Spiral (comics)

Spiral
Spiral Mike McKone, artist
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Longshot #1 (September, 1985)
Created by	Ann Nocenti (writer) Art Adams (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Rita Wayword
Team affiliations	Sisterhood of Mutants Freedom Force X-Force
Partnerships	Mojo
Notable aliases	"Ricochet" Rita, The Apocalypse
Abilities	Multiple arms Enhanced strength Teleportation Skilled in sorcery Skilled hand-to-hand combatant and acrobat Skilled in cybernetics and genetics Metamorphosis

Spiral (Rita Wayword) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with Longshot or the X-Men. Created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Art Adams, the character first appeared in Longshot #1 (September, 1985), in which she was established as a lieutenant for that titular character's archenemy, Mojo. Prior to Longshot joining the X-Men, Spiral also became a recurring adversary of that team and each of the various X-Men subgroups, as well as serving as the archenemy of X-Men member, Psylocke.

Spiral first appeared in issue #1 of the 1985 Longshot miniseries by Ann Nocenti and Art Adams (though her alter ego Ricochet Rita did not debut until the second issue of the series), and subsequently appeared 2 months later as a member of Mystique's Freedom Force team in Uncanny X-Men #199. Spiral began as one of 20 minor characters that Adams designed on a character sheet as the pursuers of the character Longshot. Her six arms were inspired by deities in Hindu mythology. Although Adams gave little thought to Spiral, as he had developed ideas for the other characters he had drawn on the sheet, Nocenti decided to make her a major character, and gave her the name Spiral. The character sheet is reproduced in the back of the X-Men: Longshot hardcover collection.

Spiral shows a growing interest in Longshot through the series. In the final issue of the limited series, Longshot asks Spiral if something went on between them. Spiral replies "No", but Longshot does not believe her.Chris Claremont portrayed her as having a pathological hatred for Longshot, and implied that the two were former lovers during a hallucinatory dream sequence in Uncanny X-Men #248.