Emma Frost’s addition toMarvel Rivalshas been a long time coming. As one of the first characters leaked afterMarvel Rivals’ launch, both dedicated comic fans and gamers with a new love for Marvel have been eagerly awaiting her addition. However, this second camp may still be in the dark when it comes to Emma Frost’s lore.
A socialite, fashion diva, and complex character in X-Men lore, Emma Frost is not only iconic but arguably notorious. As has been the case with all characters onMarvel Rivals’ roster, Emma Frost’s in-game lore will likely be different from her various comic iterations and her brief appearances in film and TV, like her portrayal by January Jones inX-Men: First Class. SomeRivalscharacters lean more towards their comic or MCU counterparts, with other characters almost completely retooled towards new versions of themselves. In order to determinewhereRivals’ version of Emma Frostwill lie on this spectrum, establishing key aspects of her backstory is important. Additionally, based on Season 2’s setting, looking at Emma Frost’s presence on Krakoa and the Hellfire Gala will certainly point the needle in the correct direction.
Emma Frost’s Ties to the Hellfire Club
Emma Frostdebuted in the Dark Phoenix Sagastoryline ofUncanny X-MenVol. 1 (1963) in issue #129 (1980). Her story is intrinsically tied to the Hellfire Club, an elite society made up of influential and wealthy patrons. Being a mutant isn’t mandatory to join the club. Rather, power and influence are most important. The inner circle of the club is given titles based on chess pieces with black and white sets of Kings, Queens, Bishops, and Rooks. Emma Frost was first introduced as the White Queen.
The Hellfire Club has evolved since its introduction back in the 1980s. During the Hellfire Gala storyline, which debuted in 2021, Emma Frost helps run the gala on theLiving Island Krakoa, a safe haven and sovereign nation for mutants. Her ties to the gala make sense, as the Hellfire Gala was originally a simple annual holiday party hosted by the Hellfire Club. However, with Emma Frost now in control of the organization, much of the club’s resources are funneled into Krakoa’s Hellfire Trading Company. The Hellfire Gala itself is significant for a litany of reasons in Marvel Comics lore, but that explanation deserves an article for itself.
How Marvel Rivals Adapted Emma Frost
Images and voice lines leaked for Emma Frost seem fairly congruent with her characterization in Krakoa. Her character reveal trailer specifically mentions her title asWhite Queen. Additionally, her classification as a Vanguard suits her canonical powers as well as her physical weight. In addition to various telepathic powers, Emma Frost can turn her body into organic diamond. As one of the toughest organic materials on Earth, it’s no surprise that Emma Frost’s powers have landed her a role as a Vanguard, especially since her diamond form weighs over four hundred pounds.
Emma Frost’s position as thehost of the Hellfire Galaalso makes sense in canon, considering the Hellfire Club and now the Trading Company’s ties to both the gala itself and Krakoa as a whole. There are also smaller leaked voice lines that reference storylines outside of Hellfire Gala. In an interaction with Sue Storm, Emma Frost is revealed to be a mother. This is a reference to the Stepford Cuckoos, Emma Frost’s genetically engineered triplets, sometimes quintuplets, who share telepathic powers. Another interaction, this time with Iron Man, shows Emma Frost and Tony Stark flirting with the idea of being a power couple. The two superheroes had a brief marriage in Marvel Comics canon, ending in an annulment.
Marvel Rivals’ version of Emma Frost seemsmostly rooted in the Hellfire Gala storylinebased on initial trailer releases and leaked footage. Time will only tell if this version of the White Queen sticks to this plot. But as long as Emma Frost has Jumbo Carnation dressing her, she’s sure to turn heads whether it’s inMarvel Rivalsor in the pages of a comic book.
