As mentioned last time, the Nu-Perspective columns fell behind a bit. However, we’re still cranking away here to get caught up. So from August’s theme of CARIBBEAN CHARACTERS (((AIRHORN))) here is our second entry: Stigmata!!
Stigmata hails from the Dominican Republic and is from the Marvel Universe. Take a sec to Google her original look and story, and let us know if you like what we did with the revamp. Then see ya sooner than ya think with another Nu-Perspective.
Nu-Perspective is a column by Shawn Alleyne and Fabian Wood focused on revamps and updates of various underdeveloped, underutilized and all-but-forgotten Nubian (black) characters specifically. We aim to showcase characters in fresh, contemporary and exciting ways both visually and story-wise. All characters are copyrights and trademarks of the respective publishers and creators. This column is used solely for artistic enjoyment.
Art by Shawn Alleyne. Concept by Shawn Alleyne and Fabian Woods.
Real Name: Ana Maria Magdalena Shwartz
Current Alias: Stigmata
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Government agent
Place of Birth: Dominican Republic
Base of Operations: Vatican City
Affiliations: Vatican; Longinus
First Appearance: Venom: Sign of the Boss #1 (1997)
Original Creators: Ivan Velez Jr & Tomas Derenick
Story: Exhibiting stigmata at a young age, her grandmother sold Ana to the Catholic orphanage. The Vatican soon recognized her uncanny power potential and recruited her into the Holy guard, where she was trained to master her “holy” abilities as a dedicated aide and bodyguard to the diplomats of the Holy City. Given the name of Stigmata, she eventually left to join the altruistic Jesuit Sect “Holy Fire”, where she was assigned to serve as the bodyguard for San Gregarian President Franco Santera. This assignment leads to her crossing paths with both Venom and the Ghost Rider, and being betrayed by President Santera. Ana prevailed, but dark secrets about the Holy Fire sect came to light from that event. This, coupled with Ana’s exposure to American vigilantes, lead her to seek the blessing of the Church to form “Longinus”, an elite special task force comprised of faithful mutants and humans. Their goal is to defend Christianity against larger threats and to have a more proactive role in global affairs. However, it remains to be seen if Stigmata’s blind loyalty to the papacy has made her a pawn for their clandestine geo-political intentions. Stigmata’s zeal also puts her at odds with anyone displaying “demonic influence” such as the aforementioned Ghost Rider, Blade, Daimon Hellstorm, etc. She has even targeted anyone seen a threat to the Christian faith, even other supernaturally endowed “heroes” such as the Dr Stephen Strange, Brother Voodoo, and more.
Powers/Abilities: Through the invocation of Catholic saints, Ana can manifest various mutant abilities such as superhuman strength, speed and psychokinesis. Her most common invocation is of Saint Gabriel, which gives her an angelic astral form of blue flames that grants her flight, intangibility and plasma energy projection. It is unknown the number of “divine” powers she possesses through the numerous saints, or whether or not she truly needs to verbally call upon the saints to manifest a desired power. It could simply be part of her psychological conditioning under the Church. What is certain is that she cannot manifest multiple powers at once, and that transitioning between them frequently is very taxing on her body. As part of the Vatican’s secret service, Ana has extensive training in armed and unarmed combat, however preferring to use her mutant powers instead of traditional firearms.
Paraphernalia/Weapons: Although Ana has no impairment in mobility, she carries an innocuous walking cane with her that she can utilize in combat. While in her angelic “Gabriel” mode, it takes the form of a flaming sword capable of slicing through reinforced steel effortlessly. Other times she can will it to take the form of a Cross fighting staff.
Fabian Wood (Writer)
Hailing from the eastern-most Caribbean island of Barbados, Fabian Wood has long since been fascinated by the power of storytelling to inspire and invoke emotions – whether in film, comics or video games. No longer content to be just an avid comic book reader and videogamer, he’s eager to exercise his literary acumen as an aspiring writer and reviewer.
Shawn Alleyne (Freelance Skillastrator/Instructor)
Born and raised on the island of Barbados, Shawn later relocated to Philadelphia in his teens, where he has lived ever since. He is currently working in the demanding field of freelance art as a Writer, Illustrator and Instructor. Shawn constantly seeks to promote the arts, and so formed the comic book networking group Xion and the art group Artmada. Shawn’s personal work is produced under the Pyroglyphics Studios banner, a name roughly translated to “Hot Images”, meant to reflect his gritty self-taught style.
More of Shawn’s work can be seen here:
FB: www.facebook.com/PyroglyphicsStudio
IG: @Pyroglyphics1
T: @ShawnAlleyneArt
E-mail: pyroglyphics1@comcast.net
