Pretty Persuasions

Pretty Persuasions
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	New Warriors vol. 1 #4 (October 1990)
Created by	Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley
In-story information
Alter ego	Heidi P. Franklin
Species	Human Mutate
Team affiliations	Thunderbolts Psionex Genetech
Abilities	stimulate a person's pleasure centers in their brain, creation of psionic, energy weapons

Pretty Persuasions (Heidi P. Franklin) is a fictional Marvel Comics mutate character who first appeared in New Warriors vol. 1 #4. She was a member of Psionex.

Fictional character biography

Little is known about Pretty Persuasions's past before joining up with Psionex. She used to be an exotic dancer until being operated upon by Genetech, a company that creates super-beings. Genetech has trouble keeping her in line as she tended to seduce her minders, both male and female. As part of Psionex, she fights the New Warriors; they were soundly defeated.^[1] Later, feeling like they are nothing more than lab specimens, the team escapes Genetech^[2] and Persuasions returns to work at a New York City strip club. Richard Rider and Vance Astrovik make a trip to check on her.^[3]

She later joins a new version of Psionex, which reforms under the new Asylum (formerly the villain known as Darkling). This teams dedicates itself to crime-fighting but falls apart after a civilian with a heart condition dies during an encounter. Persuasions returns to Genetech for observation but later appears again as an exotic dancer.

Civil War

During the Civil War event, Pretty Persuasions is apprehended by Baron Zemo and his Thunderbolts. She is shown imprisoned in energy rings, with other villains, having been captured long before the Thunderbolts were given official allowance to take down villains.^[4] She faces the 'choice' of working as an agent of the government, or going to jail for not registering with the Superhuman Registration Act and her past crimes. Persuasions, along with many other recruits, are forced into aiding the Thunderbolts and Earth's heroes in a battle against the cosmic powered Grandmaster and dozens of super-powered opponents. The recruits are seen being overwhelmed and their final fate is not yet made clear.

Dark Reign

Pretty Persuasions and Psionex are revealed as members of the Initiative's Maryland team.^[5]

Powers and abilities

Pretty Persuasions can stimulate a person's pleasure centers psionically, meaning she can excite, as well as to increase the erotic urges/sexual desires of others. With her power she can seduce and control other people, usually men. In addition, she can create many kinds of psionic energy weapons, usually preferring whips.

References

1. New Warriors #4
2. New Warriors #15-16
3. New Warriors #18
4. Thunderbolts #103
5. Avengers: The Initiative #26