History
Early Life[]
Emmanuel was born into humble beginnings the son of a poor maid, working in a palatial mansion in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Even as a barefoot houseboy, he vowed to one day make his fortune and one day he would own this palace and treat his mother like a queen.[1] He endured frequent lashings from his master, inflicting upon him physical scars that would forever mark his flesh. Yet, far from breaking his spirit, these wounds only served to stoke the flames of ambition and resilience burning deep within him.[2]
A natural businessman, he founded Da Costa International and earned his first million at 20. By the time he was 30, Emmanuel had become an economic and political force. Da Costa bought the mansion his mother once worked at and moved in there. He married Nina, a beautiful archaeologist who he loved deeply who in time bore him a son, Roberto Da Costa.[1]
Regularly, Emmanuel would lead his son to the heights of Mount Corcovado, commanding a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro sprawled below. With a sweeping gesture, he would instill in his boy the unwavering belief that one day, the entirety of this magnificent city would rightfully belong to him.[2]
Witnessing his son's triumph as he led his soccer team to victory, Emmanuel engaged in a heart-to-heart conversation with Roberto about the essential traits of effective leadership. Acknowledging Roberto's inherent strength, Emmanuel imparted a crucial lesson: the true essence of success, whether in business or on the field, lies in the ability to inspire others as a leader and serve as the beating heart of the organization.[3]
As time passed, Emmanuel became increasingly consumed by his work, succumbing to the lure of greed, which began to strain his marriage. Whenever Emmanuel and Nina found themselves in each other's company, an unmistakable tension hung in the air, a palpable discomfort not lost on their son, Roberto. Meanwhile, Nina increasingly embarked on prolonged expeditions, frequently leaving home for extended periods, further exacerbating the distance between them.[1]
Emmanuel would often spar with his young teen son in the boxing ring, but the older, stronger Da Costa refused to pull his punches, landing several hard blows. When Roberto told his papa they were "just sparring", Da Costa the elder replied that there's no point in sparring if you don't learn to take a few hits. Frustrated, Roberto wanted to quit boxing altogether, but his father instead explained this was a lesson about the way of the world: it was a dangerous place where even the kindest of heart had enemies. A true leader must be prepared for this and fight to protect his people and what he believed in..[4]
Emmanuel accompanied Juliana Sandoval, Roberto's girlfriend, to one of his son's soccer matches. Witnessing Roberto lose his temper on the field and reveal his mutant abilities, Emmanuel was astonished, along with the rest of the crowd, who began to panic.[5]
Emmanuel, driven by his ambition to expand his business, targeted an unexplored region of the Amazon known as the Maderia, identified through satellite surveys as rich in minerals. However, his wife Nina's planned expedition to the area threatened to convert it into a protected wildlife reserve. Determined to stall her efforts, Emmanuel sought assistance and found an unlikely ally in Sebastian Shaw, leader of the Hellfire Club. Shaw not only extended membership to Emanuel but also pledged to handle Nina's interference.[1]
After a business meeting, Emmanuel returned home, finding his wife, Nina, and their son Roberto, along with his classmates from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. During dinner, Emmanuel and Nina engaged in their usual chilly exchanges, much to Roberto's embarrassment. Nina intended to include the New Mutants in her expedition to the Maderia, a decision Emmanuel found unwise. Following further arguments, he abruptly left the table. Emmanuel opted to let Sebastian Shaw handle the abduction of Nina by his operatives and the mutant mercenary Axe. However, the New Mutants intervened, freeing Nina and defeating the attackers. Despite this setback, the Maderia expedition persisted, prompting Emmanuel to take matters into his own hands to ensure its eventual disruption. Observing from a distance, Emmanuel and Sebastian Shaw watched Nina and the New Mutants depart from Santos Dumont airport bound for the Maderia. Shaw reiterated his offer to deal with them, but Emmanuel revealed he had already ensured Nina wouldn't reach her destination, having bribed Castro, a crewman on the boat she had chartered.[1] Emmanuel and Sebastian conversed about Castro's slow progress in disrupting the mission. Shaw emphasized the challenge of thwarting Nina and the New Mutants without resorting to violence, as per Emmanuel's instructions. However, the wealthy tycoon remained adamant, reiterating his insistence that control over the Maderia's resources was paramount. Shortly after, the escorts he had arranged for himself and Sebastian arrived.[6]
Hellfire Club[]
In the aftermath of discovering his father's role in the failed Maderia expedition, Sunspot confronted Emmanuel in his office, leading to a terse exchange. Roberto ultimately disavowed his father, his inheritance, and the Da Costa name, expressing his sense of being partially orphaned before departing. Left feeling hurt, wounded, and deeply frustrated, Emmanuel shattered his coffee cup before reaching a pivotal decision. He reached out to Sebastian Shaw and agreed to the Black King's offered membership into the Hellfire Club.[2]
Emmanuel traveled to New York City to take part in the Hellfire Club's admission ceremony. However, he had trouble not feeling silly wearing the Inner Circle's traditional late 19th century nobleman garb. Sebastian Shaw ensured him the clothing was necessary, because they signified the Inner Circle's abandonment of the modern age, instead embracing a simpler time when a man needed only think of himself to become all he could be. Shaw offered Emmanuel one final chance to reconsider, which Da Costa refused. The initiation would go on as planned.[7] Emmanuel was officially inducted into the Hellfire Club, almost immediately presented as the newest candidate for admission into the Inner Circle as its White Rook, along with the mysterious Selene, who was determined to join as the Black Queen. As part of the ceremony, he was offered to drink from the cup of fellowship that would forge unbreakable bonds both spiritual and material in nature. Afterwards, Shaw personally congratulated Emmanuel and expressed a desire to see the day his son Roberto would also join them. Emmanuel wholeheartedly agreed.[8]
When Sunspot unintentionally harmed his teammate Cannonball and contemplated fleeing the school, he briefly contemplated returning home. While flipping through an aged family album, he stumbled upon images of his father, feeling a pang of discomfort knowing Emmanuel was now affiliated with one of the X-Men's most reviled adversaries as a charter member.[9]
Genosha[]
When the revelation surfaced that Sunspot and several other mutants had been detained on Genosha, journalist Manoli Wetherell sought a statement from Emmanuel, who declined to comment.[10]
Death[]
In a convoluted plot aimed at manipulating Sunspot, the External known as Gideon orchestrated the demise of Emmanuel. On December 4th, under false pretences, one of Gideon's associates assumed the guise of Emmanuel's secretary, Eve, and presented him with a cup of coffee laced with a swift-acting, lethal poison. After consuming a few sips, Emmanuel succumbed to the toxin, meeting his untimely end behind his office desk. In the aftermath Gideon relayed the news to Roberto about his father's demise, deceitfully attributing it to a heart attack.[11]
Legacy[]
Roberto assumed the role of Da Costa International's new CEO, and found himself seated behind his father's former desk at the company's headquarters, prompting memories of the valuable lessons Emmanuel imparted.[3] During the battle against A.I.M.'s schemes to destabilize the world, Sunspot couldn't shake the recollections of sparring sessions with his departed father. Emmanuel's teachings fueled Roberto's determination, propelling him to fight with even greater intensity in defense of the world.[11]Attributes
Abilities
- Businessman: Emmanuel excelled as a cunning and cutthroat businessman, willing to jeopardize even familial ties in pursuit of profit. Possessing considerable personal charisma, Da Costa rose from humble origins to achieve remarkable influence and wealth.[12]
- Multilingual: Emmanuel is proficient in three languages: Portuguese (his native tongue), English, and Spanish.[12]
See Also
- 11 appearance(s) of Emmanuel Da Costa (Earth-616)
- 3 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Emmanuel Da Costa (Earth-616)
- 3 minor appearance(s) of Emmanuel Da Costa (Earth-616)
- 22 mention(s) of Emmanuel Da Costa (Earth-616)
- 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Emmanuel Da Costa (Earth-616)
- 2 image(s) of Emmanuel Da Costa (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 New Mutants #7
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 New Mutants #12
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Avengers World #18
- ↑ Avengers World #19
- ↑ Marvel Graphic Novel #4
- ↑ New Mutants #8
- ↑ New Mutants #22
- ↑ New Mutants #23
- ↑ Fallen Angels #1
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men #272
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 New Mutants #98
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Marvel Encyclopedia #X-Men