I chose Starling because those birds get a bad rep. Too loud. Too aggressive. But you know, they didn't ask to be brought here. They're trying to live. 
- —Tiana Toomes[src]
History
Tiana Toomes was born to Lenora and Frankie Toomes, however, her father later left them. Tiana's grandfather, the Vulture, started to take care of the family by giving them stolen money, hoping to make amends for the actions of his son. Tiana and her mother were often visited by Toomes, who wanted to spend time with his granddaughter and convinced Lenora to accept the money. After her mother died due to a surgical error, Adrian offered Tiana his guardianship, and she came to admire her grandfather. As she grew, Adrian gave her a suit based on his Vulture suit and encouraged her to pursue her dreams.[4]
She first met Spider-Man (Miles Morales) after she beat up a group of Tombstone's henchmen in a junkyard. Thinking he was another superpowered henchman of Tombstone's, she attacked him, but once he convinced her that he was one of the good guys, they talked about how she had been tracking Tombstone since leaving Detroit. After the brief encounter, Starling flew off to follow another lead, but gave Spider-Man her number in case he came across Tombstone first.[5]
Starling caught up with Spider-Man at Tombstone's penthouse in Brooklyn Heights. She faced a large number of Tombstone's henchman, who started to shoot at her, but she deflected the bullets using her wings as shields. After grabbing one of the guys and almost dropping him off the building, Spider-Man intervened to pull him back up, claiming that wasn't the right way to deal with it. As they finished taking out the group together, Tombstone busted open the roof door and began shooting a gatling gun in their direction. Starling flew right at Tombstone and one of the bullets penetrated through Starling's stomach, knocking her to the ground.[3]
Despite her injury, Starling grabbed Tombstone by the shirt and flew him straight up in the air, planning to drop him to his death. Seeing this, Spider-Man fired his webbing to Tiana's feet and, when she did drop him, he tangled himself with Tombstone, hoping Tiana would come back to save them both. Despite being visibly upset, Tiana did rescue them from the fall and lowered them down to the ground.[3]
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After Tombstone was arrested for the assault, Starling and Spider-Man talked on a rooftop and Starling unmasked herself, revealing to the web-slinger that she was the granddaughter of the Vulture. Tiana also hoped that Spider-Man would reveal his identity to her, but when he failed to do so, she simply bid her farewell.[3]
After learning the truth about her grandfather from the other Spider-Man (Peter Parker),[1] Starling was glad when Miles asked her to accompany him on his regular patrol. After defeating the Frost Pharaoh together, Miles finally revealed his identity to her and the two kissed before she left.[6]
After the government passed "Kamala's Law" which outlawed individuals under the age of 21 from superheroing, Starling joined the secret meeting of the Champions held by Ms. Marvel. Tiana expressed pessimism in this ordeal and nearly got in a fight with fellow hero Nova. Later, when C.R.A.D.L.E., led by Justice, ambushed them, Starling was one of the few who managed to escape.[7]
After the Champions successfully repelled "Kamala's Law",[8] Tiana finally reached out to her grandfather to tell him she knew about his criminal past. She told him she still loved him and would therefore not turn him in, but the two of them could never talk again.[9]Paraphernalia
Equipment
Notes
- Tiana chose the name Starling because she claims that the bird of the same name has a bad reputation, but is only trying to survive, like everyone else.[6]
- As a teenaged, African-American relative of the Vulture who becomes a love interest to a Spider-Man, Tiana shares some similarities with the Liz Allan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Trivia
- Tiana is an aspiring artist, a passion that her grandfather endorses.[3][1]
- Tiana's origin is very similar to that of another grandchild of Vulture, introduced in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #4. Tiana and the unnamed boy are either cousins or siblings.
See Also
- 34 appearance(s) of Tiana Toomes (Earth-616)
- 3 minor appearance(s) of Tiana Toomes (Earth-616)
- 5 mention(s) of Tiana Toomes (Earth-616)
- 33 image(s) of Tiana Toomes (Earth-616)
- 2 quotation(s) by or about Tiana Toomes (Earth-616)
- 1 item(s) used/owned by Tiana Toomes (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 5) #49
- ↑ Miles Morales: Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #6
- ↑ Miles Morales: Spider-Man #10
- ↑ Miles Morales: Spider-Man #5–6
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #22
- ↑ Champions (Vol. 4) #1
- ↑ Champions (Vol. 4) #9
- ↑ Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 6) #7
- ↑ Miles Morales: Spider-Man #31
- ↑ Miles Morales: Spider-Man #32