English

Noun

1. one who dazzles

References

Dazzler (Alison Blaire) is a Marvel Comics superheroine, 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.

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 super-heroine, 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. http://www.phobosweb.com/corporate/bios/shooter.html

The character was originally conceptualized as "The Disco Queen" with the power 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 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 project altogether 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, Doctor 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 The Uncanny 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 super-heroine in the mold of Phoenix and conform to other super-heroic stereotypes.

The Ultimate incarnation of Dazzler (Alison Blaire) is introduced as a punk rock singer in Ultimate X-Men #42. Alison briefly joins Emma Frost's Academy of Tomorrow when promised a record deal, but joins the X-Men after they rescue her from a Sentinel attack. There she is called "Dazzler", the name of her band. Alison often shows a lack of enthusiasm for the X-Men or their missions, but after learning of a proposed public execution of a mutant, she convinces a group of teammates to go on a rescue mission. When the mission goes astray and Angel is captured, Dazzler takes initiative and leads the team on a rescue mission. This leads to the accidental release of a Longshot.

Later, she and Angel go out on a presumed 'date'; really an effort to get themselves involved with the X-Men's latest mission; preventing the Academy of Tomorrow students from attacking the Triskelion. During the incident, power is lost and one of the inmates, Deathstrike impales Dazzler through the chest. Ironically, Deathstrike is defeated by the very killer Dazzler has assisted before.

Dazzler stays in a coma for several weeks, visited many times by Nightcrawler who has an unrequited crush on her. Unfortunately many factors have combined to unhinge Nightcrawler and as soon as she is able to be moved, he fools her into thinking they must escape. Initially trusting him, she cooperates until the rest of the X-Men rescue her.

The others, understanding Nightcrawler is mentally ill, plan to rehabilitate him. Dazzler does not accept this and quits the team in protest. She has since been labeled as one of the "most important" mutants to the X-Men's cause by the future Bishop.

Dazzler later joins Bishop's new team in Ultimate X-Men #82. Bishop dies in Ultimate X-Men #90, and since then Dazzler has returned to the Xavier Institute to be with Angel and on Xavier's X-Men team once again. She is seen to be on Colossus' enchanced team, with seemingly the ability to generate solid light spider legs and constructs.

Dazzler's powers allow her to convert sonic vibrations into various forms of photovoltaic energy, including concussive photon pulses, laser beams, hard light holographic illusions, destructive force fields, light fog, hypnotic bursts of light, and levitation. Her photon pulses have been shown as strong enough to destroy several Sentinals at once.

Interlocking Technologies

A woman from Earth-721, was given the powers and appearance of Dazzler by Interlocking Technologies. She came to Earth-616 and impersonated the original Alison. She toured the Western States of the USA in Dazzler's original costume. However, she was ultimately discovered, stripped of her powers and returned to Earth-721

X-Babies

A member of the X-Babies is based on Dazzler. It is unknown is she is still alive or has been terminated since Alison left the X-Men

Earth X

In the Earth X timeline, Dazzler had her heart torn out by Mephisto though due to the "death" of Death, she lives on in constant agony

What If?

In two similar What If? stories (What if Cable had destroyed the X-Men? and What if Magneto took over the U.S.A.?) based on Uncanny X-Men #269, Dazzler is an agent of Magneto. She is ultimately killed by a Sentinel warhead. The second Earth is designated Earth-21993. In What if (1st series) #33, Dazzler decided to stay Galactus’ herald after she defeated Terrax. After many years of servitude, she was free to return to Earth. When she arrived, Dazzler discovered the Earth had become a barren wasteland. With nowhere else to go, she returned to Galactus.

In other media

Television

• Dazzler appeared in the Pryde of the X-Men animated pilot. Alexandra Stoddart provided Dazzler's voice. Her powers were exaggerated in this cartoon, with Professor Xavier explaining that she had the ability to transform sound into "powerful bolts of light."
• 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", in which Donald Pierce tries to kidnap her in order to force her to join the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club.

Films

• In the film X2: X-Men United, her name appears on a list of names Mystique scrolls through on Stryker's computer while looking for Magneto's file.

Video games

• 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 X-Men II: The Fall of the Mutants.
• Dazzler was briefly mentioned in X-Men Legends
• Dazzler appears as a non-playable character (NPC) in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse. Raven designed an online-exclusive "Dazzler's Nightclub level for a mission which re-enacts Uncanny X-Men #130, where the X-Men must protect Dazzler from the Hellfire Club guards. Closer inspection of the game's files reveals a dialogue portrait, HUD head, and unique character select animations for Dazzler--indicating that at some stage of development Raven Software had intended her to be a playable character.

Parody

• In issue 5 of the bimonthly Simpsons Comics from Bongo entitled "When Bongos Collide", the citizens of Springfield were transformed into "costumed super-characters." Lisa Simpson called herself "The Jazzler" and had powers very similar to Dazzler's. The only difference is that Lisa draws her powers from her saxophone.

References

• "Dissecting the Dazzler", Interview with DeFalco, Simonsen, and Stern.
• Dazzler Series Synopsis, William George Ferguson.
• UncannyXmen.net Spotlight feature on Dazzler.
• http://marvel.com/universe/Dazzler_%28Alison_Blaire%29

References

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