Doctor Gina Atwater was a surgeon at Metro-General Hospital and the girlfriend of Stephen Vincent Strange. Her death in a car accident motivated Strange to study the mystic arts, hoping to achieve the power to avoid her tragic fate or bring her directly from the dead. A corrupted Strange managed to break the "Absolute Point" in time of her death and bring her back, but doing so caused the entire universe began to collapse, resulting in its total destruction.
Biography[]
Work at Metro-General[]
Dating Stephen Strange[]
Gina Atwater began working at Metro-General Hospital in the ER, where she developed a relationship with Stephen Vincent Strange, a fellow surgeon who she had worked alongside. During their relationship, Gina would attend Stephen's talks, however, she never enjoyed them as it was only about Stephen. This self-obsession would then become the reason Gina decided to end their relationship. After this relationship, Gina decided to create a rule to never date colleagues, which she entitled the Strange Policy. Despite this, Gina still remained one of Strange's closest friends and continued to work alongside him, even inventing a laminectomy procedure together.
Seeking a Second Opinion[]
While working in the ER with her friend Nicodemus West, they were met by Doctor Keith Wilmott, who told them that a patient with a bullet in his brain deceased, which caused Gina to feel unsure about the decision while Nicodemus argued that the man could be saved. Despite how Doctor West was willing to find something that could save the patient's life, Gina decided to find Stephen Strange to get his opinion, knowing he was more qualified. She called Doctor Strange out from surgery and informed him of the patient. After looking through the reports, Stephen was able to realize that the patient was in fact still alive, so they rushed down to save the patient.
When they found Nicodemus West arguing with Keith Wilmott, who was about to harvest the patient's organs, Gina and Stephen managed to stop Wilmott from proceeding and told him that the patient was still alive. Just as Stephen took the patient and went to perform surgery, having Gina and Nicodemus assist him. During the surgery, Gina and Nicodemus thank Stephen for his help, and they were able to successfully remove the bullet from the patient, saving the patient's life. Along with Nicodemus and Stephen, Gina then went to inform the family of the patient that he was alive.
The Strange Policy[]
After saving the patient and gave Nicodemus a toast for their success, Gina was walking down the hall just when Stephen caught up with her. She told Stephen that he didn't have to humiliate Keith Wilmott in front of everyone, which Stephen arrogantly responded that he or Doctor West didn't have to save the patient either. Gina, not wanting to feed his ego, claimed that she only needed a second opinion on the patient, but Stephen told her that she needed a competent opinion. This then led to Gina suggesting that Stephen should become her neurosurgeon on call as he could be doing more work in the ER. However, he declined, stating that his work would save more lives, which Gina corrected, in that there wasn't any fame for him there, as that was all that he cared about. Accepting Strange's rejection, Gina then decided she would stick with Doctor West as her neurosurgeon.
However, this made Stephen assume a sexual relationship was occurring between Gina Atwater and Keith Wilmott, to his disgust. Gina declined Doctor Strange's suspicions, revealing that her strict rule about dating colleagues that was named after him. After learning about the Strange Policy, Stephen sarcastically stated that he was glad something was named after him, unlike the surgical techniques he developed, which Gina corrected in acknowledging her contribution to those techniques. then informed Gina that he was talking at a Neurological Society dinner later that night, inviting her to attend. Gina accepted Stephen's invitation and went back to her apartment to make preparations for tonight's get together.
Unfortunate Dinner[]
Gina getting in Stephen's car
One day, Stephen began to perform a successful radical hemispherectomy, which they viewed as something worth celebrating. Later during the night, he arrived at Gina's apartment to take her out at a dinner party. However, on their way to dinner along a cliffside, their vehicle was crashed by another car, and it toppled off the road through the cliff before crashing into a nearby river bank. While Strange miraculously survived, Gina didn't and was buried in a cemetery later.
End of the Universe[]
Absolute Point[]
Gina inevitably dying in every loop
Having become the Sorcerer Supreme, on the two-year anniversary of Gina's death Doctor Strange used the Eye of Agamotto to go back in time to try to save the love of his life. However, regardless of Strange's actions, Gina always ended up dying in some way. The Ancient One later explained to Stephen that her death was an "Absolute Point" in time, an unavoidable event that if changed would potentially end the universe.
Resurrection[]
Gina Atwater is ressurected
- "Stephen. What did you do?"
- ―Gina Atwater to Doctor Strange
Once Doctor Strange managed to merge with his other half, he gained the necessary power to revert an Absolute Point and bring Gina Atwater back to life. Once she woke up and saw him, she became horrified at what Strange had become and assured herself it was a dream.
Gina dies in Doctor Strange's arms
She then noticed her arm and the rest of the world were turning into a black goo. Strange, noticing the end of the universe, tried to contain it by blasting its walls with magic, but to no avail. Soon, the world shrunk into a small patch of land and Gina faded away, leaving Strange completely alone.
Personality[]
Gina Atwater was a kind and caring person towards Doctor Strange, being concerned when she watches him act weird or distant in his numerous attempts to prevent her death. Following her resurrection, Gina couldn't believe all the horrors she was witnessing, and ultimately felt pitiness for Strange when she questioned his actions.
Abilities[]
- Expert Physician: Gina Atwater was a trained doctor and is one of Metro-General Hospital's best surgeons.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Stephen Vincent Strange / Doctor Strange - Love Interest, Resurrector, and Indirect Killer
- Uatu
External Links[]
Gina Atwater on the Marvel Wiki
