Rictor
Sexuality:
Rictor has shown
an interest in
two females:
Tabitha Smith
and Rahne
Sinclair. In
Tabitha’s case,
he was just
happy to sit
back and help
her through
anything she
needed. She
never noticed
his feelings
until it was too
late, but he
never minded her
unawareness of
it. He
considered her
his best friend
(Julio seems to
have a thing for
those types) and
remained quite
close to her for
some time.
Tabitha was the
one who talked
him out of
suicide during
horrors with The
Right, and he
felt he owed
her. He never
dated her.
Wolfsbane: “You…you really
like Boom-Boom, don’t you? Does she know?
Rictor: “No way. She’d figure if I was dumb enough to like
her, I wouldn’t be worth having as a boyfriend.”
New Mutants #82
However, Rahne
Sinclair soon
caught his
affections after
forced time
together, and he
began dating
her. During the
X-tinction
Agenda, Rahne
was turned into
one of the
Genoshan
mutates, and
gained a bond
with Alex
Summers. She
ended her
relationship
with Rictor, and
the two have had
various run ins
since then.
Some might point
out that since
his liking of
these two
females, Rictor
holds no
romantic
affection for
Shatterstar.
However, Rictor
showed more
determination
and emotional
trauma in his
relationship
with Shatterstar
than the
previous girls.
It’s been coined
that he is
bisexual, and
there is various
proofs of this.
In issue 43 of
X-force, Julio
takes
Shatterstar
dancing, in
which is
followed by a
conversation
about ’Star’s
junk when
they’re on their
own. Both
confess that
they are
virgins,
and--Julio asks
‘Star if he has
’what it
takes?’. The
conversation
nearly goes
deeper--only to
be distracted by
their fellow
team members
needing them.
Rictor promises
to help ‘Star
sort things out,
and the next
issue he leaves.
Ironic that
right after such
a talk he takes
off, but Ric was
never one for
stable emotions.
In Cable #22,
Rictor takes
Shatterstar to
the airport to
see him off to
Mexico. He
didn’t bring any
of his other
friends, just
’Star. Their
goodbye is
packed with
emotions, and
mirrors that of
a break up.
Shatterstar:
“Julio, one last
time. Please,
change your
mind. What am I
going to do
without you?”
Rictor: “You’ll
be fine. You
have friends.”
Cable #22
He points out
that ‘Star has
“friends”, but
doesn’t take use
of the word
‘other’,
signifying that
he may be more
than that.
We don’t see
Rictor again
until he comes
back when
Shatterstar is
having his
identity crisis,
of which Rictor
is determined to
help him
through. He
speaks that he
came back
because ‘Star
needed him, and
the two share an
intense
expression. When
Shatterstar and
Cable get
kidnapped,
Rictor shows
clear aggression
towards the
situation and is
more than
determined to
get his friend
back.
Domino:
"Julio. I
might've
forgotten what
it was like
having someone
as pleasant as
you on the team.
But I'm assuming
you haven't
rocked that
brain of yours
to the point
where you've
missed that Dr.
Strange--as
strange as he
may seem--is
someone with
tremendous power
and, deserves
our respect."
Rictor: "In my
book, that's
only if he can
help us find
Shatterstar."
X-force #60
The next issue,
Shatterstar
dies, and Rictor
completely flips
out. His powers
flare up, and he
begins to break
things around
him. Domino
tries to talk
some sense into
him, but he’s
absolutely
devastated about
what has
happened. He
even threatens
to break the
entire world if
it meant ‘Star
would be safe
again.
Rictor:
"MADRE DE DIOS!
I did not come
back to this
team to see mi
amigo die! I
will find a way
to get to Mojo
and free
Star--Even if I
have to split
this planet in
half to do it!"
X-force #61
Rictor has only
ever shown such
intensity when
people he loved
romantically
were in any kind
of danger. He
even made a
similar threat
when Rahne
Sinclair had
been turned into
a mutate.
Rictor:
“First we’re
gonna find
Wipeout and make
him give back
our powers! And
then either
Genosha
surrenders Rahne
and all the
others---Or I’ll
shake this
island so hard
that not a
single building
will remain!”
New Mutants #96
Later, he takes
off to Mexico,
and Shatterstar
comes with him.
By the time the
annual rolls
around, the two
are fighting and
putting away all
of Julio’s
family. They
stay in a hotel
where they are
offered separate
rooms, but Julio
simply responds
with “Sharing’s
fine.”
Some panels
later, he is
shown waking up
without a shirt
on while ‘Star
is doing
exercises in a
pair of little
shorts. There is
no other bed in
the room, and it
appears that
they have been
sleeping
together.
His sexuality
isn’t touched
upon for another
few years,
mostly due to
being in limbo.
A conversation
with Jamie
Madrox at the
Power Plant bar
brings it back
into the open
when they
discuss Pietro.
Jamie talks
about how he
slept with both
Monet and Terry
when Rictor
jokes that he
was sleeping
with Pietro.
Jamie
overreacts, and
Rictor reveals
he was only
kidding.
Rictor:
“'Course. Not
that the guy/guy
thing is...it's
just that
Pietro's
semi-evil, and--Gimme
a little credit,
huh?”
X-factor #14
A little subtle,
but Rictor’s not
one for big
announcements,
and would be
rather discreet
about the
subject. He and
Jamie continue
talking, and
their
conversation
ends with a
mention of
Shatterstar,
which makes
Julio overreact
just as Jamie
did.
Rictor: “But
hey, at least y’
know Pietro and
I aren’t an
item, so that’s
good right?”
Madrox: “I
suppose. I mean,
God knows you
wouldn’t want to
make Shatterstar
jealous.”
X-factor #14
Though he did end up sleeping with Rahne eventually, in the most recent issue of X-factor, Rictor is shown sharing an on panel kiss with Shatterstar. Though it is unknown for the moment where this kiss will head, there is now no denying that Rictor is infact bisexual.