I have always just... I thought that was how plants grew. Because you asked them to. On our farm in Bern, I would speak and the crops would listen, but the roses... The roses would speak back. 
- —Klara Prast[src]
Klara Prast was a Swiss immigrant, child-bride, and "wonder" from the early 1900s brought to the present-day by the Runaways.
History
Origin[]
Klara Prast was born in Bern, Switzerland where she was raised by a devoutly religious mother on a farm. When Klara first started speaking to plants, she assumed it was something everyone did. However, her mother was convinced Klara's power was witchcraft and arranged for her to be married to the much older, Mr. Prast, who was departing for the United States.[5]
_and_Klara_Prast_(Earth-616)_from_Runaways_Vol_2_27_001.jpg){kind=link}
Klara being threatened by her husband
In New York City, Prast forced Klara to work and suppress her powers. He regularly drank heavily, and was physically, verbally, and sexually abusive to Klara.[6]
_from_Runaways_Vol_2_30_001.jpg){kind=link}
Klara deciding to travel to the future with the Runaways
Runaways[]
Klara was working in a sweatshop when a fire broke out. Luckily, the Runaways, who had accidentally traveled back in time, were there to rescue the workers from the fire. Klara was able to escape using her botanopathy, but not before being spotted by Karolina Dean.[7]
Karolina saw Klara again later by accident while she was being threatened by her husband. The next day Karolina and Molly purposely found Klara, and Molly offered her a spot on the team. However, when Klara saw Karolina and Xavin kissing, she became frightened and ran away. This was due to both being apparently female and the strong religious teachings against homosexuality common at that time.[5] Klara later decided to depart with the Runaways after another beating from Prast.[8]
_from_Secret_Invasion_Runaways_Young_Avengers_Vol_1_3_001.jpg){kind=link}
Klara finding peace in the future
After traveling to the present, the Runaways decided to remain in New York for a few days to allow Klara to acclimate to the future and say goodbye to the city. Unfortunately, this was during the beginning of the Skrulls invasion of Earth.[9] Xavin and the other Runaways were caught in the fighting alongside the Young Avengers, but Speed was able to carry Molly and Klara to safety at Mount Rushmore.[10]
When the Runaways finally returned to California, the group took up residence in one of the Pride's safehouses, the Malibu House. Unfortunately, they were soon attacked by the Light Brigade.[11] The Light Brigade were survivors of the destruction of Majesdane, Karolina's parents' homeworld, and they blamed Karolina for the destruction and demanded that she return with them to face trial for her actions.[12] In a bid to get rid of them, Nico cast the spell "Scatter", which sent the four members of the Light Brigade to different corners of the Earth. However, she'd misjudged the spell's strength, and thus the Runaways themselves were also affected, becoming possessed with an inexplicable urge to split up and pursue largely useless actions. During this time, Molly convinced Klara to follow her up to a hill in order to build a fort.[2] Ultimately, the spell was reversed, but not before the Light Brigade managed to regroup. In order to keep the Light Brigade away, Xavin posed as Karolina and turned herself over to the Light Brigade.[13]
Sometime later, Molly came down with a sudden illness. Nico, believing that Klara had infected Molly with some illness that she'd unwittingly brought from the early 20th century, ordered her and Molly and Victor to be quarantined, during which Molly grew delirious and began smashing things. After Chase, who'd been absent during Molly's illness, began showing signs of being ill, Nico realized that the mysterious illnesses were the result of a spell that she'd accidentally cast, and thus she was able to reverse the effects.[14]
Klara covering the Malibu House in vines
While living in Malibu, Klara adjusted to life in the 21st century becoming very talented with video games[15] and very interested in TV.[16] One night while watching TV with Old Lace a drone plane crashed into the Malibu House. Old Lace seemingly died while protecting Klara. In shock, Klara encased the entire house in vines.[17] The house was later destroyed, but the Runaways were able to escape.[18]
Klara was with the Runaways when they helped Daken takedown Marcus Roston.[19] When the Runaways came into contact with the Avengers Academy, Giant Man and Tigra initially wanted to force Klara and Molly to stay, but they agreed to allow them to remain with the Runaways on the condition that they check-in at the Avengers Compound once a month.[20]
Post-Runaways[]
After Nico departed the Runaways, the team was camping out in Molly's old house. However, the F.B.I. tracked them down and reunited Molly with her grandmother and placed Klara in foster care.[3] Klara was eventually placed into foster care with Josh and Paul, a gay couple that planned to fully adopt her.[4]
_from_Runaways_Vol_5_11_001.jpg){kind=link}
The Runaways trying to re-recruit Klara
Klara was approached by the newly reformed Runaways but outright rejected an offer to rejoin the team. Klara hated constantly running and hiding from authorities and found her civilian (non-superhuman) life more pleasant allowing her to adjust to modern life and plant roots. Her decision to not rejoin the Runaways was especially hard on Molly, who had viewed Klara as a sister.[4] Klara would also refuse to join the mutant-only nation of Krakoa, opting instead to remain with her fathers, believing that she didn't need to be among other mutants to feel at home.[21]
_from_Runaways_Vol_3_1_002.jpg){kind=link}
Klara controlling vegetation
_from_Daken_Dark_Wolverine_Vol_1_18_001.jpg){kind=link}
Klara controlling vegetation
Attributes
 |
Powers
Klara was a "wonder", an early 20th century term for a super-humanly powered individual. Genetically, Klara was a mutant[1] and has demonstrated the following abilities:
- Botanopathy: Klara possesses the ability to communicate with plant life. Roses, specifically, are able to speak back to her.[5]
- Chlorokinesis: Klara could control plants movement and growth. By controlling vegetation, Klara could form shields, attack enemies, etc.[5][11] Though Klara seemed to have a preference towards roses, she can control any form of plant life.
Abilities
Weaknesses
- Superstition and unfamiliarity with the modern world.[11]
- With more exposure to the modern world, Klara has become more acclimated and less superstitious.[4]
- When panicked, Klara loses control of her chlorokinesis, and this can result in her plants attacking anyone that approaches her, including her own friends.[16]
- Klara is also unable to swim.[13]
Paraphernalia
Transportation
Notes
- Klara's status as a mutant was confirmed in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14.
Trivia
- The name Klara Prast is a play on the word "chloroplast". Chloroplasts are a specialized organelles found in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis.
- Klara wanted to choose the codename "Rose Red," but Molly preferred the codename "Tower of Flower."[2]
See Also
- 31 appearance(s) of Klara Prast (Earth-616)
- 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Klara Prast (Earth-616)
- 1 minor appearance(s) of Klara Prast (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) of Klara Prast (Earth-616)
- 38 image(s) of Klara Prast (Earth-616)
- 5 quotation(s) by or about Klara Prast (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Runaways (Vol. 3) #3
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Runaways (Vol. 5) #2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Runaways (Vol. 5) #11
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Runaways (Vol. 2) #28
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #27–30
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 2) #27
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Runaways (Vol. 2) #30
- ↑ Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1
- ↑ Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Runaways (Vol. 3) #1
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 3) #2
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Runaways (Vol. 3) #6
- ↑ Breaking Into Comics the Marvel Way! #1
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Runaways (Vol. 3) #7
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Runaways (Vol. 3) #11
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 3) #12
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 3) #14
- ↑ Daken: Dark Wolverine #18–19
- ↑ Avengers Academy #27–28
- ↑ Runaways (Vol. 5) #38
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 14