Skein (character)
Skein | |
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Menagerie | |
Notable aliases | Gypsy Moth, Sybarite |
Abilities | Telekinesis Levitation |
Skein (real name Sybil Dvorak, also known as Gypsy Moth and Sybarite) is a fictional character, a mutant supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The character first appeared in Spider-Woman vol 1. #10 as Gypsy Moth, and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Carmine Infantino.[1]
Fictional character biography
Sybil Dvorak was born in
Wandering onto the set of a remake of the movie Dracula, which was being filmed on location in Romania, she met the star, Jason Reed.[citation needed] He romanced her and convinced her to come with him back to his home in Los Angeles. Dvorak was essentially a prisoner in the house, as she was an illegal immigrant since Reed would not marry her. Reed was constantly away on "trips", and Dvorak feared that he was having affairs. She wove herself a costume using her powers, began calling herself Gypsy Moth, and directed her feelings of anger and betrayal by attacking Hollywood social gatherings.[2] Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) confronted Gypsy Moth at one such gathering and offered her friendship, but Dvorak tried to kill her in response, insisting she has no use for friends. Drew's boyfriend, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jerry Hunt, shot Gypsy Moth, knocking her unconscious. However, Spider-Woman flew Gypsy Moth away from the party so that the authorities would not take her.[3]
Soon after, Sybil managed to get her
She took on the name of
Spider-Woman was also captured by Tick-Tock and Locksmith. Gypsy Moth was forced to work with her nemesis in order to escape, and then entangled Locksmith and Tick-Tock in their own clothing, leaving them out in the open for the police to find. She then reluctantly accepted an invitation from Spider-Woman to a victory party for Locksmith's former captives.
The
Gypsy Moth later left the Night Shift, and joined the
As a part of Hawkeye's team of Thunderbolts, Skein helped thwart the Crimson Cowl by effectively unraveling the Crimson Cowl's costume, rendering her powerless. As a member of the Thunderbolts, Sybil fought a S.H.I.E.L.D. team and was present when the original team of Thunderbolts returned to Earth after having their own adventure on Counter-Earth.[12]
Afterwards, the two Thunderbolts teams came together for a celebration. Members of the two teams contemplated whether to stay with or leave the group; Sybil announced that she did not intend to stay. Part of the reason Sybil had stayed with the team was the challenge of seducing Songbird but once rebuffed she saw no reason to stay.[13] She retained her powers following M-Day.[14]
During the Dark Reign storyline Skein is revealed as a member of the Initiative's new team for the state of Delaware, the Women Warriors.[15]
During the
Sybil later appeared as a member of the
During the "Opening Salvo" part of the "Secret Empire" storyline, Sybil is once again seen as Gypsy Moth where she is recruited by Baron Helmut Zemo to join the Army of Evil.[19]
During the "Spider-Geddon" storyline, Sybil in her Skein alias is seen with Night Shift members Digger, Dansen Macabre, the Brothers Grimm, and new member Waxman when they rob a bus. During this robbery, Skein robs the bus' people of their clothes. The group is thwarted by Superior Octopus whose outfit was made to be immune to Skein's abilities. Superior Octopus agrees to spare them more pain in exchange that the Night Shift becomes his agents where he will compensate them from his own funds. They agree to the terms and are ordered to return the stolen items. Superior Octopus leaves advising them never to cross him or they won't live long enough to regret it.[20]
Powers and abilities
Sybil has the ability to telekinetically manipulate materials and objects with her mind. Because all matter has a powerful and specific "texture" to her mind, she prefers to only manipulate "soft" substances like fibers and other malleable, yielding substances (this preference extends to the point of her having a strong aversion to mentally manipulating anything hard or solid). Thus she confines her manipulation to such substances as fabrics (both organic and synthetic) and organic tissue such as that of plants or animals. The maximum amount of material she can manipulate at once is equivalent to the amount of weight she can lift physically. By concentrating, she can levitate herself and move through the air as if she were swimming, at up to a top speed of 20 miles per hour for periods of up to a half-hour before tiring from the mental exertion. She can carry loads weighing no more than her own body weight while airborne.[21]
Canon of Sybil's wings
Marvel canon is inconsistent on the nature of her wings. Her origin story in Spider-Woman #48 recounts that she "wove" her wings using her telekinetic power. However, her first appearance in Spider-Woman #10 shows her wings growing out of slits in the skin of her back, and even established that they are connected to her nervous system.
References
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
- ^ a b c Spider-Woman #48
- ^ Spider-Woman #10
- ^ Spider-Woman #50
- ^ The Avengers #240
- ^ Captain America #330-331
- ^ Solo Avengers #3
- ^ Captain America #389-391
- ^ Avengers West Coast #76
- ^ Avengers West Coast #79
- ^ Thunderbolts #65
- ^ Thunderbolts #74
- ^ Thunderbolts #75
- ^ X-Men: The 198 Files #1
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #26
- ^ Spider-Island: Spider-Woman #1
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3 #1
- ^ Sean Ryan (w), Brandon Peterson (p), Brandon Peterson (i). "I Can't Help Myself" The Amazing Spider-Man Annual, vol. 3, no. 1 (10 December 2014). United States: Marvel Comics.
- ^ Captain America: Steve Rogers #16. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Superior Octopus #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ "skein". Comic Vine.
External links
- Gypsy Moth/Skein at Marvel.com
- Gypsy Moth/Skein at Marvel Wiki
- Gypsy Moth/Skein at Comic Vine
- Gypsy Moth/Skein at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
- Gypsy Moth/Skein at Gay League