PLASMA

 

PLASMA

Real Name: Leila O’Toole

First Appearance: Marvel Comics Presents (Vol. 1) #24, Late July 1989

Powers: Plasma is a mutant who absorbs ambient cosmic energy from her environment (x-rays, gamma rays, star light, background radiation, etc), and stores it in special enclaves of her body cells. She then converts and projects it as active discharges of energy, and also gains an increase in her size and mass.

As the niece of the mutant archaeologist Ahmet Abdol (aka the Living Monolith), she somehow genetically reproduced a form of the power link that exists between him and Alex Summers (aka Havok). Leila siphoned cosmic energy from Havok whenever he used his powers near her. Naturally, she was immune to his plasma bolt if he attacked her with it, processing it for even more power.

The cosmic energy she absorbed increased her mass proportionately. Her strength and durability increased proportionately to her height. Thus, if she were ten feet tall, she would be able to lift 800 lbs. The full extent of her strength is as yet unknown. The absorption enabled her to release energy blasts from her hands like Havok himself. Plasma was able to emit destructive energy with a thus far maximum force of 30 pounds of TNT.

Initially, she could only absorb cosmic energy from Havok to retain her powers as Plasma. Years later, she somehow demonstrated the ability to maintain her powers independently of Havok.