Surge (comics)
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Surge (Noriko "Nori" Ashida) is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Universe, one of the student body in the Xavier Institute, and a member of the former New Mutants squad therein. She maintained her powers post M-Day and is the leader of the New X-Men. She first appeared in New Mutants (volume 2) #8.
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[edit] Character biography
[edit] Introduction
Noriko Ashida was born in Japan (possibly in Tokyo where her family still lives). She was close to her brother, Keitaro, but she ran away from home when she was thirteen-years-old, after her powers manifested; she claimed that her father "doesn't believe in mutants." How she came to the United States is unknown, but she was living homeless on the streets of New York when, four years later, she went up to the X-Mansion gates - only to be turned away by student Julian Keller for being homeless.
[edit] Student at Xavier's
Nori became a student of the Xavier Institute and, when the school adopted a squad system, was assigned to the New Mutants squad led by Dani Moonstar. She reluctantly was required to share a room with Dust; the two young women disagreed upon the accepted role of women and tension arose from their disagreement.
[edit] New Mutants Squad
Soon afterwards, the romantic relationship between teammate Josh Foley and teacher Rahne Sinclair was revealed. Returning Rahne's lost power with his own, Josh was severely injured by the feral Sinclair. Nori proved herself innovative when she suggested she use her powers on teammate Josh Foley in order to shock his body into healing himself. Her plan successful, Josh awoke. Surprised by the taboo relationship, the New Mutants squad - except Nori - ostracized Josh. Eventually the conflict was dissolved.
[edit] Glimpse of the Future
In the Too Much Information arc, teammate David Alleyne had Emma Frost remove a mental block in his mind inhibiting him from recalling all the information and skills he had acquired. The team was able to see a glimpse of their possible future in which David had become the world's foremost genius and married Noriko. Disturbed by the idea of having married--and then led to the death of--Nori, David began to avoid her. Annoyed at such treatment, Nori ultimately confronted David which led to the two becoming an active couple.
[edit] Decimation and Childhood's End
The events of House of M left over 90% of the world's mutant population depowered and Nori with yet another glimpse of what a relationship between she and David would be. With only 27 students with their powers, Emma Frost, fearing their safety, ordered the depowered students and staff including Nori's advisor Danielle Moonstar to leave the Institute. Iceman, while talking to Noriko's father on the phone, confirmed that she was one of the "lucky ones" who retained their powers. As it departed, one bus of depowered students was bombed by anti-mutant zealot Reverend William Stryker, killing all on board. Though depowered, David was not killed, and he and Nori furthered their romantic relationship.
Most of the remaining students were organized by Emma Frost into a melee fight to determine who would become a member of Frost's X-Men-in-training. Much to her surprise, Nori was chosen by Frost to be the team's leader. Soon afterwards, Nori received new, lighter, and more effective gauntlets from Forge.
The remaining students at the Institute became the targets of Stryker's crusade against mutants. After killing two more students, capturing others, luring one to his side, and finally attacking the Institute, Nori was able to lead her team against the attackers. Josh, enraged by Stryker's murder of Laurie, killed Stryker, ending his plot.
Upon discovering that the advanced Sentinel Nimrod is alive, and threatening Forge, Nori, as team leader, made the decision for the New X-Men to confront Nimrod themselves. In the end, Nori removed her gauntlets and poured all her power into Nimrod causing him to jaunt backwards in time. Nori then went to the hospital wing to talk to Elixir and David. She asked if he could still kill, and he said yes. Elixir said that he wants to learn how to control the new increase to his abilities. Nori is at the memorial service to remember all the students lost in Stryker's attack.
[edit] Powers
Surge absorbs electricity at all times: from static in the air, electrical appliances, outlets, etc (often causing lights to flicker, etc). She can't control the absorption, and thus must wear specifically-designed gauntlets at all times to regulate it. She can discharge the energy through lightning blasts or channel it into bursts of superspeed. If she takes in too much energy, it causes mental overloads which cause her to speak too fast, scatters her thinking and worsens her control over the blasts. Her blue hair is not related to her power - according to Nori, it "came in a bottle" (and, indeed, she debuted with black hair).
[edit] Trivia
- According to her creators, Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, she was seventeen-years-old at the beginning of the first series. As an entire school year has passed, it might be assumed that she is now eighteen. However, given Marvel's floating timeline policy, that may not be the case.
