White Tiger (Ava Ayala)

Summary

White Tiger (Ava Ayala) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Christos Gage and Tom Raney, the character first appeared in Avengers Academy issue #20 (December 2011).[1] Ava Ayala is the fifth incarnation of White Tiger. She is the younger sister of Hector Ayala as well as the aunt of Angela del Toro.[2] The character has also been a member of the Mighty Avengers and the New Avengers at various points in her history.[3]

White Tiger
Ava Ayala (right) and Julie Power (left) on the cover of Avengers Academy #24 (January 2012).
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAvengers Academy #20
(December 2011)
Created byChristos Gage
Tom Raney
In-story information
Alter egoAva Ayala
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsDaughters of Liberty
Avengers Academy
Mighty Avengers
Heroes for Hire
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Notable aliasesWhite Tiger
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability, stamina, and senses
  • Regenerative healing factor
  • Razor sharp claws

Publication history edit

Ava Ayala debuted in the twentieth issue of the 2010 Avengers Academy series, created by writer Christos Gage and artist Tom Raney. She later appeared in the 2013 Mighty Avengers, by Al Ewing.[4] She appeared in the 2015 New Avengers series, by Al Ewing. She appeared in the 2021 and 2022 Marvel's Voices: Comunidades anthology series.[5][6][7][8][9]

Fictional character biography edit

Ava, the fifth White Tiger, is the sister of Hector Ayala and a student enrolled in the Avengers Academy. She inherited the White Tiger amulet from her brother, following the death of her family members at the hands of Gideon Mace. Upon her introduction, Ava states the White Tiger is a family legacy that she intends to honor. She also criticizes classmate Reptil for not being more active in the Hispanic community.[10] She has been living with her sister Awilda's family since the death of her parents.[11]

White Tiger joined the Avengers Academy students into fighting the Purifiers.[12]

During the Infinity storyline, White Tiger was seen with Heroes for Hire when they were seen preventing Plunderer's men from stealing robot parts. When the Superior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in Spider-Man's body) stops Plunderer and considers the Heroes for Hire team as mercenaries, White Tiger ends up quitting the team. She later joined up with the Mighty Avengers.[13]

During the Inhumanity storyline, White Tiger bonded with Power Man where they discovered that they can combine their abilities to form a White Tiger Chi.[14] This combination was enough to destroy Shuma-Gorath.[15] White Tiger later repaid Power Man by transferring some of her chi into him. This combination event took out Cerberus where Power Man and White Tiger called it their "New York Tiger-Style Kung Fu."[16] Power Man helped White Tiger when she tried to avenge her parents by killing Gideon Mace.[17] The rest of the Mighty Avengers showed up to prevent White Tiger from crossing the line.[18]

During the "Last Days" part of the Secret Wars storyline, White Tiger goes to reconcile with her surviving family members. They are mad that White Tiger has chosen a life that has led to so much death and threaten to kill her if she does not leave.[19]

As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel event, White Tiger appears as a member of Sunspot's incarnation of the New Avengers.[20]

Ava Ayala later fought with her niece Angela del Toro in Rome. During the fight, the Tiger God from Ava's amulet merged with the Tiger God from Angela's amulet, which was absorbed into it.[21]

During the New Revengers' attack on the New Avengers at Avengers Base Two, Ava fought Angela again. As the two White Tigers fought, Ava managed to snatch the White Tiger amulet that Maker gave to Angela and destroys it to free Angela from the controls of the merged Tiger Gods and The Hand. They later help the New Avengers defeat the New Revengers and a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was hunting A.I.M.[22]

After defeating a rogue A.I.M. group, Ava and Angela discuss about their future, with Ava wondering who the Tiger God will choose to be the next White Tiger.[23]

Powers and abilities edit

The White Tiger amulets augment Ava Ayala's strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, reactions, coordination, balance, and endurance to superhuman levels. It also endow her with formidable martial arts skills. The amulets can enhance her recuperative powers. She has the ability to blend in with her surroundings, using the amulets to camouflage herself.[24] Additionally, Ava Ayala has razor sharp claws.

Reception edit

Critical response edit

Adam Barnhardt of ComicBook.com called Ava Ayala a "fan-favorite Avengers character," writing, "While mystical at heart, White Tiger has often found herself as one of the street-level characters Marvel fans have long hoped to see in live-action."[25] Evan Lewis of MovieWeb ranked Ava Ayala 6th in their "10 Female Characters the MCU Should Introduce in Future Phases" list, saying, "She would be refreshing and bring something new to the table."[26] Megan Nicole O'Brien of Comic Book Resources ranked Ava Ayala 8th in their "Every Member Of The Daughters Of Liberty" list,[27] Daniel Kurland while ranked her 15th in their "15 Obscure Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie" list.[28] Jack Walters of Screen Rant called Ava Ayala the "White Tiger that most Marvel fans know and love from the comics."[29]

Other versions edit

Marvel Universe vs. The Avengers edit

An alternate version of Aya Ayala appears on Earth-11080. Ava Ayala was one of the remaining four survivors of the Avengers Academy, along with Mettle, Veil, and Striker. While each of them are infected, Ava, along with the remaining Avengers and students wear a Doomstone collar that prevents the virus from taking hold of them fully, while discussing Doctor Doom's motives.[30] After it was revealed that the Doomstones allow the wearer to maintain their humanity, Doom activates the Doomstone, turning it red and allowing the virus to take over. Ava was among those killed while in a fight with the infected Red Hulk and the remaining infected students.[31]

In other media edit

Television edit

Video games edit

References edit

  1. ^ Damore, Meagan (January 8, 2017). "White Tiger Should Be Netflix's Next Marvel Hero". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  2. ^ Switzer, Charles (January 3, 2023). "Fan Reimagines Jenna Ortega As Marvel's White Tiger In Stunning Artwork". Looper. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  3. ^ Entwistle, Brady (December 13, 2022). "Daredevil Art Imagines Jenna Ortega's MCU Debut As White Tiger In Born Again". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  4. ^ Burlingame, Russ (January 27, 2014). "Mighty Avengers #7 Preview From Marvel Comics Released Online". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  5. ^ Marvel (September 27, 2021). "Your First Look Inside 'Marvel's Voices: Comunidades' #1". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  6. ^ Machado, Yolanda (July 20, 2021). "MARVEL VOICES: COMUNIDADES to Highlight Latinx Superheroes". Nerdist. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  7. ^ Johnston, Rich (July 20, 2021). "Marvel Comics Publish Latinx Edition of Marvel's Voices: Comunidades". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  8. ^ Marvel (August 26, 2022). "Your Complete Guide to This Year's 'Marvel's Voices: Comunidades' #1". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  9. ^ Brooke, David (August 26, 2022). "Marvel First Look: Marvel's Voices: Comunidades #1 • AIPT". AiptComics.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  10. ^ Avengers Academy #21 (November 2011)
  11. ^ Avengers Academy #24 (January 2012)
  12. ^ Avengers Academy #23
  13. ^ Mighty Avengers Vol. 2 #1
  14. ^ Mighty Avengers Vol. 2 #4.INH
  15. ^ Mighty Avengers Vol. 2 #3
  16. ^ Mighty Avengers Vol. 2 #5.INH
  17. ^ Mighty Avengers Vol. 2 #6
  18. ^ Mighty Avengers Vol. 2 #7
  19. ^ Captain America and the Avengers #8
  20. ^ New Avengers Vol. 4 #1
  21. ^ New Avengers Vol. 4 #7
  22. ^ New Avengers Vol. 4 #14-17
  23. ^ New Avengers Vol. 4 #18
  24. ^ Ulatowski, Rachel (December 11, 2022). "Who Is White Tiger? Marvel's White Tiger, Explained". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  25. ^ Barnhardt, Adam (November 20, 2022). "Daredevil: Born Again Rumored to Debut Fan-Favorite Avengers Character". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  26. ^ Lewis, Evan (March 23, 2023). "10 Female Characters the MCU Should Introduce in Future Phases". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  27. ^ O'Brien, Megan Nicole (September 26, 2020). "Every Member Of The Daughters Of Liberty, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  28. ^ Kurland, Daniel (January 23, 2023). "15 Obscure Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  29. ^ Walters, Jack (July 23, 2022). "10 Superheroes That Should Be Introduced In The MCU, According To Reddit". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  30. ^ Marvel Universe vs The Avengers #03 (February 2013)
  31. ^ Marvel Universe vs The Avengers #04 (March 2013)
  32. ^ Goellner, Caleb (March 1, 2012). "'Ultimate Spider-Man' Animated Series Reveals its White Tiger". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  33. ^ a b "White Tiger Voices (Marvel Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 28, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  34. ^ "'Spidey and his Amazing Friends' Swings Back for Season 3". www.marvel.com. December 5, 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  35. ^ Ching, Albert (June 10, 2014). "Spider-Man, Venom and More Added to "Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  36. ^ Disney Newsdesk, Laughing Place (June 10, 2014). "Spider-Man Playset Coming to Disney Infinity". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  37. ^ Brown, Luke (March 1, 2016). "Black Panther, Ant-Man and Vision Bring the Civil War to Disney Infinity". ComicsAlliance. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  38. ^ "GWENPOOL CRASHES INTO 'MARVEL FUTURE FIGHT'". Justin Snyder, marvel.com. August 17, 2016. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  39. ^ Nolan, Liam (February 15, 2023). "MARVEL SNAP Explained: Who Is White Tiger?". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  40. ^ Adler, Kai (December 7, 2022). "Marvel Snap: The 10 Best Cards To Combo With Wong". Game Rant. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  41. ^ Garcia, Mayra (March 24, 2023). "10 Most Powerful Marvel Snap Heroes". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-04-18.

External links edit

  • White Tiger (Ava Ayala) at Marvel Wiki
  • White Tiger (Ava Ayala) at Comic Vine