Magma (comics)
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- For the Spider-Man/Iron Man villain, see Magma (Jonathan Darque)
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Magma (Amara Juliana Olivians Aquilla, also known as Alison Crestmere) is a fictional character, a superheroine from Marvel Comics. She first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #8, and was first called Magma in New Mutants vol. 1 #10.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Magma hails from the fictional country of Nova Roma (New Rome), a colony of the Roman Republic reportedly founded shortly after the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. The colony is hidden in modern Brazil and was ruled until recently by the immortal witch Selene. She is the daughter of Lucius Antonius Aquilla. He was presumably a member of the historical gens Antonia which claimed descent from Anton, son of Hercules. After the New Mutants visited Nova Roma, Magma joined them for a time. In New Mutants #53 (July, 1987), Magma recognized her grandmother, "many times removed" in a statue depicting the ancient lunar deity Selene. The witch Selene approached her to claim having been both the model for the statue and the ancestor in question.
It was during this time she developed a deep, personal relationship with the mutant Empath, despite the man having treated her friends cruelly.
It was later apparently revealed that Nova Roma was not Roman, but was created by Selene using mind control on British citizens to recreate Rome, and that Magma's real name was Allison Crestmere. While still under the influence of the "Allison" persona, she briefly resurfaced as a member of the New Hellions.
Later, she was one of the mutants who appeared, crucified, on the X-Men's lawn. While she was saved by a transfusion of Archangel's blood, when she went to sleep, she lapsed into a deep coma. She was revived by Elixir and another student, against the wishes of Professor X, who believed that forcibly reviving her would prove exceptionally traumatic to her mind. She accidentally destroyed the infirmary and fled. Further telepathic contact with Magma was rebuffed.
She eventually arrived in Los Angeles, Amara once more, to meet up with Cannonball, who had joined a splinter team of X-Men. She aided this team for a time, and when "Allison" was brought up by Cannonball, revealed that Elixir's healing had removed the "Alison" personality, and she now realised that that had been the deception.
Due to the events of House of M and the Decimation of mutants, Magma lost her boyfriend while the two were exploring the inside of a volcano at the exact moment that the depowering wave of the Scarlet Witch ran across Earth. His death temporarily drove her insane causing her to make the volcano erupt and attack a nearby town. She was later apprehended by Empath and brought to the Xavier Institute where she shares a tent with Skids and Outlaw. She is also being manipulated emotionally by the mutant Johnny Dee who is infatuated with her. Because of previous experience with being emotionally controlled, she incorrectly blames Empath who denies her accusations.
[edit] Alternate Versions
[edit] Age of Apocalypse
In the Age of Apocalypse, Amara, like many other young mutants, was recruited by Apocalypse and became one of his assassins. Fanatical and in total control of her powers, Magma was sent to London eliminate the leadership of the Human High Council; however, the attack was foiled by Weapon X (Logan), who killed Amara. The assassination attempt was actually a provocation on Apocalypse's behalf, who wanted the Council to amass its fleets, making them more vulnerable to be destroyed.
[edit] Days of Future Past
In an alternate version of the Days of Future Past future, a war between mutants and baseline humans, started by the latter, resulted in a mutant victory thanks to an alliance between Xavier's Institute and the Hellfire Club. Magma, alongside Sunspot, became the Chief Arbitrators of the Lords Cardinal, and created an idyllic state for mutants, while regular humans were left to fend for themselves. Mutants born to baseline humans were taken from their parents and those who opposed Magma and Sunspot were brainwashed by the Hellfire Club's agents[issue # needed].
[edit] Powers and abilities
Magma is a mutant with a variety of powers. These include the ability to psionically control the movement of the tectonic plates within the Earth's crust within limited areas, most likely no more than a radius of a few city blocks. Within this area she can create small but powerful earthquakes by psionically affecting the Earth's crust. She can also create flames and project blasts of heat that do not contain any molten rock. However, she apparently prefers to fire magma blasts rather than simple heat blasts, perhaps because the magma blasts have a solid impact that can knock down a target. The highest level of heat that Magma can generate is not yet known, but it is believed that she can reach at least 850 °Fahrenheit[citation needed]. It was also alluded to that she can psionically control fire, in X-Men: The 198.
She can also psionically cause magma, or molten rock, from far beneath Earth's surface to rise to and break through the surface, forming miniature volcanoes. She can also geokinetically project fiery blasts of magma at targets. Apparently she does so by turning nearby rock molten, or bringing up magma from below the surface of the earth, and then geokinetically hurling it at her target. When using her powers Magma's body shines with intense light and gives off tremendous heat. Her hair seems ablaze with fiery light. Neither her own heat nor heat from any other known source can burn or otherwise harm Magma. Although Magma has triggered small earth tremors without taking on her glowing form, she has never been seen to use her power to fire lava blasts while in her ordinary human appearance. Magma is not blinded by the light she gives off in this form.
Magma's power to create small earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is linked to her emotions. She could unintentionally create minor earthquakes and small-scale volcanic activity by losing control of her temper and becoming unusually angry.
Aquilla is a skilled swords-woman due to her training in Nova Roma. She has extensive knowledge of ancient Roman culture and is fluent in Latin.
[edit] Appearances in other media
[edit] Television
- In the cartoon X-Men: Evolution, Magma is a Brazilian student with her connection to Nova Roma not being mentioned, and a member of the X-Men subset known as the New Mutants. She was a rather shy and insecure girl, though with a quite fiery temper if she ever got angry, and who also had a strong friendship with fellow New Mutant Tabitha Smith aka Boom Boom. A special episode featuring a vacation trip to The Bahamas focused on Magma in particular; during this trip, Magma's association with volcanoes was clearly emphasized. She was voiced by Alexandra Carter.
[edit] Films
- In the film X2, her name appears on a list of names Mystique scrolls through on Stryker's computer while looking for Magneto's file.
[edit] Video games
- In the videogame, X-Men Legends, (portrayed by Cree Summer) Magma is a central figure who is a new inductee in Xavier's school in the game's storyline and is depicted as an American girl under the Alison Crestmere name. While not initially usable in missions, she becomes a prominent member of the team and a vital key to victory. However, she was not featured in the sequel, X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.
