| “ | The truth is you never really know what's going on in someone's mind, even someone you love. | ” |
Tina Minoru is a main character on Runaways. She is the wife of Robert Minoru and the mother of Amy and Nico Minoru. Tina is also the CEO of Wizard, a technology and computer-based corporation, and a member of PRIDE, a charity organization with sinister exploits behind closed doors.
Character Description[]
A perfectionist "tiger mom." In her professional life, she is a brilliant innovator and ruthless CEO. Emotionally, she is less confident, often shying away from difficult conversations with her daughter Nico and careful to avoid explicit displays of her feelings.[1]
Backstory[]
Not much is known about Tina's past prior to meeting Robert Minoru. However, by Tina's own admission, her life growing up with her mother was strained. She claimed that her mother never gave her anything.[2] Eventually she became an innovator and the CEO of Wizard.
In 1999, approximately eighteen years ago, Tina and Robert had their first child, Amy. Two years later, they would have their second child, Nico. During this time, she and Robert were approached by Jonah and agreed to join PRIDE.
In 2003, she and Robert, joined along side of Geoffrey and Catherine Wilder, Dale and Stacey Yorkes, Gene and Alice Hernandez, Victor and Janet Stein and Leslie Dean, conduct their first PRIDE ceremony in the basement of the Wilder Residence. Leslie brought forth Brookes Watten, a Gibborum church member and, unknown to the majority of them, initially, perform their first sacrifice. Shocked with what they had agreed to do, Tina reveals that she secretly video taped them so that they could not go to the police. She believed that if Jonah was willing to sacrifice a "random kid", then he'd do the same to them, or worse, to their children. They ultimately made a deal with a devil and the devil will claim his due.[3] Four years later, in 2007 their fellow members, Gene and Alice Hernandez were killed in an accident at Goodman University, with Molly miraculously surviving a explosion; the Minorus accompany the other families to the Hernandezes funeral.[4][5]
Eight years following the Hernandez's deaths, in 2015 Amy, hacks Wizard and trips their alarms alerting Tina. Afterwards, Amy, seemingly, commits suicide, devastating Tina and the family.[3][6] Nico finds her the following morning to her horror; Tina has Wizey seal the house and, using the Staff of One, she knocks Nico out to prevent her from calling 911. Tina calls detective Flores and he quietly handles Amy's death.[7] Amy's death greatly effected Tina and changed their family dynamic for the worse.
Throughout Runaways[]
 In Reunion and Rewind, Tina starts off the day, pouring herself a cup of hot tea. As she takes the first sip, Wizey, the Minoru's artificial intelligence system chimes and indicates that the door to Amy's room as been opened. Tina checks the security camera and sees that Nico has entered her sister's rooms. Tina sets her tea on the counter and exits the kitchen. As she's making her way to Amy's room, her husband, Robert, attempts to intervene, asking her what's going on, but she ignores him and continues past him. In Amy's room, she confronts Nico, wondering what she was doing. Nico replies that she's only borrowing tights and that she's leaving. Tina stands her ground, telling her that she knew the rules; no one was supposed to be in Amy's room. Nico attempts to reason with her mother, that Amy, if she were here, would let her but before she's able to continue, Tina reminds her that Amy is not here. Nico concludes, then, that it doesn't really matter whether she took her tights. She pushes past her mother, though in her attempt to leave, she knocks over one of Amy's tennis trophies, breaking it. Tina freezes, the trophy lying broken on the floor. Nico pleads with her mother as she bends down to pick up the broken trophy, telling her that it was just as accident. She shuts Nico down, telling her to "just go!" Robert looks on, leaving Tina distraught on the floor.  With Nico off to Atlas Academy, Robert tells Tina that she needs to "fix this", though she misunderstands him, believing it's about the trophy. Robert reminds her that today is the second anniversary of Amy's death. Sitting the trophy back on the dresser, Tina leaves and heads for her office. She takes a moment and gathers herself before deciding to take the Staff of One out of the locked display case. She presses her thumb to the ornate handle, pricking her thumb enough to draw blood. As she holds it, the ring atop the staff begins to glow. As she returns to Amy's room, Robert is attempting to glue the trophy's figurine back to the base. Tina tells him the she needs him out of the room, immediately. Robert ignores her demands and continues to hold the figurine atop the base, passively asking "why?" Tina reiterates that she made it clear that no one is to come into Amy's room, himself included. She believes that the verbal contract between herself and Nico is no longer enough and is determined to seal off the room. Robert berates her, as sealing off the room is not rational. Tina tells him again to leave the room but he presses her again, that her way is not the way to deal with the situation. The Staff lights up once again as Tina wields the staff to create an impenetrable wall with a diamond shaped pattern. Once the door way is completely sealed, the Staff's glow dissipates. Robert stands and confronts Tina, tapping on the crystalline-like barrier, "real mature" he tells her. Tina offers that she did warn him. Robert attempts to quell Tina's anger. He knows she misses Amy, that he does too, though everyday Nico pulls further way and things have to change, otherwise they will lose her too. Robert continues to stare down his wife through the glossy seal and Tina relents. She supposes they can start with a padlock and commands the staff to remove the seal. Tina returns to the office, leaving Robert alone in Amy's room.  That night at PRIDE's annual charity meeting at the Wilder Residence, Tina and Robert meet with the other parents; Geoffrey and Catherine Wilder, Dale and Stacey Yorkes, Victor and Janet Stein, and Leslie Dean. While they mingle, Tina, is disgusted and berates the Yorkes' homemade brie. Robert deflects the conflict, telling her that he likes it. Stacey comes over wondering if she can take a look at her WizPhone, since it's not downloading her email. Tina immediately shuts her down, telling her that it's below her paygrade, that she's the CEO of Wizard and not "tech support". Robert interjects, telling her that they had fixed the glitch in the latest update. He takes the phone and beings the download. As the continue to mingle, Alex Wilder barges in. Unable to sway the other kids to join him, he retires to his room, alone. Tina remarks that since Amy's death, Nico hasn't been the same either. Leslie attempts to console Tina, considering the day, but Tina rejects her. Leslie continues with PRIDE's true purpose; she passes around a folder with information on a young women, Destiny Gonzalez. Geoffrey looks disheartened with yet another "runaway" and Victor asks if he's getting cold feet. He reasons the less he knows, the better off he'll be, considering that she's only seventeen. Tina rebuts that they all are the same age but Geoffrey's a bit more concerned now that they are the same ages as their own children. With the prospect of the last meeting they have to attend, Tina demands that that they get on with the ceremony. Geoffrey opens up a secret passage way that leads deep below the Wilder home; downstairs they undress and change into red robes into the underground basement.   As they gather around a mysterious box, Tina holds up the Staff producing a sound proof barrier. Leslie ushers in Destiny and they begin the Ceremony. Dale and Stacey mixes a sedative in a drink and Leslie forces the drink down her throat. Victor sets up and opens the Dematerialization Box and Geoffrey places her into the box; Destiny's engulfed in a bright white light and attempts to plead with the other parents. Geoffrey tells her that he's sorry as Tina looks away. The box closes and the ceremony is finished. However, a flash of light radiates from the above balcony, gaining everyone's attention. Catherine concerned about Alex, leaves with Geoffrey accompanying her. Tina suggests that it could have been a reflection from the staff's sound barrier. She holds it up and the barrier ripples with a flash.   Not long later, the power goes out and Geoffrey confirms that the breakers were all flipped and they assume that Victor's box caused a power surge. With no other explanation, Tina muses that the box put on quite a show, though Robert doesn't understand how it could have surged, considering it's not "plugged in" or anything. Geoffrey dismisses their children were at fault to which Leslie admits that this meeting was a difficult one. Tina is the first to leave, citing that if everyone else was "good", she had to be in the office early in the morning. Dressing, she and Robert return upstairs and wait for Nico to return from the bathroom. The other parents mingle as they gather their things and their children as they begin to leave. Back at home Tina returns the staff to its display case. Nico stirs around the corner as she attempts to peak in on her mother. Tina calls out to her but hears no response.   In Destiny, Tina and Robert surprise Dale and Stacey Yorkes at Synnergy Bioengineering. They congratulate the Yorkes for their accomplishment with the Synnergy Serum which made it on the American Journal of Experimental Medicine. As investors, they were interested in the future profits; Tina remarks to let the pharmaceutical companies start their bidding. Stacey, snidely comments that they expect a big return but Dale's sure of their serum, which will make everybody rich or in the Minoru's case, richer.   With the celebration over, Robert and Tina leave and discuss the kind gesture, of which Tina claims it was Robert's. Tina reminisces the time when they would go to the terrible 24-hour sushi bar near Synnery and they'd drink Ramunes whenever they had a deadline to meet. Robert fondly remembers that Tina's hands would shake from all the sugar. However, now, they have "other people" to meet those deadlines. Tina makes a suggestion, "what if we go out tonight", she asks him, for real sushi on a date. Robert deflects Tina's proposal, mentioning that they'll spend time together when they pack up Amy's room. Tina, however, tells him that it isn't about Amy, it's about their relationship and while they can't get back what they lost, they can try. Robert continues to deflect Tina's offer, proposing that they invite Nico for diner, as she needs them too. She follows Robert into their car.   Back at home, Tina's changed into her cocktail attire. Nico comes home and she's confesses that she's confused about where they are going. Tina offers there's still time before their reservation if she'd like to come with them. Nico declines and makes it a point that they need a date night; Tina agrees. She and Robert leave for the sushi restaurant. At the restaurant, Tina orders the shiro maguro while Robert has the halibut. Tina's enjoying herself and feeds Robert a piece of her sushi; Tina admits that she misses their time together. Robert sits in silence. Tina finishes off her wine and slips off her underwear, palming it into Robert's hand. Tina reveals that she booked them a room a mere five minutes away. Robert, shocked, looks around in surprise but doesn't immediately respond; Tina reassures him that it had worked for Dakota Johnson. Robert seems appalled; "we're not characters in some trashy movie" he tells her. It's real life and they are in a real marriage. Tina's taken aback but remains silent. Robert wonders if what they do for PRIDE takes anything out of her. Tina admits that it does, but she's trying to have fun. As the waitress comes by, Tina's embarrassed by her exposed underwear, grabs them and looks away. Fed up, Robert stands to leave. He tells Tina to stay and have the green tea mochi. He admits that he's just too confused because for the last two years, since Amy's death, she's shut him out only to go a hundred miles in an hour. He apologizes and leaves Tina sitting in the restaurant, alone. Tina makes it back home, taking her heels off at the front door; Wizey announces her presences. She calls out to Nico and heads for her room. As she enters, she fins Nico on top of Alex with her shirt off. Tina's angry with Nico's actions, believing that she was thinking of her and her father, when seemingly she wanted them out of the house. Tina tells Alex it's time to leave and he does what he's told. Nico makes her way past Tina after him.   Later that night, Tina calls Leslie wanting her to watch the local news. Leslie retorts that she's not near a TV but Tina can wait, what's on is too important. Watching the news, the reporter is discussing the death of Destiny Gonzalez. Shocked to find out that the sacrifice didn't work out as planned, Tina confirms to Leslie that neither Victor nor Janet or Robert are picking up their phones. This explains why the mysterious man Leslie is caring for isn't getting better. Tina rightfully concludes, and Leslie confirms, that they will need another sacrifice.   In Fifteen, PRIDE calls an emergency meeting, following the failed sacrifice from the previous night. Victor takes responsibility for the failure as a reaction to malaria medication from his South Africa trip. Geoffrey announces that he has his people covering Destiny's body and Leslie relays more depressing news; he's not getting any better and they need another sacrifice, now. He suggests another member from the church, but that would be two suspicious, two missing members in the same week. Leslie agrees with Victor and suggest they find a homeless man or a prostitute, otherwise "someone who doesn't count". Tina volunteers Robert to assist Victor. Leslie also notes that Dale and Stacey did not show up to the meeting and advises that they all reflect on their promises that they all made all those years ago. Tina reassures her that she's make sure the Yorkes do as well.   Later in the day, Tina meets with one of her security associates, Kincaid, though it wasn't "official business". He's returned and met her at her home office to give her the information she requested. Kincaid was expecting something more amoral, such as economic espionage, trade secret theft, but what he had dug up was not what he had expected. Annoyed with Kincaid's pushing, she thanks him for his service and pays him. As he leaves, he mentions that they didn't seem like bad people; Tina comments that they never do.   With the new information in hand, Tina pays the Yorkes a visit. It was unusual for them to miss a PRIDE meeting. They apologize and inform her that they had been mushroom hunting in a cave with no cell reception; they even off her some as a way to make up for missing the meeting. Tina stares them down and offers that she's glad that they are okay. She was worried about them, that something might've happened or that they had left. Shaken, Dale attempts to divert suspicion, rhetorically asking where they would have went. "The Hernandez's ranch in the Yucatan", Tina blatantly states. Stacey maintains her smile and Tina continues to elaborate. She continues to reveal that such a property is completely off the grid and that she found it held in a private trust, hidden behind a wall of LLCs and DBAs. She backs this up with that it seemed that Gene and Alice left it to them in their will so they'd have some place to run to. They attempt to deflect Tina, offering that its "just a shack in the jungle", but she cuts them off. Tina explains that she knows they've been transferring large amounts of money. Before she bids them farewell, she hopes that they can focus on their job, PRIDE, that they are all almost finished.   In Kingdom, Tina receives word that PRIDE has another sacrifice, an young man name Andre who was shot in the chest. With little time to prepare, Tina meets Robert and the other members at Leslie's private office at the Church of Gibborim. Robert, concerned, asked Tina where the staff was, but she confessed that there was no time. She reassures him, that they will be fine. Leslie attempts to find out more information about Andre was Catherine, but doesn't get far. Catherine tells her to be glad that he was able to find another sacrifice given the limited time that remained to perform the last sacrifice. Stacey attempts to close the wound to keep him from bleeding out and dying before the sacrifice happens and Dale hands him the drink to paralyze him. Geoffrey lays Andre into the dematerialization box and Victor initiates the matter transfer. Tina and the other PRIDE members look on, horrified, as the boxes begin to glow; Andre is successfully sacrificed. With the final meeting concluded, Leslie tells them all to leave.   Back at the house, Tina confronts Nico in her office; Nico still holding on to the Staff of One. Nico attempts to provide an answer, but Tina cuts her off, telling her it's okay. She explains that she was bound to discover what it was and what it could do, sooner or later. Tina moves over to the case where Nico attempt to return the staff and closes the glass door. Nico, caught in an awkward situation, tells her that she just thought it was some old antique, passed down from her grandmother. However, Tina confesses that her mother never her anything and that she doesn't want that between them. Tina closes the distance between them and continues to explain. She indicates that, other than herself, Nico is the only other person in the world that the staff will work for. Nico attempts to give her the staff back. Tina, however, takes her hand and pushes it back towards her daughter, asking her to keep it for the night. She goes on to say that she trusts Nico, entirely, and that in time, she hopes that Nico will come to trust her again as well. Nico gives her mother a short nod and Tina turns to leave the office. As she's walking down the hallway, she stops and turns back to her daughter. She gives her a brief smile and continues on her way, leaving Nico, still holding on to the staff in her office.     In Metamorphosis, Tina approaches Nico in her bedroom, startling her in the process. Confused, she inquires why she's in her room. Tina, smiley, tells her that her "training" beings now. Excited, Nico rushes to retrieve the Staff of One from underneath her pillow; "Let's do it!", she tells her mother. Tina takes Nico into her office, Nico standing ready with the Staff already glowing. Tina asks if she's ready and Nico nods. Tina goes on to explain how the staff works, she tells her to picture what she'd like to have happen, for whatever comes to mind first. The Staff lights up in response to Nico and Tina advances forward, attempting to speak, though her words become inaudible. Nico gets the staff to work, telling her mother that she cannot hear her. Tina, seemingly frustrated, beings to mouth off a rant and Nico reminds her that she did say the first thing that came to mind. Nico silently commands the staff to make her mother audible again and it works. Tina is smiles and gives a brief laugh at Nico's success, telling her that she'd try not to be offended. With the lesson lesson complete, Tina explains what exactly happened to produce the effect, that an electrical current traveled from Nico's neural pathways into the staff which made that happen. Nico, however, claims to already know what happened, that it took her blood and the staff read her mind; it's just like Wicca. Tina abruptly corrects her, that it's science. Not budging on her belief she concludes that if by "science" she means "high-tech magic" then sure, they are the same thing. Having previous believed it was a family heirloom from her grandmother, Nico asks Tina where it came from. Tina replies that it was developed in the Wizard labs with some very special and unparalleled technology. Nico pricks her finger with the staff and it goes dormant once again. Tina continues to explain that it was designed to respond specifically to her and her DNA alone, however, with this realization, she and Nico are more alike. With the lesson complete, Nico thanks her mother for letting her "take if for a spin". Attempting to rebuild some broken bridges, Tina confesses that if she wanted to know how it worked, she could have simply asked, just like with seeing Amy's diary. Still, Nico wonders if she had a theory as to why Amy committed suicide. Tina confesses that while she and Amy did fight a lot and they had their issues, she never once thought that Amy would ever be capable of killing herself. Tina pauses, collecting herself and reigning in her emotions. Tina herself was just as lost and confused with Amy's death as Nico was; she told her that in truth, you never really know what's going on in someone else's mind, even that of someone you love. Nico nods and leaves her mother's office. Tina, again, compels herself to control her emotions, tears swelling in her eyes.   Later that day, Tina approaches Nico in her bedroom. She wonders where she's going, given her outfit of choice. Nico reveals that she's leaving for Karolina's where there they will get ready for the fundraiser together. Tina confessed she thought she had changed her mind, that she wasn't going, but this news causes a smile to escape Tina's face. Innocently, she asks if Nico will be meeting up with Alex, her smile much more prominent now. This smile does not go unnoticed from Nico, causing her to ask, "was a smile?" Nico also wonders if her mother had changed her mind about him. Tina expresses that she might have overreacted when she first found them together. Nico bids her farewell, the same to Robert as he enters the room. Tina, facing the mirror, smelling a dried herb, turns towards Robert. He jokingly asks if she plans to do some "spells" while Nico is out. Tina replies that she hopes that this darkness over their family is in the past and they can move forward; she places a gentle kiss on his lips; she wants the gala to be a new start for their family.   At the gala, Tina in a red dress and Robert in a black suite, stand along side of the other parents, assembled together for photo ops with their charity's sizable donation. Geoffrey stands in the middle, next to his wife, holding a giant check from PRIDE for the initiation of the new South Los Angeles Community School for five million dollar. Tina takes the moment, looking at Robert and smiling with joy, as she ignores the flashes of the cameras.   Later in the night, Tina, and the other parents, take the stage and commences with a speech. She and Robert are both honored to share their success and the stage among the other PRIDE members. The gala serves as the opening celebration for breaking ground on the new state-of-the-art community school, a place where they will one day train the next generation of Wizard executives. Consumed with overwhelming joy, Tina takes the moment to specifically thank her husband, Robert, for his commitment to PRIDE, to Wizard Computers, and, most importantly, to their family. Victor scoffs at this notation. This prompts Tina to suggest that he might want to say something. As she introduces him, as "one of the world's most brilliant mind,s founder of Nemo, a true visionary...", but he cuts her off, claiming that everyone already knows he's a genius. With Victor now at the mic, he reveals that Janet, his wife, is sleeping with another man. He goes on to elaborate, rhetorically asking the crowd how easily it is to hack a cell phone. Additionally, however, the states that "the man she's banging would", after all he helped to create the phone. He turns to Robert and so does Tina, a look of betrayal along her face. Disgusted with this revelation Tina walks off stage, leaving Robert, and a recently collapsed Victor. She makes her way through the crowd, towards her employee elevator.   She gives a stern look towards, Kincaid, Earl, and Gert. As she board the elevator, Gert comments how she hopes to be as lucky in love as she is with Robert, since they were admiring and playing the retro arcade game that he gave to Tina. Tina doesn't flinch as the doors close. Heading towards her office, she inputs her password and enters. She walks over to the window and her emotions consume her, tears streaming down her face as she cries, unaware that Alex and Nico are hiding under her desk. After some time, she composes herself, fixes her makeup and heads back down to the gala. In Refraction, Tina attends Atlas Academy's open house alongside Nico. Robert comes later, gaining both of their attentions. Nico waves but Tina tells her to not even think about going to stand next to him. Nico, reluctantly, turns back around, telling her that she won't. She asks her mother not to make awkward, but she replies that it's in fact Robert who's making it awkward. She continues to ignore Robert and turns her attention back to Ms. Tezuka, who releases them to head toward their first classrooms. While parents mingle, Leslie approaches Tina, asking if she was okay. Tina scoffs at the thought, as Leslie tells her it would be okay, if she weren't. She continues, telling Tina that she's always been her right hand in PRIDE. Tina held the same sentiment, that she was her right hand. She smiles and Leslie returns the gesture, telling her that things always ran flawlessly because they ran them, that they both could focus on the bigger picture. She reminds Tina that when she had to make the decision about Frank, the others questioned her motives, but not her. Leslie was there, now, to stand beside her, that it was time to double down. Tina takes a moment and confides in Leslie that she doesn't know if she can, that she's just so angry. Leslie ask her if she'd take him back if she knew that Robert and Janet were ending their affair. She places a hand on her shoulder, telling her that it'd mean so much to Jonah. Tina collects herself; "family is everything", she tells her. Later into the evening Tina approaches Robert after his and Janet's talk. Janet having effectively ended their affair, he wipes tears away from his eyes and finally notices Tina. They stand there, watching each other in silence.   In Tsunami, Tina and Robert are the first to arrive to the Stein Residence after Atlas' open house; Janet is crouched over Victor's body with a bullet wound in his chest. Chase confronts Robert but Tina steps in, telling Chase that his family has been through enough. She goes over and picks up the gun that Robert gave to Janet. She tells Chase that all that matters now is his father, who's lying lifelessly on the floor.   Geoffrey and Catherine arrive soon after. Chase is confused as to why they were called. Tina tells him that they can't exactly call the police or paramedics; if they did, Janet would be taken away in handcuffs. Chase interjects that she saved him. Despite this, Tina continues, saying that she was also having an affair and shot her husband using the gun registered to her lover. Janet takes Chase upstairs, leaving Victor to be watched after the Minorus and Wilders.   Stacey and Dale arrive shortly thereafter, the only PRIDE members that were likely capable of saving Victor. Dale reminds them all that they aren't 'Doctors'; Stacey corrects him, they aren't surgeons, even though they went to medical school in the '90s. Tina urges them that they need to do something. Dale and Stacey get to work as the other parents stand back. Stacey questions where was Leslie. Tina tells her that she wasn't invited, that she's too close to Jonah and he already think they are screw-ups.   Leslie eventually learns from Karolina that something has happened to Victor and arrives at the scene; Victor is now in a coma. Geoffrey questions her next move, if she was going to call Jonah. She decides against it; instead she's going to call Frank. Frank arrives and attempts to use the healing gloves, that Jonah gave him, to revive Victor. The gloves don't work and his heart stops. As they attempt to move Victor's body, Jonah arrives and thanks Tina for contacting him, that she always does the right thing. Tina believed that they didn't have another choice after Frank killed Victor. Jonah intended to revive Victor using the Dematerialization Box, using Janet as the sacrifice.     Janet refuses and attempts to sway the others. Tina states that Janet's never really contributed to PRIDE and they continue to argue among themselves until Jonah gives them all an ultimatum. Victor must be revived and if he's not, then they all die, along with their children. Tensions run higher and Jonah amends his ultimatum with time running out. It was a family problem so the sacrifice would either be Janet or Chase. Janet accepts to be the sacrifice, but Robert interjects, much to Tina's displeasure. Robert accepts to be the sacrifice. Despite what Robert's done, she still cares deeply for him; she tells him that he's being irrational. Robert questions why she cares so much, that he's humiliated and betrayed her. He believed that he failed to protect Amy and Janet shouldn't have to die because she was protecting her son; his sacrifice would be honorable. Jonah accept the sacrifice saying that he's expendable. Tina, overcome with her emotions, refuses to let Robert become the sacrifice, that he's still her husband. She reaches into her purse and takes out the Staff of One and obliterates the Dematerialization Box. Leslie confronts Tina, having destroyed the Box that revives Jonah. Jonah breaks up the near-fight and tells her that he's fine; it's the last sacrifice. Leslie apologizes and Tina accepts it. Robert returns by Tina's side, speaking to her in their native tongue. He takes her by her hand and she gives him a subtle nod as a tear streams down her cheek. Unable to revive Victor, Jonah keeps him in the last Dematerialization Box, that a joint for the inner coil should keep his mitochondria nourished. Jonah hopes that he'll be okay. In Doomsday, Tina and Robert head towards the construction site for the South Los Angeles Community School. In the car, Tina notices that Robert is smiling and asks why. He tells her that it's finally over, their duties to PRIDE and the grip and it's had over their family for 15 long years. Tina returns his smile, hoping that he's right. Robert continues, that once the drill starts up, they will be able to get back to their lives, to their family and marriage. As much as Robert would like to believe this sentiment, Tina tells him that what they've lost, they will never get back. The remaining of the car ride is left in silence. Once they arrive at the dig site, they are joined with the other members of PRIDE. Workers from both Geoffrey Wilder Construction, Inc. and Nemo are busy running equipment and other tasks. Geoffrey notices his security is no longer present; Jonah has dismissed them, that Leslie's Church can provide a higher level of security. Dale questions Jonah that it's time for "more specifics" on this renewable resource that Jonah keeps speaking of. Tina agrees, that they've sacrificed far too much to get where they are today and details would be nice. Jonah doesn't give them any details but proceeds to initiate the large Nemo drill. Later in the night, Robert and Tina see Nico and Alex off to the non-holiday-specific seasonal dance. Jonah, however, calls them and the other members of PRIDE demanding a group meeting at his place. Jonah bluntly asks them where their children were. Robert believed this to be another threat, but Jonah assured them that it was a legitimate question. Dale tells him that they are at a school dance. Jonah tells them that their children are liars, and that they've been lying to them for weeks. Jonah continues to elaborate that on the night of the failed sacrificed, their children witnessed everything. Not only this, but they attempted to go to the police and discovered Detective Flores' involvement and hacked Wizard's servers during the night of the gala. Additionally, both the Yorkes and Wilders attempted to protect Molly by sending her away versus coming to him. Leslie questions how he knows all of this and they look to Tina, having contacted him on other occasions. Tina truthfully admits that it wasn't her, that she didn't know; Jonah reveals that it was Frank who came to him. With all the details laid bare, Jonah tells them all that there are many difficult decision ahead of them and that if any of them question his leadership, in any way, there will be severe consequences. Before he dismisses them, he asks them again, where were their children? Along with the other parents, Tina and Robert rush off back to their home. They head to Tina's home-office and discover that the Staff of One has been taken. The parents reconvene at the PRIDE construction site and confront their children. Nico's attempting to fill the hole where the digging is occurring but Tina takes back command of the Staff. She tells Nico that she too would have learned how to do that if she had stuck around for more lessons. Each of the families attempt to sway their children to come home, but the children stand together, against them.     In Hostile, Tina stands firm in confronting their children. Old Lace comes charging into the construction site; Tina comments that it could have only come from one place. Dale sedates the dinosaur and Chase follows suit with an attack from his Fistigons. Tina raises the Staff of One and produces a barrier, easily stopping Chase's attack. Undeterred, Chase attempts a second attack, though Tina stops it again. Karolina takes Chase's place and sends a blast of light at Tina and the others. She produces another shield though some of Karolina's light passes through, though they are relatively unaffected. Molly takes her cue to help, though Jonah arrives, with Frank, and blasts her with her own light, knocking her to the ground. With Jonah's arrival, Janet screams out for Chase to run. Tina, fearful for her daughter commands him to stop, to reason with their children. She raises the Staff against him, ready to attack, but Jonah is quicker and blasts the Staff from her hands, leaving her defenseless. Tina stands helpless along side the rest of PRIDE as Jonah attacks their children. They stand and Karolina confronts Jonah, one-on-one. Tina urges Nico to leave; reluctantly, she does so. With Karolina temporarily taken out, Tina and the other parents go in search of their children.   The following day, unable to find Nico nor the other children, what's left of PRIDE convene in Tina's home office. She admits that they've been played. They come to the conclusion that within PRIDE, there was an inner circle of Jonah, Leslie, and now Karolina. Janet questions Molly's parentage, given Karolina displayed the same abilities as Jonah. Stacey concludes that she's either always had them or something happened the night of the explosion. Geoffrey questions Tina. She tells them, again, that she wasn't there the night of the explosion, but Leslie was. She didn't know what she was going to do, just that Leslie was "handling it"; she apologies. Stacey condemns her, telling her that Molly could have died, too. She admits that Leslie did not know that she was going to be there, she was supposed to be sleeping at home. They at least know that their children have pieced some of this information together and that was the reason why they were at the dig site. Geoffrey and Catherine decide to confront Karolina, that she will at least be able to tell them what their children know. Dale and Stacey plan to go back to the dig site, to get answers of their own.   Later in the day, Tina and Robert, along with Janet meet at the Yorkes residence at Leslie's request. They are willing to put aside their suspicions for the sake of their kids. Leslie tells them all that they have a common enemy, Jonah. Tina agrees, Jonah as been controlling all their lives since before their children were born. Before moving forward, Leslie reveals that she's made some horrible mistakes. Stacey mentions Gene and Alice. Leslie agrees, "and worse"; she slowing looks at Tina. Tina's shocked and goes silent. "How could you?", she asks. Leslie tells her that when Amy hacked Wizard, the alarm she set off alerted Tina, as well as Jonah. Robert questions if Amy saw the sacrifice tapes, but Leslie does not believe she did, but Jonah want to be sure. She tells Tina that she attempted to warn Amy but she didn't know what really happened. Robert knows, he murdered Amy. Tina is heartbroken and angry; Amy was looking for her secrets, Wizard's secrets, not PRIDE's and that she died for nothing. Tina's voice cracks, that Leslie knew for all this time. Leslie attempts to reconcile her actions, that she loved Jonah and they were working to creating something bigger. She approaches Leslie, "If we killed you tonight in this basement no one would ever know", she coldly states. Leslie responds, telling her that if she were to die, then they wouldn't be able to get close enough to kill Jonah, and that is the true purpose as to why they are all there. Tina, resigns herself to the cold truth in Leslie's statement; they need her, they all do. |
In Gimmie Shelter,
In Radio On,
In Old School,
In Rock Bottom,
In Bury Another,
In Last Rites,
In Past Life,
In Big Shot,
In Hostile Takeover,
In Last Waltz,
In Earth Angel,
In Split Up,
- Main article: The Magistrate's Daughter
Tina was the Magistrate's Daughter's host body from Smoke and Mirrors to Rite of Thunder when she was expelled from Tina's body by Nico Minoru after she transported them into the Dark Dimension.
In Merry Meet Again,
In Left-Hand Path,
In Cheat The Gallows,Personality[]
Much of Tina's personality, prior to losing her eldest daughter, Amy, remains unknown. However, afterwards, she displayed a cold, yet calculating and ruthless demeanor to hide her grief and sadness. Her disposition over Robert became much more dominate and controlling as she pushed him away emotionally and became colder towards Nico specifically avoiding displays of emotion.
Despite her broken relationship with Nico and Robert, Tina has expressed to rebuild their bonds, specifically teaching Nico how to use the Staff of One and opening up emotionally with Robert. Despite Robert's affair and, perhaps, Janet's rejection to continue the affair, Tina still loves him and expressed her feeling her him when she saved him from sacrificing himself.
While Tina seems like the actions of PRIDE do not affect her, she's ultimately performing these sacrifices to protect her children. This is made clear during their first annual meeting when she feared what Jonah would do to them or to their kids should they falter on their deal.[3] Ultimately she was unable to save Amy, though she's reserved herself on setting aside her anger of Leslie in order to kill Jonah.[6]
Physical Appearance[]
Tina is an attractive woman of Asian descent with long black hair that she either wears down or within buns. She typically wears expensive looking dresses, earrings, and necklaces and little makeup.
Skills and Abilities[]
Unlike some of the other members of PRIDE, Tina wields the Staff of One; a staff developed within her own company's research and development labs with an unnamed, yet special and unparalleled technology. This staff was specifically designed to be capable of doing and responding to the whims of Tina Minoru. However, Nico is the only other person in the world that the staff will work for, as they are more alike genetically.
Tina has wielded the Staff for approximately fifteen years, having used it during PRIDE first annual meeting. She can control the staff via electrical currents that travel from her neural pathways into the staff and can make it respond to her thoughts. Additionally, she can override the thoughts of her daughter, Nico, when she took back command of the Staff at the dig site, telling her that Nico would have learned how to do that, as well, if she would have stuck around for more lessons.
Tina is quite proficient with the Staff. She has produced a variety of barriers whether for soundproofing or physical protection. However, to date, her most direct use of destruction with the staff was when she completely obliterated one of Victor Stein's De-materialization Boxes, rendering it into a pile of ashes. Despite this display of power, the full scope of it's capabilities remains relatively unexplored as though her barriers could protect PRIDE from concentrated energy blasts of electricity from Chase's Fistigons, but the light energy of Karolina's blasts passed through to some extent of the barrier.
Relationships[]
Robert Minoru[]
Robert and Tina's relationship is a complex relationship that changed and suffered drastically with PRIDE, and specifically Jonah, Amy's death, and infidelity. Seemingly Robert and Tina were a happy couple, raising a family together, until tragedy struck and Amy died. Afterward, Tina grew cold and distant towards Robert, leading him to cheat on Tina with Janet Stein. Despite this, when Robert offered to sacrifice himself, Tina saved him by destroying Victor Stein's dematerialization box with the Staff of One.[3]
Amy Minoru[]
- "The truth is you never really know what's going on in someone's mind, even someone you love."
- — Tina to Nico about Amy's death in Metamorphosis
The relationship between Tina and her eldest daughter, Amy, was complicated and strained. By Tina's own admission, they had their issues and they fought a lot. Tina attributed it to mainly being that Amy was sixteen years old and she was her mother, a, seemingly, typical mother-daughter relationship.[3] Stemming from these unstated issues, this prompted Tina to hack and keylog Amy's computer activities, either before or after her password was hacked. Eventually, however, Tina learned that Amy attempted to breach Wizard, setting off alarms in the process.[8] Unknown to Tina, however, this caused Amy to run away in fear of what her mother was capable of, but before she could leave, she was murdered and her death was made to look like suicide.[6] Following her death, Tina grew cold and distant to the ones she loved and, subsequently, turned Amy's room into a personal shrine dedicated to her memory; no one was permitted to enter.[9]
Nico Minoru[]
- "Apparently, we are more alike than you'd care to admit."
- — Tina to Nico while training her with the Staff of One in Metamorphosis
The relationship between Tina and her youngest daughter, Nico, was seemingly a positive one prior to her sister's death. Afterwards, both processed Amy's death in vastly different ways; Tina grew cold and distant, unwilling to share her own emotions while Nico turned goth and conformed to the teachings of Wicca. Specifically on the anniversary of Amy's death, Nico accidentally broke one of Amy's tennis trophies, causing Tina to flip out on Nico.[9] Eventually, however, Nico stumbled across Tina's Staff of One, learning that she could operate it as if she was Tina. This seemed to bring the two back together as Tina was happily and eager to train Nico on how to use the Staff with Nico equally excited to learn.[3]
Appearances[]
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Trivia[]
Gallery[]
| Season One Promotional |
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| Reunion (1x01) |
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| Rewind (1x02) |
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| Destiny (1x03) |
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| Fifteen (1x04) |
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| Kingdom (1x05) |
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| Metamorphosis (1x06) |
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| Refraction (1x07) |
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| Tsunami (1x08) |
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| Doomsday (1x09) |
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| Hostile (1x10) |
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| Season Two Promotional |
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| Gimmie Shelter (2x01) |
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| Radio On (2x02) |
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| Old School (2x04) |
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| Rock Bottom (2x05) |
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| Bury Another (2x06) |
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| Last Rites (2x07) |
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| Past Life (2x08) |
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| Big Shot (2x09) |
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| Hostile Takeover (2x10) |
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| Last Waltz (2x11) |
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| Earth Angel (2x12) |
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| Split Up (2x13) |
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| Season Three Promotional |
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| Smoke and Mirrors (3x01) |
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| The Great Escape (3x02) |
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| Lord of Lies (3x03) |
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| Rite of Thunder (3x04) |
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| Enter the Dreamland (3x05) |
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| Merry Meet Again (3x06) |
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| Left-Hand Path (3x07) |
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| Devil's Torture Chamber (3x08) |
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| The Broken Circle (3x09) |
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| Cheat The Gallows (3x10) |
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References[]
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See also[]
| Runaways Characters | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runaways | |||||
|
Alex Wilder • Nico Minoru • Karolina Dean • Gert Yorkes • Chase Stein • Molly Hernandez • Old Lace | |||||
| PRIDE | |||||
|
Catherine Wilder • Geoffrey Wilder • Leslie Dean • Frank Dean • Janet Stein • Victor Stein • Stacey Yorkes • Dale Yorkes • Tina Minoru • Robert Minoru • Alice Hernandez • Gene Hernandez • Jonah/The Magistrate | |||||
| Recurring Characters | |||||
|
Graciela Aguirre • Aura • Brandon • Darius Davis • Eiffel • Frances • Destiny Gonzalez • Vaughn Kaye • Kincaid • Amy Minoru | |||||
| Minor Characters | |||||