Roberto da Costa carries himself like someone who expects to be noticed. He has confidence, a temper and enough physical strength to make both difficult to ignore. The growing c…

Roberto da Costa carries himself like someone who expects to be noticed. He has confidence, a temper and enough physical strength to make both difficult to ignore. The growing class gives him more people to impress, argue with and occasionally underestimate. His solar-powered strength is an important part of the team's muscle, but early Sunspot has limits that the black silhouette can disguise. Being very strong doesn't automatically make him invulnerable. He can put himself into situations his confidence reaches before his judgment does. The book gets plenty of mileage out of the difference between looking formidable and knowing how to handle a threat. The Cloak and Dagger story brings a more disturbing problem into his own body. The consequences of an earlier drugging return during this period, linking Roberto and Rahne to powers neither of them understands or controls. By #25, getting them free requires help from Cloak, Dagger and their classmates. The stronger boy in the room can still need somebody else to save him. That experience belongs beside the more cheerful Roberto. His friendship with Sam makes the school feel lived in. They have different backgrounds and different habits, but they can still fall into the ordinary rhythm of two boys spending a great deal of time together. Roberto's swagger has more texture when somebody who knows him well is nearby. As the roster grows, he remains one of the recognizable personalities holding it together. Magma, Magik, Doug and Warlock each bring an unfamiliar world into the class. Roberto meets those changes with the same mix of curiosity, pride and impatience he brings to most things. The interesting part is watching how far that confidence carries him, and where friendship has to take over.