Nico Minoru: Difference between revisions
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# '''Unknown''' — Nico ironically shrinks [[Mole Man]] off-panel.<ref name="runv2#20">{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Brian K. Vaughan]] | Penciller = [[Adrian Alphona]] | Inker = [[Craig Yeung]] | Story = Dead Means Dead | Title = [[Runaways (comics)|Runaways]] | Volume = 2 | Issue = 20 | Date = | Publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] }}</ref> |
# '''Unknown''' — Nico ironically shrinks [[Mole Man]] off-panel.<ref name="runv2#20">{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Brian K. Vaughan]] | Penciller = [[Adrian Alphona]] | Inker = [[Craig Yeung]] | Story = Dead Means Dead | Title = [[Runaways (comics)|Runaways]] | Volume = 2 | Issue = 20 | Date = | Publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] }}</ref> |
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# '''"Caffeine Injection"''' — Nico gives Molly a second wind while fighting a giant monster.<ref name="runv2#20" /> |
# '''"Caffeine Injection"''' — Nico gives Molly a second wind while fighting a giant monster.<ref name="runv2#20" /> |
||
#'''"Now Here Comes The Sweet Talk"''' - Nico |
#'''"Now Here Comes The Sweet Talk"''' - Nico dictates what to say to Xavin to calm down the antiques dealer, who had turned himself into a demon through the use of a charm from Nico's parents. (Xavin is shape shifted into the wife of this antiques dealer at the time)<ref name="runv2#21">{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Brian K. Vaughan]] | Penciller = [[Adrian Alphona]] | Inker = [[Craig Yeung]] | Story = Dead Means Dead | Title = [[Runaways (comics)|Runaways]] | Volume = 2 | Issue = 21 | Date = | Publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] }}</ref> |
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# '''"Get Lost"''' — Nico makes [[Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)|Kate Bishop]] forget where she is during a fight.<ref name="yarun#2">{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Zeb Wells]] | Artist = [[Stefano Caselli]] | Story = Parental Guidance | Title = [[Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways]] | Volume = 1 | Issue = 2 | Date = | Publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] }}</ref> |
# '''"Get Lost"''' — Nico makes [[Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)|Kate Bishop]] forget where she is during a fight.<ref name="yarun#2">{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Zeb Wells]] | Artist = [[Stefano Caselli]] | Story = Parental Guidance | Title = [[Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways]] | Volume = 1 | Issue = 2 | Date = | Publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] }}</ref> |
||
# '''"Chill Out"''' — Nico stops the fighting between her friends and the [[Young Avengers]], but the spell also freezes the Hostel.<ref name="yarun#2" /> |
# '''"Chill Out"''' — Nico stops the fighting between her friends and the [[Young Avengers]], but the spell also freezes the Hostel.<ref name="yarun#2" /> |
Revision as of 03:18, 19 April 2007
Nico Minoru | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Runaways # 1 |
Created by | Brian K. Vaughan Adrian Alphona |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Nico Minoru |
Team affiliations | Runaways |
Notable aliases | Sister Grimm |
Abilities | Cast spells through the Staff of One |
Nico Minoru, sometimes known as Sister Grimm, is a Marvel Comics teenage superheroine in the comic book series Runaways. Nico was created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona, and first appears in Runaways vol. 1 #1 with many of the other staple characters of the Runaways title. Nico's trademark is a highly elaborate and ornate gothic wardrobe. She is also the only Asian-American on the team.
Nico ran away from her parents, Robert and Tina Minoru, after discovering they were part of a secret cabal of supervillians known as The Pride. During her escape, Nico inadvertently came into the possession of her parents' Staff of One, which has since become her weapon of choice. Nico inherited a propensity for magic from her dark wizard parents, and has sworn to use her gift to make up for her parents' villainous actions, and to prevent anyone from assuming their place at the top of Los Angeles organized crime.
Though originally portrayed as somewhat rebellious, Nico has demonstrated an increased sense of responsibility since she took on the leadership position of the Runaways in the second incarnation of the Runaways title. Despite her position as leader, Nico sometimes lapses into periods of vulnerability and guilt, and has admitted to having difficulty dealing with stress. She often questions her ability to lead the group, yet the runaways continue to follow her lead.
Fictional character biography
Runaways, volume 1 (March 2003 - September 2004)
During their parents' annual gathering, Nico Minoru, Alex Wilder, Karolina Dean, Gertrude Yorkes, Chase Stein, and Molly Hayes decide to spy on the meeting via secret passages hidden throughout the Wilder's mansion. Nico, Chase, Gertrude and Alex expect trouble and tell Karolina to take eleven-year old Molly out of the passageways. The remaining four clandestinely witness the twelve parents murder a girl. Later that night, after informing Karolina of the murder, the entire group (sans Molly) run away from home under the assumption that their parents are supervillains. Their first course of action, however, is to research more about each of their parents, and subsequently, rescue Molly. The group is caught by Nico's parents and Chase's parents while rummaging through Chase's shed. A battle ensues, and Nico inadvertently discovers that she has inherited her parents' abilities to manipulate magical energies when her mother attempts to stab her with the Staff of One and Nico's body instinctively absorbs it without difficulty or harm. The children subdue their parents and flee to Molly's house, where they have another confrontation, this time with Gertrude Yorkes' parents and Molly's father. Nico is accidentally struck with an axe, and involuntarily summons the Staff of One from within her body. She immediately uses it to knock out Dale Yorkes and casts her first spell, which freezes Stacey Yorkes in place. After an extended and unexpected fight with Leslie Dean, Karolina's mother, Nico and the other runaways escape with Molly and run to a dilapidated mansion hideout frequented by Chase; it becomes the group's makeshift base of operations and comes to be known as "The Hostel." The group decides to band together to put a halt to their parents' criminal activities, and each individual member who desires one briefly adopts a "codename" for themselves; Nico takes her AOL Instant Messenger screenname, "Sister Grimm." These codenames are used with diminishing frequency over the course of Runaways volume 1, and are never used again in the second volume.
During one of their first outings to get food and supplies for The Hostel, Nico, Karolina, Alex, and Chase encounter a robbery at local convenience store. The runaways scare two of the thieves who then flee, but one stays behind, claiming that his fleeing parents forced him to participate in the robbery. He says his name is Topher and the runaways spirit him back to The Hostel. After introducing himself to the rest of the runaways, Topher follows Nico back to her room and kisses her after they have a conversation about Nico's romantic life. Alex watches her through a hidden chamber behind a wall portrait in Nico's room. When he confronts Nico, she becomes angry at Alex for spying on her and teleports away. Topher proceeds to find and seduce Karolina. Nico walks in on the pair, and leaves The Hostel in great distress. Topher follows her outside The Hostel and tries to console Nico before revealing that he is a vampire. When he bites her neck, Nico ejects the Staff of One from her body, and it pierces a hole through Topher's chest. He states that only sunlight will kill a vampire, and jocularly adds that "Whedon got it wrong." Alex, who had presumably been tailing Topher, surprises the vampire and beats him on the head with a torch. Nico and Alex flee to The Hostel and Topher follows. He easily defeats the runaways and ponders his choices for whose blood to drink first. Karolina volunteers, reasoning that she doesn't want to be around to watch the world get any worse. As Topher drinks her blood, he spontaneously combusts in an iridescent explosion. Molly wakes up just in time to see Topher explode and cries for her mother, as Nico attempts to comfort her. The runaways theorize that since Karolina's alien powers are drawn from the sun, her blood must have been infused with solar radiation as well, resulting in Topher's demise. From this point on, Alex and Nico are considered to be a couple.
Nico is romantically involved with fellow runaway Alex Wilder until he reveals himself to be a mole for the runaways' parents. When the runaways confront their parents and their powerful allies, the Gibborim, Alex reveals that he planned to save Nico and himself, as well as their parents from the "Next Wave" that would annihilate humanity, but Nico rejects his advances and punches him in the face.
The Gibborim kill Alex for his part in disrupting their ritual sacrifice. The runaways' parents sacrifice themselves in order to hold the Gibborim at bay so that their children can escape. Despite his betrayal, Nico unsuccessfully tries to resurrect Alex with the Staff of One.
Runaways, volume 2 (February 2005 - present)
Following the death of their parents, the runaways are split up by California Social Services. Nico is sent to Father Flanagan's Orphanage, where she sees a psychologist. The teenagers escape their new homes to regroup and fight the supervillains that fill the void in Los Angeles left by the departure of the Pride, and Nico becomes their leader.
Nico claims to be "finished with boys", to the delight of teammate Karolina Dean, who secretly has a crush on her. When Karolina tries to kiss her, Nico tells her that she has no romantic feelings for her, but she is devastated when Karolina chooses to leave Earth with her fiancée Xavin and misses her friend deeply for months after her departure. Nico kisses Chase after a tense moment, and both become awkward immediately after. Chase is angry and says that Gert is the best thing in his life, and Nico is callously trying to ruin his relationship with her. They decide to keep it a secret from Gert. However, Gert finds out about the kiss when the new Pride divides and distracts the runaways long enough to kidnap Molly Hayes, which leads to an intense but brief argument that ends with the two joking and making up. After Gert dies, Nico deals with the grief by beginning a physical relationship with fellow runaway Victor Mancha.
After a battle with yet another bad artifact left behind by their evil parents, Nico believes that maybe it is time to take things a little more seriously with Victor, stating that after the likes of Alex and Topher she would like to settle down with a nice boy for a change. Before the two even have a chance to start the relationship Nico is abducted by Chase and has the Staff of One taken from her.
After being abducted, and believing she will be sacrificed to bring back Gert, Chase releases her, claiming he is going to kill himself instead. However, the Gibborim refuse the offer of Chase's soul, claiming it would not be innocent if he were to commit suicide. They attempt to take the powerless Nico as their sacrifice, but Victor - with Molly's help - saves Nico. Victor checks on her, and Nico shows her appreciation by kissing him deeply, seemingly agreeing to be his girlfriend. Nico and the Runaways retreat to the La Brea Tar Pits, but upon returning, they find Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents awaiting their return.
Mystic Arcana
Nico will be a featured character in the upcoming crossover event Mystic Arcana. [1]
The Staff of One
Nico's sole weapon is the Staff of One, a magical staff which can cast any spell imaginable. There are two demonstrated limitations to the Staff of One's power. First, Nico cannot cast the same spell twice, or the spell will "misfire" and a random effect will occur. For example, the second time she tried to cast a "Fumigation" spell, the Staff teleported Nico and Karolina miles outside of Los Angeles.[1] The sole demonstrated exception to this limitation is former runaway Alex Wilder. Alex used the Staff to cast a spell off-panel to bind Karolina's parents in power-dampening chains, and then uses the same spell later on Karolina.[2] The reason for this exception is unrevealed.
The second limitation of the Staff of One is that it cannot be used to bring people back from the dead. Nico discovered this limitation when she tried to resurrect her former lover Alex Wilder off-panel, between Runaways vol. 1 #17 and Runaways vol. 2 #2. She revealed her attempt to save Alex after a future version of Gertrude Yorkes died in the Hostel due to internal injuries. [3]
In the crossover event Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways, series author Zeb Wells established that Nico does not need to speak English words to cast spells; Nico cast a teleportation spell using a Latin phrase supplied to her by the Vision.[4]
Only Nico can summon the Staff, but anyone can cast spells with it. When not in use, the Staff retreats into her body, which Nico describes as "feel[ing] like I have something in my eye, but instead of my eye, it's... it's my soul." [5] To summon the Staff, Nico must be bleeding and then recite the incantation "When blood is shed, let the Staff of One emerge." The Staff always emerges from the center of her chest, passing through any clothing she is wearing without damaging the clothing or Nico, however the Staff will damage anyone or anything directly in its way. For example, the Staff emerges after the vampire Topher begins to drain Nico's blood and pierces directly through the center of his chest. [6]
Staff of One spells
The following is a list of the spells cast with Nico's Staff of One:
- "Freeze" — Gertrude Yorkes' mother freezes in place. [7]
- "Freeze" — The spell backfires the second time, producing pelicans instead.[5]
- "Smoke" — The Staff of One emits thick black smoke.[8]
- "Away" — Nico teleports away.[9]
- "Mud" — Mud shoots out of the end of the Staff of One.[9]
- "Burst" — Two spray paint cans explode.[10]
- "Rock and Roll" — The ground trembles.[11]
- "Waterproof" — A protective bubble forms for the runaways to sit inside and travel underwater.[12]
- "Float On" — Chase's parents levitate.[13]
- "Dance" — Alex Wilder cancels a paralysis spell cast by Nico's parents.[2]
- "Bondage" — Alex Wilder uses the spell to wrap Karolina in chains that negate her powers.[2]
- "Hands Off" — Nico destroys the Fistigons Alex is using.[2]
- "Deconstruct" — The villain Wrecker splits into several pieces.[14]
- Unknown — Nico unsuccessfully resurrects Alex Wilder off-panel.[3]
- Unknown — A small, three-dimensional image of Alex Wilder appears.[3]
- "Flashback" — Nico is able to see the past through the mind of a future version of Gert.[3]
- "Rockstars" — The Staff of One fires an energy bolt.[3]
- "You Suck" — Turbo's turbines suddenly work in reverse.[15]
- "Insulation" — Nico prevents Victor Mancha from using his electromagnetic abilities.[16]
- "Shine On, You Crazy Diamond" — Ultron is encased in a diamond; refers to the song by Pink Floyd.[17]
- "Fumigation" — Nico tries to use the spell again against Swarm, but it backfires and teleports her and Karolina a few miles outside Los Angeles because she already used it against Tarantula.[1]
- "Acid Rain" — A cloud of acid rain forms above the Hostel's security daemons.[18]
- "Old Lace to Old Yeller" — Old Lace transforms into a small dog.[19]
- "Hellfire" — The Staff of One shoots a fire blast at Spider-Man.[20]
- "Dreamtime" — Spider-Man falls into a deep sleep for several hours.[20]
- Unknown — Nico creates a flying carpet.[21]
- "Sunburst" — The Staff of One fires a light blast at Cloak impostor.[21]
- "Detox" — Chase Stein casts this spell to make the Cloak impostor vomit the Mutant Growth Hormone out of his system.[21]
- Unknown — Nico creates an astral projection of herself.[22]
- "Get to Work" — Chase's list of things he wants to do when he turns 18 turns into a wrench.[23]
- Unknown — Chase turns into a fish off-panel.[23]
- "Revelations" — Nico dispels the glamour disguising Geoffrey Wilder as Alex Wilder.[24]
- "Shut Up" — Nico creates a spinning "beam" that sends Chase flying.[24]
- Unknown — Nico muzzles Old Lace off-panel.[25]
- Unknown — Nico's uses the Staff of One to locate Molly, off-panel.[25]
- "Pixies, Find The Leak" — Nico creates pixies to find out how the new Pride is spying on her friends.[25]
- "Forget" — Young Geoff Wilder forgets his new Pride experiences.[26]
- Unknown — Nico undoes the spell that brought Geoff Wilder from 1985 to the present, returning him to his original time.[26]
- Unknown — Nico ironically shrinks Mole Man off-panel.[27]
- "Caffeine Injection" — Nico gives Molly a second wind while fighting a giant monster.[27]
- "Now Here Comes The Sweet Talk" - Nico dictates what to say to Xavin to calm down the antiques dealer, who had turned himself into a demon through the use of a charm from Nico's parents. (Xavin is shape shifted into the wife of this antiques dealer at the time)[28]
- "Get Lost" — Nico makes Kate Bishop forget where she is during a fight.[29]
- "Chill Out" — Nico stops the fighting between her friends and the Young Avengers, but the spell also freezes the Hostel.[29]
- "Wake Up" - Nico wakes Stature and Patriot after they had been tranquilized and knocked out, respectively, in the battle with Noh-Varr.[30]
- "Prodigium Effodio" - Nico teleports the Young Avengers and the Runaways into the control center of The Cube; Latin for "Excavating Monster".[31]
- Unknown- Nico imprisons the Silver Bullet Gang in a cage made of red beams.[32]
- "Be Quiet"- Chase significantly decreases the volume of Nico's voice.[33]
- "Yeah, Pretty Soon, I'll Just Be A Bad Dream"- Chase makes Nico fall asleep.[34]
Conceptual Changes
In Brian K. Vaughan's original pitch for the series, Nico was called Rachel Messina. Her parents were still magicians, but posed as wealthy antique dealers - This would eventually be the cover story used by Gert's time travelling parents. She was also originally supposed to use a spell book instead of the Staff of One.[35]
References
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Takeshi Miyazawa (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Starcrossed" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 7. Marvel Comics. Cite error: The named reference "runv2#7" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "The Good Die Young" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 17. Marvel Comics. Cite error: The named reference "runv1#17" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d e Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "True Believers" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 2. Marvel Comics. Cite error: The named reference "runv2#2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Zeb Wells (w), Stephano Caselli (p), Stephano Caselli (i). "Parental Guidance" Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways, no. 3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 7. Marvel Comics. Cite error: The named reference "runv1#7" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 10. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "Pride and Joy" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 8. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 9. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Takeshi Miyazawa (p), David Newbold (i). "Lost and Found" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 11. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "The Good Die Young" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 14. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "The Good Die Young" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 15. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "The Good Die Young" Runaways, vol. 1, no. 16. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "True Believers" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "True Believers" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "True Believers" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "True Believers" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "East Coast/West Coast" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 9. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "East Coast/West Coast" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 10. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "East Coast/West Coast" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 11. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b c Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "East Coast/West Coast" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 12. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Skottie Young (p). "X-Men/Runaways:Free" X-Men/Runaways:Free, vol. 1, no. 1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Parental Guidance" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 14. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Parental Guidance" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 15. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b c Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Parental Guidance" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 16. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Parental Guidance" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 18. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Dead Means Dead" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 20. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Dead Means Dead" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 21. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Zeb Wells (w), Stefano Caselli (a). "Parental Guidance" Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways, vol. 1, no. 2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Zeb Wells (w), Stefano Caselli (a). "Parental Guidance" Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways, vol. 1, no. 3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Zeb Wells (w), Stefano Caselli (a). "Parental Guidance" Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways, vol. 1, no. 4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Live Fast" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 22. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Live Fast" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 23. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), Craig Yeung (i). "Live Fast" Runaways, vol. 2, no. 24. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Runaways Vol. 1 Hardcover