History:
MARIA SAPRISTI
of Earth-982
Real Name: Maria Sapristi
Identity/Class: Alternate
reality (Earth-982) human
Occupation: Art student
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Blacklight (Kendra Freeman), Jameesia Grant, Holly Halpern, Eric Masterson, Thunderstrike (Kevin Masterson)
Enemies: Soldiers of the Serpent
Known Relatives: Jerry Sapristi (father), Tina Sapristi (mother), Ernesto Sapristi (brother), Giovanni Sapristi (brother), Pietro Sapristi (brother), Rosa Sapristi (sister), Gabriella Sapristi (sister)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York, USA
First Appearance: (Earth-616) Thor I#373 (November,
1986);
(Earth-982) A-Next I#3 (December, 1998)
Powers/Abilities: Maria Sapristi has a strong interest in the arts and in neighborhood development. She also has a strong moral compass and concern for the wellbeing of others.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 5'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 129 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black (sometimes dyed with green streaks)
History:
(A-Next I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Maria remained involved in the life of Kevin Masterson following the death of his father Eric, who had been a colleague of Maria's father. By college age while attending the Manhattan Institute for the Arts, the two of them had become romantically attracted to each other. At first, Kevin did not let Maria know he had become the new Thunderstrike and joined the Avengers.
(A-Next I#3) - One day as Maria was inviting Kevin to her home for dinner his Avengers pager suddenly went off. When Kevin claimed there was an emergency, Maria joked that it must be an "art emergency."
(A-Next I#9) - Later, Maria was working on a Neighborhood Pride Street Festival committee alongside Holly Halpern, Jameesia Grant and Kendra Freeman. Maria was happy to have spare time to spend with Kevin, noting how busy he seemed of late. The festival was attacked by the racist xenophobes the Soldiers of the Serpent. When the Serpents assaulted a nearby building Maria insisted she and Kevin had a responsbility to help the endangered civilians inside. Maria and Kevin were caught inside the building as it started to collapse and to save Maria's life, Kevin revealed he had become the super hero Thunderstrike, adopting the moniker his father had once wielded. Maria helped usher civilians away from the Serpents. When the fight was done Kevin admitted to her that the rumors about his father being the first Thunderstrike were true and thanked her for inspiring him with her words about responsbility, having resolved that he should participate in an Avengers mission to a parallel world. There was more Kevin wanted to say about how he felt about Maria but he was interrupted by an Avengers emergency call.
Comments: Created by Walter Simonson and Sal Buscema; Earth-982 counterpart created by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz and Brett Breeding.
I'd like to see the 616 Maria return as a love interest for Kevin, they've probably had an off-panel friendship similar to the one her Earth-982 counterpart did.
Maria also had a Earth-9907 counterpart.
This profile was completed on 11/24/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Maria Sapristi should not be confused with:
Maria is the youngest daughter of Jerry and Tina Sapriti. One day Jerry brought his friend Sigurd Jarlson home for dinner with the family, explaining that Sigurd's father had recently died. Sigurd quickly endeared himself to the family, playing with the youngest child Ernesto and helping wash dishes after their meal. Sigurd made plans to take the Sapristi children to Central Park the following day.
The next day Sigurd took the children to Central Park Zoo. Afterward he told them a story about Thor, the god of thunder, and how his father had once tested his moral character. Before he could tell another story, Sigurd was visited by the frogs Puddlegulp and Bugeye, who alerted Sigurd to the Morlock Massacre being committed in the Alley underground. Sigurd started to tell the children that he was a "sort of undercover policeman" but the children answered, "Don't worry, Thor. Your secret's safe with us." Thor was surprised the children had guessed his double identity but Gabriella revealed their father had long suspected he was a super hero and told the children his ideas (although Jerry told the children he thought Sigurd was Spider-Man). Taking out his magical hammer Mjolnir, Thor created a dimensional vortex to spirit the Sapristi children home so he could investigate the Morlock Massacre. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being teleported.
Maria later attended a Christmas party her parents helped put together for Eric Masterson in his recently ruined apartment. Many of Eric's friends attended the party, as well as his son Kevin.
--Thor I#373 (444
On this parallel world Lt. Maria Sapristi was a member of the underground resistance that the Captain America of Earth-982 had been leading against the planet's ruler Victor von Doom. When members of the Avengers came from Earth-982 to investigate the threat that had killed many of their teammates years earlier, Maria helped lead them to the underground. At first Maria assumed Thunderstrike was the Earth-982 version of Eric Masterson and was shocked to learn he was Kevin Masterson, as her version of Kevin had died saving her life. Unfortunately the underground's base was assaulted by the Thunder Guard and Maria was murdered by Stormtrooper, her reality's version of Eric Masterson.
--A-Next I#10
images: (without ads)
A-Next I#3, page 6, panel 3 (main)
A-Next I#9, page 7, panel 5 (face)
Thor I#373, page 9, panel 1 (616)
A-Next I#10, page 6, panel 6 (Earth-9907)
Appearances:
Thor I#373 (November, 1986) - Walt Simonson (writer), Sal Buscema
(artist), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Thor I#444 (February, 1992) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (co-plot,
layouts), Al Milgrom (finishes), Ralph Macchio (editor)
A-Next I#3 (December, 1998) - Tom DeFalco (writer, editor), Ron Frenz
(co-plot, penciler), Brett Breeding (inker)
A-Next I#9 (June, 1999) - Tom DeFalco (writer, editor), Ron Frenz
(co-plot, penciler), Al Milgrom (inker)
A-Next I#10 (July, 1999) - Tom DeFalco (writer, editor), Ron Frenz
(co-plot, penciler), Al Milgrom (inker)
First posted: 09/12/2026
Last updated:
11/24/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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