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Alright, so - Who is Maya Lopez?

Maya is a Native American female who was born deaf. Her childhood wasn't as colorful as other kids of her age. Her father, Willie "Crazy Horse" Lincoln, was an ally to Kingpin but unfortunately was killed by Kingpin himself. Maya was there, witnessing her father trying to reach out to her with his dying breath; leaving a bloody handprint on her small child-like face. That is already enough to give her a bad memory in her age. She was about 9 years old at that time. Maya's mother left both Maya and her father a long time ago thus why she hardly remembers what her mother looks like. Maya used her drawing skill to picture her mother but it seems like she never got it right. Like ever.

But then, Kingpin decided to adopt her [after Willie asked Kingpin to take care of Maya] and transferred her to a special school for her disability. Now, this is the part where her special ability started to show up. One day, during her presence in some sort of a show with her classmates and teacher surrounding her, Maya observed in amusement as the pianist's fingers danced on the keyboard and played his tune gracefully. She was intrigued by it, and decided to walk up to the piano and felt the vibration of the sound by placing her hand on the piano. She then took a sit and started to hit the keys and the tune sounded the same as what the pianist played before. She played it very flawlessly, leaving the people who witnessed it shocked and amused.

So once Kingpin was notified by this amazing event, he transferred Maya to a better school for prodigies. Ever since then, Maya started to work for Kingpin. During her time working for him, she didn't know who actually killed her father, since Kingpin never told her about it. Kingpin used this chance to use her to kill the daredevil. He used her backstory and twisted it to make it sound like Matt was behind the murder. Keep in mind that at this time - she didn't realize that Matt Murdock is /that/ daredevil. Of course, she believed the story because Kingpin has been taking care of her all this time especially in financials (not surprised) and she trusted him so much. There is evidence of this part in Daredevil comic run, where Matt narrated that Maya kept saying that Wilson is a very great guy.

Using her special ability to copy , she watched every recording tape of fighting for preparation to kill the daredevil. The funny [yet sweet] thing that happened was that Maya somehow went out with Matt and was not aware she was going out with someone that she was about to kill. After the date with Matt ended around evening, Maya prepared herself to confront daredevil. By the time she showed up, Matt quickly realized that it was Maya, judging from her scent. Matt noticed that Kingpin framed him into killing Maya's father. It took Matt a few punches and kicks from her to at least manage to tell her the actual truth. Alright, so now she got the true story, so what now?

Maya felt like she was betrayed. Being used just because Kingpin wanted daredevil to be dead. When Matt explained it to her, she didn't ask him who was the real killer - because she already knew who it was. So she just left the scene and went to confront Kingpin herself; ended up shooting him. Maya then left the city without saying goodbye to Matt, leaving him with many questions. Maya returned to the city a few years later, as she tried to find answers about her life. The sad thing was that she wanted her relationship with Matt to start over fresh but Matt told her that he is already with someone else. Still feeling lost and disappointed, she finds Kingpin and tries to seek answers but his answers seem to not give her the satisfaction, although he did admit that he manipulates her to kill the daredevil for him but at the same time, he cares about her like his own daughter.

Maya decided to go to the reservation aka "The Rez" [that was what her father called when he brought her to that place during her childhood]. She visited the place in hope to discover her path in her life. To find her purpose. That was the time she met Logan aka Wolverine [or maybe just an illusion created in her mind]. The funny thing is that she thought he was one of the animal spirits. Logan just goes with the flow (lmao).

From there, Maya and Logan began to have a conversation about the story that The Chief shared to them. Soon after, she discovered that Logan was just hallucination and The Chief believed that was her father trying to talk to her [through Logan as nature spirit]. Believing she has found her path, she pursues her life as an artist she was before, and gives Matt one last goodbye.

But that's not the end of her journey. Maya somehow resurfaced once again in Hell's Kitchen when Klaw invaded the city, building an army of...sound(?). Maya was able to save daredevil before the "sound virus" infected him due to his high sense of hearing. So both of them worked together to take down Klaw and save the city.

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So, now you know some bits of her backstory. Let's move to some of the important events that she has been involved in. Some that you might already know. She was also involved in other more but these events [that I mentioned below] are what I think are the biggest for her so far.

Maya Lopez as Ronin

[New Avengers]

Maya was recruited by Captain America after Matt recommended her to assist them. This is the time where the identity of Ronin first appeared. Maya was inspired by Matt with his double life, Daredevil, thus how Ronin was born. Ronin was asked for help by Captain America to infiltrate Japanese underworld activities as what the avengers thought that it might affect the whole world. When Ronin was busy fighting off the mobs, he/she was intruded by The Hand that was led by Elektra at that time. Elektra managed to kill Ronin but was resurrected so that Ronin/Maya could work alongside The Hand. Pretty much I think they see her as a very useful fighter. As to what Elektra mentioned to The Hand,

“Bring her [Maya] back. We need her.

She's of value to us.” - Elektra

While they were trying to brainwash Maya, they were ambushed by the New Avengers to save her.

But while in the process of saving Maya and trying to battle off The Hand who have been following them, Maya suddenly got up and took a katana before stabbing Dr Strange. Of course, Stephen would not just die like that (lmao). While in his astral form, Stephen managed to recover Maya by using a spell that I am not sure if they even mentioned it. Finally, Maya snapped into reality and instantly engaged an attack towards Elektra by stabbing her in revenge. The Hand ninjas fled and it has been revealed that the fallen Elektra was actually a Skrull. All of the people in that scene were so shocked. One night, when she went to search Matt to find answers as to why he suggested her to Captain America, she was confronted by what she thought to be daredevil at first. He was then revealed as one of the Skrull. The fight took a lot of impact on Maya, then Wolverine finally showed up to help her. But unfortunately, the Skrull fled from the area.

Her part as one of the New Avengers doesn't stop here. She proceeds to continue on helping out the other team members, including figuring out why Skrulls are among them. While she was in the team, Maya was struggling with the feeling of separation from the other members of the team. She thought that she doesn't even belong to the group. She always felt like they didn't even need her. Until Clint decided to have a small talk with her by convincing her that she is great just the way she is.

Notable mention:

Maya was the first ever Ronin. She created the identity before that was taken away after she was ambushed by the ninjas from The Hand led by Elektra. Then soon as Maya was rescued by The New Avengers, she came to realize that someone else was using her Ronin gears and that is later revealed to be Clint Barton. When Clint wanted to give the armor back to the original owner, Maya refused and told him to keep it instead. That is why now we see that Clint is known as Ronin.

[Secret Invasions]

While Maya was still assisting the New Avengers on their missions, she was finally learning a few things about the Skrulls. After she and the team were left by Spider-Woman as she took the Skrull Elektra, Maya tried to investigate what was actually going on when they crashed into the Savage Land. By the time she was spying on Tony who was hiding in an abandoned place, she was attacked by Spider-Woman even though Maya tried to not to fight her. It was then revealed that Jessica is a Skrull Queen. When Spider-Woman escaped the place, Maya and the other heroes went to New York for the final battle with the Skrulls. That was the last appearance of her with the team before she disappeared.

[World War Hulk]

Maya was briefly seen in this event where Hulk invaded New York City. She was with Clint (as Ronin), Iron Fist (Danny) and Dr Strange in the sanctum while the fight between Iron-Man and Hulk happened. But when she, Clint and Danny went out to save Rick Jones, they were captured by Hulk's top warriors, The Warbound.

After these major events happened, Maya disappeared or maybe just went on a low profile for years, until one day, she somehow showed up again in another character's and teams' story arc.

[Moon Knight]

Maya was going undercover for a mission, before she had to save him when Moon Knight was being beaten by Snapdragon, making her blow up her cover. Maya then later agreed to cooperate with him to investigate an illegal activity consisting of some parts of Ultron's robot body.

[Defenders]

For some times, Maya would show up to assist the Defenders on some occasions if the team needed more help. She was not actually IN the team, just like a support kind of help.

[Captain America]

Maya, along with Jessica (Spider-Woman), Misty, Susan Storm, etc, teaming up to help Captain America fight Hydra and the other threats.

[Captain Marvel]

Captain Marvel is somehow surprised that Maya is back. (Trust me, I was too). She was there with Jessica Drew and Hazmat just in time when Captain Marvel was fighting Nuclear Man inside some kind of barrier on Roosevelt Island. On that island surrounded by the barrier, it looked like it was straight out from the "Mad Max movie" environment style. Together, they all battle Nuclear Man who was planning on building an empire.

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These are some notable mentions of the people who have been in her life and may or may not have made an impact on her and also learned a few things along her life journey.

[Kingpin]

Maya has known Wilson Fisk since her father, Willie, started to work with him. After her father was murdered, Wilson took care of her after he made a promise to Maya's father. She used to respect Kingpin until he admitted what he had done to her father. Until today, only Maya knew if she ever forgive Wilson after all that happened.

[Matt Murdock aka Daredevil]

If it wasn't because Kingpin told her to kill Daredevil, Maya wouldn't know about him. A while after their first meeting, Maya and Matt started to fall in love with each other. But due to her being lost in her own world and wanting to find answers, she had to leave Matt to go far away from the city. They are still friends until today, but it wasn't sure if they still have special feelings towards each other. Who knows.

[Clint Barton aka Hawkeye]

Both of them met during the Skrull invasion when Maya was being rescued by the New Avengers, after she went to Japan [as Ronin] to infiltrate the suspicious activity that was happening underground. By the time Maya felt isolated than the rest of the team members, Clint tried to talk to her about his own experience as what she felt that time. Feeling slightly satisfied with his words, she was thankful for him. They had a fling but that just one time and that's it. After that, they are just friends.

[Dr Strange]

Ever since she was rescued by the New Avengers that includes Dr Strange, she has been there for most times to help him. Maybe this is just her way to thank him for aiding her from The Hand's ritual, or maybe as an apology for stabbing him(?) Who knows. But so far, their relationship seems to be just allies.

[Marc Spector aka Moon Knight]

When Maya went undercover to investigate some crime activity that was related to the kingpin of the area. As she thought that everything was going fine, Moon Knight appeared and got himself in trouble; making her blow up her cover just to save him. Marc tried to convince her to join forces with him, but she was hesitant at first. Later on, Maya accepted the offer to take down the kingpin of the west coast. At this point, I assumed that Marc fell in love with her, but seems like she didn't feel the same way. But who knows. Maybe she was.

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Maya is a very confident and strong woman who doesn't rely too much on others to help her. She doesn't use her disability as an excuse when she fails on something. She always felt like she was detached from others. It took her a while to realize that she is not alone and someone out there actually cares for her. She is skillful enough to even take down a few robots just like in the comic "Captain Marvel (2019)".

she literally slamdunk'd it lol

She isn't scared very easily. Though, in the New Avengers comic run, she somehow seemed too scared about this "blue demon". But keep in mind that this happened after The Hand resurrected her and attempted to brainwash her. It was like her hallucination.

Although she barely appears in many comics, she can be the most reliable hero from time to time. Even she worked alongside Captain America at some point. Just like what Dr Strange had mention something about her:

"Sometimes our...inadequacies...our infirmities...well, they turn out to be the very reason we despair is the reason to rejoice. Well done, my dear." - Dr Strange

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