Maya (comics)

Maya Lopez, also known as Echo, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is a deaf Native American superhero with the ability to perfectly copy other people's movements, essentially granting her photographic reflexes.

Publication History

Echo was created by David Mack and Joe Quesada and first appeared in Daredevil Vol. 2 #9 (December 1999). The character's deafness and Native American heritage (specifically Cheyenne and Latin American) were significant elements from her inception, contributing to her unique perspective and portrayal.

Fictional Character Biography

Maya Lopez's father, Willie "Crazy Horse" Lincoln, was killed on the orders of Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin. Before his death, Crazy Horse requested Fisk raise Maya as his own. Fisk did so, providing her with the best education and opportunities. Maya's deafness was discovered early, but she quickly proved to be a gifted learner, excelling in all areas, particularly when allowed to observe and mimic.

She eventually learned about Fisk's involvement in her father's death, leading to conflict with him. She was sent by Fisk to seduce and kill Daredevil, believing him to be a threat to Fisk's operations. During this period, she donned the persona of "Echo," her white handprint a stark visual contrast on her painted face. She fell in love with Matt Murdock (Daredevil) and eventually realized Fisk's manipulations.

After confronting Fisk, Maya left New York to find her own path, exploring her heritage and seeking understanding of herself. She traveled extensively and underwent spiritual training.

She later returned as part of the New Avengers, renouncing her "Echo" identity for a time. She was manipulated by the Skrulls during the Secret Invasion event, leading to her being temporarily possessed by a Super-Skrull with all the powers of the Avengers.

After Secret Invasion, Maya sought revenge on Norman Osborn for his actions during the event. She became the new host for the Phoenix Force for a brief period after the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline. She has since worked with various teams and continues to be a significant, albeit occasionally underutilized, character within the Marvel Universe.

Powers and Abilities

Echo possesses photographic reflexes, also known as the ability to perfectly mimic any physical action she observes. This extends to combat skills, dance moves, and even playing musical instruments. She doesn't learn the theory behind the actions; she simply duplicates the movements flawlessly. This ability makes her a formidable hand-to-hand combatant. Due to her ability to copy movements, she can learn new skills incredibly quickly. However, she needs to be able to see the movements in order to copy them.

Alternate Versions

As with many Marvel characters, alternative versions of Maya Lopez have appeared in different timelines and realities. These versions often have differing backstories and powersets.

In Other Media

• Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): Alaqua Cox portrays Maya Lopez/Echo in the MCU, debuting in the Hawkeye series and starring in her own spin-off series, Echo. The MCU version retains the character's deafness and Native American heritage, but the specifics of her backstory and powers are adapted for the cinematic universe.