Nikki
Textless cover of Guardians 3000 #5
Art by Alex Ross.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceMarvel Presents #4
(April 1976)
Created bySteve Gerber
Mary Skrenes
Al Milgrom
In-story information
Alter egoNicholette Gold
SpeciesMercurian
Team affiliationsGuardians of the Galaxy
Avengers
Abilities
  • Mercurian physiology granting:
    • Superhuman strength, speed, vision, agility, durability, and reflexes
    • Heat resistance
    • Pyrokinesis

Nicholette "Nikki" Gold is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes, and Al Milgrom, the character first appeared in Marvel Presents #4 (April 1976).[1] Nicholette Gold has been a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy at various points in her history.[2][3]

Development

Concept and creation

Mercurians first appeared in The Defenders vol. 1 #26 (August 1975). Nicholette Gold was first referred to in FOOM #12 (1975).[4] Writer Steve Gerber later stated, "I wanted to [add] a girl – a Mercurian – because there wasn't one in the group. The conception was, I think, half mine and half Mary Skrenes'."[5] At the time Gerber stopped writing Marvel Presents, Nikki Gold still had no clearly defined powers, leaving his successor Roger Stern to fill in that aspect of the character. Stern reflected, "Nikki was the blankest slate. I saw her 'power' as being able to adapt to virtually any environment. Otherwise, how would someone who had been born on the planet Mercury been able to stand - much less turn somersaults - under standard Earth gravity?"[lower-alpha 1][5]

Publication history

Nicholette Gold debuted in Marvel Presents #4 (April 1976),[6] created by Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes, and Al Milgrom.[7] She appeared in the 2014 Guardians 3000 series.[8]

Fictional character biography

Nicholette "Nikki" Gold was born on the planet Mercury in the 31st century. She was rescued from an abandoned spacecraft by the Guardians of the Galaxy. She joined the Guardians, seeking excitement and adventure after years of solitude aboard the abandoned spacecraft.[9] She later joined with Vance Astro in a metaphysical union in a successful attempt to use the force of human love to destroy the Topographical Man. The sexual nature of this union embarrassed Vance, but not Nikki.[10]

Nikki traveled to the present with the other Guardians, and assisted the Avengers in battle against Korvac.[11] She traveled to the present again, and battled Hammer and Anvil alongside Spider-Man.[12]

Alongside the Guardians, Nikki later went on a quest to find the lost shield of Captain America, and battled Taserface.[13] She battled the Stark alongside the other Guardians.[14] She encountered Firelord.[15] She battled the super-humanoid team known as Force alongside the Guardians.[16]

During her time on the team, Nikki had a romantic relationship with Charlie-27, though they later amicably separated. She became attracted to later Guardian recruits Firelord and Talon though both simply wished to remain friends.

Powers and abilities

Nikki is a member of a genetically engineered offshoot of humanity whose traits were designed for survival in the harsh conditions of the planet Mercury. She possesses superhuman attributes, such as superhuman strength, speed, vision, agility, durability, and reflexes. She can see in intense light. She has a high degree of resistance to heat and most types of radiation. Nicholette Gold has demonstrated an ability to increase the intensity of the flames radiating from her scalp, to the point of being able to briefly project the flames outward as an offensive tactic.[17] She has been shown using this ability to burn the hair from Charlie-27's scalp and eyebrows,[18] scorch opponents such as the evil mutant Blockade,[19] and lay down a wall of flame to repel attackers.[20] Another side effect of Mercurian physiology is a natural body temperature of several hundred degrees;[20] at one point, Nikki took up swimming to temporarily reduce her body temperature for Charlie-27's safety while they were in a romantic relationship.[21] Additionally, Nicholette Gold has achieved extensive proficiency in hand-to-hand combat and proficiency in gymnastics and sharp-shooting. She is self-taught from memory tapes. She is often armed with a neuronic frequency stun gun, a laser pistol, and various handgun-type weapons as needed.

Reception

Critical response

Deirdre Kaye of Scary Mommy called Nicholette Gold a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[22] Bradley Prom of Screen Rant included Nicholette Gold in their "10 Best Members Of The Guardians Of The Galaxy Still Missing From The MCU" list.[23] Evan Lewis of MovieWeb ranked Nicholette Gold 10th in their "10 Female Characters the MCU Should Introduce in Future Phases" list.[24]

In other media

Video games

Notes

  1. ↑ Earth's gravity is more than twice that of Mercury's.

References

  1. ↑ Kantor, Jonathan K. (June 11, 2018). "The 25 Most Powerful Guardians Of The Galaxy, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  2. ↑ Jacobino, Nick (April 13, 2017). "Every Guardian of the Galaxy Ever". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  3. ↑ Aguilar, Matthew (April 21, 2017). "Kevin Feige Confirms Secret Miley Cyrus Role In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  4. ↑ "GOTW – Nicholette "Nikki" Gold". GeoCities. June 29, 2022. Archived from the original on 2003-04-09. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
  5. 1 2 Buttery, Jarrod (July 2013). "Explore the Marvel Universe of the 31st Century with... the Guardians of the Galaxy". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (65): 26–27.
  6. ↑ Feyrer, Avery (October 30, 2021). "Guardians Of The Galaxy: Every Marvel Character In The Game". TheGamer.com. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  7. ↑ Gullapalli, Vishal (October 30, 2021). "56 Marvel comic book references in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  8. ↑ Allan, Scoot (May 8, 2023). "15 Most Powerful Members Of the Original Guardians Of The Galaxy, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  9. ↑ Marvel Presents #4 (April 1976)
  10. ↑ Marvel Presents #7
  11. ↑ Avengers #172-177
  12. ↑ Marvel Team-Up #86
  13. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #1
  14. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #2-3
  15. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #4
  16. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #5-6
  17. ↑ Sayne, Haiden (April 15, 2022). "10 Best Hairdos In The Marvel Universe". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  18. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #32
  19. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #39
  20. 1 2 Guardians of the Galaxy #41
  21. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #8
  22. ↑ Kaye, Deirdre (November 16, 2020). "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic". Scary Mommy. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  23. ↑ Prom, Bradley (November 30, 2022). "10 Best Members Of The Guardians Of The Galaxy Still Missing From The MCU". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  24. ↑ Lewis, Evan (March 23, 2023). "10 Female Characters the MCU Should Introduce in Future Phases". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  25. ↑ Maria, Alex Santa (November 10, 2021). "Every Marvel Hero In Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  26. ↑ "Classic Guardians of the Galaxy Character Pack". Xbox.com. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  27. ↑ Raymond, Charles Nicholas (December 19, 2017). "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 Gets Guardians of the Galaxy 2 DLC". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  28. ↑ Birks, James (December 19, 2017). "Guardians of the Galaxy steal the spotlight in the latest LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 DLC". TheXboxHub.com. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  29. ↑ "Voice Of Nikki Gold – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  30. ↑ MacReady, Melody (December 2, 2022). "Every Character In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Game, Ranked". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  31. ↑ "Guardians Of The Galaxy Nikki: Who Is She?". www.ggrecon.com. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
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