Sunspot, one of Marvel’s mutant superheroes connected to the X-Men, has some bright, hot powers. A creation of Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod, Sunspot can absorb and channel solar power, manipulate heat and light, and send concussive blasts. A founding member of the New Mutants, he is known to be ambitious, impulsive, and idealistic.
Sunspot, aka Roberto da Costa, was introduced in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (September 1982). He is the son of Emmanuel, an Afro-Brazilian businessman, and Nina, a white American archaeologist. Since his father was a self-made man he constantly pushed Roberto in academics and athletics. Because Emmanuel encouraged him, Roberto became a great soccer player and was considered for the Olympic team.
His mutant abilities manifested during a soccer game while on the field when he was assaulted by racists on the opposing team. As they beat him, his powers transformed him into solid black solar energy. Frightened by what they were witnessing, everyone fled the stadium – except his girlfriend Juliana.
A few days later a group of mutant haters led by Donald Pierce kidnaped Juliana to lure Sunspot into a trap. He put up a good fight but lost when his powers began to run low. During the fight, Juliana jumped in front of a bullet to save him and she died in the process.
Karma and Psyche rescued him and they went after Donald Pierce. Professor X found the trio, along with Wolfsbane and Cannonball, and offered to train them and together the quintet became the found members of the New Mutants. Though Professor X initially wanted them to just be students, they went on to become superheroes.
Keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram for more character profiles! And if you're interested in more Sunspot tales, head to your local comic shop and check out the following.
MARVEL COMICS
(W) Chris Claremont, Bill Mantlo (A) Various (CA) Bob McLeod
Meet the future of the X-Men! Karma. Wolfsbane. Sunspot. Cannonball. Moonstar. They're teenagers, thrown together by the X-gene that makes them different. Follow the adventures of these young mutants from Karma's first meeting with Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four to their early days at the Xavier School! The New Mutants' on-the-job training begins in earnest with battles against Sentinels, the Silver Samurai, Viper and the Hellfire Club; a team-up with Spidey and Cloak and Dagger - and the team gets a taste of life as X-Men in a disturbing encounter with the Brood! Plus: Meet fiery new recruit Magma, and discover how Colossus's sister, Illyana, became the demon sorceress known as Magik! Collecting MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #4, NEW MUTANTS (1983) #1-12, UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #167, MARVEL TEAM-UP ANNUAL #6, MAGIK (1983) #1-4 and material from MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #100.
Volume #1 in the New Mutants Epic Collections
Rated T
In Shops: Mar 08, 2017
SRP: $39.99
MARVEL PREVIEWS Page #131
MARVEL COMICS
(W) Nunzio Defilippis, Christina Weir, Chris Claremont (A) Keron Grant, Mark A. Robinson, Carlo Barberi, Khary Randolph, Joshua Middleton, Bill Sienkiewicz (CA) Randy Green
Dani Moonstar, Karma and Wolfsbane - the former X-Men-in-training who helped define a generation - are back to pass their wisdom on to the next one! But how will the New Mutants react to Professor X's up-and-coming students, who think of them as "Old Mutants"? Find out as a new class debuts at the Xavier School - including Prodigy, Wallflower, Wither, Surge, Elixir, Wind Dancer and more! They may be the future of their species - if they can survive threats like the Reavers and the hate group Purity! As the latest squad comes into its own, the originals settle into new roles as mentors - but will Wolfsbane's desire to regain her powers cause her to cross a line? Plus: Legendary NEW MUTANTS creative team Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz return for an original class reunion! Collecting NEW MUTANTS (2003) #1-13 and material from X-MEN UNLIMITED (1993) #42-43.
Rated T+
In Shops: Jan 24, 2018
SRP: $34.99
MARVEL PREVIEWS Page #110
MARVEL COMICS
(W) Vita Ayala (A/CA) Rod Reis
On the edge of Krakoan society, the New Mutants let loose! Welcome to the Wild Hunt - going big, blowing things up and combining powers to see who can be crowned king of the mountain. But something lurks in the trees. Something old - and hungry. And its favorite prey is young mutants! As Karma and Dani delve deeper into their nightmares, a spider sets his eyes on the most vulnerable among the team. And as the Wild Hunt continues, someone vanishes without a trace, plans long in motion begin to unfurl and children who play at being adults must now prepare for the fight of their lives. With one among them lost in Otherworld, can the New Mutants find and extract their friend without losing themselves in the process? Collecting NEW MUTANTS (2019) #14-18.
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 04, 2021
SRP: $15.99
MARVEL PREVIEWS Page #97
This article originally appeared in Gemstone Publishing’s e-newsletter Scoop.
