A major MCU hero just gained a permanent new power – one which expands their abilities while hewing close to their codename and past. Here’s everything you need to know.
Echo’s New Power Is a Spiritual Lie Detector
She Can See ‘Universal Echoes’ That Betray Deeper Truths
Alaqua Cox’s echo in the mcu
In Echo: Seeker of Truth #1’s ‘An Echo in Hollywood’ (by Taboo, B. Earl, Jim Terry, Elisabeth D’Amico, Matt Milla and Ariana Maher) Maya Lopez’s Echo gains a lasting new ability. After being doused in a hallucinogenic powder, Echo finds that she’s able to discern the hidden meaning behind people’s words, seeing a “universal echo” behind their speech. The power activates when a person is hiding something, and allows Maya to see psychedelic symbols that betray their true feelings.
While the power is initially activated by the powder (which is revealed to be connected to the mind-controlling Purple Man), Echo retains it at the end of the comic, and speculates that the substance kickstarted an inherited ability that was already beginning to manifest. On social media, Marvel has shared the moment with the caption “New power alert.”
Our Take on Echo’s New Superpower
echo seeker of truth cover art
Debuting in the pages of Daredevil, Echo possesses photographic reflexes which allow her to duplicate any fight move she witnesses. Her new power is a welcome way to make the character unique, while also pointing back to the franchise she emerged from (Daredevil can likewise discern lies, although in Matt Murdock’s case, he uses his advanced senses to listen to a person’s heartrate.)
echo demonstrates her new superpowers
Presenting the symbols Echo sees as a “universal echo” fits into the character’s theming and makes her a true superhuman without elevating her physical power level beyond previous depictions, allowing her to remain as a street hero – a good sign, given that her Phoenix era failed to really find purchase on a more cosmic level.
echo demonstrates her new superpowers 2
The link back to her family presents the new power as an aspect of Echo’s Native heritage, while also interfacing with her status as Marvel’s most prominent deaf superhero, turning her skill at lip-reading into an outright superpower. In short, Echo’s new ability advances the character while also remaining true to her comic history. This feels like a true evolution for the character, rather than a onetime upgrade Marvel is just trying out.
With Echo continuing to appear in the MCU – played by Alaqua Cox – it makes sense that Marvel is interested in advancing her from skilled martial artist to unique superhero, and her new superpower appears to be a smart way to do it.
The digital comic Echo: Seeker of Truth #1 is available now from Marvel Comic.
- Release Date
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January 9, 2024
- Directors
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Sydney Freeland
- Writers
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Amy Rardin, Marion Dayre
