Extraño

Gregorio de la Vega, aka Extraño, is a superhero magician appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Joe Staton, he first appeared in Millennium #2 (January 1988). Originally a character affiliated with the Green Lantern mythos, the character in recent stories is instead cast as a sorcerer in the DC Universe, serving as the magical ally of Midnighter and later both leader and founder of leader of Justice League Queer, a loose network for LGBTQ superheroes who can call on each other for superheroic and personal support.
== Biography ==
With a cosmic destiny for the human race designed by Guardian Herupa Hando Hu and the Zamaron Nadia Safirthey came to Earth to find ten people to be the bearers of humanity into the new millennium. The only problem is The Manhunters were very bitter about how they were treated after the Guardians abandoned them when they formed the Green Lantern Corps, The Manhunters laid in wait for centuries waiting for this moment. They had sleeper agents all over the universe, including Earth; they did everything they could to stop Herupa and Nadia from fulfilling their chosen duty.
Upon traveling to Peru to obtain one of the Chosen, Herupa and Nadia decide on a young man named Gregorio De La Vega; the eighth to be visited by Herupa and Nadia. Just like all of the Chosen, Herupa and Nadia told him in his own language that “We have chosen ten people on Earth to advance the human race, and one of the ten is you! The heroes and heroines of Earth join us in asking you to leave this life and enter the future”. However Gregorio flat-out refused to help Herupa and Nadia, and would have committed suicide if not for the Flash's intervention, which led him to accept his destiny. He saw new hope and purpose in his life and chose the name "Extraño" for himself, which in Spanish means "Strange", for he saw himself to be very different from others in the superhero realm.
It would soon be represented that Extraño was a gay man, even though it was never directly written in the New Guardians comic book. Utilizing certain 'slang terms' and over the top sexual innuendos the young Hispanic magician was written to resemble many stereotypes of a gay man. When accepting his special abilities and duty to Earth's future Extraño first wore loose and colorful garments resembling a classic Gypsy garb with a crazy mane of hair. More often than not he also referred to himself as "Auntie" and often imparted almost parental advice to several of his teammates whilst he was a Guardian. In one mission he was attacked by a supposed 'AIDS vampire', calling himself the Hemo-Goblin. Extraño was subsequently confirmed to be HIV-positive but it's unclear whether he was infected by Hemo-Goblin or had already been infected prior to Extraño's becoming a member of the New Guardians.
== Powers ==
Extraño has been given the ability to tap into the magic that inhabits and circles Earth. While he has demonstrated several uses when he taps into this magic some of these are noted. When casting he could fire blasts of mystical energy from his hands, able to levitate at great heights with moderate speeds, and perform a large number of magical "stage tricks",including ping-pong balls to confuse his villains. Shortly after joining the team Extraño acquired a mystically powerful crystal skull, utilizing its magic it seemed to greatly amplify his own growing abilities.
== Trivia ==
* Extraño is noted for being the first openly gay superhero in DC Comics.
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