Risque (comics)

Risque
Risque in X-Force #65; art by Adam Pollina
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Force #51 (February 1996)
Created by	Jeph Loeb Adam Pollina
In-story information
Alter ego	Gloria Dolores Muñoz
Species	Human mutant
Team affiliations	X-Corporation X-Force S.W.O.R.D.
Abilities	Inorganic implosion Peak-level endurance and agility

Risque (Gloria Dolores Muñoz) is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Her first appearance was in X-Force #51 (February 1996).^[1]

Risque grew up in Florida to a Seminole mother and Cuban father. She used to spend much of her time at the Wacky World Amusement park with her father.^[2] After her powers manifested at thirteen, she abandoned her father and spent time at the park flirting with older boys. She even acquired a job there, but was fired after a fortnight for smoking in costume behind the Astro-World Tilt-A-Whirl. She then got into some trouble, which the mysterious Sledge helps extricate her from in return for doing him a favor.

Risque has to send a message to Warpath (James Proudstar) intimating that she has knowledge regarding the massacre in his hometown of Camp Verde, Arizona. She meets Warpath in New York City, where she introduces herself to him from the shadows, kisses him, and leaves.^[3]

When Selene makes her move against the Externals, killing those who remain, Risque arrives and pulls the wounded Warpath out of Gideon's facility before Selene can drain his life.^[4] Risque takes James to Florida to recuperate and they fall for each other. Finally, James desires to get back to his friends, and the duo arrives just in time to defend X-Man from Mister Sinister.^[5] Risque takes Warpath to Sledge's junkyard in Detroit, where Sledge offers him information concerning his tribe's murder in exchange for a favor of his own.^[6]

Risque flees town knowing Warpath's teammates in X-Force are on her trail. Paying by cash for her living arrangements to keep her untraceable, the X-Men's mutant-detecting machine Cerebro eventually tracks her down in the apartments surrounding Wacky World. Seeing X-Force in her motel room, Risque flees to Wacky World itself. Once again underestimating the lengths X-Force would go for her capture, she is blindsided by Caliban. She escapes from Caliban on the monorail and hides with two willing young male collaborators, who enjoy the intrigue Risque brings. Caliban finally catches up with her in a maintenance tunnel but he collapses. This was due to numerous biological tampering done to him over the years. Risque initially desires to flee before calling for 9-1-1, but her conscience forces her to stay behind and tend to the injured mutant. Her reluctance to leave when she had the chance caused her to be captured by the remaining members of X-Force, who initially believe she has harmed Caliban.

By the time X-Force arrives, Warpath reveals that he was not held captive and was ready to leave, with Sledge's offer fresh on his mind. Risque tries to make amends with Warpath but to no avail; pleading her case concerning her debt to Sledge does not work. Unfortunately, her betrayal of Warpath's trust mars their relationship.^[2]

Months later, Risque ran into X-Force again while helping Vanisher steal the Heart of Pele, a sacred Hawaiian gem. However, when she is attacked by one of the Lava Men, Warpath saves her and gets X-Force involved in the quest for the stone. They eventually return the stone to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of the volcano. This prevents the Lava Men from using the Gem to activate ancient Deviant machinery.^[7]

Shortly after the incident in Hawaii, the psychic and physical connection between Danielle Moonstar and Arcadia spawns a new Demon Bear that rampages through Sledge's warehouse. Risque is sent to help X-Force defeat the bear in San Francisco. Unfortunately, she is of little help and spends most of the time flirting with Warpath.^[8]

After the Xavier Institute is outed as a mutant organization, Risque is apparently contacted by Charles Xavier, who made her part of his X-Corporation monitoring mutant rights violations in Asia. Risque finds out about a company trafficking in mutant body parts, but is ambushed and killed by the U-Men.^[9]

Risque is among the dead mutants resurrected by the Transmode Virus by Selene and sent to attack X-Force. She is one of the few mutants who regained control of her body and was able to warn Warpath to escape before succumbing to the virus and resuming her assault.^[10] Risque's final fate is uncertain, as it is unknown whether she was among the mutants teleported to Genosha by Blink to serve as sacrifices for Selene or if she escaped Utopia.

She later appears as a mutant citizen of Krakoa, presumably revived by the Five. She joins the Krakoan S.W.O.R.D. team, helping them harness and stockpile the valuable metal Mysterium.^[11]

Risque is a mutant with the ability to create localized gravity fields, which affects inorganic matter within an object, and compress it into a small, high-density mass. She can telekinetically maneuver that object to propel it at high velocities, as well as projecting concussive blasts of psychokinetic energy. Although, not at superhuman levels, she is naturally skilled in acrobatics.^[12]

• Risque at Marvel.com