History:(New Mutants I#7 (fb) - BTS) - The idealistic archaeologist Nina married businessman Emmanuel Da Costa, who loved her with all his heart, and together, they had a son, Roberto.
NINA
DA COSTA
Real Name: Nina Da Costa
Identity/Class: Human (Brazilian)
Occupation: Archaeologist, professor
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Amara Aquilla, Sen. Lucius
Antonius Aquilla, the Amazons, Cannonball (Sam Guthrie), Cypher (Doug
Ramsey), Empath (Manuel de la Rocha), Mrs.
Goulart,
Lilandra (Lilandra Neramani), Magik (Illyana Rasputin), Moonstar
(Danielle Moonstar), Sunspot (Roberto Da Costa), Warlock, Wolfsbane
(Rahne Sinclair), X-Men
(Colossus/Piotr Rasputin, Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, Professor X/Charles
Xavier, Storm/Ororo Munroe)
Enemies: Axe,
Castro, Emmanuel
Da Costa, Fenris (Andrea & Andreas von Strucker), Sen. Marcus
Domitius Gallio, Hellfire Club (Sebastian Shaw, others), Silvera
Known Relatives: Roberto Da Costa (Sunspot, son), Emmanuel Da Costa (ex-husband)
Aliases: "Ma'am," "Madam Da Costa," "Madame,"
"Mama," "Mother," "My Darling" (nicknames)
Base of Operations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
First Appearance: New Mutants I#7 (September, 1983)
Powers/Abilities: Nina Da Costa has no superhuman powers but she is an extremely skilled and renowned archaeologist, fluent in Portuguese and other languages.
She also has access to her own personal
Piper Seneca airplane and is quite wealthy.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'9")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 145 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Red
History:
(New Mutants I#7 (fb) - BTS) - The
idealistic archaeologist Nina married businessman Emmanuel Da Costa, who
loved her with all his heart, and together, they had a son, Roberto.
(Fallen Angels I#1 (fb) - BTS) - When Roberto was still
a toddler, Nina posed for a family photo with Roberto and Emmanuel.
(New Mutants I#7 (fb) - BTS) - Over time, Emmanuel became
more focused on his business and power,
causing hostility in his marriage to Nina.
(New Mutants I#43 (fb) - BTS) - Over the course of her life, Nina roamed the world, seeing all manner of strange sights both wonderful and terrifying.
(X-Force I#32 (fb) - BTS) - Having seen many things over
the years during her travels, Nina was not one to frighten easily.
(New Mutants I#8 (fb) - BTS) - Nina Da Costa eventually
became a professor.
(New Mutants I#7 (fb) - BTS) - At
some point in Roberto's teenage years, Emmanuel wrote to Nina Da Costa
and
informed her that Roberto was a mutant but Nina was on an
archaeological dig in the middle of nowhere at the time and was unable
to leave. She later tried to track down Roberto as soon as she was
able, eventually finding him and his New Mutants teammates on Big Sur
island, where she met with Professor Charles Xavier and his X-Men in
hopes of speaking with Roberto, now known as the heroic Sunspot. While
there, she informed Professor X that she would soon be heading up an
expedition to the Amazon River and she invited the New Mutants to join
her.
(New Mutants I#7) - The
X-Men's Professor X summoned
Roberto and the rest of the New Mutants to their base of operations and
he informed Roberto that someone was there to see him. Roberto turned
around to see Nina Da Costa, who jokingly asked what sort of greeting
Roberto's "YOU?!" was after such a long time. Realizing his mother had
come to see him, Roberto ran into her arms to give her a big hug. He
then stepped back and deduced that Nina must know his status as a
mutant if she was there with the X-Men and Nina informed Roberto that
his father had written Nina to tell her about Roberto's mutant nature.
Roberto then remarked that he had needed his mother after discovering
his mutant powers, especially after his girlfriend Juliana Sandoval was
killed.
Nina apologized but when she tried to explain how she was on an
archaeological dig at the time, Roberto grumbled that she always was.
She then tried to explain how it was her job and she loved it but
Roberto argued that she perhaps loved the job more than her own son or
husband sometimes. Nina explained how she came to see him as quickly as
she could after hearing of his loss before Professor X interrupted to
inform Roberto that his mother had invited the New Mutants to accompany
her on an expedition to the headwaters of the Amazon River. Angry that
the New Mutants were being sent away when their teammate Karma was
still missing in the area, Roberto stormed off and the other New
Mutants followed him and convinced him to accompany his mother and them
to the Amazon while the X-Men continue searching for Karma. As the New
Mutants prepared for their trip, Nina informed her husband Emmanuel
that they would be having guests and about Roberto's missing teammate.
A week later, the New Mutants and Nina Da Costa arrived at the mansion belonging to Roberto's father, Emmanuel Da Costa. Nina was greeted by the butler Simon, who welcomed her home and remarked that it had been too long since she had last graced the halls of the mansion. Nina greeted Simon in return and asked if her husband was home but Simon answered that Emmanuel was in Sao Paulo on business and would be returning for dinner. Later that evening, Nina joined Roberto and the other New Mutants for dinner with Emmanuel and during the dinner, Emmanuel asked about Danielle Moonstar's friend with whom she had previously visited Rio de Janeiro, at which point Nina reminded Emmanuel that Danielle's friend was the same teammate that she had previously mentioned being missing. Emmanuel asked forgiveness for bringing up the missing friend before asking Nina where she was "gallivanting" off to this time, to which Nina replied that she was going to the Maderia, as Emmanuel already knew. Roberto frowned at seeing his parents arguing, thinking to himself how the two were as hostile as ever to one another. The spat continued when Emmanuel warned how dangerous the unexplored territories of the Amazon could be but Nina argued that Emmanuel was sending geologist to that very locale himself. Emmanuel commented back that he would send his people anywhere if there was profit to be made but an angry Nina asked why they needed more money, as they had more than they could ever spend. Emmanuel replied that Nina had never been poor and when he asked if she would rather be living in a shack in the hills, as his parents had, Nina answered that she would rather they be happy. Lighting a cigar, Emmanuel commented back that he was happy but Nina explained how much of the Amazon River basin's rain forests were destroyed each year, accusing Emmanuel and those like him of sacrificing the future to rule the present. Grimly claiming that while he always knew Nina to be an idealist, he never knew her to be a fool, Emmanuel said good night.
The next morning, Nina Da Costa
took Roberto and the other New Mutants to the Carnival celebration,
informing them that Carnival was similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Nina continued, informing the New Mutant Sam Guthrie about the
uninhibited Cariocas girls, and when Danielle Moonstar suggested they
don costumes and join in the fun, Nina took the children by Sal's
Costume Shop to look at costumes. When shop employee Senhora Goulart
whispered to Nina that she wanted outside by what appeared to be a
chauffeur, Nina assumed Emmanuel had sent her a ride and had the New
Mutants put their civilian clothes back on as she went outside. As soon
as Nina walked outside, however, she was grabbed by Hellfire Club
guards and shoved into a limousine. Sam witnessed the abduction and,
recognizing the kidnappers as Hellfire Club thugs, he informed the
other New Mutants as he flew outside to pursue the limo, only to be
knocked into a building. Danielle quickly proclaimed that they needed
to rescue Sam but Roberto asked about his mother, noting that the
abductors were getting away. Before the New Mutants could take action,
they were attacked by the mutant Axe, who assured them that Nina would
be fine as long as the New Mutants minded their manners. Sam soon freed
himself but chose not to fly after Axe out of fear of harming
bystanders or causing injury to Nina Da Costa and he quickly regrouped
with his teammates as he wondered what the Hellfire Club could want
with Nina Da Costa.
Later that evening, with the help
of their teammate Wolfsbane, the New Mutants tracked the Hellfire Club
thugs to an old home, where Sunspot suggested they not barge in to
attack in an effort to not have his mother injured in the crossfire.
Soon learning from Wolfsbane that Nina Da Costa was in no danger until
dawn, when the thugs' employer was to arrive to decide Nina's fate.
Taking a cue from his television hero Magnum,
P.I.,
Sunspot decided to separate the Hellfire Club guards from Axe by having
his teammates lure the guards away while Sunspot confronted Axe
himself, who held Nina hostage by her hair to keep Sunspot at bay.
Sunspot instead hammered the ground, shattering it in a line beneath
Axe's feet, causing him to drop Nina Da Costa. Cannonball arrived
moments later and saved the falling Nina, who asked about her son.
Cannonball assured Sunspot would be along momentarily after defeating
Axe.
Days later, following disruptions in their plans due to the police investigation into Nina's kidnapping, Nina and the New Mutants visited the Santos Dumont Airport to load up Nina's personal Piper Seneca plane for the trip to Manaus along the Amazon River. A glum Roberto expressed concern that the danger to his mother was not over but Sam reassured Roberto that they would look out for her and that she seemed to be someone who could take care of herself. From a distance in his limousine, Emmanuel Da Costa watched as Nina's plane was loaded and spoke with his passenger, the Hellfire Club's Sebastian Shaw, remarking that the Hellfire Club guards' performance did not induce him to join the Hellfire Club since he had been assured Nina would be dealt with. Shaw replied back that problems arose when Emmanuel wanted Nina captured unharmed and that he thought Axe could handle the New Mutants. When Shaw offered further assistance, Emmanuel remarked that arrangements had already been made as he assured Shaw that Nina's Amazon expedition would not succeed, as she would never reach the Maderia. Upon hearing this, Shaw questioned whether Emmanuel would stay committed to stopping the expedition even it cost him the lives of his wife and son.
(New Mutants I#8 (fb) - BTS) - While near the Amazon,
Nina warned the New Mutants about the dangers in the water of the
Amazon River.
(New Mutants I#8) - When Danielle Moonstar dove into
the water to swim over to the boat rented by Nina Da Costa, one of the
crewmen, a man named Castro, secretly dumped garbage into the water to
stir up piranhas. Danielle managed to use her powers against the
piranhas and Nina quickly noticed Danielle in the water and yelled for
the dinghy to be released immediately. Danielle's teammate Sam Guthrie
swiftly flew to her rescue and as he sped past the ship, Nina ordered
everyone to duck to keep from being hit by the flying duo. The other
New Mutants soon boarded the ship but found one of the crew, Silvera,
arguing with the captain over working alongside mutants, prompting an
angry Nina to move closer to her son Roberto. Castro quickly broke up
the argument, noting that Sam's powers might come in handy before the
expedition was over, and Nina tried to comfort Roberto as the captain
ordered the ship to move on since everyone was now onboard. Later that
evening, Nina attempted to speak with a native woman that Sam had taken
into custody after her tribe had earlier attacked Sam and Danielle
during Sam's rescue of Danielle but Nina failed to reach the woman in
any dialects she was familiar with. Looking over the native woman's
weapons, Nina noted that her arrows were of two different regions: one
of the native Jivaro with the other being from the Peruvian Hovito
tribe, some five hundred miles away despite the woman herself appearing
to be from neither tribe. When Roberto mentioned that the woman's knife
didn't look native, Nina confirmed Roberto's suspicions by explaining
how the knife was modern steel.
Remarking that none of the Amazon
tribes were using steel weapons, Nina questioned where the woman
originated, unaware that Emmanuel Da Costa was arguing with the
Hellfire Club's Sebastian Shaw about his agent, Castro, proving so far
unsuccessful in his mission. Shaw reminded Emmanuel that Castro's
mission was difficult when he had to somehow stop Nina's expedition
without harming either Nina or Roberto. Emmanuel assured Shaw that he
would not let anyone keep him from the mineralogical treasure trove
within the Maderia region of the Amazon, to which Shaw expressed his
thoughts that Emmanuel still loved Nina. Emmanuel commented back that
his feelings for Nina had no impact on his business dealings, claiming
that Nina would be in no danger had she stayed at home and behaved as a
"proper wife." As Nina and the New Mutants soon approached the
mountainous Maderia region, Nina beckoned the New Mutants to see their
destination and Sam remarked that some legends claimed there was a lost
civilization hidden within the mountains. Moments later, Wolfsbane
ventured into the boat to bring food to the captive native, only to
find Castro trying to beat information out of her and when Wolfsbane
warned that Prof. Da Costa had ordered the woman to remain unharmed,
Castro hit Wolfsbane aside. Wolfsbane scared Castro away and confessed
her feelings about others being scared of her wolf form to the native
woman before suggesting she go speak with Nina about Castro, unaware
that Castro had drugged Nina and the other New Mutants' food. Wolfsbane
went topside, only to find the captain dead with arrows in his back,
and Castro knocked out Wolfsbane, depositing her into a cabin alongside
the unconscious Nina and the other New Mutants. Roberto and Wolfsbane
soon regained consciousness and Roberto went topside to check on the
boat's trajectory, deducing that Castro's attack must have been another
attempt to stop his mother's expedition like the kidnapping in Rio.
The boat soon hit the Amazonian
rapids and crashed into a rock, depositing everyone into the water.
(New Mutants I#8 / New Mutants I#10 (fb)) - As
Sam again rescued Danielle, Roberto swam to rescue his
still-unconscious mother but he was hit in the head by a chunk of
wreckage.
(New Mutants I#8) - Nina was pulled downstream by the current and Roberto was nearly pulled in by the undertow until he was rescued by Sam, who saw no signs of Nina and thought to himself to check down river once he got Roberto to safety. Sam soon returned to find Wolfsbane rescuing the native girl, who was revealed as the Caucasian, English-speaking Amara when the waters washed away her disguise and when Sam asked if Wolfsbane had seen Nina, Wolfsbane admitted she had not. Sam rescued Wolfsbane and Amara then informed Roberto that his mother was nowhere to be found. A panicked Roberto insisted they had to find her and began screaming Nina's name until the New Mutants were confronted by what appeared to be Roman centurions.
(New Mutants I#9 - BTS) - Upon being led into the
hidden city of Nova Roma in the Maderia, Danielle Moonstar remarked
that Roberto's mother was right about their being a hidden civilization
in the mountains. When Wolfsbane expressed wishes that Nina could have
seen the city, Roberto grimly reminded his teammates that his mother
could be injured or worse after being swept from his hands in the
rapids and suggested they use their mutant powers to best the
centurions. Once the New Mutants and Amara were placed in a dungeon
cell, Amara apologized to Roberto and prayed that Nina was either still
alive or had suffered quick, painless death. Roberto questioned Amara
whether his mother could be in Nova Roma, to which Amara replied that
if Nina had been found, she would be in the dungeons with them. As
Amara then explained her status as the daughter of a Nova Roman
senator, Roberto asked why Amara was so interested in his mother's
expedition, to which Amara explained that Nova Romans were wary of
strangers due to their isolation from the world at large.
(New Mutants I#10) - After Sen. Marcus Domitius Gallio proclaimed
Wolfsbane to be the descendant of Julius Caesar in a secret effort to
undermine the power of the Senate, the New Mutants were hailed as
heroes in Nova Roma and when Sam noted Sen. Gallio eyeballing a rival
senator, Roberto, still worried about his mother, remarked that it was
no concern of theirs. Noticing Danielle was looking his way, Roberto
tried to hide his worries but Danielle suspected Roberto was still very
concerned for his mother's life. Later that night, Sam Guthrie and
Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane) argued about aiding Sen. Gallio and Roberto
opted to go for a walk and let Danielle Moonstar settle the argument,
and as he was walking, he thought back on all of his recent losses
including his mother during the earlier boat wreck. Mourning his losses
and blaming himself, Roberto happened to look out into the town plaza,
where he saw his mother being led into the plaza. Overjoyed, Roberto
ran down to see his mother by Nova Roman guards, only to be blocked
from entering the plaza under orders from Sen. Gallio. Reluctantly
turning away, Roberto returned to the palace, wondering if perhaps he'd
only imagined seeing his mother. Later that night, the New Mutants were
attacked by Castro from the boat crew and Roberto recognized him,
noting that his mother might be dead because of Castro's actions on the
boat.
(New Mutants I#11) - After Castro claimed to be working for Sen. Aquilla and the senator was captured for trial by Sen. Gallio, Roberto noticed the same red-haired woman he had earlier thought was his mother and asked Sam Guthrie to cover for him as he investigated. Downing a nearby guard and claiming his armor for a disguise, Roberto thought back at how his mother had been lost in the rapids days ago and how he'd seen the red-haired woman in the plaza earlier. Following the prisoners, Roberto discovered Castro interrogating the imprisoned red-haired woman, whom he confirmed was indeed his mother Nina. Roberto soon overheard Nina insisting that Castro was not in the employ of her husband Emmanuel and Castro admitted that he technically served none other than the Hellfire Club before explaining that Emmanuel Da Costa sought to exploit the natural wealth of the area and how he had been tasked with ensuring Emmanuel's wishes were granted. Castro then gloated that while Emmanuel loved his wife and would never order her death, accidents happened in such an isolated and dangerous country. Castro then revealed how he planned to help Sen. Gallio become Nova Roma's first emperor and how Gallio would then grant Emmanuel Da Costa permission to mine the area. When Castro commented that it was a pity Nina wouldn't be around to see Gallio's actions, Roberto revealed his presence, confronting Castro to save his mother. The two shared a reuniting hug before Nina revealed how the Amazon natives had saved her and how they were actually girls sent out into the forests to escape the Nova Roman Black Priestess Selene. As Nina continued explaining Selene's Cult of Fire, Roberto informed her about how Danielle Moonstar had went missing. Noting the danger Danielle was likely in, Nina grabbed a knife and prepared to accompany Roberto back to his teammates. Roberto suggested Nina contact the Amazons so they could be linked to Sen. Aquilla in an effort to disrupt Sen. Gallio's plans. When Nina asked about Danielle, Roberto suspected she could handle herself much like Nina herself. Roberto then asked if Castro's words about Emmanuel hiring Castro were true and Nina confirmed they were, prompting Roberto to feel betrayed by his father.
A short time later, as Amara Aquilla arrived at Sen. Gallio's palace to save her tortured father Sen. Aquilla, Roberto joined in the fight against Sen. Gallio, followed by an army of Amazons led there by Nina Da Costa. A fierce fight ensued between the New Mutants, the Amazons and Sen. Gallio's forces and when Sen. Gallio was killed by Sen. Aquilla in a sword fight, Amara mentioned Danielle being captured by Selene, prompting the New Mutants to follow Amara back through tunnels to rescue Danielle.
(New Mutants I#12 (fb)) - After the New Mutants rescued Danielle and
defeated Selene, Roberto asked Nina to accompany them back to
civilization but Nina declined, reminding Roberto that her place and
work were in the Maderia. When Roberto questioned whether his mother
would stand beside him against his father, Nina reminded Roberto that
she loved Emmanuel Da Costa. Roberto questioned how that could be so
after everything Emmanuel had done but Nina explained how Emmanuel had
fought so hard for so long that the gentle man he once was had become
lost and asked Roberto if the people who loved Emmanuel abandoned him,
how Emmanuel would ever find his true self again.
(New Mutants I#12) - Roberto confronted his father at his office, remarking that he wanted his appearance there to be a surprise, much like the surprise of the survival of himself, his mother and his friends at the hands of Emmanuel's hired assassin. When Emmanuel warned that Roberto had much to lose, Roberto claimed that he felt as if he were being pushed over the edge by his father, who tried to have his son and wife killed to get at the riches of the Maderia. Emmanuel immediately claimed that it was never his intent to have his family killed but Roberto argued back, demanding to know why his father would put his family in danger. Emmanuel angrily ordered Roberto to lower his tone, reminding Roberto that he was his father, but Roberto sarcastically asked if his father loved him or his mother, prompting Emmanuel to raise his hand to Roberto. Roberto transformed into his Sunspot form and ordered Emmanuel to leave the Maderia alone, promising that he and his New Mutants teammates would do everything in their power to stop him, and when Emmanuel warned Sunspot against leaving, Sunspot proclaimed himself to be half an orphan before storming out of the office. As the tearful Roberto departed Da Costa International, he thought back on what his mother had said as they left the Maderia region and wondered if perhaps his father's current attitudes were Emmanuel's true self.
(New Mutants I#21 - BTS) - Following a baseball game, Sam Guthrie
and Roberto Da Costa discussed their parents and Roberto expressed
sadness that his father was no longer the man he remembered, prompting
Sam to say similar words to what Nina Da Costa had said to Roberto
before regarding giving Roberto's father time to find the man he once
was. Roberto commented on how Nina had said similar things, still
expressing surprise that his mother could still love his father after
his actions nearly got them killed.
(New Mutants I Annual#1 - BTS) - During a battle with the alien Vrakanins involving the teleporter Lila Cheney, the New Mutants found that Cheney's Dyson Sphere had been set to self-destruct and as the countdown came closer, Sunspot thought to himself how he might never see his mother and father again, and how he might never be able to tell them how much he loved them.
(New Mutants I Special#1 - BTS) - While in Asgard, Sunspot began to enjoy the Asgardian life, thinking about how, there, he had no worries of school, his father joining forces with the Hellfire Club or his mother never being around.
(New Mutants I#37 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Nina Da Costa returned to
her home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(New Mutants I#37 - BTS) - After saving lives during a construction accident, during which the newly-arrived She-Hulk received the credit, Sunspot returned to his limousine and asked his chauffeur, Ruth, if she knew what country his mother was in that week. Ruth replied that Nina was in Brazil, at the Da Costa family home in Rio de Janeiro, at which point Sunspot asked Ruth to take him to Kennedy Airport.
(New
Mutants I#43 (fb) - BTS) - Roberto visited his mother in Rio.
When Roberto was ready to leave two weeks later, Nina decided to fly
him back to Westchester County, New York herself. Together, the two
flew over the Andes, the Amazon, Manaus, Venezuela, Trinidad, Puerto
Rico and the Bahamas.
(New Mutants I#43) - As Nina and Roberto flew into the United States
over Fort Pierce, Florida and went north towards New York, Roberto
admitted that, while it was good to visit with his mother, it was also
good to get back to school. The two were soon startled when Roberto's
New Mutants teammate Cannonball flew next to the plane to say hi to
Roberto. Cannonball quickly apologized to Nina, explaining that they
couldn't let their "prodigal" teammate return to the States without a
proper welcome. Danielle Moonstar (now codenamed Mirage) soon appeared
next to the plane as well, riding her flying horse Brightwind, further
surprising Nina, who was told by Roberto that Xavier's School was quite
unique. When the newest New Mutants Cypher and Warlock landed on the
top of the plane, Roberto introduced them to his mother, who nervously
remarked that it was a pleasure. Roberto then asked Nina if his
friends' actions were bothering her and Nina replied that it wasn't
really, only that his friends did take some getting used to. Magik soon
teleported into the plane and, following a brief introduction, she
asked Nina if she could teleport Roberto to Xavier's School rather than
wait for the plane to land and Nina to drive him the rest of the way.
Nina asked if Roberto was fine with that and when he replied in the
affirmative, Nina allowed Magik to teleport Roberto away, with Magik
and Roberto both saying goodbye before disappearing from the plane.
(Fallen Angels I#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Nina posed for a
photo by herself and that photo and one of her with Emmanuel and a
young Roberto were given to her son, Roberto.
(Fallen Angels I#1 - BTS) - After losing his temper and accidentally injuring his friend Sam Guthrie, Roberto perused the family photos of his mother and father, thinking about each of them and wondering if both were more concerned with their own passions than with him.
(New Mutants I#76 - BTS) - Following the explosion of Xavier's
School, Sunspot asked what the New Mutants should do next and Wolfsbane
suggested Sunspot call his mother and father to tell them what had
happened.
(New Mutants I#89 (fb) - BTS) - As time passed, Roberto Da Costa took to
buying his mother's birthday presents at Tiffany's.
(New Mutants I#88 (fb) - BTS / New Mutants I#99 (fb) - BTS) - Nina
Da Costa went off on another archaeological dig to New Guinea.
(New Mutants I#88 - BTS) - When the New Mutants returned X-Factor's
Ship following some time in Asgard, Cannonball phoned his mother to let
her know he was back and Warlock asked Roberto Da Costa if he planned
to call his own mother and father. A grumbling Roberto noted that his
mother was off on yet another archaeological dig and that he had no
intentions of calling his father.
(New
Mutants I#89 - BTS) - After Cannonball, Boom-Boom and Sunspot
arrived at a Tiffany's location to look for a going away present for
their teammate Wolfsbane, Cannonball mentioned that Tiffany's was too
rich for his blood, at which point Sunspot asked why and remarked that
he bought all of his mother's birthday presents there.
(New Mutants I#99 (fb) - BTS) - When Emmanuel Da Costa died, his business associate Gideon sent word to Nina Da Costa in New Guinea of her husband's death.
(New Mutants I#99 - BTS) - Gideon subsequently met with Roberto Da
Costa, informing him that he had sent word to Nina and reminding
Roberto that his father's funeral arrangements needed to be made.
Roberto remarked that it figured his mother would be off on a dig but
when Gideon revealed that Roberto was to take over his father's
company, Roberto asked about his mother. Gideon explained that Nina and
Emmanuel's relationship had been strained at best and that Emmanuel had
wanted Roberto to take over Da Costa International.
(X-Force I#32 (fb) - BTS) - Following a false revelation that the
residents of Nova Roma were simply brainwashed civilian victims of
Selene, Nina Da Costa began working with a Brazilian government
resettlement camp intended to aid those victims acclimate back into
regular modern society.
(X-Force I#32) - The mutant Empath, who had also been working at the
resettlement camp, was attacked by the terrorist Fenris organization
and he fled back to the resettlement camp and collapsed, prompting a
worried Nina Da Costa to rush to his aid. The weakened Empath asked
Nina to get everyone out of the camp before they arrived but a confused
Nina asked who "they" were moments before she noticed the approaching
Fenris. Frozen in fear, Nina and the rest of the resettlement camp were
hit by a destructive blast projected by Fenris. Danielle Moonstar came
to Nina's rescue, downing Fenris with psychic arrows, and Nina
immediately recognized Danielle from their earlier encounters. Nina
then asked what sort of arrows Moonstar was using and Moonstar
explained that her psionic arrows paralyzed neural synapses, which
proved much more effective than simply conjuring images of fear. She
then properly greeted Nina and expressed sympathy for the then-recent
disappearance of her son Roberto, commenting that at least the missing
Roberto didn't have to worry about being hunted down like she did.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Sal Buscema and Bob McLeod.
I'm frankly a bit surprised that it has been over thirty years now since Nina Da Costa's last appearance. Given that the revelation that the Nova Romans were mind-controlled victims of Selene and not true descendants of Rome proved to be false and Nova Roma did truly exist as originally written by Claremont, I'm sure Nina moved on from the Nova Roman resettlement camp and has been off on archaeological digs since, though it's possible these days, she may have settled into less dangerous work as a professor. Interestingly enough, New Mutants I#8 was the only issue that ever referred to her as a professor but it makes sense...
This profile was completed on
03/18/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the
Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Nina Da Costa should be distinguished from:
| --New Mutants I#7 |
Appearances:
New Mutants I#7 (September, 1983) - Chris Claremont (writer), Sal
Buscema (pencils), Bob McLeod (inks), Louise Jones (editor)
New Mutants I#8 (October, 1983) - Chris Claremont (writer), Sal Buscema
(pencils), Bob McLeod (inks), Louise Jones (editor)
New Mutants I#9 (November, 1983) - Chris Claremont (writer), Sal Buscema
(pencils), Tom Mandrake (inks), Louise Jones (editor)
New Mutants I#10 (December, 1983) - Chris Claremont (writer), Sal
Buscema (pencils), Tom Mandrake (inks), Louise Jones (editor)
New
Mutants I#11 (January, 1984) - Chris Claremont (writer), Sal Buscema
(pencils), Tom Mandrake (finishes), Louise Jones (editor)
New Mutants I#12 (February, 1984) - Chris Claremont (writer), Sal
Buscema (pencils), Tom Mandrake (finishes), Louise Jones (editor)
New Mutants I#21 (November, 1984) - Chris Claremont (writer), Bill
Sienkiewicz (art), Ann Nocenti (editor)
New Mutants I Annual#1 (1984) - Chris Claremont (writer), Bob McLeod
(pencils, inks), Tom Palmer (inks), Ann Nocenti (editor)
New
Mutants I Special#1 (1985) - Chris Claremont (writer), Arthur Adams
(pencils), Terry Austin (embellishes), Ann Nocenti (editor)
New Mutants I#37 (March, 1986) - Chris Claremont (writer), Mary
Wilshire, Bill Sienkiewicz (art), Ann Nocenti (editor)
New
Mutants I#43 (September, 1986) - Chris Claremont (writer), Steve
Purcell (pencils), Whilce Portacio (inks), Ann Nocenti (editor)
Fallen Angels I#1 (April, 1987) - Jo Duffy (writer), Kerry Gammill
(pencils), Tom Palmer (finishes), Ann Nocenti (editor)
New Mutants I#76 (June, 1989) - Louise Simonson (writer), Rich Buckler
(pencils), Tom Palmer (finishes), Bob Harras (editor)
New Mutants I#88 (April, 1990) - Louise Simonson (writer), Rob Liefeld
(pencils), Hilary Barta (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
New Mutants I#89 (May, 1990) - Louise Simonson (writer), Rob Liefeld
(pencils), Hilary Barta (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
New Mutants I#99 (March, 1991) - Rob Liefeld (plot, pencils, inks),
Fabian Nicieza (script), Bob Harras (editor)
X-Force I#32 (March, 1994) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Tony Daniel
(pencils), Jon Holdredge (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
First posted: 09/23/2026
Last updated: 03/18/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
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like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
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Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
Mrs. Goulart