Origin
Dee Milo’s mutant powers manifested when she was eleven years old, resulting in a catastrophic blast that destroyed her grandparents’ home, seemingly killing her parents, grandparents and two older brothers. Her mutation had turned her into a being of pure energy and Dee was later discovered by Professor X, who designed a containment suit that would allow her a humanoid appearance.
Believing she had killed her entire family, Dee grew up with many problems, suffering from bipolar disorders, terrible nightmares and several suicide attempts. Making a measure of recovery, she eventually took interest in super heroics and signed up to join the media-friendly team X-Force.
Creation
Venus Dee Milo was created by Mike Allred and Peter Milligan and first appeared in X-Statix Issue 1 (2002).
Major Story Arcs
X-Statix
Venus got her chance after the team returned from a mission that claimed the life of their teleporter, the popular U-Go Girl (Venus being the replacement teleporter for U-Go Girl). Still mourning U-Go Girl’s death, Orphan sought to prevent Venus from being a part of the team (now renamed as X-Statix) as he felt Venus was too pure and beautiful join. After Venus explained her own background, he relented.
Venus’ entry into X-Statix remained difficult, though. Dead Girl resented Venus for usurping her chances at the title of ‘the sexy one’. Even worse, a preexisting contract with a talent agent, Solomon O’Sullivan, prevented her from being a member of the team. When Solomon’s other clients, the made-for-TV team known as O-Force were being slaughtered, Venus managed to convince him to destroy the contract so she could rescue the survivors.
Through Venus’ superhero career, at one point, Orphan (her lover) had left the team. Soon after, a villain looking like the Orphan and calling himself “Bad Guy” had appeared and started terrorizing America. Mid-battle, Orphan had appeared and began helping the team. After the struggle, it was revealed that Bad Guy had actually been a creature from a pocket dimension that had manifested into Venus’ fears, as it originally taunted her by revealing itself as her brother (whom she was traumatized by). Orphan had also rejoined the team and continued his relationship with Venus.
Later on, Professor Xavier expressed concern for Dee’s development as a young woman and designed a suit with greater tactile sensitivity – allowing her to become physically intimate with another. After confronting a physical manifestation of her long-buried fears relating to a childhood trauma, Dee and Orphan finally consummated their love. At a passionate moment, she accidentally teleported herself and Guy to a strange dimension where she found her father, mother and grandmother alive and well, having been shunted there by her initial power manifestation. (There was no mention as to what happened to her siblings and grandfather.) Despite this happy revelation, trouble began to stir in Orphan and Venus’ relationship. Venus knew of Orphan’s lingering feelings for U-Go Girl, something that strained their relationship. As a result, Venus felt as though she was living in another woman’s shadow, resenting U-Go Girl until she stumbled upon Edie’s secret diaries. After reading them, Venus was able to put her jealousy aside.
Last Shots
Venus continued to serve as a member of X-Statix with increased confidence, proving to be a valuable asset in several missions. After a confrontation with the Avengers, X-Statix decided to disband. Venus had been offered a record contract and, similarly, all of the other members had similar offers that would take them away from the team.
Wanting one final paycheck, the team decided to undertake one more mission. This proved catastrophic, however. Several members of the team were quickly felled and Venus, severely injured and unable to attack or safely teleport herself and the others to safety, chose to sacrifice herself by teleporting several attacking helicopters far away. Weakened, her molecules were dispersed, presumably killing her. The dispersing of the molecules resulted in an explosion which was the cause of death for fellow team member Vivisector.
That being said, Venus was one of the only X-Statix members not seen in the afterlife in X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl. Like many energy-based characters, it is possible that she is not dead and just has to regather her molecules.
Return?
Recently, Zeitgeist returned and formed a new team called the X-Cellent. Venus was seen being reconstructed, to fit his plans.
Powers
Venus Dee Milo is composed of pure energy and relies on her containment suit to maintain a cohesive physical form. She can use her energy to teleport herself and large groups over great distances, project offensive blasts, and even heal others. She also has the ability to manifest miniature versions of herself within her body to protect against internal attacks.
Other Media
Games
Marvel: War of Heroes
Venus appears in several cards in the mobile card game Marvel: War of Heroes. Her cards are:
- [Traumatic Beginning] Dee Milo