Selene (comics)
| Selene | |
|---|---|
Selene
Art by Mark Beachum |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | New Mutants (v1) #9 (November 1983) |
| Created by |
Chris Claremont (writer) Sal Buscema (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Selene Gallio |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations |
Hellfire Club Externals Sisterhood of Mutants |
| Partnerships |
Eli Bard Wither Mortis Senyaka Blink |
| Notable aliases | Black Queen, Black Priestess |
| Abilities | Superhuman physical attributes Telepathy Telekinesis Animation and control of non-living materials Flame manipulation Ability to drain the life force of others Reality warping Extensive magical knowledge and powers |
Selene Gallio is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is a mutant, and an enemy of the X-Men often associated with the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle.
Selene first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1, #9 (November 1983), written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Sal Buscema.
Considered to secretly be the very first human mutant or at least the oldest living by those-in-the-know, her millennia-long life is attributed to the fact that she is a 'psychic vampire,' able to drain lives of others in order to extend her own. Her name derives from the ancient lunar deity Selene, daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia. Claiming to have already been old when modern mankind was just emerging, Selene was born over 17,000 years ago somewhere in what is now Central Europe, "after the Oceans swallowed Atlantis and before the rise of the Aryas". Her tribe's elders recognized her for what she was and commanded the entire tribe, including her own mother, to sacrifice their lives to feed her.
Selene was revealed to have been an old enemy of the sorcerer Kulan Gath. Kulan Gath was active during the Hyborian Age (before any recorded civilizations) and is known to have faced both Conan the Barbarian and Red Sonja. In fact, Sonja reportedly managed to kill him and his spirit would not manifest again until the modern era. Thus, Selene was active at least as early as the Hyborian age.
Selene came to reside in Rome during the height of its empire. She approached Eliphas, a well-respected senator whose wife had left him for a general named Mascius. Selene offered him immortality in exchange for helping her kill and absorb every soul in Rome. Eliphas went about drawing pentagrams and performing rituals at several locations in the city, but warned a small girl to get her family out. The girl's father alerted the authorities and Eliphas and Selene were captured before the spell could be carried out. Just before they were burned at the stake Selene killed the guards. She then cursed Eliphas for his perceived betrayal with an eternal life of torture, transforming him into a vampire-like creature. Eliphas was buried alive for 700 years until a farmer discovered him in his field.
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Wikipedia