Nu-Perspective: Cecilia Reyes/Triage

Anaaannnnndddd we’re back!! Nu-Perspective, THEE home for revamps and updates on all the underutilized Nubian (black) characters you didn’t know you could love.

It just so happens that June is Caribbean Heritage Month, and though we’re late, we’re ready to close out the month on a highnote. This theme is especially dear to the heart cause if you didn’t know, my collaborator Fabian Wood and I are indeed Caribbean, coming from sunny Barbados. So, without further ado, we bring you the mutant originating from Puerto Rico, the mutant Cecilia Reyes! Or her new Nu-Perspective name: Triage!!!

Cecilia Reyes art taken from Google for reference. Artist unknown

And now our Nu-Perspective version...

Shawn Alleyne Nu-Perspective redesign

Real Name: Dr Cecilia “Cel” Reyes

Current Alias: Triage
Identity: Public
Occupation: Surgeon; Field Medic
Place of Birth: Bronx, NY
Base of Operations: New York
Affiliations: X-Men (formerly); Doctors Without Borders
First Appearance: X-Men #65 (1997)

Original Creators: Scott Lobdell; Carlos Pacheco

Story: At the tender age of six, Cecilia Reyes saw her father get gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Motivated by this tragedy, Cecilia devoted her life to becoming an accomplished trauma surgeon. Even before her mutant powers manifested, as a Puerto Rican woman in a profession dominated by privileged white men, Cecilia was no stranger to prejudice or bigotry. But, while other heroic mutants fought in the public eye in colorful costumes and gaudy get-ups, causing havoc and all forms of property and collateral damage, Cecilia worked thanklessly saving lives, human and mutant alike, in the operating room.
Previously turning down Professor X’s proposal to join the X-Men, she eventually reluctantly joined the private (semi)covert mutant strike team and was later abducted by the Weapon X program. These events only solidified Cecilia’s conviction that this grandiose, never-ending war on the frontlines was not for her; and she fell off into obscurity shortly thereafter.
Having lived through mutant-kind being brought to the edge of extinction and back from the brink of annihilation more times than she can count, Cecilia works with a cabal of humanitarian scientists and doctors to secretly help protect innocent civilian mutants from prejudice at any cost, as well as treat diseases and symptoms unique to mutants.
Recently, due to her unparalleled expertise in mutant physiology, Cecilia has been approached by S.H.I.E.L.D. and other organizations to act as an independent field medic and chief mass-casualty physician whenever there is a war or skirmish that involves mutants. Dive-bombing from an air carrier, Cecilia, under her codename “Triage”, is deployed more often than she would like, and when the fights are still ongoing. Cecilia has become a fearless, battlefield-hardened mutant war doctor, who has been known to treat and protect friend and foe alike in the heat of the most chaotic conflicts.
While this is not the life she envisioned for herself, she cannot deny the many lives she has saved as a result, both soldier and superhero alike.

Powers/Abilities: Cecilia has the mutant ability to consciously and subconsciously generate a transparent psio-plasmic bio-field around her body that is extremely resistant to penetration. However, it is ineffective against extreme temperatures, gas or radiation. It is triggered by kinetic energy of any kind, and is quick enough to react to bullets at the moment of impact. It must be noted that her “force field” ability does not protect her against the forces of physics, but acts more as a nigh-impenetrable “bubble”. While initially this ability only extended a few inches from her body, she has since trained to consciously extend it a few feet omni-directionally, and create “shapes” with them such as enlarged spiked gloves to enhance her punches, plated barriers or tendrils, even bladed or blunt weapons. She can even create translucent scalpels and tourniquets or other medical tools/items. Other situations have seen her disassemble any machinery through touch, or encase someone in the same “bubble” through physical contact. Previously, while she would be protected physically by her shield, she still felt the pain from the impacts. With her power upgrade she does not. As an accomplished surgeon, Cecilia is well versed in both human and mutant biology and chemistry. Her knowledge and expertise in the field of mutant physiology is only rivaled by fellow mutant bookworm Hank McCoy (aka Beast).

Paraphernalia: While Cecilia can effectively create a variety of surgical/medical instruments with her powers, she keeps a med-kit with her which houses a large amount of those items and medicines, utilizing S.H.I.E.L.D. patented hyper-space technology for storage.

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And there you have it. Let us know if you like what we did with her. Scroll down a bit for some a little Q&A with me and Fabian, then see ya sooner than later for another Nu-Perspective entree. 
 
Nu-Perspective is a bi-weekly column I started with my writing partner Fabian Wood with the purpose of spotlighting, revamping and updating various underdeveloped, underutilized and all-but-forgotten Nubian comic book and pop culture characters. Our goal is to showcase them in fresh, contemporary and exciting ways both visually and story-wise.  


Fine Print: All characters are copyrights and trademarks of the respective publishers and creators. This column is used solely for artistic enjoyment. We aim to showcase Nubian characters in fresh, contemporary and exciting ways both visually and story-wise.

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Q&A with Fabian and Shawn with bonus sketches and ref pics 

 

What do you like most about the character? 

Fabian: Cecilia is one of the rare Marvel mutants not swept up in the hype-train of costumed vigilantism or showboating. She’s a doctor first and foremost, and that is how she saves lives and is a true hero. Being a mutant is purely secondary for her.

Shawn: Like Fabian said, I like the fact that Cecilia doesn't discover her mutant abilities then decides she needs to fight crime and spandexed bad guys. It's a refreshing mentality. 

 

Did the character pose a challenge to update and if so what was the hardest part of the redesign?  

F: Not really. While her aversion to comic book heroism meant she was rarely used, that was a strong character trait that could be built on and explored further. I just had to make up a reason for her to at least come up with a codename without breaking character.

S: It wasn't too hard, she's a pretty blank slate. I tried to stay true to her scaled down mentality but add my own spice. 

In hindsight is there anything you would do differently now? 

F: I think this would be a logical path for the character, making her a tad bit proactive than reactive, if Marvel ever decided to give her another chance.

S: Nah, I like how she came out and the story we added. Maybe a slightly different hairstyle that's about it. 

What was your main inspiration for the direction?

S: I wanted to emphasis that she was a doctor and so I looked at google for pics of nurse scrubs and doctors. I fashioned the gloves to be the surgical latex gloves and I picture her color scheme to be white to represent a doctor's coat. 

What made you choose this character?

F: For the month it was her Puerto Rican roots. Other than that, I think her being an unconventional “superhero” in the sub-set “X-verse” was an interesting take overall.
S: Her lack of activity and Caribbean roots made her the PERFECT candidate for the month. 


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