Origin
One night, a small supernatural creature, named Tito Peping, ran passed Pia. He was running away from a vampire that ended up tackling Pia through a fence. Instinctively, she stabbed at the vampire with a broken piece of the fence. Unfortunately, there was a second vampire who witnessed her act of bravery. He kidnapped her and turned her into a vampire. She was rescued from the vampire by Tito Peping and Doctor Voodoo. In exchange for saving him, Tito agreed to be come her familiar, physically bonding with her during the day to protect her from the sun. Doctor Voodoo ultimately invited her to enroll in Strange Academy.
Creation
Pia first appeared in Strange Academy: Blood Hunt #1 by Daniel Jose Older and Luigi Zagaria
Major Story Arcs
Blood Hunt
Pia was getting a tour of New Orleans by some of her new classmates. They decided to take her on a walking vampire tour, not knowing about her true nature. At the same time, a vampire cult, The Structure, flooded the sky with darkforce energy in a bid for world domination. Doctor Voodoo recalled all the students back to the academy and warded the campus grounds. Voodoo took particular interest in Pia, bringing her to his office so she can be questioned privately.
After she was excused by Doctor Strange’s astral form so he could share intel with Voodoo, she was greeted in the hall by her classmates who eavesdropped on the headmaster’s conversation. Strange asked Voodoo to investigate Darkhold energies in Madripoor, hoping they could use the old tome to re-create the Montessi Formula. Voodoo refused, but the students decided to take it into their own hands. They teleported to Madripoor and found a young boy, the Darkhold made flesh.
When Darkhold injured Tito Peping, Pia lost control and revealed her vampiric nature to her classmates. Darkhold was already considering the Montessi Formula, and she was afraid of being destroyed with the formula. Her fellow students were shocked at first, but they ultimately agreed with her concern. They thought they could negotiate with Darkhold, since he genuinely wanted to save the world. Unfortunately, when their former professor, Agatha Harkness, showed up to take guardianship of Darkhold, he teleported away with Pia as his prisoner.
Darkhold decides to give Pia the chance to fight for her life against a number of demons, proving that Darkhold shouldn’t use the Montessi Formula on all vampires. The fight was interrupted by Agatha. Pia was forced to defend Darkhold, sharing her own guardian familiar with Darkhold for extra protection. Darkhold was moved by her sacrifice and eventually joined her classmates in the fight against Agatha before being invited to the Strange Academy.
Powers & Abilities
Vampirism: Pia was bitten by a vampire and now has all their strengths and weaknesses
- Familiar: A mystical being has volunteered to physically bond with her to shield her from the sun.