Rictor (Julio Esteban "Ric" Richter) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily in the X-Men family of books. The character was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Walt Simonson and first appeared in X-Factor #17 (June 1987). In subsequent years, the character was featured as a member of the original New Mutants team and the original X-Force team, and continued to appear in various X-Men franchise publications thereafter. In comic books published in the 1980s and 1990s, Rictor's mutant powers were to generate and manipulate seismic energy and create tremendously powerful vibrations in any nearby object, inducing earthquake-like phenomena and causing objects to shatter or crumble. When the character was reintroduced in 2005, it was as one of many depowered mutants adjusting to civilian life. The character remained depowered until a 2011 comic.
Introduced in the late 1980s as a supporting character in X-Factor, Rictor appeared in Marvel comics for ten years under the pens of a number of different writers; much of his character development in this period came from Fabian Nicieza's run on X-Force. The character returned to publication in 2005 with the X-Factor vol.3 and has been written by Peter David continually since then. Responding to fan interest in the gay subtext surrounding the character in Jeph Loeb's X-Force run, Rictor's kiss with teammate Shatterstar in the pages of X-Factor vol.3 in 2009 became the first depiction of a same-sex kiss in a mainstream Marvel Comics publication. Since then, Rictor has been written as an out gay man who is fully accepting of his sexual identity, and one of the few gay superheroes in the Marvel Universe.
Rictor appeared in the 2017 film Logan, portrayed by Jason Genao.
Publication history
Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Walt Simonson, Rictor first appeared in X-Factor #17 (June 1987). X-Factor owed its early popularity to reuniting the five original main characters of The X-Men; new characters were introduced to the series over time, and Simonson's run introduced Mexican earth-manipulator Rictor as one of several young wards to the senior X-Men characters. In 1988, Simonson spun off these characters into their own miniseries X-Terminators before transferring most of them, including Rictor, to the cast of her other ongoing X-Men title The New Mutants during the "Inferno" crossover event. As part of the main cast of The New Mutants, Rictor also appeared in the crossover events "Days of Future Present" and "X-Tinction Agenda".
Rictor was written out of The New Mutants in issue #98 (February 1991), when artist Rob Liefeld took over plotting for the series after Simonson's departure. Under Liefeld's creative direction, the series was ended with issue #100 and relaunched as X-Force, with substantial changes in team lineup and a new high-octane and gritty tone. Rictor reappeared in X-Force #11, Liefeld's final issue on the series; dialogue scripter Fabian Nicieza subsequently took over full writing duties on the series and had Rictor join X-Force in issue #15 (October 1992).
During his time on X-Force, Rictor also appeared in the crossover stories "X-Cutioner's Song", "Fatal Attractions", "Child's Play" and "Phalanx Covenant", and guest-starred in the Cable series. Rictor remained a main character on X-Force for the duration of Nicieza's run on the series, up to the "Age of Apocalypse" event. Afterwards, Rictor left the team when Jeph Loeb took over as writer in issue #44 (July 1995); Loeb later brought Rictor back in issue #59 (October 1996). The character would remain on the team until issue #70 (October 1997), afterwards reappearing in issue #76 and the 1999 annual.
Rictor would develop a close bond with his X-Force teammate Shatterstar, who had first appeared in The New Mutants #99. From the beginning of Jeph Loeb's run as writer, the characters' relationship was deliberately coded as romantic. However, Loeb's intention to write the characters into a relationship was not followed-up by his successors upon departing the series, and the romantic connection between them was not made explicit.
In 2002, the character returned in the pages of New X-Men as a member of Professor Xavier's X-Corporation. Following the House of M crossover storyline in 2005, which saw the character lose his mutant abilities, Rictor returned to the X-Factor title with Peter David's third volume of the title. X-Factor vol. 3 began with Rictor extremely depressed and suicidal over the loss of his powers, joining as a civilian member of Multiple Man's team of superhero detectives, X-Factor Investigations. David's run would explore the character's romantic relationship with Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair), as first visited in the Liefeld run, and later made comic book history when the character was reunited with Shatterstar in X-Factor #45 (2009), which saw the two characters kiss. Storylines since, in the renumbered X-Factor #200 and onwards, have focused on the pair's explicitly romantic and sexual relationship. Marvel continued to depict Rictor as powerless until Avengers: The Children's Crusade #6 (2011), in which the Scarlet Witch restored his abilities.
In 2018, Rictor appeared as a main character in the miniseries New Mutants: Dead Souls and as a supporting character in the miniseries Shatterstar.
Fictional character biography Origins: X-Factor and New Mutants (1980s) In his introductory story in X-Factor #17, Rictor is a captive of the anti-mutant organization called the Right, who connect him to a machine that amplifies his already uncontrollable power of earthquake generation to wreak havoc in San Francisco. Rictor is freed by X-Factor and accepted by them as a trainee member.X-Factor #17–18. Marvel Comics. During the chaos, he is assisted by Boom Boom, who talks him out of a severe emotional crisis. He becomes emotionally attached to her as a result, later describing her as "like a sister".New Mutants #79 and 88. Marvel Comics. He is recaptured by the Right shortly afterwards, but is again freed by X-Factor.X-Factor #22–23. Marvel Comics.
Rictor and his friends take up residence on X-Factor's base, the sentient craft named 'Ship'. When X-Factor wards Artie Maddicks and Leech are kidnapped by N'astirh's demons, Rictor joins his fellow X-Factor trainees in a mission to rescue them. During the mission, they adopt the name X-Terminators.X-Terminators #1–4; New Mutants #73. Marvel Comics. Following two successful team-ups with the New Mutants,X-Terminators #4, New Mutants #73 and 76. Marvel Comics. Rictor and Boom Boom both join the group.New Mutants #77. Marvel Comics.
Rictor develops romantic feelings for Wolfsbane while on the team. Rictor and friends travel to Asgard and battle Hela, where he assumes a protective role over her, even helping her pass by Garm.New Mutants #77–80, 82–86. Marvel Comics. Rictor is chagrined when Cable, who he mistakes for the man who killed his father, steps in as mentor of the New Mutants. He initially rebels against Cable's authority, but acquires some respect for him when he spies him practicing in the Danger Room by himself.New Mutants #89–91. Marvel Comics. Alongside the New Mutants, he assists Cable in fighting Stryfe and the Mutant Liberation Front.New Mutants #93–94. Marvel Comics.
Rictor is captured alongside Storm, Boom Boom, Wolfsbane, and Warlock by forces of the island nation Genosha. Only he and Boom Boom escape. They spend nearly a full day as fugitives on the streets of Genosha's capital until being reunited with the X-Men, X-Factor, and New Mutants. Rictor shares a heartfelt kiss with Wolfsbane and is heartbroken when she chooses to stay behind.New Mutants #93–94; Uncanny X-Men #270–272; X-Factor #60, 62. Marvel Comics.
Rictor leaves the New Mutants with the intent to bring Wolfsbane back from Genosha.New Mutants #98. Marvel Comics. Rictor is by then convinced that Cable—from whom Stryfe had been cloned—is the man who killed his father, and he agrees to join the Canadian government's Weapon P.R.I.M.E. team.X-Force #10. Marvel Comics. The team's sole purpose is the apprehension of Cable, but thanks to both Cable and the New Mutants now known as X-Force, this is averted.X-Force #11–13. Marvel Comics.
X-Force (1990s; 2002) Rictor joins X-Force, and aids them in saving Sunspot from Gideon.X-Force #15. Marvel Comics. When Stryfe, posing as Cable, shoots Professor X, X-Force is hunted by the X-Men and X-Factor. Wolfsbane has since joined X-Factor. She disbelieves Rictor when he says he does not know where Cable is, and shows no hesitation in apprehending him personally, driving a further wedge between the two. X-Force are held captive in the X-Mansion, before being officially released after Cable is cleared of blame in Professor X's shooting.Uncanny X-Men #294–295; X-Factor #84; X-Force #16–17; X-Men Vol. 2 #14. Marvel Comics. Afterwards, the team sets up its base in the ruins of Camp Verde, Warpath's home reservation.X-Force #20. Marvel Comics.
Although Shatterstar initially irritates Rictor,X-Force #26. Marvel Comics. the two become close friends over time. When his cousin and uncle are shot during an arms deal, Rictor visits his family in Guadalajara for the first time in years and is accompanied by Shatterstar; this story shows scenes from young Rictor's childhood, showing how he was forced to watch his father, a black-market arms merchant, being killed by Stryfe.X-Force #34. Marvel Comics. The same story also shows how Shatterstar has learned Spanish to communicate with Rictor privately. The characters' close relationship is also shown in another story where Rictor takes Shatterstar to a nightclub to try and help him better understand humanity.X-Force #43. Marvel Comics.
Rictor leaves X-Force when the team relocates to the Xavier Mansion and begins using more intrusive telepathic communication,X-Force #44. Marvel Comics. choosing to return to his family. He comes back to the team when Shatterstar undergoes an identity crisis.X-Force #59. Marvel Comics. When the team disbands in the wake of Operation: Zero Tolerance, Rictor and Shatterstar depart for Mexico together to try to systematically take down Rictor's family's arms-dealing business.X-Force #70. Marvel Comics. During their time together, Rictor learns Shatterstar's native language from his home planet of Mojoworld. After having made significant progress against the Richter family, the pair briefly reunite with X-Force when they are caught up in an incident involving genetic experiments on mutants.X-Force Annual 1999. Marvel Comics. The ultimate outcome of their campaign against Rictor's family is not shown, but can be assumed to be successful.
Rictor next appeared in two issues of New X-Men in 2002. These issues reveal Rictor is one of several mutants (amongst them other former members of X-Force) who joined Professor X's restructured X-Corporation. X-Corporation's confrontation with Weapon XII is a catastrophe, leading to the death of one of their members, Darkstar.New X-Men #128 (August 2002). Marvel Comics.New X-Men #130 (October 2002). Marvel Comics.
X-Factor Investigations (2005–2013) Powerless detective