Siryn has one of those introductions where knowing who she’s related to makes things more complicated instead of clearing them up. Theresa is Banshee’s daughter, but when she fi…

Siryn has one of those introductions where knowing who she’s related to makes things more complicated instead of clearing them up. Theresa is Banshee’s daughter, but when she first turns up, she’s involved with Black Tom Cassidy and the Juggernaut. Her father is a hero who doesn’t even know she exists, and the man who raised her is involving her in crimes. That is a lot to put on somebody before she’s had much opportunity to decide who she actually wants to be. Her early involvement with Black Tom isn’t presented as Theresa enthusiastically choosing his life. He has authority over her, and there’s a family connection there that she can’t just switch off because the reader knows he’s a villain. Her first story brings her into conflict with Spider-Woman, with the X-Men getting involved too. What matters to me about that introduction is that Theresa doesn’t stay trapped in the role she’s initially been given. Black Tom eventually takes responsibility for pulling her into it, and the truth about her father gives her a way into a very different part of the mutant world. She has the sonic abilities you’d expect from being Sean’s daughter. Her voice can be a weapon, and she can use it to fly. There’s something inherently awkward about that combination of abilities in an ordinary life. Your voice is how you talk to people, argue with them, ask for help, or say something you’ve been holding back. For Theresa and Sean, it can also do physical damage. I don’t think she needs a completely unrelated power to justify existing alongside Banshee. Having similar abilities actually gives their family connection a visible form. The interesting part is what she does with them and what kind of person she becomes after an upbringing Sean wasn’t there to share.