Lorelei Travis

Lorelei
Lorelei Travis as depicted in X-Men: The 198 #4 (June 2006).
Art by Jim Muniz
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceDistrict X #1 (May 2004)
Created byDavid Hine
David Yardin
In-story information
Alter egoLorelei Travis
SpeciesHuman Mutant
Team affiliationsThe 198
AbilitiesPrehensile hair

Lorelei Travis is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Her first appearance was in District X #1 (May 2004).

Fictional character biography

Living in Mutant Town

Lorelei Travis is the name of a young girl who has "living" hair. Lorelei is an exotic dancer at the mob leader Daniel Kaufman's Wildkat Klub in Mutant Town located in New York City. Lorelei had managed to become one of the Wildkat Klub's household names through the artistic use of her genetic mutation.

During a recent investigation into Kaufman's businesses by Lucas Bishop and Ismael Ortega, Lorelei survived a bombing of the Wildkat Klub perpetrated by Kaufman's enemies, sustaining minor injuries.

M-Day and The 198

Lorelei is among the 198 mutants who retain their powers after M-Day, when the Scarlet Witch depowered most mutants on Earth. However, she is attacked by militant Purity members and has her hair cut off before Mr. M heals it.[1][2] Toad brings her to the X-Mansion, where they learn that they cannot leave and must stay there for their own safety.[3][4]

Civil War

A group of superheroes known as the New Warriors accidentally blow up a town causing the general public to turn on superheroes and eventually ignite a superhero civil war.[5] Domino, Shatterstar. and Caliban break out the 198 and take them to a bunker in the middle of the desert. Outside the X-Men get involved with a fight against Bishop and the O*N*E, and Domino wants to help them. Lorelei notices that Cyclops is being controlled by Johnny Dee and recounts the story of the first few days at the 198 encampment. She is then used by Dee along with Outlaw and other mutants to attack Domino and Shatterstar. When Dee's efforts are revealed, the bunker is sealed by the military.[6] Eventually the 198 are freed from the bunker.[7]

Dark Reign

Lorelei reappears in San Francisco, meeting with Hellion, Match, and several others when Norman Osborn institutes a curfew on the city. Believing this to be a last stand for mutant rights, Hellion gathers the group at a bar with the intent to break curfew and get arrested on TV in non-violent protest. The group fails to make its intended point as Match torches the surrounding area with his powers, and Lorelei is arrested by Emma Frost and her Dark X-Men.[8] They are taken into custody after a battle.[9] Eventually Lorelei and the other imprisoned mutants are freed by the X-Force and teleported to the island of Utopia.[10]

Powers and abilities

Lorelei has prehensile hair, which allows her to animate her hair through mental control. However, despite it seems she is able to accelerate the growing of her hair it does not seem to be especially durable.

Other versions

Lorelei Travis in Mutopia X

An alternate universe variant of Lorelei Travis from Earth-58163 appears in House of M. This version is an employee at the Centre for Transformation and Illumination, which seeks to unlock mutant potential.[11]

References

  1. ^ X-Men: The 198 #1
  2. ^ X-Men: The 198 #2-3
  3. ^ X-Men: The 198 #4
  4. ^ X-Men: The 198 #5
  5. ^ Civil War #1
  6. ^ X-Men: Civil War #3
  7. ^ X-Men: Civil War #4
  8. ^ The Uncanny X-Men #513
  9. ^ Dark Avengers #7
  10. ^ Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus #1
  11. ^ Mutopia X #2–4 (October–December 2005)