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Sabra (character)

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Sabra
Sabra as depicted in Captain America: Steve Rogers (2017) #18
Art by Javier Pina
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearance(Minor)
Incredible Hulk #250
(August 1980)
(Full)
Incredible Hulk #256
(February 1981)
Created byBill Mantlo (writer)
Sal Buscema (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoRuth Bat Seraph
SpeciesHuman mutant
Team affiliationsX-Corporation
New Warriors
Mossad
Notable aliasesSabra
AbilitiesMutant Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, endurance, and stamina
  • Ability to transfer powers and life energy to others
  • Regenerative healing factor

Sabra is an Israeli superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Sal Buscema, the character first debuted in Incredible Hulk #250 (August 1980) with a minor appearance, before making a full appearance in Incredible Hulk #256 (February 1981). Sabra, the alter ego of Ruth Bat-Seraph (Hebrew: רות בת-שרף), is a mutant, and serves as an agent to the Mossad, Israel's secret service.

Shira Haas is set to portray a reimagined version of Bat-Seraph, a former Black Widow assassin, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

Development

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Concept and creation

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Marvel Comics writer Mark Gruenwald's first wife, Belinda Glass, came up with the name and concept of the character.[1] The term "Sabra" (צַבָּר‎) is slang for a native-born Israeli Jew and refers to the prickly pear cactus-fruit that is thorny on the outside but soft on the inside.[1] She was originally envisioned as the Israeli counterpart to Captain America / Steve Rogers with Newsweek writer Sophie Lloyd comparing her introduction to that of the Red Guardian, who was also envisioned as the Russian counterpart to Rogers.[2]

Publication history

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Sabra debuted in Incredible Hulk #256 (February 1981), created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Sal Buscema.[3][4][5][6] She later appeared in the New Warriors (1995), by writer Evan Skolnick and artist Patrick Zircher.[7] She appeared in the Astonishing Tales: Sabra (2009), her first solo one-shot, by writer Matt Yocum.[8]

Since her debut in the 1980s, Sabra has not featured heavily in Marvel comics, only making minor cameos and appearances.[9] Despite this, she has been featured in various X-Men comics, and has been a vocal supporter of their mutant causes.[10]

Fictional character biography

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Ruth Bat-Seraph was born near Jerusalem.[11] She was raised on a special kibbutz run by the Israeli government after her power manifested.[12][13] Ruth was the first superhuman agent to serve with the Mossad (the Israeli secret service).[14][15] She became a police officer in addition to serving as a government agent.[16][17] Her first public act as Sabra was a battle with the Hulk, whom she mistakenly believed was working with terrorists.[18] Not long after that, Sabra was chosen as a pawn of Death in the latter's game against the Grandmaster. There, she met Iron Man and the Arabian Knight, and battled She-Hulk and Captain Britain.[19]

Another dispute with the Hulk was intensified as Sabra's powers temporarily robbed him of his voice, making it seem as if he was still a near-mindless monster. The two fought but eventually worked through their differences and searched for a child who was foretold to become a genocidal maniac, while contending with Achilles of the Pantheon who was sent to kill the boy.[20]

Later, during a peace process meeting, Sabra finds herself fighting the New Warriors while under the mental influence of a mysterious, unexplained force.[21] Some time after, Sabra finds herself caught up in the events of the anti-mutant campaign known as "Operation: Zero Tolerance". It is at this time that Sabra fights alongside the X-Men and begins to subscribe to the philosophies of Charles Xavier.[22][23] Sabra spends some time as a member of the X-Corporation's Paris branch.[24] She accompanies Xavier and other X-Men to Genosha after it was demolished by Sentinels.[25]

During the JLA/Avengers crossover event she was seen holding the Wailing Wall together after Krona's attack cause earthquakes across the globe.[26] Sabra is also one of a handful of mutants to have retained their powers after the effects of M-Day.[27] She is later seen, under request from the British government, aiding Union Jack against a terrorist attack on London.[28] She comes into conflict with the new Arabian Knight because of cultural differences,[7] but they begrudgingly work together,[29] paralleling her relationship with the first Arabian Knight during the Contest of Champions.[30]

During the Civil War within the US superhero community over the Superhuman Registration Act, Sabra joins Bishop's government-sanctioned team that polices unruly mutants.[31][32] Mossad assigns her to the force in exchange for intelligence and technology so Israel can enact its own registration program.[33] Sabra is identified as pro-registration in the superhuman Civil War as one of the 142 registered superheroes under the Initiative.[34][35]

During the events of Secret Invasion, Sabra is briefly seen fighting off Skrulls in Israel.[36] and during the Ends of the Earth storyline, Sabra is one of the heroes that respond to Spider-Man's call for help against Doctor Octopus' satellite factories. She is shown fighting through Octobots at a seemingly abandoned factory until being shot by Crossbones with a sniper rifle.[37] Before the events of Secret Empire, Sabra assisted Captain America with securing a package in a Hydra data storage.[38] She also represented the Israeli government when she attended Black Panther's meeting in the Eden Room of Avengers Mountain.[39]

Powers and abilities

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Sabra possesses superhuman abilities due to her mutant heritage, including "superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, endurance, and stamina".[40][41][42][43] Her mutant ability also allows her to transfer her powers (determined randomly) and life force with others.[44][45] Comic Book Resources ranked her at number seven in their list of the "10 Strongest Female Marvel Protagonists".[44] She can withstand high fire impacts including that of Pistol-caliber rifle, and can heal / regenerate faster and more extensively than a regular human being.[46]

Equipment

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Wrist bracelets equipped with neuronic-frequency stunners that shoot "energy quills". Cape has a device that neutralizes gravity, enabling flight.

— Sabra's equipment as quoted in The Marvel Encyclopedia by DeFalco et al. (2019).[47]

Sabra's various costumes throughout the Marvel comics have usually been based on the design or colors of the Israeli flag,[9] and sports the Star of David.[48] Sabra utilises neuronic-frequency stunners built into her two wrist bracelets that shoot "energy quills" which can paralyze the nervous system of any organic being almost instantaneously.[3] She can also fly with the help of her anti-gravity cape.[49][3] In addition to her superhero equipment, Sabra possesses standard military weapons and is a trained member of the Israeli military.[9][50] She trained as a policewoman and in anti-terrorist techniques.[10][51]

Reception

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Nirit Anderman of Haaretz named Sabra the "first Israeli superheroine," writing, "Although there were several attempts to create local superheroes in Israel – for example Sabraman, Super Shlumper and Falafel Man – none of them managed to survive for long. The only ones who succeeded in this mission, even going one step further and creating a female superhero rather than a male one, were the guys from Marvel."[52] Deirdre Kaye of Scary Mommy called Sabra a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[53] Nicole Lampert of The Jewish Chronicle described Sabra as a "great Jewish superhero."[54] Brenton Stewart of Comic Book Resources referred to Sabra as one of "Marvel's most prominent international heroes," saying, "While she's never had her own series, she's carved out one of the most fascinating histories of any of Marvel's international heroes in her various encounters with the X-Men, the Hulk and Marvel's other heroes".[55]

Dalton Norman of Screen Rant included Sabra in his "10 Best Marvel Characters Who Made Their Debut In The Hulk Comics" list, asserting, "It wasn't long before Sabra became an important fixture in the Marvel Universe, and she has popped up on numerous occasions including as a vocal supporter of the X-Men and their defense of the mutant cause."[10] Cali Halperin of Jewish Telegraphic Agency named Sabra one of the "5 Female Jewish Superheroes Everyone Should Know."[56] Margaret David of SlashfFilm included Sabra in their "10 Marvel Characters We Expect To See Introduced In MCU Phase 5" list, asserting, "With the world of the Avengers under siege by new paranoia and powers, mirroring our world's rampant and long-standing problem of anti-Semitism, Sabra's probably going to be the vehicle for meaningful commentaries. Further, it's going to be great to see more diversity and faith in our heroes."[57]

The reception of the character by Palestinians and Arabs was more negative. Some have argued that the portrayal of Palestinians and Arabs in her comics are harmful stereotypes, stating that several of the Arab characters she interacts with are portrayed as misogynistic, antisemitic, and violent. When her appearance in Captain America: Brave New World was announced, Yousef Munayyer, a Palestinian-American writer and analyst, said the comics did not suggest "anything positive" about her film appearance, since turning Israeli spies into heroes is "insensitive and disgraceful."[58][59][60] The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) said that "the original comic’s ugly racism and valorization of Mossad are sickening".[61] In November 2023, the BDS Movement National Committee and PACBI, said that the character is a personification of "apartheid Israel," and a racist character which promotes "Israel’s oppression of Palestinians," and called for a boycott on Marvel on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.[62]

Other versions

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In other media

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Khan, Nilofer (September 13, 2022). "Marvel's desire to be politically charged has backfired with 'Captain America 4's Sabra; here's why". Mashable. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  2. ^ Lloyd, Sophie (October 31, 2023). "Marvel's Israeli Superhero Poses Huge Headache for Disney". Newsweek. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Miller, Max (September 12, 2022). "Who Is Shira Haas' Sabra In Captain America: New World Order?". Looper. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  4. ^ Gelman, Samuel (September 10, 2022). "Captain America 4 Casts Israeli Hero Sabra". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Zaig, Gadi (September 11, 2022). "Shira Haas to play Israeli superheroine Sabra in MCU's Captain America 4". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
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