Risque (Marvel)
Risque is a female comic character who features in Marvel Comics.
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Biography
Gloria Dolores Muñoz
After her Cuban father, and Seminole mother divorced when she was 12 years ago, Gloria Munoz moved out with her mother and lived with her until she was 16. Having discovered her mutant powers, she left to live on her own and spent some time in Miami. During this time, Sledge helped her out of some trouble, and she promised to aid him in the future, a favor which was eventually repaid when she was tasked with bringing him the mutant Warpath. (X-Force v1 #66)
She intervened as he struggled against street thugs, using her powers of gravitational manipulation to crush and compact objects into dense forms. Risque hurled compacted debris at the attackers, scattering them and ensuring Warpath’s safety. After the fight, she introduced herself and flirtatiously invited Warpath out, quickly establishing a bond with him. Her actions were direct and proactive, combining combat efficiency with personal confidence. Risque established contact with Warpath by leaving a message for him through the National Council of Indian Affairs, claiming that she had to meet him for a matter of life and death. Warpath went to the appointed place and time of their meeting - a junkyard in New York City, late at night. There, Risque surprised him by blowing up some vehicles with her imploding powers. However, she quickly showed herself and addressing him by his first name, told him she had just wanted to meet him. She then kissed him on the lips and revealed her own codename. Before she slipped away into the night, she told the speechless James not to forget her. Piquing his curiosity in this way was her first step towards seducing James. (X-Force v1 #51)
Risque reappeared to assist Warpath against the villain Sledge. During this encounter, she used her powers to alter the battlefield by collapsing obstacles and compacting rubble into projectiles. When Warpath was overpowered, Risque stepped in, pelting Sledge with compressed debris and shielding her ally with gravitational force barriers. She then manipulated the fight to her advantage by striking precise weak points in the environment, forcing Sledge to retreat. Following the battle, Risque began traveling more closely with Warpath, deepening her involvement with the team’s activities. (X-Force v1 #54)
While still in South Beach, the pair came across some members of the Friends of Humanity who were attacking a mutant. Naturally, Warpath and Risque intervened but James was bewildered when he saw Gloria use her powers without restraint. She used them to intimidate the attackers and seemed to have no reservations about seriously harming the mutant bashers if necessary. Vexed, James criticized her methods but Gloria stood her ground. When the victim of the attacks revealed that he was not an actual mutant but a disfigured burn victim, he blamed the abuse he suffered on the presence of real mutants like them. This gave Gloria even more arguments in favor of her rather extreme methods. She told James that she had experienced prejudice her whole life and that mutants should stick only with other mutants. Warpath realized just how different Risque was from the other woman he recently had feelings for like his teammate, Siryn. (X-Force v1 #56)
A few days later, Warpath and Risque headed back to New York and the X-Men’s mansion in Westchester where the X-Force team was currently residing. They arrived to find X-Force engaged in battle with Mister Sinister, trying to prevent the villain from abducting Nate Grey, whom they had been assigned to protect. Risque and Warpath instantly joined the fight. Though she did not express her surprise, Risque was quite astounded when she saw Sinister as she did not expect to meet any of those she considered 'legendary ones' so quickly. Sinister was equally baffled by her, as she was a mutant completely unknown to him, despite his vast and comprehensive archives of every mutant on Earth. Despite his interest in her, Sinister psionically subdued everyone in the room and departed with his intended target - a now unconscious Nate Grey. When Warpath woke up, Risque was nowhere to be found. (X-Force v1 #57)
Risque was pulled from the battleground by Mimic and Blob, who were also working for Sledge, before Sinister had the chance to get his hands on her to satisfy his curiosity. Realizing that she had developed genuine feelings for James, Risque slipped away from Blob and Mimic and found her way back to the house in South Beach, Florida. Risque planned to return to Westchester and help James and his friends as soon as she got herself back together, but Blob, Mimic and another of Sledge's agents easily tracked her down and reprimanded her for running away from them. Risque apologized, but also tried – in vain – to voice her objections to Sledge's plans for Warpath. (X-Force v1 #60) Risque’s loyalties shifted as her association with Sledge came to light. She participated in a scheme where she drugged Warpath, incapacitating him and delivering him to Sledge in repayment of a personal debt. Her actions in this issue were cold and calculated—she lured Warpath with affection, only to betray him. Though she did not engage in direct combat, her role was pivotal, as she acted decisively to fulfill her end of the bargain. This marked a turning point in her story, as she transitioned from ally to betrayer. (X-Force v1 #61)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Risque was depicted as a striking woman with dark skin, a slim but athletic build, and silver hair worn in a distinctive short, angular style. Her most recognizable look consisted of a black leather crop top and pants accented with red highlights, gloves, and tall boots, giving her a rebellious and stylish aesthetic. Her sharp eyes and confident stance reflected both her streetwise nature and her seductive presence. (X-Force v1 #51) She later came to operate under the code name of the Foundry. (S.W.O.R.D. v2 #1)
In personality, Risque was bold, flirtatious, and unapologetically self-assured. She often combined charm with cunning, using her charisma to manipulate situations to her advantage. While she demonstrated genuine affection for Warpath, her willingness to betray him for her own survival revealed a pragmatic streak that often outweighed loyalty. She embodied independence and resourcefulness, preferring to carve her own path rather than follow traditional heroic ideals. (X-Force v1 #61)
Gloria Dolores was named after both her grandmothers. (X-Force v1 #66)
Powers and abilities
In powers, Risque possessed the mutant ability of gravitational manipulation, which allowed her to compress and crush objects into dense, compact forms. She could then hurl these compacted projectiles with great force, creating devastating attacks. Additionally, she was capable of applying localized gravitational pressure to disrupt structures, collapse barriers, or create makeshift shields. Though she lacked the raw destructive potential of many mutants, her powers were versatile and precise, making her effective in both offense and defense. (X-Force v1 #54)
Despite the object's change in size, it maintains its mass, allowing Risque to hurl it at opponents, fully or in various pieces. (X-Force v1 #57)
Notes
- Risque was created by Jeph Loeb and Adam Pollina where she made her first appearance in X-Force v1 #51 (February, 1996).
- In an interview with writer Scott Lobdell that Risque was originally planned to be a member of the Askani Sisterhood, gowever, those plans were later scrapped and her origin was changed.
Appearances
- X-Force v1: (1996)
External Links
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