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Wind Dancer

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Wind Dancer
Sofia Mantega as Renascence, as depicted in New Warriors (vol. 4) #9 (April 2008). Art by Paco Medina (penciler), Juan Vlasco (inker), and Marte Gracia (colorist).
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceNew Mutants (vol. 2) #1 (July 2003)
Created byNunzio DeFilippis
Christina Weir
Keron Grant
In-story information
Alter egoSofia Elizabeth Mantega-Barrett
SpeciesHuman mutant
Team affiliationsNew Mutants training squad
New Warriors
S.H.I.E.L.D
Avengers
Notable aliasesWind Dancer
Renascence
AbilitiesMinimal athlete and martial artist
Air, wind and climate manipulation
Flight
Long-distance eavesdropping
Suit with six mechanical tentacles and electrically charged talons

Sofia Elizabeth Mantega, also known as Wind Dancer and formerly known as Renascence, is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. One of the student body in the Xavier Institute, she is a member of the New Mutants squad therein. Her first appearance was in New Mutants, vol. 2 #1. At the beginning of New Mutants vol. 2, she is 16 years old.

Fictional character biography

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Early life

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Sofia was born and lived most of her life in Caracas, Venezuela. While under the care of her uncle, Sofia's mother is killed in a riot. Her only Venezuelan adult relative, an uncle, is unable to support her in addition to his own children, so she is sent to her father Walter Barrett, who had been previously unaware of her existence. The head of a major supermarket chain located in the United States, Barrett is a cold, asocial man with no interest in a daughter. As such, he extracts from her a promise that she would learn English before school started, she would get good grades, and she would not use her mutant power, in exchange for which all her material wants would be provided for without question.[1][2]

Over the next three weeks, Sofia befriends Barrett's manservant Derek, learns English, and joins a local school, but despite her outgoing nature, she has difficulty fitting in and is unable to reconcile herself to Barrett's lack of affection for her. She ultimately acts out by skipping school and wrecking one of Barrett's stores. Barrett is incensed, less at the destruction of his store than by her exposing him as the father of a mutant, and considers leaving her in prison for 48 hours to punish her. Danielle Moonstar, having seen Sofia's vandalism on the news, steps in and offers her a place at the Xavier Institute.[3]

Wind Dancer as a New Mutant using her wind powers.

Xavier Institute

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Resident mischief maker Julian Keller (Hellion) finds himself instantly attracted to Mantega and begins courting her. She rejects him after he makes derogatory remarks about her roommate Laurie Collins (Wallflower),[4][5] but the attraction remains mutual, and despite herself Sofia later ends up flirting with Julian during a combat training exercise.[6] Derek remains in touch, even quitting his job when her father objects to his seeing Sofia.[7]

Sofia and Laurie are assigned to the New Mutants squad, along with Surge, Elixir, Prodigy, and Wither.[8] Sofia is generally well-liked and is voted as "Most Outgoing" in the school's yearbook.[9]

Prodigy rejects the offer to lead the New Mutants, so the position falls to Sofia. She becomes isolated and irritable when the group loses their first training exercise, which she blames on her failure to lead. Her command decisions weaken further when Wither is arrested for the accidental death of his father, and she briefly sides with the Hellions, Julian's squad, to break him free. After the New Mutants fight the Hellions over the incident, Prodigy talks her into letting Wither go, and she tries to convince him to lead the New Mutants. He insists that Sofia's emotionalism has its advantage in a leadership role, but agrees to be co-leader, to better mesh their strengths.[10]

Thereafter, Sofia's temper eases again until the school dance, where she catches Laurie manipulating Prodigy to make Elixir jealous.[11] Alarmed by the rapid disintegration of the squad, she finds herself kissing Julian, and he pushes her to end the in-fighting since she is the one who sees the good in everyone - even him. She tries to do so by forcing everyone to camp out on the X-Mansion's grounds. While bickering and even fist-fighting break out, Sofia is able to eventually reconcile her teammates.[9]

New Warriors

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In Decimation, Wind Dancer loses her powers along with 98% of the mutant population when the Scarlet Witch produces a reality-bending spell in an attempt to solve the human/mutant problem.[12] Subsequently, she joins the New Warriors, taking the codename Renascence and using a suit with electrified tentacles to make up for her lack of powers.[13][14]

Krakoa

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During the Krakoan Age, Wind Dancer becomes an online streamer broadcasting to the Mojoverse. After making a poll with her followers, she learns that they want her to die and hires Adam X to kill her. The Five quickly resurrect Wind Dancer, restoring her powers in the process.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Following the end of the Krakoan Age, Dazzler returns to her musical career and Wind Dancer becomes her publicist.[22][23][24]

Powers and abilities

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As the mutant Wind Dancer, Sofia has the ability to control the movement of air, which included the ability to generate wind with intense force, lift and carry objects, fly and, more subtly, amplify small vibrations in the air - allowing her to hear faraway conversations.[1]

She also uses her powers to create a "cutting" effect by refining the force of the wind.[25] When at close range, she can also compress air into a person's ear to disrupt their balance.[5]

As Renascence, she wore a suit equipped with six metallic tentacles that could discharge surges of electricity. She was also equipped with a personal force field that emits a golden aura.

Sofia has some athletic and martial arts skills due to her training as a New Mutant at Xavier's and the combat sessions with the New Warriors.

Other versions

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An alternate universe variant of Wind Dancer from Earth-58163 appears in House of M. This version is a S.H.I.E.L.D. trainee under Danielle Moonstar's supervision.[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wyatt, Cat (January 23, 2025). "The Best X-Men with Elemental Abilities Who Aren't Storm". CBR. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  2. ^ Marlette, Heather (October 8, 2021). "Marvel: 10 Incredible Latinx Characters". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  3. ^ New Mutants (vol. 2) #1 (July 2003)
  4. ^ New Mutants (vol. 2) #2 (August 2003)
  5. ^ a b New Mutants (vol. 2) #3 (September 2003)
  6. ^ New X-Men (vol. 2) #5 (November 2004)
  7. ^ New Mutants (vol. 2) #6 (December 2003)
  8. ^ New X-Men (vol. 2) #2 (August 2004)
  9. ^ a b New X-Men: Yearbook Special one-shot (December 2005)
  10. ^ New X-Men: Academy X #6 (December 2004)
  11. ^ New X-Men (vol. 2) #14 (July 2005)
  12. ^ House of M #8 (December 2005)
  13. ^ New Warriors (vol. 4) #6 (January 2008)
  14. ^ New Warriors (vol. 4) #9 (April 2008)
  15. ^ X-Factor (vol. 4) #3 (November 2020)
  16. ^ X-Factor (vol. 4) #5 (February 2021)
  17. ^ Zachary, Brandon (December 9, 2020). "X-Men: A Hero's Resurrection Reunites a Fan-Favorite New Mutants Team". CBR. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  18. ^ Zachary, Brandon (May 12, 2021). "X-Men Gives Two Surprising Mutants Crucial X-Corp Leaders". CBR. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  19. ^ Lealos, Shawn S. (December 17, 2020). "X-Men: Marvel's Most EXTREME Hero Just Executed a New Mutant". CBR. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  20. ^ Mollo, Drew (September 12, 2020). "X-Factor's Surprise Murder Victim Revealed By Marvel Comics". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  21. ^ Johnston, Rich (May 12, 2021). "Krakoa Today- the Mutant Revolution will be Televised by Sofia Mantega". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  22. ^ Adams, Tim (May 15, 2024). "Marvel Announces Dazzler Solo Series Ahead of Rumored Deadpool & Wolverine Appearance". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  23. ^ Brooke, David (May 15, 2024). "Marvel reveals 2024 Dazzler X-Men series creative team and more". AIPT Comics. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  24. ^ Marston, George (May 15, 2024). "The X-Men's mutant pop star Dazzler is embarking on a big world tour in her own solo series this fall". GamesRadar+. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  25. ^ New Mutants (vol. 2) #5 (November 2003)
  26. ^ New X-Men (vol. 2) #16–19 (September - December 2005)
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