Sunspot (Marvel)
Sunspot is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Roberto da Costa
At Rio de Janeiro, the 14 year old da Costa was playing soccer during the championship match between Vilar schools Thunderbolts and their rivals the Dynamos. During the game, two players from the rival team illegal hit him with this not being caught by the referee. This caused Roberto to attack them where the offending players openly made racist remarks about da Costa and started beating him. It was then that his Mutant abilities first manifested where he threw the player across the field causing everyone to run away in terror. Only his father and his girlfriend, Juliana Sandoval, rushed to his aid. Roberto’s highly public transformation attracted the attention of both Donald Pierce of the Hellfire Club and Professor Charles Xavier. Regrettably, Pierce got to him first. His Hellfire Club agents kidnapped Roberto’s girlfriend Juliana and held her for ransom. When Roberto brought the ransom, the guards, revealing their true intentions, prepared to kill both of them. Roberto fought back, calling on his newly discovered mutant power. Although he fought valiantly, he quickly ran out of energy, leaving both him and Juliana at the mercy of the guards. Fortunately, Xi’an “Shan” Coy Manh and Dani Moonstar, new recruits of Xavier’s, arrived at that time and intervened, giving Roberto the upper hand. The New Mutants emerged victorious, but not before Juliana took a stray bullet and died while saving Roberto’s life. Vowing revenge, Roberto traveled to the United States with his new friends to save the captive Professor Xavier from Pierce. Although they came into conflict with another young mutant named Sam Guthrie who was working for Pierce, Roberto and his friends proved victorious, defeating Pierce and rescuing Xavier. Roberto could have killed Pierce for what he did to his girlfriend, but he restrained himself. Along with Dani, Shan and Rahne Sinclair, Roberto joined Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester. Roberto was surprised when Sam Guthrie showed up too. At first he did not trust Sam because of his initial alliance with Pierce, but decided to give him a second chance at Xavier’s urging. Roberto adopted the codename Sunspot. He quickly became close friends with Sam, whose nom de guerre was Cannonball. (Marvel Graphic Novel v1 #4)
New Mutants
During their week-long respite back at Xavier’s, Roberto and his teammates made an excursion into New York City and attracted the unwanted attention of a group of street thugs. The New Mutants retaliated but, in the ensuing battle, Sunspot and Wolfsbane were knocked unconscious, kidnapped and taken to a scientist who tested experimental drugs on teenagers. The scientist intended to transform Sunspot and Wolfsbane into pawns he could use to combat two of his former subjects, Cloak and Dagger, who were now crime-fighters dedicated to stopping crimes like his. Before the New Mutants, with the help of Spider-Man, Cloak and Dagger, could save them, both Bobby and Rahne were injected with the same synthetic drug that gave Cloak and Dagger their powers. The darkness of the drug consumed both of them, amplifying their powers and driving them berserk. Luckily, Cloak and Dagger nullified them and dispelled their enhanced abilities. Roberto and the others assumed they were free of the drug’s influence— an assumption they would later discover to be wholly false. (Marvel Team-Up Annual v1 #6)
The expedition had a bright-side: while in Nova Roma, the New Mutants added a new member to their ranks, the Nova Roman girl Amara Aquilla. When the team returned to Westchester with Amara, who adopted the codename Magma, Roberto worked his signature charm on her to make her feel comfortable at the school. (New Mutants v1 #13)
Meanwhile, Bobby’s father was contacted by the Hellfire Club and became a member of its secret Inner Circle under the alias of White Rook. He was the only person in the Inner Circle without superhuman powers. His performance in that role was almost unnoticed. (New Mutants v1 #23)
Sometime later, after taking a second expedition trip to Nova Roma, Roberto returned to the School for Gifted Youngsters. (New Mutants v1 #43)
Later, during a trip to Asgard, Bobby gained a job as security in a tavern. After lifting Volstagg over his head, he befriended the Warriors Three. Bobby seriously entertained the idea of staying, as heroes were honored and worshiped in Asgard and he was hated and feared as a mutant on Earth. (New Mutants Special Edition v1 #1)
Fallen Angels
After defeating Magus and returning home to Xavier’s School, things returned to normal. However, during a casual soccer game, Sunspot overreacted to a collision with Sam and lashed out at him with his mutant powers, nearly killing him. Torn apart by guilt and shunned by his teammates, he went to Magneto’s office for guidance, only to find the office empty and his confidential student file lying on the table. Roberto made the mistake of reading what former headmaster Professor X wrote about him during an evaluation: that Roberto’s arrogance and quick temper may one day lead him down the same path as his father. Horrified, Bobby fled the school and went to New York City. His teammate Warlock, worried about Roberto’s wellbeing, followed suit. (Fallen Angels v1 #1) Bobby was rescued by Warlock, who tried to convince Bobby to return to the New Mutants, but Bobby felt he was not worthy to rejoin the team and wished to be left a pariah. Warlock suggested that they stick together. (Fallen Angels v1 #2)
X-Force
Gideon contacted him the night and informed him that his father Emmanuel da Costa had died (New Mutants v1 #98) He was handling the funeral arrangements for the Costa's and had contacted Roberto's mother but urged that the young Sunspot now needed to take over Da Costa International to provide it with leadership. This resulted in Roberto meeting with Cable and stating that he had to leave the New Mutants as a result. (New Mutants v1 #99)
Da Costa waited until Gideon's return where he came with a fellow External named Crule with Roberto having doubts about this person. However, this came to anger Gideon who did not like having his decisions questioned and he proceeded with beating up Sunspot leaving him unconscious. (X-Force v1 #12) Sunspot was then subjected to a series of experiments at Ophrah Industries with these being of such intensity that there were fears that he could die in the process. (X-Force v1 #13) At the New Mexico research facility, the scientists looked to see if Da Costa's powers could face continuous solar absorption. (X-Force v1 #14)
After waking up, he found himself in the midst of a celebration that honoured him but quickly determined that this was simply one of Selene's illusions. The immortal Mutant then made an attempt to recruit da Costa into the Hellfire Club where she offered him wealth and power where she suggested he could make a difference in the world. However, Roberto would refuse as he neither trusted Selene and also commented how his own father's greed had destroyed the man. It was then that Selene offered to help restore Juliana Sandoval to life with Roberto agreeing due to her having been the love of his life. This led to him leaving X-Force and joining the Hellfire Club where he became Selene's Black Rook. (X-Force v1 #98)
Bobby later came the head of the Los Angeles branch of the X-Corporation where he worked alongside in securing Mutant interests in society. (X-Treme X-Men v1 #35)
He was among several X-Men teams that defended San Francisco from the Skrull invasion. (Secret Invasion: v1 X-Men #1)
Avenger
Roberto later came to be recruited into the Avengers alongside Cannonball. (Avengers v5 #2)
The nature of this new, expanded, and diverse Avengers roster allowed Captain America to dispatch multiple squads on missions best suited to their particular skills. While the team’s powerhouses like Thor, Hyperion and Captain Universe attended to the more cosmic matters, Sunspot found himself serving on smaller, more nuanced missions that required a modicum of precision. One such mission required that he, Cannonball, Shang-Chi, Black Widow, Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman travel to a casino in Macao to determine the nature of a weapon Advanced Ideas Mechanics was purportedly selling. While the women on the team attempted to extract information from the potential buyers, Bobby and Sam distracted the entourage of lower-level A.I.M. agents. Their strategy: drinking and gambling with the men to keep them busy. During their night of hard partying, Bobby enacted a long-term strategy by convincing a pair of A.I.M. operatives to act as double agents for him in their organization, putting them on the DaCosta International payroll as informants. (Avengers v5 #11)
After the Avengers neutralized the latest threat to Earth, Sunspot and Cannonball were dispatched on a mission to retrieve genetic material of the Hulk’s that A.I.M. stole and distilled into a 'Hulk drug'. Shortly after sneaking onto A.I.M. Island, Bobby rendezvoused with Travis, one of the A.I.M. agents he had put on retainer. Travis supplied them with the A.I.M. gear they needed to sneak inside the facility. The operation quickly went south, however, and Sunspot and Cannonball were backed into a corner by A.I.M.’s high-tech weaponry. With few options left—but perhaps more for the novelty of it—they decided to take two hits of the Hulk drug, which would transform them both into Hulks for an hour or two. With their temporary infusion of super-strength, they made quick work of their A.I.M. tormenters. (All-New Marvel Now! Point One v1 #1)
He later sought to bring Advanced Idea Mechanics under the banner of Da Costa International as he wanted to use their help in stopping the Incursion crisis. To accomplish this, he met with the Board of Directors and attempted to bring Monica Rappaccini into the fold. However, she betrayed him as her loyalties lay with Andrew Forson where she attempted to kill Roberto along with the company's board with a bomb but da Costa managed to safely stop it from killing everyone in the corporate headquarters. (Avengers World v1 #18)
In the aftermath, he decided that after the events possibly taken years off his life that he wanted to get back to his roots. Thus, Roberto decided to leave much of the money with Toni Ho for her future efforts whilst he departed as Citizen X. (Avengers v1 #690)
After his return to Earth, he came to assist Agent Jimmy Woo with his investigations into the mysterious Eternity Mask. (Marvel Comics v1 #1000)
House of X
Sunspot would later become resurrected through the use of the Resurrection Protocols. After the establishment of the nation of Krakoa, he was one of many Mutants that came to reside on the living island that was the home of their people. (New Mutants v4 #1)
Moving to Planet Arakko, he was at his bar the Red Lagoon when an incident emerged between Vulcan and the Shi'ar delegation. A further confrontation by the intervention of Cable and Abigail Brand the latter of whom wanted to form a new team of X-Men based on the world. However, this incident made Roberto feel uneasy about what Brand and doing with him looking to form a team to uncover her true goals. He approached Magneto about joining this team with Storm also joining the group where she said that instead of forming an X-Men team that they make a Brotherhood instead. (X-Men: Red v2 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
After joining the Hellfire Club, he came to serve the role of Black Rook to Selene's Black Queen. (X-Force v1 #98) As the head of Avengers Idea Mechanics, he came to lead an Avengers team under the code name of Citizen V. (U.S. Avengers v1 #1) After departing the Avengers, he believed that he had changed his code name from Citizen V to Citizen X. (Avengers v1 #690)
He had been subjected to racism due to his mixed heritage where he was called a half-breed due to his dark skin. (Marvel Graphic Novel v1 #4)
Roberto's father was Emmanual da Costa who was a noted businessman in Brazil and someone who was proud of his son. (Marvel Graphic Novel v1 #4) He was said to be strong and never showed his opponents his weakness. His father said that he could see greatness in Roberto and that he could survive through hard times. Emmanuel imparted on Roberto the importance of being part of a team and that a leader served as the heart of a group with them inspiring their comrades to hardships. (Avengers World v1 #18) Emmanual da Costa was said to had grown up a barefoot houseboy where he swore to be rich enough to own a mansion with his mother who had been a maid coming to be the mistress of a rich millionaire. Emmanual himself became a millionaire when he was 20 years old and when he was 30 years old he was an economic and political force who had founded a business empire. Da Costa came to marry the most beautiful woman in the world and was overjoyed when she bore him a son. (New Mutants v1 #7) Roberto and his father would box with one another with Emmanual teaching him to take hits. According to him, Berto had the traits of a natural born leader and had a fire in him. His father believed that Roberto's heart and compassion were his greatest traits but that in a brutal world he had to be capable of fighting for what he believed in. (Avengers World v1 #19)
She was noted to had been an archaeologist who loved her work. However, this meant that she was always away and busy on digs with Roberto sometimes believing she loved her work than her family. (New Mutants v1 #7)
At school, his girlfriend was Juliana Sandoval who stood by him after the manifestation of his powers but was killed by people that targeted Roberto for being a Mutant with him regretting being unable to save her. (Marvel Graphic Novel v1 #4)
Powers and abilities
As a Mutant, Roberto da Costa had superhuman abilities with him registering strong readings on Cerebro. (Marvel Graphic Novel v1 #4)
When his powers manifested, da Costa's body pitched black and radiated with energy where he came to possess super-strength. (Marvel Graphic Novel v1 #4)
In other regions, such as Asgard, his power is significantly enhanced, allowing him - with much effort - to lift an Asgardian like Volstagg off the ground for a few seconds before suffering a backache. (New Mutants Special Edition v1 #1)
Over time, it was shown that his invulnerability had improved to the point that he could withstand the force of a speeding eighteen-wheeler traveling at speeds of 100 mph, and survived an A.I.M explosive charge attached to his side. (Avengers World v1 #18)
He could turn light energy from an energy blast into power and fire it back against his opponent with greater force. (Avengers World v1 #19)
At Ophrah Industries, Gideon subjected Sunspot to experiments where the limits of his solar energy absorption capacities by 3000%. (X-Force v1 #15)
His father was the owner of Da Costa International that was a global worldwide company. (New Mutants v1 #98) It was a business empire that was a diversified corporation with many subsidiaries. In the wake of his death, leadership over the company fell to Sunspots hands. (New Mutants v1 #99)
Through the manipulations of Selene, he came to join the ranks of the elite Hellfire Club where he served as Black Rook. (X-Force v1 #98)
Notes
- Sunspot was created by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod where he made his first appearance in Marvel Graphic Novel v1 #4 (November, 1982).
Alternate Versions
- In Gambit and the X-Ternals v1 #1 (1995), an alternate version of Sunspot appeared in the setting of the Age of Apocalypse reality designated as Earth-295 in the Multiverse.
In other media
Television
- In X-Men: Evolution, Sunspot appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Mike Coleman.
- In X-Men '97, Robert da Costa appeared in the setting of the animated television series of the 1990s show where he was voiced by actor Gui Agustini.
Films
- In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Sunspot appeared in the live-action 2014 film where he was portrayed by actor Adan Canto. By 2023, the Sentinels had taken over the world in their mission to eliminate mutants and X-Gene carriers. Roberto had joined the surviving X-Men along with Bishop, Warpath, Blink. While they were hiding in an underground bunker in Moscow, Roberto and the other X-Men were warned of a Sentinel attack by Warpath and Blink. At Bishop's command, Roberto generated solar energy for him to absorb. As the Sentinels started to attack them, Roberto powered up in his solar form to fight back, blasting the Sentinels with his energy. While Roberto and the other mutants were holding off the Sentinels, Kitty Pryde and Bishop fled the battle to secure themselves in a safe. There, Kitty began the process of using her powers to send Bishop's consciousness back in time to warn them of the attack. As this was happening, the Sentinels began adapting to the X-Men's powers and mercilessly slaughtered them. Roberto was assaulted by a Sentinel that enveloped itself in ice and counteracted his solar form. Fortunately, Kitty and Bishop were successful in their mission and the timeline was altered, ensuring that Roberto and the X-Men were never in Moscow at all.
- In The New Mutants, Sunspot appeared in the setting of the 2020 live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Henry Zaga.
Video games
- In Marvel: Contest of Champions, Sunspot appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
Appearances
- New Mutants v1: (1982)
- X-Force v1:
- X-Treme X-Men v1:
- Uncanny X-Men v1:
- Avengers v1:
- Avengers World v1:
- New Avengers v3:
- U.S.Avengers v1:
- Avengers:
- Uncanny X-Men v1:
- New Mutants v4:
- Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon v1:
- X-Men: Red v1:
External Links
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