Dazzler

This article is about the fictional character. For the less-lethal weapon, see dazzler (weapon).

Dazzler (Alison Blaire) is a Marvel Comics superhero, associated with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 (February 1980).

A mutant with the ability to convert sound vibrations into light and energy beams, Dazzler was originally developed as a cross-promotional, multi-media creation between Casablanca Records, Filmworks, and Marvel Comics until the tie-ins were dropped in 1980. The character was created by a committee of Marvel staff, principally writer/editor Tom DeFalco and illustrator John Romita Jr..

Despite the fact that Dazzler was originally commissioned as a disco singer, the character shifted to other musical genres, including rock and adult contemporary. She starred in a self-titled solo series in the early 1980s, and later joined the cast of the X-Men. She is currently a member of the spin-off group Excalibur.

Contents

1 Publication history

1.1 Origins of ''Dazzler''
1.2 ''Dazzler'': 1981-1985

2 Character history
3 Powers and abilities
4 Trivia

4.1 Creation misconception
4.2 Handbook errors

5 Ultimate Dazzler
6 Appearances in other media
7 External links

Publication history

Origins of Dazzler

Dazzler was originally a project commissioned by Casablanca Records in the mid-late 1970s, to be a cross-promotion in the mold of KISS who had two successful comic book tie-in super-specials by the end of 1977. Marvel Comics would develop a singing superheroine, while Casablanca would produce a singer. The two companies would then work with Filmworks and produce a tie-in motion picture; Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter wrote a treatment for the project. [link]

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The character was originally conceptualized as "The Disco Queen" with powers to make people tell the truth. Initially, no one wanted anything to do with the project. Marvel Comics appointed former Archie Comics writer Tom DeFalco to the character and he developed some changes to the character, namely suggesting light-based powers. Roger Stern conceived of the character's name, Dazzler, while John Romita Jr. provided pencils.

Artist John Romita, Jr. originally intended for the character to resemble model, actress, and singer Grace Jones, as seen in early depictions. However, representatives from Filmworks -- wanting to promote model and actress Bo Derek -- insisted on design changes to reflect Derek's features.

To promote Dazzler, Casablanca wanted it cross-promoted within several key Marvel Comics titles: The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man in particular, with Dazzler debuting in The Uncanny X-Men first because she was a mutant character. However, Casablanca continued to request conceptual changes to the character's appearance and personality, leading to several cancellations of the project. Eventually, Casablanca Records backed out of the Dazzler altogether project due to financial concerns. Marvel Comics, left with a much-publicized new character, decided to launch the project as a monthly series.

According to writer Tom DeFalco, Dazzler was cancelled "five or six times" prior to its launch in March, 1981. At the time, Marvel Comics was looking for other filmmakers to invest in a Dazzler cross-promotion. However, Jim Shooter and Stan Lee decided to launch the series without such a partnership because of their "faith in the character."

By this time, Dazzler #1 was edited to reflect changes in the Marvel Comics universe and to fit the new 22-page publication format. X-Men member Cyclops was edited out of the issue, and Kitty Pryde inserted, and an additional "origin of the Dazzler" sequence was added to fill new pages. Also, Dazzler distanced its character from the disco genre, as the creators recognized the disco fad was fading by 1980.

In a revolutionary move, Shooter decided to release Dazzler #1 exclusively to comic specialty shops, bypassing the wider circulation market. This was the first comic exclusively delivered to comic shops - a relatively new industry for 1981. Over 400,000 copies of issue 1 were pre-sold, more than double the average comic sales amount.

Dazzler: 1981-1985

Dazzler proved a success, largely due to guest-starring several key Marvel Comics characters in its first few issues: Spider-Man, The Human Torch, Dr. Doom, Galactus, The Hulk, The X-Men, and Klaw were just a few of the several guest-stars who placed Dazzler squarely into the Marvel Universe. Dazzler herself also guest-starred in Marvel titles, such as X-Men, The Avengers, and the Marvel crossover, Contest of Champions.

The series, however, was not free from critique. Several readers disapproved of the "real life" focus of Dazzler, including the focus on "soft plots" -- career, family, relationships -- rather than action-based and more traditional superhero plot devices. Dazzler's "superhero" outfit was her performance outfit, which also serves as a major disconnect from the superhero staples of the day. Years later, DeFalco reflected on these criticisms as an inherent hypocrisy with the readership: on one hand, readers clamored for something "new," which was how Dazzler was conceived. Yet on the other, they wanted Dazzler to be a superheroine in the mold of Phoenix and conform to other superheroic stereotypes.

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John Romita, Jr. left Dazzler in issue #3, and was replaced by Frank Springer, who penciled most of the Dazzler series. DeFalco stayed on as chief writer through issue #6, and helped successive writer Danny Fingeroth with several of the following issues. Fingeroth and Springer remained the Dazzler stable team through issue #27.

Eventually, Dazzler failed to adequately create its own cast and began to lose commercial appeal. With issue #25, Dazzler became a bi-monthly publication. This schedule, along with extreme character changes and a lackluster spin-off miniseries, further complicated the character and series’ appeal to both existing and new readers. The plot focus changed so that, instead of being a singer in New York, Springer moved Dazzler to Los Angeles as an aspiring actress. To promote this new direction, Marvel had artist Bill Sienkiewicz do painted artwork pieces for several Dazzler covers, from issues #27 through #35. Springer left Dazzler with issue #32, and returned briefly for issue #35 and the Dazzler: The Movie graphic novel.

Marvel attempted to jump-start the series with a tie-in graphic novel and mini-series that would highlight the character's career struggles in a prejudiced world. While the graphic novel received acclaim, the mini-series and regular Dazzler series suffered.

In a final attempt, Archie Goodwin and Paul Chadwick were assigned to Dazzler with issue #38, ditching the singer-subtext and making Dazzler more of a generic superheroine with an official costume. It did not save the series, and Dazzler was eventually cancelled in 1985.

After this, the character would go on to a short spell as an X-Men member, before disappearing completely for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, barring occasional cameos. With the launch of New Excalibur, where she is a cast member, she has just returned to monthly publication for the first time in over fifteen years.

Character history

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Alison was born in Gardendale, New York to Carter and Katherine Blaire on an unspecified date. Her mutant powers first manifested when she was in high school. An aspiring singer, she volunteered to perform at her school dance when her light-generating abilities first appeared. Everyone at the dance assumed it was a techno-based special effect, and this assumption would continue until she was revealed as a mutant.

Using the stage name “Dazzler,” Alison set out to make a name for herself in the music industry, while using her light powers and dancing ability to enhance her performances. It was at one of these shows that Alison met the X-Men. Few but those closest to her knew she was actually a mutant. After acquainting herself with the various Marvel Comics superheroes, Alison found herself continually using her abilities to fight ordinary criminals and rogue superhumans –- often at the expense of her career ambitions. In addition to being offered membership into the X-Men, Alison was also asked to join the Avengers twice -- all of which she declined.

After moving to Los Angeles, Alison attempted careers in fitness training, modeling, and acting. Influenced both by her lover Roman Nekoboh, and her desire to abate the growing anti-mutant sentiment, Alison publicly declared her mutant identity. This revelation backfired, destroying her reputation and career, inflaming anti-mutant sentiment, and sent Alison into a depressive state. Forced again into hiding, Alison was possessed by the psychic mutant Malice, and was later saved and taken-in by the X-Men.

During her tenure with the X-Men, Alison received greater training and control over her powers, and developed a romance with the extra-dimensional Longshot. She was also forced to work alongside Rogue, with whom she had a longstanding grudge. Dazzler struggled with her career ambitions and personal insecurities, and eventually she -- along with teammates Rogue, Psylocke, Colossus, and Havok -- entered the mystical Siege Perilous, leaving her in an amnesiac state. Discovered by Longshot, and devastated by the loss of her career, Alison ventured to his native "Mojoworld," and remained to help fight in the ongoing rebellion against the tyrant Mojo. Dazzler eventually returned to Earth without Longshot after an unfortunate series of events, including miscarriage and war. The X-Men offered Alison support, but she declined.

The Dazzler later re-established her musical career, marketing her trademark disco image in the Techno/Trance genre. Alison has since moved her career abroad to England and recently has joined with X-Men allies such as the Juggernaut and Captain Britain.

Powers and abilities

Dazzler is a mutant who possesses the ability to convert sound into light. Her powers encompass the entire light spectrum. While the Dazzler can absorb all forms of external sound, she prefers to use music with its rhythmic patterns. These light projections are very versatile, ranging from the typical lightshow, to catatonic strobe flashes, to pin-point laser beams, to solid photon blasts, to protective force fields. She can also use light energy to propel herself through the air, allowing her to fly. Her potential to convert sound into light is infinite, with the one restriction being that she cannot, for unknown reasons, use her own voice to create light.

Her body, especially her eyes, protects itself against any injury that would be caused by either external or self-generated light sources. Loud noises also have no effect due to her ability to absorb them. Since the events of Dazzler: The Movie, Alison’s body can store light energy for future discharge. Dazzler is also capable of redirecting absorbed or stored sound energy back as pure concussive force.

Trivia

Creation misconception

Common misconceptions have resulted from the ofuscation of Dazzler's creation -- namely, several readers believe X-Men creative team Chris Claremont and John Byrne were the character's originators. Although they wrote and pencilled her first appearance, they had nothing to do with the character or series' creation. Those roles went largely to Tom DeFalco and John Romita, Jr.

Handbook errors

Several recent Marvel Handbooks and on-line character biographies list Dazzler as having several nicknames and aliases. As Dazzler went into hiding several times between Dazzler #27 until joining the X-Men, she would occasionally drop a false name to an unsuspecting human to avoid detection. None of these aliases were permanent; in fact, Alison was almost exclusively referred to as "Dazzler," "Alison," "Ali," or "Dazz." Even "The Disco Dazzler," was only a name marketed by Marvel Comics and used once or twice in-text or for solicitation purposes.

Also, more recent handbooks list the Dazzler as having only acquired a high school degree. In Dazzler #1, the character was shown as having completed an undergraduate degree, magna cum laude (with honors). This is central to the character's history, as her rejection of higher education put her at a personal crossroads, shown in several key stories.

Ultimate Dazzler

Dazzler from Ultimate X-Men #42. Art by David Finch.

In the Ultimate Marvel timeline, writer Brian Michael Bendis re-imagined Alison Blaire as a punk rock singer, first appearing in Ultimate X-Men #42, in February of 2004. Additionally, the "Dazzler" label referred to the character's band and not as an alias for the character herself. In this incarnation, the Dazzler is fashioned in the punk style -- a stark contrast to her feel-good, high-fashion incarnations. This design also bears a striking resemblance to Brody Dalle of punk rock band The Distillers.

In keeping with her iconoclastic appearance, Dazzler has openly defied the orders of Professor Xavier on more than one occasion, leading to her suspension from the group's official missions. Later on, she developed an intimate relationship with her teammate Warren Worthington III -- the Angel. In the conclusion to 'Magnetic North', Dazzler was stabbed by Deathstrike and remains in a coma.

Appearances in other media

Dazzler appeared in the Pryde of the X-Men animated pilot. Alexandra Stoddart provided Dazzler's voice.
She also guest-starred in the X-Men animated series: Dazzler appeared as a background character in "Mojovision," and was central to the plot of "Dark Phoenix Saga Part 1: Dazzled."
Dazzler was a playable character in the X-Men arcade game released by Konami in 1992.
Dazzler was also a playable in two early PC X-Men games by Paragon Software: X-Men: Madness in Murderworld and the later .
More recently, Dazzler appears as a non-playable character (NPC) in the PC version of X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.

External links

X-Men members

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