MATEO

Real Name: Mateo (last name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Scavenger

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Camilla, Sandman (William Baker), the Thing (Ben Grimm), his mother

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: Camilla (sister), unidentified mother

Aliases: "Matty" (nickname)

Base of Operations: Davesboro, southwestern USA

First Appearance: Fantastic Four Fanfare I#3 (September, 2025)

Powers/Abilities: Mateo has no superhuman powers but he is a skilled scavenger.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'1")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 115 lbs)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History:
(Fantastic Four Fanfare I#3 / 2 (fb) - BTS) - Mateo and his sister Camilla were often brought along by their mother, who scavenged old mines hoping to find any remaining minerals they could sell for money to keep the family going.

(Fantastic Four I#3 / 2) - After venturing into an abandoned mine in Davesboro with his mother and sister, Mateo questioned whether it was safe to be there, admitting that he didn't trust the old support beams, but his mother assured him the mine was as safe as any other mine they had scavenged. She then ordered Mateo to take sister Camilla and their buckets outside the mine. Before Mateo and Camilla could get all the way outside, the mine's support beams began to give way and Mateo ordered his sister to run while he went back for their mother. The mine soon collapsed around Mateo and his mother and the noise drew the attention of the heroic Thing and his associate, the criminal Sandman. The two superhumans ran towards the sound of the collapse and Camilla informed them that Mateo and their mother were trapped inside the mine, prompting Sandman to transform into sand and push down into the mine. Upon seeing Sandman squeeze his way into the area, Mateo asked if Sandman was a superhero like the Avengers and Sandman by asking Mateo's name and asking him to shut up while he focused on getting them free.

    When the Thing's attempts to bust his way into the mine led to a second collapse, Sandman protected Mateo and his mother until the Thing dug his way to them. Thing then punched a trail back out of the mine as the Sandman followed behind, transformed into the shape of vehicle to continue protecting Mateo and his mother. Once out of the mine, medics were called to the scene and Mateo and Camilla's mother was placed in a medical helicopter and when she thanked the Thing for saving her family, the Thing reminded her to take care of her kids and to stop mining.

Comments: Created by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz and Brett Breeding.

    This profile was completed on 08/18/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Mateo should be distinguished from:

Camilla

Camilla was the younger sister of Mateo and she was often brought along on their mother's scavenging expeditions to help carry buckets of whatever they could find. During one mining expedition in Davesboro, Camilla was helping Mateo fill buckets when their mother ordered them to take the buckets outside the mine and as they did so, the support beams gave out and the mine collapsed, with Mateo ordering Camilla to get out while he went back for their mother. Drawn to the scene by the noise of the collapse, the Thing and his associate Sandman found Camilla outside the mine and despite Camilla at first thinking Sandman was a monster, she informed them that her mother and brother were trapped inside the mine. Following a successful rescue mission, Sandman and the Thing emerged from the collapsed mine and Camilla immediately asked where her family was before the two superhumans called medics for Camilla's mother. As the medics loaded her mother into a helicopter, Camilla apologized to Sandman for thinking he was a monster and thanked him, noting that he was as hero as much as Captain America was. The Thing reminded Camilla's mother to take care of her children and stop mining.

--Fantastic Four Fanfare I#3 / 2 (#3 / 2 (fb) - BTS, #3 / 2,
images: (without ads)
Fantastic Four Fanfare I#3, p14, pan5 (Mateo, main image)
Fantastic Four Fanfare I#3, p18, pan5 (Mateo, headshot)
Fantastic Four Fanfare I#3, p16, pan3 (Camilla)

Appearances:
Fantastic Four Fanfare I#3 (September, 2025) - "Another Round" story - Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz (script, plot, pencils), Brett Breeding (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First posted: 09/23/2026
Last updated: 08/18/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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