Warning: contains spoilers for Reptil #2
Suits and costumes can define a superhero. It’s difficult to think about Superman without his cape and iconic ‘S’ or Iron Man punching baddies without his hot rod-red suit. The same holds true for newer characters, just making a name for themselves in comic book mythology—the suit can be as iconic as the character, and for Marvel's new hero Reptil, his new look also came with something special.
Humberto Lopez, aka Reptil, was the son of two Mexican-American paleontologist parents. He grew up surrounded by love and, also, dinosaur skeletons before stumbling into his powers thanks to the discovery of a magical amulet. After his parents’ mysterious disappearance, Humberto went to live with his grandfather in Nevada where his powers land him in plenty of dangerous situations.
Reptil #2, by Terry Blas, Enid Balam, Victor Olazaba, and Carlos Lopez, opens in the midst of a battle. The sudden appearance of an unknown villain who wants Reptil’s amulet for himself has thrown the town into chaos and it’s up to Humberto and his young cousins, Eva and Julian, to rescue the civilians. The fight allows Humberto not only to stretch his dinosaur powers but also for Eva to test out her new magical skills. However, he’s still stressed about using his powers—fearful about letting the animal instincts of the dinosaurs take over and concerned about the ripple effects of Kamala’s Law. His cousins, however, point out how powerful and inspiring he could be as a Chicano superhero. “You have the power to make a difference,” Julian insists. “To give people hope.”
The small push is enough to get Humberto moving again, motivated to search for the villain who just attacked them and how to stop him. A search that would lead them back into the dinosaur world where his amulet came from. But what is a dangerous mission without a good superhero suit? Julian presents Humberto with a box, explaining that he was “saving it for the Chincanx Pride Festival”. The new suit is sleek black and green, perfect for a dino-themed hero, with boots to match. Humberto bursts into the dinosaur world looking like a superhero.
The upgrade from street clothes to something real feels like a huge step forward in Humberto Lopez’s journey to becoming a recognizable hero in the Marvel pantheon. The additional note of it being a gift and a way of celebrating not only his superpowers but the character’s pride in their heritage adds an inspiring layer to an already delightful character’s story. Reptil is certainly one of Marvel's brightest rising stars.