09 – SIRYN

Subject: Siryn
Real Name: Theresa Rourke
Height: 5’6″ Weight: 112 lbs.
Group Affiliation: X-Force
First Appearance: Spider-Woman #37, April 1981

Power Ratings:

• Energy Projection: 4/7
• Mental Powers: 3/7
• Strength: 2/7
• Fighting Ability: 3/7
• Intelligence: 2/7

The card’s bio says “When Siryn talks, criminals run for cover!” Except as a member of X-Force, she didn’t do much taking down of criminals. Well, I guess one could say the bad guys they tussled with could be considered criminals, but then again, technically, so were the X-mutants, and especially her own team, X-Force.

Anyway, I’m all for superheroes having kids who also turn into superheroes, but it just smacks of laziness when the kid has the SAME EXACT POWER as their parent (in this case, Banshee). Never mind that Siryn fits the power better than her father (both the names Siryn and Banshee refer to mythological women and their eardrum shattering nagging abilities), she could’ve at least been given some other extra abilities, or, even better, some deficiency. That would’ve created some interesting personality conflicts!

Lee’s art makes good use of her interesting costume (which is the exact same costume as her dad’s… speaking of which, why is she getting earlier billing in this trading card series, anyway!?), but doesn’t refer to her vocal prowess more than simply having her mouth open in that sultry way Lee draws women’s mouths. I mean, at least make more of an effort to own up to the dubious source of her flying abilities, which has something to do with riding her own sound waves.

Meanwhile, her Power Ratings are pretty screwed up. Okay, Energy Projection, a 4/7 looks pretty good, but what the hell affords her an above-average 3/7 for Mental Powers, of which she absolutely has none?! Hell, I don’t even understand why she has a Strength rating of 2, when someone like Havok puts up with a paltry 1/7.

Honestly I’m pretty sure the editors really just couldn’t remember who Siryn was and what she did, other than being Banshee’s daughter.