Kavita Rao
This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (November 2020) |
Dr. Kavita Rao | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 3) #1 (2004) |
Created by | Joss Whedon (writer) John Cassaday (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Kavita Rao |
Team affiliations | X-Club Benetech |
Partnerships | Ord of the Breakworld |
Notable aliases | Vita |
Abilities | Genius-level intellect, Master geneticist |
Dr. Kavita "Vita" Rao is a fictional character, a geneticist appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is part of the X-Men Series.
Shohreh Aghdashloo portrayed the role in X-Men: The Last Stand.
Publication history
Dr. Kavita Rao first appeared and featured prominently in the first story arc of the monthly series Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3 #1 in 2004 and was created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday.
Fictional character biography
Hope
Dr. Kavita Rao is a world-renowned geneticist from India who developed a serum (later called "Hope") which could "cure" mutants, turning them into normal humans. She explains that she regards the mutant gene as a 'corruption' of healthy tissue, and justifies her research by looking at mutants who committed suicide or hurt others because of their powers, such as a female mutant with a butterfly-like appearance or Tildie Soames (a child whose nightmares can manifest into monsters).[volume & issue needed]
Hundreds of mutants immediately signed up for the procedure at Benetech (the corporate backer of her research). The X-Men debated the merits of the cure and the significance of labelling the mutant condition a disease. The chance at shedding his "beastly" appearance and avoiding any further secondary mutations held significant appeal for Hank McCoy (aka
It was later revealed that Rao had been working for the alien
Endangered Species
Kavita Rao was pictured alongside several super-villains to whom Beast offers to 'sell his soul' for a means to un-do the effects of M-Day. With her old research into 'curing' the mutant gene now irrelevant after so many mutants lost their powers, she agrees to aid Beast in his quest and is now looking for more info that might help him.[volume & issue needed]
X-Club
After Beast has finished gathering his science squad, they head back to base where he introduces them to their final member, Kavita Rao. Together they hold a meeting where he explains everything about how the Decimation occurred.
In the aftermath of Utopia,
Second Coming
When
Kavita's life flashes before her eyes and when the timer hits zero they end up transported to a dystopian future where they meet a now human Hank McCoy, who warns them to keep Kavita safe at all costs. Hank reveals that Hope Summers powers grew out of control and he needs Kavita to recreate her Hope serum to stop her from creating the future they see before them. After some convincing, Kavita reveals she kept an encrypted copy of the formula on her Mala bracelet and they go to Utopia to take out Hope.[volume & issue needed]
Arriving on Utopia it is revealed that the dystopian future is a lie created by Graydon Creed using holographic hard-light technology. Kavita revealing she knew of the deception, didn't recreate the Hope serum but instead an unstable pyrovirus instead which causes the oil platform to explode. The X-Club get out in time only to see the dome envelope Utopia and the citizens of San Francisco.[8] Later they work with the Avengers and Fantastic Four in trying to bring the dome down.[9][10]
Curse of the Mutants
Following the events of Second Coming, Kavita is seen with
Other versions
Age of X
In the "Age of X" reality, Kavita Rao is branded as a traitor to humanity for allying with the mutants, helping Wolverine eliminate an anti-mutant toxin.[14]
In other media
Television
- Kavita Rao appears in the Colonel Moss.
Film
- In the 2006 movie . As Worthington is dragged off, Kid Omega grabs her in a bear hug, says everything will be all right and pierces her with his body spikes.
References
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #508
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #512
- ^ Dark Avengers #8
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #515
- ^ New Mutants Vol. 3 #5
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #524
- ^ New Mutants Vol. 3 #13
- ^ X-Men: Second Coming Revelations: Blind Science #1
- ^ X-Men: Legacy Vol. 2 #236
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #525
- ^ X-Men vol. 3 #1
- ^ X-Men vol. 3 #2
- ^ "X-Men: Curse of the Mutants - Smoke and Blood" #1-#2 (Sept.-Oct. 2010)
- ^ Age of X: Alpha #1
- ^ The freakishly talented cast of 'X-Men 3'