Ruby Summers is a fictional character appearing in
American comic books published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
. The character first appeared in the
one-shot ''X-Factor:
Layla Miller
Layla Rose Miller, also known as Butterfly, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in ''House of M'' #4 (Sept 2005), and was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel. Peter David has developed th ...
''.
[''X-Factor: Layla Miller'' #1]
Fictional character biography
Ruby is the daughter of
Scott Summers
Cyclops (Scott Summers) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and is a founding member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the comic book ...
and
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. The character first appeared in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #129 (Jan. 1980), and was ...
from the dystopian alternate future
Earth-1191.
Meeting Layla Miller
Ruby has been living in the ruins of Atlantic City with her father, Scott Summers for decades. When
Layla Miller
Layla Rose Miller, also known as Butterfly, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in ''House of M'' #4 (Sept 2005), and was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel. Peter David has developed th ...
and a man named Dwayne show up one day looking for the now-aged Cyclops. Ruby attacks them and, after finding out who Layla Miller is, brings her to her father, who has been waiting to see Layla for decades. After a conversation with Cyclops, Layla convinces Ruby to meet up with a new mutant named Linqon. Together, they start the Summers Rebellion.
Years later
Years after the start of the rebellion, Ruby rescues the now-aged Layla and
Jamie Madrox
James Arthur Madrox, also called the Multiple Man, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Len Wein, he first appeared in ''Fantastic Four (comic book), Giant-Size Fantastic F ...
, whom Layla had just brought into the future from the past, from a Sentinel attack. She is not pleased to find out Layla disobeyed her in bringing Madrox to the future.
[''X-Factor'' #42] She later brings Scott and Layla to an old, broken down hotel where an elderly, fragile Doctor Doom currently resides. They question him about time travel when they are attacked by Sentinels, only to be saved by
Trevor Fitzroy.
She has also become very close with Layla, developing a sisterly relationship.
Ruby is seen next when an aged
Doctor Doom brings Cortex to their time, however reprogrammed, and forces the Madrox dupe to attack the mutants. Although initially at a disadvantage, as Doom has taken control of Cyclops due to his cyborg nature, she manages to defeat Doom, Cortex, and Cyclops. Doom escapes and Ruby swears to kill him.
While Madrox battles Cortex, Ruby asks Layla to revive Fitzroy who was killed during Cortex's initial assault. Although Layla does not think that it is a good idea, she complies since Ruby persuades her that they may take control of their own destiny.
Future Imperfect
An alternate version of Ruby Summers appears in the Future Imperfect limited series, a tie-in to Marvel's
Secret Wars
''Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars'', commonly known as ''Secret Wars'' for short, is a twelve-issue American comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter, with ...
event. She is a member of the resistance against the
Maestro's regime.
[’’Future Imperfect’’ vol 1, Issues 1-5]
Powers and abilities
Ruby has the power to emit force beams from her eyes, like her
father
A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. An adoptive fathe ...
,
but hers are black and take 93 seconds to regenerate.
She also has the ability to transform her body into organic ruby similar to her
mother's diamond form.
This ruby form halts the aging process and allows her to survive without sustenance, but due to fear that she might "age nearly seventy years in seconds" if she reverts, she has remained in this form for decades.
Reception
* In 2018, ''
CBR.com
''Comic Book Resources'', also known by the initialism CBR, is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book–related news and discussion.
History
Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1995 as a development of the Kingdom Co ...
'' ranked Ruby Summers 4th in their "8 X-Men Kids Cooler Than Their Parents (And 7 Who Are Way Worse)" list.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Summers
Characters created by Peter David
Comics characters introduced in 2008
Fictional characters from parallel universes
Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities
Fictional characters with slowed ageing
Marvel Comics characters who are shapeshifters
Marvel Comics characters with immortality
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Marvel Comics female superheroes
Marvel Comics mutants