Sylvan "Syl" Ortega is a young magician and a student of the great Gregorio de la Vega.
History
Origin
The native Brazilian[1] Syl was supposed to be the pajé, a shaman, of a South American tribe already extinct when he was born, wiped out by disease and greed, and so he was raised in a city far from his place of power. At some point in his life, he was brought into the tutelage of Gregorio de la Vega at The Sacrarium, with whom he began to study natural magic.[2]
DC Pride
After several attempts to arrange a meeting with Aqualad, Syl finally got the chance when Jackson chose to meet him precisely during a Pride Parade — especially after a little push from Raven, who told Jackson that Syl could "hold his hand" during his first pride, which Syl was more than happy to do.
However, the meeting was interrupted by the villain Eclipso, who made it rain on their parade, using magic to feed on the negative emotions that LGBTQ+ people tend to cultivate throughout their lives, such as pain, rejection, rage, anxiety and fear. Fortunately, thanks to the intervention of the Justice League Queer led by Gregorio de la Vega himself and brought about by a portal created by Syl, and especially to the combination of Syl and Jackson's powers in joining their hands to dispel the enchanted rain, they were able to defeat Eclipso and bring pride back.[3]
'Tis The Season To Be Freezin'
During a holiday celebration, Syl, Gregorio, and his husband Tasmanian Devil hosted the Justice League Queer at The Sacrarium (then in the Amazon Rainforest), but the team meeting was surprised by Minister Blizzard's attack, aided by a mysterious "goddess" called Icemaiden.
The proximity of Sigrid Nansen, the Icemaiden, who the Tasmanian Devil should have gone to rescue and returned bringing her along with Blizzard, had stirred Syl's powers, lessening his connection to nature. But it was Syl who helped Icemaiden see the good in her by making her understand that her icy powers were a necessary part of the life's renewal, and she rebelled against Blizzard, adopting the new name Glacier inspired by Syl.
This experience helped Syl realize his new place in the world among the heroes he now considers his people.[2]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Vine Bracelets: Syl uses them as conduits for his nature magic powers.[3]
Trivia
- The name Syl is typically a shortening of Latin names meaning "wood" and "forest", like Sylvan itself, while the Spanish surname Ortega comes from the Latin urtica and means "nettle".
- As confirmed by his creator on Twitter, Syl is Brazillian, indigenous on his mother's side. [1]
Related
- 3 Appearances of Sylvan Ortega (Prime Earth)
- 3 Images featuring Sylvan Ortega (Prime Earth)
- 2 Quotations by or about Sylvan Ortega (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Sylvan Ortega (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
  This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from the clutches of both interstellar and domestic threats. |