Karma (comics)

Karma
Karma, by Georges Jeanty
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Marvel Team-Up (vol. 1) #100 (Dec 1980)
Created by	Chris Claremont (writer) Frank Miller (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Xi'an Coy Manh
Species	Human Mutant
Team affiliations	X-Men Xavier Institute New Mutants Hellions Jean Grey School
Abilities	Psychic possession Protection from mental attacks Telepathy

Karma (Xi'an Coy Manh) is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller.

Karma is a mutant endowed with the ability to seize control of another's mind, though she has sometimes been depicted with other more extensive psionic abilities. The origin of the character relates to the Vietnam War, as she and her family were among the boat people fleeing the country shortly after the advent of Communism and in the wake of violence. Her Vietnamese origin contributes to two of her main traits—her Catholicism and her mastery of the French language, both of which stem from France's strong historical influence in Vietnam. Karma, in fact, speaks English with a French accent rather than a Vietnamese one.

Karma was one of the five founding members of the New Mutants, along with Cannonball, Mirage, Sunspot and Wolfsbane. Being several years older than the others, and the legal guardian of her siblings from a young age, she was the most mature member of the team. Karma is one of the first major lesbian characters in a mainstream comic book.

Karma first appears in Marvel Team-Up #100 (1980). She joins the New Mutants as a founding member in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (1982) and appears as a regular cast member in New Mutants from issues #1–6 (1983) and issues #29–54 (1985–87), in which she leaves the team to search for her kidnapped siblings. Her search brings her to Madripoor, and she guest stars in Wolverine volume 2 issues #4–8 (1989) and #27–30 (1990).