Spiral (character): Difference between revisions

|caption = ArtworkSpiral fromas depicted in ''[[Exiles'' Vol.(Marvel 1Comics)|Exiles]]'' #18 (December 2002).<br>Art by [[Mike McKone]].

'''Spiral''' ('''Rita Wayword''') is a character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]], usually those featuring the [[X-Men]] family of characters. Created by writer [[Ann Nocenti]] and artist [[Art Adams]], the character first appeared in ''[[Longshot (Marvel Comics)|Longshot]]'' #1 (September 1985).<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=350}}</ref> She was established as a lieutenant for that titular character's archenemy, [[Mojo (comics)|Mojo]]. Prior to Longshot joining the X-Men, Spiral also became a recurring adversary of that team and each of the various X-Men subgroups, as well as serving as the [[archenemy]] -turned -ally of X-Men member [[Betsy Braddock|Psylocke]]. She then joined a team of [[X-Force]] led by [[X-Men]] member [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]].

Spiral first appeared in issue #1 of the 1985 ''[[Longshot (Marvel Comics)|Longshot]]'' [[Limited series (comics)|miniseries]] by [[Ann Nocenti]] and [[Art Adams]] (though her alter ego Ricochet Rita did not debut until the second issue of the series), and subsequently appeared 2two months later as a member of [[Mystique (comics)|Mystique's]] [[Freedom Force (comics)|Freedom Force]] team in ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #199.<ref>''Uncanny X-Men'' #199</ref> Spiral began as one of 20 minor characters that Adams designed on a character sheet as the pursuers of the character Longshot.<ref name=ComicsInterview>[[Kraft, David Anthony]] (1987). ''[[Comics Interview]]'' #46 (1987). [[Fictioneer Books]]. pp. 16 - 27.</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Ash|first=Roger |title=Ann Nocenti and Arthur Adams Bet on a Longshot|journal=[[Back Issue!]]|issue=29 |pages=26–31|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date=August 2008|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> Her six arms were inspired by deities in [[Hindu mythology]].<ref name=MarvelAge>"Art Adams interview". "The Mutant Report". Volume 3. ''[[Marvel Age]]'' #71 (February 1989). Marvel Comics. pp. 12 - 15.</ref> Although Adams gave little thought to Spiral, as he had developed ideas for the other characters he had drawn on the sheet, Nocenti decided to make her a major character, and gave her the name Spiral.<ref name=ComicsInterview/> The character sheet is reproduced in the back of the ''X-Men: Longshot'' hardcover collection.<ref>[[Nocenti, Ann]] (w), [[Adams, Art]] (p), [[Portacio, Whilce]]; Anderson, Brent Eric (i). ''X-Men: Longshot''. 1989. Marvel Comics.</ref>

As originally conceived, Spiral and Ricochet Rita were two separate entities. When the character was co-opted by Claremont for use in the pages of ''Uncanny X-Men'', this was continued with Rita appearing in the pages of ''Excalibur: Mojo Mayhem'' and ''Uncanny X-Men Annual'' #12 as a prisoner of Mojo.

Spiral has powerful mystical abilities. When Spiral was first introduced, she was a powerful sorceress and during her first two encounters with the X-Men, singlehandedly defeated the team. She can cast spells to stun, depower, or immobilize her superhuman opponents, as she did to depower and imprison the Avengers and West Coast Avengers once they were lying still long enough for the spells to catch them. On a mission to capture [[Magneto (Marvel Comics)|Magneto]] as part of [[Mystique (comics)|Mystique]]'s Freedom Force, Spiral was able to cast spells to negate Magneto's powers and turn them back on himself, while subsequently casting a spell to bind him. Spiral has been able to [[Psionics|psionically]] detect a speeding [[Super Sabre (comics)|Super Sabre]] approaching Mystique's base of operations and react fast enough to teleport outside the compound and afterwards trip the speedster. In ''[[New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]]'' #53, she was revealed by the [[Eye of Agamotto]] as one of several magic-users with the potential to be the next Sorcerer Supreme after [[Doctor Strange]].<ref>''[[The New Avengers (comics)|New Avengers]]'' #53. Marvel Comics.</ref> Spiral's spellcasting powers can be triggered through small gestures of her many hands. With the gestures, she can teleport herself and numerous people across great distances. More powerful spells require more complicated dance moves. Spiral can open gateways between dimensions and travel through time, although it has been implied that she sometimes requires Mojo's help to successfully teleport from one dimension to another. At other times, she has independently traversed dimensions and centuries of time, and set herself slightly out of phase with the timestream so as to avoid blows. Spiral often incorporates knives and swords into more complicated spells. Spiral can also disguise herself through her magic.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2014}}

Spiral is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant, acrobat, and sword fighter. Her six arms are fully coordinated, giving her great dexterity and athletic ability.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2014}} She has displayed enhanced durability, ranging from taking punches from [[Wonder Man]], surviving falls from great heights, and tanking blasts of various kinds.
Spiral has demonstrated highly developed skills in cybernetics and genetic manipulation which she has used to turn humans into powerful cyborgs at her Body Shoppe. The most notable include [[Lady Deathstrike]] and the cybernetic [[Reavers (comics)|Reavers]], who have since been "upgraded" by Donald Pierce.<ref>''Uncanny X-Men #205''</ref>

* In 2019, ''[[CBR.comComic Book Resources]]'' (CBR) ranked Spiral 17th in their "21 Most Powerful Sorcerer Supreme Candidates" list.<ref>{{Cite web |authordate=C.January B.12, R. Staff |date=2019-01-12 |title=The 21 Most Powerful Sorcerer Supreme Candidates, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/doctor-strange-sorcerer-supreme-candidates/ |access-date=February 3, 2023-02-03 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

* In 2020, ''[[Scary Mommy]]'' included Spiral in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaye |first=Deirdre |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic |url=https://www.scarymommy.com/marvel-female-characters |access-date=February 3, 2023-02-03 |website=Scary Mommy |date=29 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Image:Ultspiral.jpg|upright|The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of Spiral as depicted in ''Ultimate X-Men'' #55 (March 2005). Art by [[Stuart Immonen]].|thumb]]

* Spiral appears in ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'', voiced by [[Cynthia Belliveau]].<ref name="btva">{{citationcite web needed|title=Spiral Voices (X-Men) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/X-Men/Spiral/ |access-date=DecemberJune 20197, 2024 |website=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref> In her most notable appearance in the episode This"Mojovision", versionshe temporarily betrays Mojo after falling in love with [[Longshot (Marvel Comics)|Longshot]].

* Spiral appears in [[Viewtiful Joe (character)|Viewtiful Joe]]'s ending in ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds]]''. This version works as a producer for a police procedural that Joehe is starring in.{{r|MTV MVC Cameos}}

<ref name="MTV MVC Cameos">{{cite web | url = https://www.mtv.com/news/2462656/marvel-vs-capcom-3-cameos/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211211014838/https://www.mtv.com/news/2462656/marvel-vs-capcom-3-cameos/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 11, 2021 | title = Every 'Marvel VS. Capcom 3' Cameos - Worlds Truly Colliding | author = Cipriano, Jason | publisher = [[MTV]] | date = 16 February 2011 | work = [[MTV News]] | accessdate = 6 November 2021}}</ref>