Super Pride"[5] and "Up at Bat".[6]

In 2024, DC published a 96-page one-shot tribute to Pollack under the DC Pride banner: DC Pride: A Celebration of Rachel Pollack.[4] It was scheduled for Pride Month 2024.[7] Its first story, "Shining Through the Wreckage", depicts Robotman and Will Magnus bringing Coagula back to life.[4]

Development

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After creating the trans character Wanda Mann for The Sandman, Neil Gaiman solicited feedback from his friend, Rachel Pollack. She felt Gaiman had poorly written Mann, and said "she would remedy that by putting her own trans character, Coagula, into Doom Patrol"; in 2023, Gaiman admitted he would write Mann differently if creating the comic contemporaneously.[8] Coagula became comics' first transgender superheroine.[8]

Pollack described the Doom Patrol series as being "all about people that had problems with their bodies", outsiders even among the superpowered beings of the DC comics universe. Pollack wanted to add a trans woman to that universe, not as token inclusionism, but in a way that "[h]er transness and experiences informed the story." She based Coagula partly on her own trans experiences, inspired by another trans woman friend—Chelsea Goodwin—simply asking, "Oh, can I be a character? I’ve always wanted to be a character in a comic book." Pollack derived Coagula's real name (Kate Godwin) from activist and theorist Kate Bornstein and her friend's surname.[9]

The synergy of Coagula's name and powers are derived from the Latin phrase solve et coagula.[2] Pollack wrote Coagula's past to include prostitution and programming because those were the most common professions for trans women in the early-to-mid 1990s.[1]

Legacy

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The Coagula character allowed Pollack to expose readers to transgender topics before being killed off,[10] garnering positive feedback from readers who finally saw themselves represented in the pages of comics.[3] Contemporary fans of Coagula wrote letters to DC, with Pollack remembering "including one or two letters from people who quite simply said their lives were saved by this. [That] it kept them from killing themselves, this character."[9]

In 2022, Polygon's Jessica Crets called Coagula "among the deepest portrayals of the trans experience in mainstream superhero comics".[9]

See also

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  • Lord Fanny – Comic book character
  • Nia Nal – Superheroine from the TV series Supergirl

References

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Coagula, whose real name is Kate Godwin, is a fictional superheroine in the DC Comics universe, introduced as the first transgender character created by the publisher. Born Clark Godwin, she underwent gender transition prior to acquiring her powers, which enable her to coagulate or dissolve any substance she touches, stemming from exposure during an encounter with the Doom Patrol member Rebis. Created by writer Rachel Pollack and artist Scot Eaton in Doom Patrol #70 (September 1993), Coagula sought to join the Justice League but was rejected, leading her to affiliate with the Doom Patrol team. As a member of the , Coagula participated in the team's unconventional missions against bizarre threats, reflecting the series' emphasis on weird science and personal struggles. Her inclusion marked an early effort in mainstream comics to represent experiences, with her backstory integrating themes of identity and transformation integral to her . However, Coagula was killed off in a flashback storyline, a decision that drew criticism for exemplifying the "women in refrigerators" trope, where female characters are fridged to motivate male heroes, and for sidelining her potential despite her pioneering status. In recent years, DC Comics has revisited Coagula's legacy, reprinting her debut issue and featuring her in new stories, underscoring renewed interest in Rachel Pollack's run on following the creator's passing in 2022. Her return in contemporary narratives highlights ongoing discussions about representation and narrative handling of characters in .

Fictional Character

Origin and Early Life

Kate Godwin, originally named Clark Godwin at birth, spent much of her early life presenting as male before recognizing her female identity and transitioning. After transitioning, she pursued careers as a and , occupations Rachel selected as representative of common paths for women during the era. While working as a sex worker, Godwin engaged in with , a radioactive hermaphroditic entity formed from the merger of Larry Trainor () and Eleanor Poole, former members. Following this encounter, Godwin manifested metahuman abilities to coagulate liquids into solids and dissolve solids into liquids, powers attributed to exposure from . These events marked the onset of her superhero career, leading her to adopt the codename Coagula. Prior to joining any team, she attempted to apply her powers heroically, including an initial confrontation with the villain .

Powers and Abilities

Coagula's primary powers involve molecular manipulation, enabling her to dissolve solids into liquids and coagulate liquids into solids or semi-solid gels upon physical contact. These abilities stem from an encounter with , a member whose radioactive, hermaphroditic nature altered her physiology, granting her control over matter's phase states at a molecular level. In practice, she has liquefied solid objects like weapons—for instance, dissolving the groin-mounted cannon of the villain during a —or hardened liquids to immobilize threats, demonstrating tactical versatility in combat scenarios. Her powers extend to biological matter, allowing interaction with bodily fluids for effects such as rapid clotting or dissolution, which aligns with thematic explorations of bodily autonomy in her . Coagula lacks superhuman strength, speed, or , relying on her abilities' precision and the element of surprise; prolonged contact is typically required for full effect, limiting her against intangible or highly mobile foes. Beyond traits, Coagula exhibits expertise as a , utilizing hacking skills to interface with , predict outcomes via machine-mediated visions, or disrupt electronic systems in support of operations. This technical proficiency complements her physical powers, enabling hybrid strategies like interfacing with machinery to amplify her molecular effects or access probabilistic futures through computational analysis.

Doom Patrol Membership and Key Events

Kate Godwin, originally named Clark Godwin, acquired her powers after a sexual encounter with , a composite being and member of the , which granted her the abilities to coagulate liquids into solids and dissolve solids into liquids. She adopted the superhero identity of Coagula and was recruited to the by the Bandage People, George and Marion, following her manifestation of these powers. Coagula made her debut in Doom Patrol #70 (September 1993), where she confronted and defeated the villain in her initial costumed appearance. Upon joining the Doom Patrol under writer Rachel Pollack's tenure, Coagula became an active member alongside core team members including Robotman (Cliff Steele), Dorothy Spinner, and others, contributing to the team's unconventional missions characterized by surreal and identity-focused narratives. A significant development in her arc involved forming a romantic relationship with Robotman, exploring themes of connection between human and mechanical forms amid the team's dynamics. She participated in key storylines such as "Bootleg Steele," which delved into Robotman's internal conflicts, and "The Teiresias Wars," involving ancient transformative entities that resonated with her personal history of gender transition. Coagula's tenure highlighted her outsider perspective clashing and integrating with the Patrol's misfit ensemble, as Pollack's run emphasized psychological depth over traditional action. Prior to fully committing to the , she had sought membership in the but was rejected, redirecting her path to the more accepting, if eccentric, roster. Her involvement continued through Pollack's run concluding around Doom Patrol #87 (1994), after which the character's appearances became sporadic, though she remained part of the team's legacy as one of its earlier members.

Creation and Publication History

Development by Rachel Pollack

, a writer who transitioned in 1977, assumed writing duties on (vol. 2) starting with issue #64 in 1992, following Grant Morrison's run, and introduced Coagula (Kate Godwin) in issue #70, cover-dated September 1993. Pollack developed the character as an explicit woman to extend Morrison's recurring motifs of and duality, such as the gender-ambiguous , while emphasizing real-world transgender lived experience rather than abstract or performative elements like drag. She positioned Coagula as the emotional core of her storyline, focusing on themes of bodily discomfort, shame, and personal transformation to humanize the team's "weird" members beyond mere costumed archetypes. Pollack drew Coagula's civilian name from writer and activist Chelsea Goodwin, reflecting personal connections within communities, while the codename "Coagula"—evoking the alchemical phrase solve et coagula (dissolve and coagulate)—originated as a humorous, one-off alias Kate used in an unsuccessful bid to join the , symbolizing her powers of acid dissolution and blood coagulation. The character's origin involved acquiring abilities from during sex work, a detail Pollack incorporated to address socioeconomic realities faced by some women, including limited career paths like her pre-transition role as a computer programmer. Coagula debuted joining the at a new headquarters haunted by surgery-referencing spirits, integrating her arc with the series' exploration of identity and otherness, where Pollack distinguished womanhood from male drag performance to underscore authentic .

Initial Appearance and Context in 1990s Comics

Coagula, the alter ego of Kate Godwin, first appeared in Doom Patrol volume 2, issue #70, cover-dated September 1993. The issue, titled "The Laughing Game," was written by Rachel Pollack with art by Scot Eaton. In the story, Godwin, a transgender woman who had gained superhuman abilities to coagulate and dissolve matter after an encounter with the Doom Patrol's Rebis, teams up with team members George and Marion to battle the villain Codpiece, a metahuman obsessed with genital weaponry. Following the confrontation, she joins the Doom Patrol as a full member, marking her integration into the team's roster of unconventional heroes. This debut occurred amid Rachel Pollack's run on , which spanned issues #64 to #87 from late 1992 to 1995, succeeding Grant Morrison's acclaimed tenure that had redefined the series with surreal, philosophical narratives. Pollack's era maintained the book's emphasis on bizarre adversaries and psychological depth while introducing more explicit explorations of personal identity and marginalization, aligning with the 1990s comics trend toward diverse, introspective storytelling in imprint lines like Vertigo. Godwin's powers, derived from her sexual encounter with the entity , directly tied into the series' motifs of transformation and otherness, positioning Coagula as a figure whose abilities reflected real-world experiences of bodily change without overt didacticism in her introduction. The character's creation by Pollack, a author, represented an early mainstream effort to depict a protagonist, predating many subsequent representations in the medium. Issue #70's narrative integrated Coagula subtly into ongoing team dynamics, focusing on action against —a whose phallic-themed arsenal contrasted Godwin's fluid powers—while establishing her as a confident, capable operative rather than a token addition. This context within 1990s Doom Patrol underscored the series' commitment to aberrant heroism, where personal histories informed but did not overshadow collective missions against cosmic and earthly threats.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Coagula, introduced in Doom Patrol #70 in October 1993, was initially received as a novel addition to the , with critics noting her powers to coagulate and dissolve as thematically fitting the series' emphasis on bodily transformation and outsider identity. Early reviews of Rachel Pollack's run, including Coagula's debut, often critiqued the stories for lacking the focused of Grant Morrison's preceding tenure, dismissing them as derivative weirdness without clear narrative progression. Pollack herself acknowledged in interviews that some readers and critics reacted negatively to the explicit exploration of and sexuality, interpreting it as discomfort with the character's unapologetic trans identity rather than substantive flaws in execution. Subsequent reevaluations have praised Coagula as DC Comics' first and a benchmark for authentic representation, with her arc emphasizing amid and . Comic critics like Tom Peyer have highlighted her as "so far ahead" of contemporary portrayals, crediting Pollack's integration of mythological and folkloric elements to deepen trans themes without reducing the character to a token. Fan letters cited by Pollack reported life-saving impacts, such as preventing suicides among trans readers who identified with Kate Godwin's journey from isolation to belonging in the . However, some analyses note that her powers, while symbolically resonant with fluidity and control, occasionally overshadowed interpersonal development in Pollack's plots, contributing to perceptions of uneven pacing in issues like #70–87. Modern retrospectives, particularly following Pollack's death in April 2023, affirm Coagula's enduring strength as the genre's most nuanced trans hero, surpassing later characters in centrality and emotional depth, though early commercial underperformance—reflected in the series' cancellation after 87 issues in 1995—stemmed partly from resistance to its thematic boldness. Critics argue this reception underscores a broader 1990s comics landscape wary of overt identity explorations, yet empirical reader responses validate its causal role in fostering transgender visibility.

Fan Perspectives and Debates

Fans have praised Coagula as a pioneering figure in transgender representation within mainstream comics, often citing her 1993 debut in Doom Patrol #45 as DC's first explicitly transgender superhero, created by transgender writer Rachel Pollack to explore themes of identity and transformation through her coagulation and liquefaction powers derived from experimental sex work. In fan discussions on platforms like Reddit, enthusiasts highlight her unapologetic sex-positive backstory and integration into the Doom Patrol team as clever narrative devices that humanize transgender experiences without reducing her to a token, emphasizing Pollack's authentic perspective as a trans author. However, debates persist regarding DC's handling of the character post-Pollack's run, with some fans arguing that her limited appearances reflect institutional reluctance to prominently feature progressive elements despite her landmark status, as evidenced by queries in comic communities about "progressive characters DC refuses to represent." Her absence from the HBO Max Doom Patrol television adaptation, which adapted other Pollack-era elements but omitted Coagula, drew criticism from viewers who viewed it as a missed opportunity for faithful representation. Criticisms among fans include perceptions of dated or stereotypical elements, such as her labeled "" in character spotlights and her origin story's ties to sex work, which some interpret as reinforcing tropes despite Pollack's intent to portray agency and realism. Recent resurrections, including her starring role in the 2024 DC : of anthology following Pollack's 2022 death, have reignited positive discourse, with fans and creators like Joe Corallo lauding her return as a tribute to enduring trans narratives amid broader calls for more consistent utilization. These debates underscore tensions between Coagula's historical significance and ongoing fan demands for substantive, non-peripheral engagement in DC's publishing strategy.

Controversies

Death and the "Women in Refrigerators" Trope

In Doom Patrol (vol. 3) #9, published in May 2002, a flashback depicts Coagula's death during a mission alongside to reunite the psychic child with her biological mother. Distraught by the perceived abandonment, Dorothy unleashed an explosive psychic outburst that killed Coagula instantly and left Dorothy comatose, while Robotman survived with lasting . This event has been analyzed as exemplifying the "Women in Refrigerators" trope, a concept articulated by comics writer in her 1999 website project, which documented over 100 instances from 1992 onward where female characters in were subjected to or primarily to motivate or deepen the emotional stakes for male heroes. Coagula's abrupt demise served to intensify Robotman's guilt over his teammates' fates, adding to his pre-existing burdens from prior losses and reinforcing his arc of self-blame and isolation. Unlike many trope examples involving gratuitous dismemberment or sexualized harm, Coagula's death stemmed from a psychic backlash rather than direct villainy, yet it functionally advanced Robotman's internal conflict without further developing her own storyline post-event. Critics of the trope, including Simone, argue such patterns reflect broader industry tendencies to expend female characters as plot devices, often sidelining their agency; in Coagula's case, her off-panel or flashback revelation after sporadic post-introduction appearances underscored this disposability, despite her pioneering status as DC's first transgender superheroine created by transgender writer . However, the intent behind the scene—written under Keith Giffen's run, distinct from Pollack's original characterization—lacks explicit confirmation of trope adherence, and some analyses frame it as a consequence of ensemble dynamics in a series known for high mortality rates among all members, not gender-specific targeting. Coagula's in the DC Pride: Rachel Pollack one-shot (June 2024) revisited her legacy, portraying her survival in an alternate psychic realm and emphasizing themes of endurance over victimization.

Representation and Ideological Critiques

Coagula, as Kate Godwin, represents one of the earliest superheroes in DC Comics, introduced in #70 (October 1993) by writer and artist Richard Case. Her origin involves acquiring the ability to coagulate or dissolve liquids and solids after an encounter with , powers that align with the series' recurring theme of bodily dysfunction and transformation. Depicted as a bisexual former sex worker from , Godwin applies to the but faces rejection, leading her to join the where her skills prove instrumental against threats like the villain . Pollack, a woman and scholar, modeled Godwin partly on activist and her friend Chelsea Goodwin, integrating the character's identity subtly—revealed via a button reading "Put a on the "—rather than through overt exposition. This portrayal emphasizes Godwin's competence and resilience amid team conflicts, including a romantic relationship with that explores mutual outsider status and challenges traditional gender expectations within the group. Pollack described the creation as an opportunity to introduce a trans character fitting the Doom Patrol's focus on "people that had problems with their bodies," aiming for mythological depth over explicit political messaging. While praised in comic media for authentic representation drawn from the creator's , avoiding many prevalent in depictions of sexual minorities, Coagula's storylines have drawn limited ideological scrutiny for their fixation on genital and sexual symbolism. Her inaugural battle against —a phallus-obsessed whose she dissolves—exemplifies a pattern where trans heroism intersects with bodily , potentially reducing complex identity to physical confrontations rather than broader agency or intellect. This aligns with Vertigo's edgy style under DC's imprint but has been critiqued for mirroring real-world overemphasis on trans genitalia in , echoing Pollack's own era of transition narratives centered on and . Such elements contrast with the character's otherwise level-headed portrayal, prompting debate on whether they advance or constrain in .

Legacy

Influence on Transgender Representation

Coagula, introduced in Doom Patrol #70 in September 1993, marked the debut of DC Comics' first explicitly superhero, Kate Godwin, a character whose civilian identity and transition were openly depicted without reliance on stereotypes or trauma as central plot drivers. Created by writer during her run on the series, Godwin's portrayal emphasized personal agency, with her powers to coagulate liquids into solids and dissolve matter serving narrative purposes independent of her gender history, diverging from earlier, often marginal or villainous depictions in comics. This approach, informed by Pollack's own experiences, contributed to a more normalized integration of identity into lore, predating widespread mainstream inclusion by decades. The character's influence extended to authentic storytelling in representation, as Pollack's narrative explored themes of identity and sexuality within the Doom Patrol's surreal framework, avoiding while humanizing Godwin as a capable team member who joined after approaching the . Subsequent analyses credit Coagula with paving the way for later DC transgender heroes, such as Dreamer in 2022, by establishing a precedent for transgender women as protagonists rather than tokens or antagonists, though her limited post-1990s appearances underscored publisher hesitancy in sustaining such roles. Despite acclaim for its pioneering status, Coagula's underutilization in DC continuity—appearing sporadically until a 2018 cameo and a 2024 return in Doom Patrol: The Lost Patrol #1 after over two decades—highlighted gaps in long-term representation, with critics noting that while the character advanced visibility, DC's focus shifted to newer figures amid broader industry pushes for diversity post-2010s. In 2024, DC honored Pollack, who passed away in April 2023, with a anthology in DC Pride: A Celebration of Rachel Pollack, reaffirming Coagula's foundational role in transgender superhero narratives. This revival, alongside discussions in comic scholarship, positions her as a benchmark for evaluating progress in authentic, non-exploitative portrayals.

Recent Developments and Resurrections

In Doom Patrol (vol. 3) #9, published June 2002, Coagula was killed during a confrontation with the entity known as the General, an event that contributed to discussions of the "Women in Refrigerators" trope by providing additional trauma for teammate Robotman (Cliff Steele). Following this, Coagula made no major appearances for over two decades, with her last prior story concluding in 2002. Coagula was resurrected in the one-shot DC Pride: A Celebration of Rachel Pollack #1, released June 4, 2024, written by Joe Corallo with art by Liana Kangas. In the story, Robotman, collaborating with inventor , revives Kate Godwin by transferring her into a new synthetic body, addressing Cliff's lingering guilt over her death and enabling her return to action against a threat tied to Pollack's original run. This revival honors , who created the character and passed away in 2022, while reprinting Coagula's debut from #70 (1993) alongside new material. The resurrection positions Coagula for potential future roles in DC continuity, particularly within narratives, though no subsequent appearances have been announced as of 2025. It has been framed by creators as a corrective to her abrupt 2002 exit, emphasizing her agency and powers—dissolving into liquid form and coagulating matter—without altering core biographical elements from Pollack's era.

References

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