MAYA
Real Name: Maya (last name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Inhuman
(subspecies of humanity)
Occupation: Nanny to the Inhuman Royal Family
Group Membership: Member of the Inhuman Royal Court
Affiliations: Fantastic Four (Crystal/Crystalia Amaquelin, Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Invisible Woman/Susan Richards-Storm, Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards, Ms. Marvel/Sharon Ventura, Thing/Ben Grimm), Franklin Richards, Inhuman Royal Family (Ahura, Black Bolt/Blackagar Boltagon, Medusa/Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon, Crystal/Crystalia Amaquelin, Gorgon, Karnak, Maximus Boltagon, Triton, Luna Maximoff), Lyja the Laserfist (as Alicia Masters-Storm)
Enemies: Diablo, Elementals of Doom, Kristoff Vernard, Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Currently
unrevealed;
formerly Four Freedoms Plaza;
formerly Attilan, Blue Area of the Moon;
First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#306 (September,
1987)
Powers/Abilities: Maya's Terrigen Mist
fuelled mutation allowed her to create artificial environments. This
gave her the ability to filter out the pollutants in Earth's atmosphere
harmful to Inhumans such as herself and her young charge Luna Maximoff.
Maya took her duties as caretaker very seriously and refused to get
involved in any battles, unless Luna would be directly endangered.
History:
(Fantastic Four I#306 - (fb) BTS) - Maya was as a child care
professional assigned to the Inhuman Royal Court. When Crystal decided
to leave Atillan with her daughter Luna to rejoin the Fantastic Four,
after her recent divorce from Quicksilver, the Inhuman king Black Bolt
picked Maya as Luna's nanny.
(Fantastic Four I#306) - Maya arrived with Luna at Four Freedoms Plaza, teleported by Lockjaw and accompanied by the Inhuman Royal Family who came to see her off. Maya introduced herself to both Crystal and the Fantastic Four, and made it very clear her primary task was taking care of Luna. She would not participate in any of the team's conflicts, unless the safety of Luna was threatened.
(Fantastic Four I#307) - When Diablo used his alchemic transmutation
powers to cause chaos in New York, the Torch took his wife Alicia
Masters-Storm to Four Freedoms Plaza and asked Maya if she could keep
her safe. The Inhuman nanny agreed, stating that she could ensure the
environment around Luna, Alicia and herself would not change. However,
she once again stressed that her primary concern would always be Luna.
(Fantastic Four Annual I#21) - After Crystal and the other Fantastic Four members returned home from an extended mission, Maya brought Luna to see her mother. Maya incurred Crystal's anger when she mentioned she was so pleased Crystal had at last returned to her daughter. Crystal informed the nanny that Luna, like herself, was royalty and that the child should learn at an early age that royalty must operate on levels other than the purely personal. She also reminded her of the fact that she expected Maya made certain Luna was aware how much her mother loves her. Properly chastised, all Maya could do was comply, stating she had nothing but Luna's welfare on her mind. A few hours later, Crystal handed Luna to Maya for safekeeping when the Inhuman Royal Family invaded Four Freedoms Plaza to force Crystal to return home to Attilan and reconcile with her former husband Quicksilver.
(Fantastic Four Annual I#21/2) - After Crystal had been
convinced by Black Bolt to stay in Attilan, Lockjaw returned Maya and
Luna to the Moon as well. The nanny was elated to see Luna reunited with
both her parents. Maya then told Black Bolt she had tried to give Luna a
good life on Earth as per his command, but nothing can replace a stable
family.
Comments: Created by Steve Englehart (writer), John Buscema (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks).
Ahh, Maya... we hardly knew ye. I never understood her powers, to be honest. Sure, she can regulate the environment so the air they breathe is less polluted, but how would this ever be a practical power in battle? Another definition of her powerset states she can make sure her environment doesn't change. What does that mean? If the entire room gets flooded with lava for instance, it won't enter her corner of the room? What if someone shot at her, would the environment simply negate the bullet or blast? Does this mean she's actually a reality warper? So many questions, not to mention what's up with those huge glasses.
It's entirely possible Steve Englehart had big(ger) plans in mind for the Inhuman whose first name is just one letter removed from that other legendary nanny... Mary Poppins. Note the umbrella she's carrying around, an obvious reference to Poppins. After all, why would an Inhuman capable of controlling her environment ever need to worry about rain?.
When Crystal eventually joined the Avengers, Maya was
replaced by the slightly more vocal and crotchety Marilla.
Profile by Norvo.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Maya has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Fantastic Four Annual I#21/2, p4, pan1 (main image)
Fantastic Four I#306, p2, pan3/5 (powers)
Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#306 (September, 1987) - Steve Englehart (writer), John
Buscema (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Ralph Macchio, Craig
Anderson (editors)
Fantastic Four I#307 (October, 1987) - Steve Englehart (writer), John
Buscema (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Ralph Macchio, Marc Siry (editors)
Fantastic Four Annual I#21/2 (September, 1988) - Edward L.
Norton (writer), Jackson Guice (pencils), Jose Marzan (inks), Ralph
Macchio (editors)
First Posted: 10/04/2013
Last updated: 10/04/2013
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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