Dazzler (Marvel Comics)

Dazzler (Alison "Ali" Blaire) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, often in association with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 (February 1980). A mutant with the ability to convert sound vibrations into light and energy beams, Dazzler was developed as a cross-promotional, multi-media creation between Casablanca Records and Marvel Comics until the tie-ins were dropped in 1980. A committee of Marvel staff, principally writer/editor Tom DeFalco and illustrator John Romita Jr., created the character. She starred in a self-titled series in the early 1980s which lasted forty-two issues, a Marvel Graphic Novel titled Dazzler: The Movie, a four-issue limited series co-starring Beast titled Beauty and the Beast, and later joined the cast of Uncanny X-Men. She has also featured in other Marvel teams. The character is considered a gay icon due to LGBT readers, particularly gay men, enjoying her disco aesthetic, popstar stage persona, and strong-willed characterization. Halston Sage portrays Dazzler in Dark Phoenix.