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Silverclaw

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Silverclaw
Silverclaw of the Avengers
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAvengers vol. 3 #8 (September 1998)
Created byKurt Busiek (writer)
George Pérez (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoMaria De Guadalupe "Lupe" Santiago
Team affiliationsAvengers
Empire State University
Notable aliasesLa Garra Argentado, Daughter of the Volcano God
AbilitiesAbility to change into various metal were-animal forms

Silverclaw (Maria De Guadalupe "Lupe" Santiago) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a reserve member of the Avengers and regards Edwin Jarvis as an uncle figure.

Publication history

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Silverclaw first appeared in Avengers vol. 3 #8 (September 1998), and was created by writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Pérez.[1][2][3][4]

Fictional character biography

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Maria de Guadalupe Santiago was born near the village of the Kamekeri in the country of Costa Verde. The Kamekeri formerly worshiped their own pantheon of gods until Spanish missionaries taught them Christianity. As a result, most of the Kamekari's gods left them, except for the volcano goddess Peliali, who vowed to remain with and protect them.[5][6]

Lupe is the daughter of Jaime Santiago, who studied the ancient beliefs and pantheon and claimed that she was the daughter of him and Peliali. At a young age, she developed the ability to transform into various animals, leading her to be ostracized.[1][2][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Following Jaime's death, Lupe is taken to live in an orphanage sponsored by Edwin Jarvis. The two regularly communicate and become friends, with Lupe regarding him as an adoptive uncle.[1][13][14]

Years later, Lupe comes to the United States to attend Empire State University and meet Jarvis.[15] However, her plane is hijacked by terrorists led by Moses Magnum. She works with the Avengers to stop them and becomes an honorary member of the group.[16][8]

Silverclaw later discovers that the wizard Kulan Gath has conquered Costa Verde and intends to kill Peliali to gain her power. She and the Avengers manage to stop him, but are unable to stop him from killing Peliali. Afterwards, Silverclaw becomes a full member of the Avengers.[3][17][18][19][20]

In Civil War, Silverclaw battles Ms. Marvel when she attempts to make her support the Superhuman Registration Act. She is later captured by the Puppet Master before Marvel frees her.[21][22][23]

Silverclaw's last major appearance is in the Hulk story arc "Mayan Rule", where she helps battle the Mayapan, a group of Inhumans who pose as gods.[24]

Powers and abilities

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Silverclaw possesses the superhuman ability to mimic the physical characteristics of various animals native to rainforests and jungles, which includes jaguars, anacondas, cockatoos, monkeys, sloths, pumas, cheetahs, and crocodiles.[5][9][25][26][27]

Reception

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George Marston of Newsarama ranked Silverclaw as the sixth worst Avengers member, describing her story as "a little better than Triathlon's, but the character was infinitely lamer" and that she had the power to "dress like an extra from a Tarzan film".[28] Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly ranked her 20 out of 85 when ranking every Avenger, calling her an uninteresting character but praising her unusual powers.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Elsmere, George (October 6, 2022). "10 Avengers The World Forgot". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Avengers: 15 Team Members You Forgot About". Comic Book Resources. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Gordon, Michael (January 25, 2019). "The Marvel Age: 10 90s Marvel Characters That Deserve A Second Chance (And 10 That Don't)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  4. ^ Corley, Shaun (December 14, 2020). "Marvel's Forgotten Avenger Had The Weirdest Origin". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Ashford, Sage (September 11, 2024). "10 Best Reserve Avengers, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  6. ^ Jackson, Carl (January 18, 2021). "10 Marvel Gods That Time Forgot". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  7. ^ Benns, Tristan (February 9, 2025). "Marvel's Best Heroes Have Great Backstories, But 10 Avengers Didn't Get the Memo". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Sawan, Amer (January 27, 2021). "Avengers: What Happened to Silverclaw, Marvel's SHARPEST Young Hero?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Murray, Kirsten (May 7, 2019). "The 13 Most Powerful Marvel Demigods, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  10. ^ Jackson, Carl (November 17, 2020). "10 Avengers You Probably Never Knew Existed". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  11. ^ Faraci, Derek (December 26, 2020). "10 Heroes Marvel Completely Forgot Existed". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  12. ^ Allan, Scoot (June 25, 2022). "10 Avengers Who Were Barely On The Team". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  13. ^ Johnston, Rich (September 11, 2024). "Jarvis The Butler Is From Brooklyn Now And Return Of Avengers Jackets". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  14. ^ Johnston, Rich (February 13, 2018). "A Very Surprising Theory of the Identity of Voyager in Avengers: No Surrender... Spoilers If True". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  15. ^ Sanderson, Peter (2007). The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City. New York City: Pocket Books. pp. 30–33. ISBN 978-1-4165-3141-8.
  16. ^ Avengers (vol. 3) #8 (September 1998)
  17. ^ Weiner, Robert G. (December 11, 2009). Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications: An Annotated Guide to Comics, Prose Novels, Children's Books, Articles, Criticism and Reference Works, 1965-2005. McFarland & Company. p. 21. ISBN 9780786451159.
  18. ^ Avengers (vol. 3) #28 - 29 (May - June 2000)
  19. ^ Avengers (vol. 3) #39 - 40 (April - May 2001)
  20. ^ Avengers (vol. 3) #48 (January 2002)
  21. ^ Fantastic Four #538 (August 2006)
  22. ^ Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #18 - 20 (October - December 2007)
  23. ^ Sawan, Amer (January 27, 2021). "Avengers: What Happened to Silverclaw, Marvel's SHARPEST Young Hero?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  24. ^ Hulk (vol. 2) #55 - 57 (September - October 2012)
  25. ^ Harn, Darby (April 16, 2020). "Marvel: 10 Famous Heroes From The 90s That Have Been Forgotten". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  26. ^ Karbank, Octavio (February 6, 2018). "15 Awful '90s Avengers That Will Never Appear On-Screen". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  27. ^ Hopkins, Evan (June 15, 2017). "MEH-vengers: The 15 WORST Avengers EVER". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  28. ^ Marston, George (July 25, 2012). "The 10 WORST AVENGERS of All Time". Newsarama. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  29. ^ Franich, Darren (April 29, 2015). "Let's rank every Avenger ever". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
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