Selene (Selene Gallio)

[Eric J. Moreels]

Real Name: Selene Gallio
Former Aliases: Black Queen II, Black Priestess
First Appearance: New Mutants #9
Place of Birth: unrevealed
Marital Status: widowed
Known Relatives: Marcus Domitius Gallio (husband, deceased), Amara Aquilla (Magma, alleged descendant)
Group Affiliation: New York Hellfire Club Inner Circle, formerly Externals, Upstarts
Former Group Affiliation: Externals, Upstarts
Known Allies: Blackheart, formerly Gamesmaster
Major Enemies: Magma, Rachel Summers, Kulan Gath, Hulk, formerly X-Force I
Powers: life draining
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 130 lbs
Eyes: Red
Hair: Black

Selene is apparently the Goddess of the Moon of Arthurian legend, an extremely powerful sorceress who, in reality, is an energy-draining mutant. Selene is also an External, one of a select group of immortal mutants. Her abilities include telepathy, telekinesis, control of inanimate objects and the elements, plus various magical abilities. Her most deadly ability, however, is energy-draining, which she can do with a simple touch.

She created the Brazilian paradise of Nova Roma and forced the minds of those she brought there to worship and sustain her, making them believe that they were the descendants of a colony of the Roman Empire. One of her captives, the young mutant named Magma, was rescued by the New Mutants.

Selene eventually joined the Hellfire Club as their Inncer Circle's Black Queen. Selene later helped form the Upstarts, a group of wealthy individuals, mostly mutants, who sought to hunt young mutants. She was removed from the contest by Fitzroy, who imprisoned and tortured her. However, Selene escaped by forcing the sorceress Amanda Sefton to free her.

Selene next appeared when she slew all of her fellow Externals, clashing with X-Force in the process. Selene then took the newly-returned Madelyne Pryor under her wing and both joined the newly-reformed Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club.

Selene later allied herself with the son of Mephisto, Blackheart, in an attempt to usurp control of the Inner Circle. The attempt succeeded despite the best efforts of X-Force, with Selene and Blackheart becoming the Club's new Black Queen and Black King, respectively. Selene also managed to blackmail Sunspot into joining the Hellfire Club as its Black Rook.

Appearances:
Captain America (1st series) #368-369
Excalibur Annual #2
Fantastic Four '99 Annual
Firestar #3-4
Marvel Comics Presents #78, 89
New Mutants #9-11, 22-23, 51, 53-54, 61, 70-71, 73-75
New Mutants Annual #4
Uncanny X-Men #183-184, 189-191, 207-210, 283, 301, 452-454
X-Force #54, 75, 94, 96-99
X-Man #7, 13, 16-17, 20-23, 28
X-Men: The 198 Files
X-Men Unlimited #33

[M.O. Frisch]

Two minor corrections: Selene succeeded in establishing herself and Blackheart as the Black Queen and King, respectively, and Sunspot is a Black Rook, not a White Rook.

--Marc

[Monolith]

I don't think you can be a "former" External: either you are or you aren't. Also, I personally got the impression that Saul and Gideon's boy's club were the Externals, whereas "High Lord" referred to all the immortal mutants. Of course, the terms have been used interchangeable so often, it's hard to tell. Selene was the sponsor/proprietor of the Upstarts, not technically a member. She can also induce a hypnotic trance in others, and her energy draining can give her various levels of enhanced strength, speed, and reflexes...depending on how charged she is.

[Ares]

Where you mentioned Selene took Madelyne under her wing, I think you should also add that she hypnotised Trevor Fitzroy into becoming her follower as well. And then, together, they all joined the Hellfire Club.

[ZephyrStorm]

Also, not that this has to do with X-men, just a comment.
Selene is the Greek Goddess of the Moon, who later became one with Artemis.

[Midknight]

In the famous brawl between Colossus & Juggernaut in a bar on the lower east side where Wolvie and Nighty watched, it is seldom realized that Colossus actually SAVED Juggernaut's life that night.

The fight ensued when Colossus got in a drunken argument with Wolverine over dumping Kitty. Inebriated Colossus got so angry he stood up and spilled his beer on Juggy.

If the fight did not happen, Selene would have taken Juggernaut for all his energy, the Vampress that she was. At the end of an issue, she is seen lamenting over her loss of the 'big man' while holding a corpse of a less fortunate bar dweller.

[Ares]

Originally posted by Midknight
In the famous brawl between Colossus & Juggernaut in a bar on the lower east side where Wolvie and Nighty watched, it is seldom realized that Colossus actually SAVED Juggernaut's life that night.

The fight ensued when Colossus got in a drunken argument with Wolverine over dumping Kitty. Inebriated Colossus got so angry he stood up and spilled his beer on Juggy.

If the fight did not happen, Selene would have taken Juggernaut for all his energy, the Vampress that she was. At the end of an issue, she is seen lamenting over her loss of the 'big man' while holding a corpse of a less fortunate bar dweller.

What title and issue did this happen in?

[Monolith]

Originally posted by Ares
What title and issue did this happen in?

UXM #183.

[ShadowQueen]

Selene has MANY more powers then life draining.

Sorcery
Telepathy
Telekinesis
Flight
Pyrokinesis
Control over Inanimate Objects
Super Strength
Super Speed

to name a few...

[Monolith]

Originally posted by ShadowQueen
Selene has MANY more powers then life draining.

Sorcery
Telepathy
Telekinesis
Flight
Pyrokinesis
Control over Inanimate Objects
Super Strength
Super Speed

to name a few...

Did you read the first paragraph?

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

It's been revealed that the inhabitants of Nova Roma WERE, in fact, descendants of the Roman empire and all of that Selene created it/Allison Crestmere crap was just a lie. In the final issue of X-Treme X-Men, we get this exchange between Cannonball and Magma...

Cannonball: "Allison Crestmere"? But these past few weeks, you've been calling yourself "Amara Aquilla." Which name is yours?

Magma: Apparently, I'm both.

Cannonball: Uh...okay.

Magma: Not long ago, I was...I was killed, Sam. A transfusion of Archangel's blood brought me back to life. But in the process, something...happened to my memory. When i woke up, I knew the TRUTH about myself. I am AMARA JULIANA OLIVANS AQUILLA. My father is first senator of a "lost" civilization of Romans and Incans in the Andes highlands above the headwaters of the Amazon. Allison was just a CRUEL DREAM...to steal me away from my home and torment those who love me.

so...looks like the retcon has been retconned away? Who else feels like dancing?

[Kristoffer Infante]

She also made a cameo appearance in Uncanny X-Men #301 in 1993.

[gtrmp]

She also has a cameo in Witches #1.

[Gonzalo84]

After all the damage Selene's done to him, I'd put Sunspot as a major enemy. Also the Externals she murdered.

As for allies, she had a great interest in Madeline Pryor, so much that she appointed her as Black Rook of Inner Circle III.


Selene ended up trapped beneath Hellfire Club's premises. Her latest appereance has been Uncanny X-Men (2nd Series) 452.

Also, Selene has been around since the hyborian era (Conan's days), which would make her the oldest mutant in existance, even older than Apocalypse who claims the title for himself.

[Madelyne Pryor Returns]

Just to add one of Selene's new powers she can Teleport also.

[helios]

Originally Posted by Gonzalo84

After all the damage Selene's done to him, I'd put Sunspot as a major enemy. Also the Externals she murdered.

As for allies, she had a great interest in Madeline Pryor, so much that she appointed her as Black Rook of Inner Circle III.


Selene ended up trapped beneath Hellfire Club's premises. Her latest appereance has been Uncanny X-Men (2nd Series) 452.

Also, Selene has been around since the hyborian era (Conan's days), which would make her the oldest mutant in existance, even older than Apocalypse who claims the title for himself.

Apocalypse only has memories of being a slave in ancient Egypt, but he most likely was alive before then as well. Selene is old, but c'mon older than Apocalypse....I don't know.

[Madelyne Pryor Returns]

Yes, i think Selene is older than Apocalypse, say by a few years, but i think that would be an interesting comic to read, finding out whos older and there lives as teenagers and stuff and what made them turn evil.

[helios]

That wouldn't be to hard to figure out how they went evil. Apocalypse, simply because he was a slave all his life, which can make anyone villainess, and Selene, because obviousely at one point in her life she was worshipped as a goddess (Greek mythology) and her own mutant powers are derived from an evil source (She drains the life from others) I still wouldn't say that she is older than Apocalypse though, being that he was born in the "Cradel of civilization" before it was even civilized, and Egypt was the first great empire of the world. Still not the oldest mutant though.....there was that Neanderthal in Cable #96 who had been mutated by an Alien race, who saw ever great empire rise and fall.

[Madelyne Pryor Returns]

wasn't Apocalypse in his late teens when he was a slave?, even though Selene was worshipped as a greek goddess, the gods are dirived from a much older source, so it still possible that Selene is older that him.

Her powers technically aren't evil, in her earlier years she could have fed on those whi were evil inclined, Selene was goddess on the moon, her legacy is that she punished the evil and guilty with maddness, so something could have happened betwwen the time she was worshipped as a goddess, probably with Kulan Gath, that made her go a bit mad herself.

[helios]

Originally Posted by Madelyne Pryor Returns

wasn't Apocalypse in his late teens when he was a slave?, even though Selene was worshipped as a greek goddess, the gods are dirived from a much older source, so it still possible that Selene is older that him.

Her powers technically aren't evil, in her earlier years she could have fed on those whi were evil inclined, Selene was goddess on the moon, her legacy is that she punished the evil and guilty with maddness, so something could have happened betwwen the time she was worshipped as a goddess, probably with Kulan Gath, that made her go a bit mad herself.

well back then what would someone consider evil, warring city-states? She may be older than Apocalypse based on her background, but thats if she really is selene the moon goddess. It wouldn't surprise me if selenes powers had an affect on her.

[Backhand]

Something that hasn't been brought up (to my knowledge) is that from the formation of Nova Roma until the New Mutants arrived, Selene could not leave. She had been trapped there for nearly 2000 years. Concurrently, her cult still thrived. Freddie von Roehm was her cult leader and introduced her to the HC once she was freed and in NYC. Of course, she pulled a bit of the nasty and turned him into her doggy and pretty much made sure he died to save her backside against Nimrod. Earlier she ran into Rachel and Amara. Selene, never one to pass up a tasty treat, recognized the power in Ray and syphoned a little bit, but Amara and Ray were teamed, so it just didn't go down like Selene planned. Both of her dishes got away. Later, in the conflict in Central Park between the X-Men and the HC Inner Circle, Nimrod showed up in the middle of the fight. The two groups sort of scattered and fought Nimrod. Rachel was going to use the opportunity to make good on killing Selene because she was weakened from using her magics [caused her to age rapidly]. The battle saw two HC Lords die--Leland and von Roehm--and almost saw three. Wolvie [in the most hypocritical statement made by the little psycho] stopped Rachel from putting the killing stroke to Selene by schnicking her in the chest. "We're X-men, blah, blah, blah... WE don't kill." What crap! This SINGLE event made me hate Wolverine until the movie came out. I did, however, love the fact that Ray tossed his butt into the path of an on-coming subway train for his betrayal. Kitty saved him, and got 'ghosted' for her troubles. The rest is up for debate.

Here is my thought on Selene's background: All of the back history that is missing aside (for obvious reasons), IF Selene is as old as Kulan Gath (which I don't believe she is--they are mystics, either or both could have time traveled using some magic object or portal), she would have to overcome the enormous build-up of ennui that would accompany such a long existance. The whole "been there, done that" and the constant loss of companions would just become unbearable. UNLESS, she is SO shallow and unintelligent that constant worship and adulation would become her "meat and potatoes" for all of those intervening years. [She is petty, but intelligent and conniving, not shallow.]

My vote goes for CC to stick with a simple--she was a mutant of Rome who parlayed her powers into 'Goddess statis.' During that time, she did a little partying and adventuring around through time to learn her magics. After getting around so much, she got tired of it, went to S. America in search of [maybe El Dorado or the Fountain of Youth?] OR she was chased out by something bigger and badder. She established Nova Roma, but was mystically trapped there by some Incan dude who she whizzed off (probably by trying to supplant their gods and take their gold.)

Of course, she could also have run afoul of Apocolypse. Her psychic vampire bit could be a 'curse' he put on her [Horseman of Death?--and why she went seeking the Fountain of Youth]. She could have spent some time in one of his chambers until she was accidentally released and then got all 'I am the goddess, Selene! Bow and scrape, and I'll stay pretty!' This would avoid the mind-numbing boredom she would have experienced in all of that time, and allow for continuity to stay 'clean'.

Either way, with powerhouses like Apocolypse and Selene running around in times when there wasn't much to oppose them, they would have had to have run afoul of one another at some point. The world just wasn't 'that big.'

Wow, this has gone on for a while, I'll shut up now.

P.S., I was reading that bit earlier on in the thread about Rogue and Selene and Blindspot... the only other mutant to touch Rogue was a Marauder of Korean decent Code-named Scrambler.

[helios]

I agree wolvorine is a hypocrite and I have a level of disdain for him. as for the whole selene really being that old thing....okay well lets look at this from her point of viewe. One she is beautiful and has knowledge of the wise and elderly. She has powers, at a time when the abillity to destroy someone was like being a god, so I can see where the goddess persona came over her. I think it's very possible that she could have existed for so long and not encountered Apocalypse, because at that time traveling around took a very long time. People didn't do it very often.

[Shaw712]

Originally Posted by helios

I agree wolvorine is a hypocrite and I have a level of disdain for him. as for the whole selene really being that old thing....okay well lets look at this from her point of viewe. One she is beautiful and has knowledge of the wise and elderly. She has powers, at a time when the abillity to destroy someone was like being a god, so I can see where the goddess persona came over her. I think it's very possible that she could have existed for so long and not encountered Apocalypse, because at that time traveling around took a very long time. People didn't do it very often.

I for one hope Selene is eons old. Because it will open up a huge amount of possibilities to show her past. I for one do think she is as old as Kulan Gath since she has mentioned herself as eons old and Kulan Gath acted like he once trained her.

[Essex666]

Considerring all the potential she has, Selene's characer has never been properly handled at all. They should make a short, or a one shot of just her, to see how much interest she could draw. She could be the one source of magic in a character in the marvel universe, rot mad with ist's abscence, and the replacement by scientiffic concepts.

[Magneto X]

Is there any evidence that she has ever drained animals instead of people?