Silverclaw
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Silverclaw | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Avengers vol. 3 #8 (September 1998) |
Created by | Kurt Busiek (writer) George Pérez (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Maria De Guadalupe "Lupe" Santiago |
Team affiliations | Avengers Empire State University |
Notable aliases | La Garra Argentado, Daughter of the Volcano God |
Abilities | Ability to change into various metal were-animal forms |
Silverclaw (Maria De Guadalupe "Lupe" Santiago) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a reserve member of the Avengers and regards Edwin Jarvis as an uncle figure.
Publication history
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2015) |
Silverclaw first appeared in Avengers vol. 3 #8 (September 1998) and was created by writer Kurt Busiek and illustrator George Pérez.
Fictional character biography
Maria de Guadalupe Santiago was born near the village of the Kamekeri in the (fictional) South American nation of Costa Verde. The Kamekeri are a simple people whose ancestors worshipped the ancient gods until the arrival of the Spaniards. The Spanish missionaries helped to modernize the Kamekeri's lives and taught them their Christian beliefs. The conversion of the Kamekeri led to an abandonment of the ancient beliefs and gods. Legends say the Kamekeri's gods left for the heavens, except for one. Peliali, the Volcano goddess, vowed to stay among her chosen people and to provide them with her protection.[volume & issue needed]
Silverclaw's father, Jaime Santiago, was a Kamekeri villager who studied the ancient beliefs and pantheon. He travelled into the mountains where Peliali was said to dwell and returned with stories of encountering the volcano goddess. Santiago was ridiculed and denounced by the church for his reports of Peliali, but he continued to visit her mountain despite the mocking of the Kamekeri. Months passed, and Santiago returned with an infant who he claimed was his daughter and the daughter of Peliali. The child was given a Christian name and baptized. During the baptism, little Lupe's ability to transform into were-forms manifested. Due to her bizarre and often uncontrolled transformations, she was the target of constant teasing and whispered fear from the Kamekeri.[volume & issue needed]
As she grew up, Lupe's father taught her of her heritage and told her stories of her mother. But each time he would take her to visit Peliali's mountain home, there was no sign of the volcano goddess. When Lupe was still a child, her father died, and she was taken in by the local church orphanage, which was funded by ChildCare, an American charity for international orphans. The sisters who ran the orphanage were nervous about Lupe's strange powers and considered them ungodly. When
Over the years, Lupe frequently wrote to Edwin Jarvis and marvelled at his tales of the Avengers, coming to regard him as an uncle. Lupe rejected her past and deeply desired to be modern and worldly. She was always the first to try new things, like piercing her nose and buying CDs from America. She dreamed of visiting the US and attending University there. Despite all this, she never forgot her father's teachings and kept the ceremonial garb he designed as a reminder of her heritage and destiny.[1]
Meeting the Avengers
Years later, Lupe journeyed to America to attend Empire State University and finally meet her "Tio Edwin".
Kulan Gath
The second adventure was initiated by Silverclaw herself. Silverclaw receives an urgent message from Costa Verde. Fearing the worst, she sought the Avengers' help. The team accompanied her to Costa Verde and discovered Silverclaw's village had been conquered and transformed by
Using the electrically charged weapons of the guards to provide Warbird with a power boost, the Avengers were able to free themselves. Silverclaw attacks Kulan Gath but soon realizes her only hope is Peliali herself. Seeking to increase her mother's power to enable her to escape Kulan Gath, Lupe appeals to the Kamekeri in an attempt to restore their faith in Peliali. Her efforts succeed, and Peliali escapes Gath's initial murder attempt. Gath's dark masters claim Gath instead, and the village is restored. Peliali did not fare quite so well as her beloved village. Gath's blow hadn't killed her directly but was soon fatal. Silverclaw gets a chance to say goodbye before Peliali dies.[5]
Silverclaw returns to the ESU and focuses on studying topics she believes will help her people. The Scarlet Witch offers her an Avengers reserve slot. Silverclaw accepts the membership and joins the Avengers in responding to the
Silverclaw was also in the Avengers: Celestial Quest eight-issue limited series. (November 2001 - June 2002).
Civil War
Silverclaw was seen fighting Ms. Marvel, who was attempting to get her to join the heroes supporting the Superhuman Registration Act during the Civil War. Silverclaw was vehemently against the SHRA because, as she says, it is not the law in her country. As a result, a pitched battle between the two occurred.[8] It is later confirmed that she was captured.[9] Tony Stark states that despite her tenure with the Avengers, he does not consider Silverclaw a likely participant in the 50 States Initiative, given her original resistance to the SHRA and her status as a citizen of another country.[10]
Silverclaw, along with fellow superheroes
Powers and abilities
Silverclaw possesses the superhuman ability to mimic the physical characteristics of various animals native to rainforests and jungles. Thus far, Lupe has demonstrated the following animal aspects:
In her powered form, Silverclaw's skin assumes a silvery quality. This silver skin also manifests whenever Silverclaw assumes an animal form. It has not been revealed if Lupe's silver skin is merely cosmetic or if it possesses superhuman qualities of its own. As a shape-shifter, Lupe has complete control of her form. Through force of will, she has overcome powerful transformative enchantments and reverted to her true form, such as when Diablo attempted to turn her into salt.
Reception
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2017) |
Newsarama ranked Silverclaw as the sixth worst Avengers member describing her story as "a little better than Triathlon's, but the character was infinitely lamer" and that she had the power to "dress like an extra from a Tarzan film".[13]
References
- ^ Avengers, Vol. 3 #28
- ISBN 978-1-4165-3141-8.
- ^ Avengers Vol. 3, #8
- ^ Avengers Vol. 3, #28
- ^ Avengers Vol. 3, #29
- ^ Avengers Vol. 3, #39-40
- ^ Avengers Vol. 3, #48
- ^ Fantastic Four #538
- ^ Civil War Files one-shot
- ^ Civil War Battle Damage Report one-shot
- ^ Ms. Marvel #18
- ^ Ms. Marvel #20
- ^ "The 10 WORST AVENGERS of All Time". Newsarama. Retrieved 2 September 2017.