Bishop (
Lucas Bishop) is a
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
superheroA superhero is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest"...
; a
fictionFiction is a branch of literature which deals, in part or in whole, with temporally contrafactual events...
al
characterA character is the representation of a person in a narrative or dramatic work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr through its Latin transcription character, the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its...
who is a member of the
X-MenX-Men is a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 . Under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier creates a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the...
. Created by
Whilce PortacioWilliam "Whilce" Portacio is a Filipino-American comic book artist. Noted for his work on such titles as The Punisher, X-Factor, and the Uncanny X-Men, Portacio was also one of the founders of Image Comics.-Biography:...
and
Jim LeeJim Lee is a Korean-American comic book artist, creator and publisher. Lee is currently one of the most successful artists in American comics...
, the character first appeared in
Uncanny X-MenUncanny X-Men, first published as simply The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. Being the official canon, it features the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes. While hugely successful now, it took a number of years since the X-Men's...
#282 (November 1991).
Bishop was a member of
Xavier's Security EnforcersXavier's Security Enforcers, or the XSE, are a Marvel Comics superhero team from the fictional 2070s, a time ruled by mutant hunting/killing robots called Sentinels, who at this point in time had run amok, essentially ruling Earth in order to carry out their objectives to protect humanity...
(initially called the Xavier School Enforcers), a
mutantA mutant is a type of fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Primarily featured in comics featuring the X-Men, a mutant is an individual who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows them to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
policeA police service is a public force empowered to enforce the law and provide security through the legitimized use of force.The term is most commonly associated with police services of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of...
force from a
dystopiaA dystopia is the vision of a society in which conditions of life are miserable and characterized by poverty, oppression, war, violence, disease, pollution, nuclear fallout and/or the abridgement of human rights, resulting in widespread unhappiness, suffering, and...
n future of the
Marvel UniverseThe Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles published by Marvel Comics take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and Captain America....
. He traveled to the 20th century and joined the X-Men, a team he knew only as legends. A brash antihero, he had difficulty adjusting to the norms of the time period.
Bishop made frequent appearances in
the X-Men animated seriesX-Men, also known as X-Men: The Animated Series, is an American animated television series which debuted on October 31, 1992 in the United States on the Fox Network as part of its Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup ....
of the 1990s.
Publication history
Bishop had four limited series including the self-titled
Bishop series, where he tracked and fought
MountjoyMountjoy is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in Bishop: The Mountjoy Crisis #1.-Fictional character biography:...
,
XSE, which showcased his past (future), and its sequel -
Bishop: Xavier's Security Enforcers. He also teamed up with
GambitGambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
to oppose Stryfe in
Gambit and Bishop: Sons of the Atom. He also starred in the series
Bishop: The Last X-Man (1999-2001), in which he was trapped in another alternate timeline, and
District XMutant Town , as depicted in New X-Men #127.
Art by [[John Paul Leon]].|thumbDistrict X, also known as Mutant Town or the Middle East Side, is a fictional location in Marvel Comics. It is a neighborhood in New York City, first seen during Grant Morrison's run on the series New X-Men in New X-Men...
(2004-2005), which cast him as a police officer in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
’s "mutant town," as well as the House of M tie-in,
Mutopia.
Early life
Born about 80 years in the future of the Marvel Universe, Bishop was raised in the aftermath of the Summers Rebellion, an uprising in which mutants and humans joined forces to destroy the
SentinelsThe Sentinels are a fictional type of robot in the , most often appearing as enemies of the X-Men. They were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The X-Men #14 ....
. Bishop has a distinctive M
brandHuman branding is the process in which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, is burned into the skin of a living person, with the intention that the resulting scar makes it permanent. This is performed using a hot or very cold branding iron...
over his right eye, used to identify
mutantsA mutant is a type of fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Primarily featured in comics featuring the X-Men, a mutant is an individual who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows them to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
in his era. After his parents were killed, Bishop was taken in by a man named LeBeau, also called Witness, who was reportedly the last man to see the legendary
X-MenX-Men is a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 . Under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier creates a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the...
alive. According to LeBeau (in
XSEXavier's Security Enforcers, or the XSE, are a Marvel Comics superhero team from the fictional 2070s, a time ruled by mutant hunting/killing robots called Sentinels, who at this point in time had run amok, essentially ruling Earth in order to carry out their objectives to protect humanity...
#4), Bishop's grandmother (a woman probably named Aliyah) took Bishop away from him. Bishop and his younger sister,
ShardShard is a mutant character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Shard was a Lieutenant in Xavier's Security Enforcers, with her older brother Bishop in their native timeline in the 2080s. Shard was born in a mutant concentraton camp, in which mutants were branded over...
, were subsequently raised by his grandmother within a mutant
concentration campInternment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of ‘interning’; confinement within the limits of a country or place"...
in
NevadaNevada is a state located in the western region of the United States. The capital is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. The state's nickname is Silver State, due to the large number of silver deposits that were discovered and mined there...
or
BrooklynBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
(perhaps both).
Bishop's grandmother taught him many legends of the X-Men, who were old allies of hers. Depowered by unknown means, she had entered the camps in secret to raise her grandchildren. Upon her deathbed, she made Bishop swear to protect Shard. After the Rebellion, the mutants were "emancipated" and sent out of the camps to fend for themselves. Bishop and Shard, who were only children, were left alone. They lived on the streets, stealing in order to survive until coming under the care of a family friend, a war veteran named Hancock. Slightly blind, Hancock nevertheless took on the task of raising the two.
One day, Bishop encountered an anti-human group of mutants called the Exhumes, who took
ShardShard is a mutant character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Shard was a Lieutenant in Xavier's Security Enforcers, with her older brother Bishop in their native timeline in the 2080s. Shard was born in a mutant concentraton camp, in which mutants were branded over...
hostage just before the
XSEXavier's Security Enforcers, or the XSE, are a Marvel Comics superhero team from the fictional 2070s, a time ruled by mutant hunting/killing robots called Sentinels, who at this point in time had run amok, essentially ruling Earth in order to carry out their objectives to protect humanity...
arrived. Until that time Bishop had admired the Exhumes, attributing to them his proud, idealized notion of the legendary X-Men. It wasn't until the XSE defeated the Exhume and saved his sister, however, that Bishop knew he wanted to join the XSE, and when at the age of fifteen Hancock was murdered by criminals who were promptly arrested by the XSE he and Shard enlisted in their ranks. Shard soon surpassed Bishop to become the youngest XSE officer.
During a training class, Bishop's instructors and some of his fellow students were attacked and killed. Bishop rallied the survivors and led the struggle against the assailants until reinforcements arrived. Bishop gradually climbs the ranks of the XSE until finally becoming their commander.
While on a mission to wipe out a nest of
EmplateEmplate is a fictional character, a mutant supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Generation X #1, and was created by Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo. Emplate would serve as one of the major antagonists to the Generation X comic book series during its...
s, mutant
vampireVampires are legendary creatures said to subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, generally by drinking their blood. Although typically described as undead, some minor traditions believed in vampires that were living people....
s that feed on
bone marrowBone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the hollow interior of bones. In adults, marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. It constitutes 4% of total body weight, i.e...
, Shard was critically injured. Bishop went to Witness for help. Witness, then imprisoned at the New York Stark Fujikawa building, agreed to transfer Shard's essence into a holographic matrix if Bishop would work for him for one year. Bishop agreed, leaving the XSE for a time. The details of Bishop's work during this period are unknown; Bishop appears reticent on the subject, later refusing to tell Shard of his actions.
Immediately upon his re-installment as a commander in the XSE, Bishop and his XSE group the "Omega Squad" captured
Trevor FitzroyTrevor Fitzroy is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an enemy of the X-Men, in particular Bishop. Created by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #281 .Fitzroy hails from the same dystopian future as Bishop...
, a murderous ex-XSE trainee in the ruins of the
Xavier InstituteIn the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
War Room. While there, Bishop discovered a damaged recording of
Jean GreyJean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl and later, Phoenix and Dark Phoenix, and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with husband Cyclops,...
, in which she spoke of a traitor destroying the X-Men from inside. Haunted by his discovery, Bishop confronts Witness for details, but receives only a vague, ambiguous response, leaving Bishop to suspect his former master of being more than simply a witness to the downfall of the X-Men.
Joining the X-Men
Fitzroy escaped from prison and used a large amount of mutant life-force to open a time portal and break out 93 mutant criminal "Lifers" in the process. Bishop found himself in the past, in the time of his heroes, the X-Men. Bishop and the Omega Squad eventually "sanctioned" the Lifers, but did not get Fitzroy. Bishop encountered the X-Men for the first time, but did not believe that they were really the X-Men. He then battled them but later allied with the X-Men in trying to stop Fitzroy, and Malcolm and Randall, the two members of his Omega Squad, died in the process.
Professor Charles XavierProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
offered him a place in the X-Men, and he was placed under Storm's tutelage. He fought and defeated Styglut. When he met
GambitGambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
, Bishop recognized him as possibly a younger version of the Witness and fought him. Bishop also recognized
JubileeJubilation "Jubilee" Lee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri, she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #244...
as the 'last X-Man', but this has been proven false.
He soon met
MystiqueMystique is a fictional character associated with the Marvel Comics' franchise, X-Men. Originally created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, she first appeared in Ms...
for the first time, and alongside the X-Men he battled the
MorlocksThe Morlocks are a group of several fictional comic book mutants associated with the X-Men in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, they were named after the subterranean race of the same name in H. G. Wells' novel The Time Machine. They first appeared...
and the Death Sponsors.
Bishop assigned himself the role of Xavier’s personal bodyguard, which he failed at when
StryfeStryfe is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . The character was created by Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld, and first appears in The New Mutants #87...
, the evil double of
CableCable is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The New Mutants #87 , and was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld.-Creation:...
, critically wounded Xavier. Initially, the X-Men believed that Cable was the would-be assassin, so
WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
and Bishop tracked down Cable, but then traveled to Cable's "Professor" starship, and then joined with them in finding Stryfe. Citing his failure to protect Professor X, Bishop offered to resign from the X-Men. His resignation was rejected by Xavier, and then alongside the X-Men he battled the
AcolytesThe Acolytes is a team of comic book mutant supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The Acolytes followed the principles of the mutant Magneto, particularly the mutant right of superiority over normal humans. Some members of the Acolytes even worshipped him with a religious fervor and regarded...
.
Later, Bishop would be the one to save lives when
SabretoothSabretooth is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne. The character first appeared in Iron Fist #14 . Sabretooth is a mutant who possesses bestial superhuman abilities, most notably a rapid healing factor, razor-sharp...
escaped from his cell and the only other X-Men were busy or unable to fight him.
Age of Apocalypse
When Professor Xavier's insane son — the mutant
LegionLegion is a Marvel Comics character, created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Bill Sienkiewicz.David is the mutant son of Charles Xavier and Israeli Holocaust survivor Gabrielle Haller...
— went back in time to assassinate
MagnetoMagneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
, Bishop was one of the X-Men sent to stop him. When they failed, and Legion accidentally killed Professor Xavier, Bishop was the only time-traveler to remain when history was altered and became the
Age of Apocalypse"Age of Apocalypse" is a comic book crossover storyline published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. Although occurring in the alternate universe of Earth-295, it has often had ramifications in the universe of Earth-616, the main Marvel Comics universe.-Storyline:Legion , a powerful...
. He eventually convinced the Magneto of that era that the existence of this reality was wrong, and with a great amount of sacrifice, managed to correct the error and stop Legion. After the timeline reset itself, Bishop received some of his counterpart's unsettling memories of the Age of Apocalypse.
The traitor in the X-Men was eventually revealed to be Professor X in the form of
OnslaughtOnslaught is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Man #15 , and was created by writers Scott Lobdell and Mark Waid, and artist Andy Kubert.-Publication history:...
. Bishop's knowledge of the future was the only thing that stopped Onslaught from killing the X-Men. As Onslaught fired a massive blast of psionic energy at the distracted X-Men, Bishop threw himself in front of them and absorbed the blast that would have killed them. Onslaught, winded from such a massive attack, said that his blast was enough to kill a thousand mutants and "Another time, another place, I would have been proud". Bishop lost consiousness after absorbing the blast, but soon recovered, although it was not enough to prevent Onslaught from nearly destroying all of humanity. He made peace with Gambit, who was not the traitor after all.
On a mission in deep space to stop the
PhalanxThe Phalanx are a fictional cybernetic species in the Marvel Comics universe. They have come in conflict with the X-Men and related groups on several occasions. They form a hive mind, linking each member by a telepathy-like system....
, Bishop became separated from the rest of the X-Men. Despite trickery and base manipulation by
DeathbirdDeathbird is a Marvel Comics supervillainess, an adversary of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in Ms. Marvel #9....
, he entered into a romantic relationship with her. They had many adventures far out in space, but when she turned on him and the X-Men, he seemingly killed her.
Following this, Bishop spent some time in a distant possible future, detailed in the
Bishop: The Last X-Man series, where he again faced Trevor Fitzroy. He was temporarily returned to the present by
ApocalypseApocalypse is a fictional character from various comic books and graphic novels published by Marvel Comics. The character made his debut in the mid-1980s X-Men spin-off series, X-Factor , and was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jackson Guice...
who needed him as one of The Twelve, before finally returning permanently during the
Maximum Security"Maximum Security" is a comic book story line and company-wide crossover that ran through a three-issue, self-titled limited series and individual issues of the other titles published by Marvel Comics with a cover date of either December 2000 or January 2001...
crossover.
X-Treme X-Men
Bishop was a founding member of Storm's splinter team of X-Men, whose mission was to search for the Books of Truth, the diaries of the precognitive mutant
DestinyDestiny is a Marvel Comics fictional character, known as an adversary of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 . She died in issue #255 and has not returned.Although blind, Destiny was a mutant precognitive...
. They left against the will and knowledge of the main team, as the splinter group did not trust in Xavier or the others to use the diaries for the benefit of humanity.
He revealed his first name to be "Lucas", using it on a fake police ID. Even though the X-Men came to believe the diaries to be self-fulfilling, the team stayed together for a while before returning to the mansion. His team started believing that the others had grown more mutant-supremacist, and less interested in integration (the original reason that many of them joined the X-Men). While with his splinter team, Bishop was second-in-command. He would participate in solving murder mysteries, and even used false IDs to convince the local authorities he was one of them.
With the disbanding of the team, Storm formed her own XSE, the
X-Treme Sanctions ExecutiveThe X-Treme Sanctions Executive is a fictional paramilitary police force charged with keeping the peace between mutants and humans. The team was first mentioned in X-Treme X-Men #40, when Storm presented her team with an offer to join a new, government-backed squad.-Creation:During the final issues...
, which was officially recognized by the government as a mutant police force. Bishop had also begun a friendship with the X-Man
SageSage, also known as Tessa, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She has most often been associated with the X-Men and the Hellfire Club, whom she spied upon for Professor Charles Xavier....
. They helped to uncover the killer of the
White QueenEmma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
. Bishop has recently been seen getting close to Angel's ex-girlfriend, Detective Charlotte Jones.
District X
Bishop joined the
Federal Bureau of InvestigationThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency. The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, and appeared regularly in
District XMutant Town , as depicted in New X-Men #127.
Art by [[John Paul Leon]].|thumbDistrict X, also known as Mutant Town or the Middle East Side, is a fictional location in Marvel Comics. It is a neighborhood in New York City, first seen during Grant Morrison's run on the series New X-Men in New X-Men...
, a
police proceduralThe police procedural is a sub-genre of the mystery story which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
set in a mutant
ghettoOriginally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live, a ghetto is now described as a "portion of a city in which members of a minority group live; especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure." - Etymology :...
in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
. District X, or 'Mutant Town', had a high-population density. It was also a poverty-stricken area with high crime rates. Bishop was assigned to the area in order to resolve mutant-related crimes. The series was canceled after 14 issues.
Since the events of
House of MHouse of M is an eight-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in 2005. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, its first issue debuted in June 2005, as a follow-up to the events of the Planet X and Avengers Disassembled...
, Bishop continued to visit New York, but since a majority of the mutant population of District X was wiped out by the
Scarlet WitchThe Scarlet Witch is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
, Bishop turned his primary attention back to the X-Men and school. He had been involved with several missions with the team, such as taking down the Shi'ar Death Commandos, helping
PsylockePsylocke is a fictional character depicted in comic books published by Marvel Comics, most notably those comics featuring the superhero team the X-Men. The character has also appeared in licensed adaptations...
deal with the Foursaken and the First Fallen, as well as helping Storm save Africa, from soldiers who were taking children from villages.
Civil War
In the
Civil War: X-MenCivil War: X-Men is a four-issue comic book mini-series, published in 2006 by Marvel Comics.Though published as part of the wider Civil War event, its plot is a continuation of the earlier X-Men: The 198 mini-series.-Plot:...
miniseries, Bishop sides with the O*N*E* to bring in the X-Men and
the 198X-Men: The 198 is a comic book limited series that was published by Marvel Comics and set in the Marvel Universe shortly after the House of M and Decimation events...
. He argued with
CyclopsCyclops is a fictional character, a superhero that is the field leader of the X-Men in the . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #1 and was originally dubbed Slim Summers. By #3, his name was changed to Scott and Slim was referred as a...
over allowing their escape, and stated his fear of what the future might hold.
Val CooperValerie "Val" Cooper is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe who currently works for the Office of National Emergency. She is most notable for her work as the liaison for mutant affairs in the United States government.-Publication history:...
and
Tony StarkIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 , and was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby.Born Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark, he...
let Bishop lead
MicromaxMicromax is a fictional character, a mutant superhero of the Marvel universe. He first appeared in Excalibur vol. 1 #44.-Fictional character biography:Prior to the discovery of his mutant abilities, Scott Wright was a disk jockey...
and
SabraSabra is the alias of Ruth Bat-Seraph, a fictional character published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Sabra made a cameo appearance in Incredible Hulk vol. 1 #250 but first fully appeared in Incredible Hulk vol. 1 #256 and was created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema. Belinda Glass came up...
into action against
DominoDomino is a Marvel Comics character, best known as a member of the X-Men offshoot X-Force. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld, she first fully appeared in X-Force #11 ....
,
ShatterstarShatterstar is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Shatterstar first appeared in The New Mutants vol. 1 #99 , and was created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld. Since his debut Shatterstar has mainly appeared in X-Force with some issues...
, and the rest of the 198. Bishop led them to the base where the 198 were hiding, and told the X-Men to stand down upon their arrival. However, General
Demetrius LazerGeneral Demetrius Lazer was a Marvel Comics villain and enemy of the X-Men. He debuted on Decimation: House of M -- The Day After, the one-shot issue that marked the end of the House of M crossover and the beginning of the Decimation storyline...
betrayed him, by ensuring that Cyclops attacked Bishop. Though at first he simply absorbed it, the power was too much for him to control, and he was overwhelmed. Bishop was forced to direct the energy he had absorbed upwards, in a powerful blast that destroyed a O*N*E* Sentinel. He later teamed up with the X-Men to save the 198 from a bomb explosion, and then went his own way, leaving the X-Men. Bishop was among Iron Man's pro-registration forces, that guarded the
Negative ZoneThe Negative Zone is a fictional setting, an antimatter universe depicted in publications from Marvel Comics, most frequently in Fantastic Four and Captain Marvel. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it first appeared in Fantastic Four #51 .-Fictional description:The Negative Zone in the Marvel...
prison. When
Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
's team breaks in, a fight ensues, putting Bishop at odds with his former teammates Storm and
CableCable is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The New Mutants #87 , and was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld.-Creation:...
.
Messiah Complex
In
Messiah Complex, the precipitating event causing Bishop's future is finally revealed: the birth of the first mutant child since M-Day. As the
MaraudersThe Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita, Jr., the team first appear in Uncanny X-Men #210 The Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by...
, on
Mister SinisterMister Sinister is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #221 Mister Sinister is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #221...
's orders, try to gather anyone and anything with knowledge of the future, Bishop is the only target they were unable to locate and terminate. It is revealed that he had betrayed the X-Men, and he attempted to kill the baby. However, before he could succeed, he was thwarted by the Marauders, who escaped with the baby. As X-Men arrive on the scene, Bishop pretends to have attempted to retrieve the baby. As
Multiple ManJames Arthur "Jamie" Madrox, also called the Multiple Man, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero, associated with the X-Men...
's duplicate and
Layla MillerLayla Rose Miller is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in House of M #4, and was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Oliver Coipel...
find out in their mission to one of the planet's possible futures (80 years in the future) that the birth of the child created, the child apparently kills a million people in an event dubbed the Six-Second War, and the U.S. government incarcerates all the mutants into concentration camps, where Bishop is born, grows up, and sees his parents killed. As Multiple Man's dupe and Layla find out, Bishop wishes at a young age to have had the opportunity to kill the baby, so that, while he would not be born, he would also not have to see his parents die, and to endure the horrors of life in the concentration camps. Layla kills the dupe, so that the information conveyed to them by young Bishop can return to the present, to the Multiple Man prime, who conveys Bishop's treachery to the X-Men. The X-Men then attempted to alert
X-ForceX-Force is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero team, one of several spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise. Conceived by writer/illustrator Rob Liefeld, the team was formed in The New Mutants #100 and soon afterwards was featured in its own series.The group was a new incarnation of the 1980s...
to Bishop's betrayal, but he managed to block all of their communication channels. After arriving on
Muir IslandMuir Island is a small, fictional island off the northern coast of Scotland in the Marvel Comics universe. It plays a prominent role in the X-Men comics and its related series.-History:...
and fighting past the Marauders, Bishop found Cable attempting to escape with the baby, and the two fight. Both mutants are then attacked by Predator X, who viciously rips off Bishop's right arm. Bishop cauterizes his torn shoulder on an unconscious Sunfire. The wound did not kill him, though, and in an attempt to shoot down a teleporting Cable, he misses and hits
Professor XProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
instead.
Chasing the Mutant Messiah
Bishop managed to escape the X-Men after he seemingly killed their mentor, and makes several time jumps in an attempt to find his newest enemy and the mutant messiah. Now using a bionic arm, he eventually tracks Cable and the newborn mutant. Upon finding them, he shoots Cable twice before being hindered by a local gang. With Cable severely weakened by severe blood loss, he makes a risky attack before the gang can find heavier weapons. He later manages to track down Cable, slaying several mutated beasts in the process, and shoot the Mutant Messiah. He also finds that in the future generated by his choice, Cable will be always revered as a Messianic figure who tried his best to protect the Child, and saved humanity from the very beasts Bishop unwillingly saved Cable from. It has been revealed that the Messiah child is still alive and Bishop has been captured by the X-Men. However, in his efforts to kill the child Bishop has laid out several traps for Cable throughout the timestream, killing millions in the process, though he doesn't see them as people who actually exist, but as people who wouldn't exist or come back to life if he kills
HopeHope Summers is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Men #205, and was created by writers Ed Brubaker, Mike Carey, Peter David, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost during the X-Men: Messiah Complex event...
.
Messiah War
After multiple failings at killing Hope, Bishop locates and enlists the aid of Stryfe, promising him that he would aid him in killing Apocalypse and Cable. Stryfe and Bishop travel to a point in the future where Apocalypse is at his weakest and manage to defeat him. Stryfe builds an empire using Celestial technology and Bishop becomes his right hand man, waiting for Cable and Hope to re-emerge. When they do appear along with X-Force, Hope is kidnapped. Bishop betrays Stryfe and his plot to kill Hope is foiled by Stryfe, who wants to make her his heir. Both attempts are foiled by Apocalypse, X-Force, and Cable. Cable manages to rescue Hope and escape yet again. Bishop escapes into the "near future" of the 21st century, reconstructing his arm, vowing to find Hope once again.
Powers and abilities
Bishop's
mutantA mutant is a type of fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Primarily featured in comics featuring the X-Men, a mutant is an individual who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows them to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
ability enables him to absorb all forms of radiant or conductive energy that are directed towards him and to release that energy from his hands. This power is passive, allowing Bishop to absorb energy at all times.
When he releases the energy, he can release it as many different forms, usually in concussive blasts of biokinetic energy, even amplified compared to the absorbed amount. Bishop can also store absorbed energy within his personal reserves, whereupon the energy increases his strength and recuperative abilities, as well as affording him a measure of invulnerability. He is also able to absorb magic energy (as seen when fighting "
growing menThe Growing Man is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Thor #140 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
" in Limbo) and the psychic energies of psionics as easily as all the other kinds. However, this does not prevent him from being read or manipulated by a telepath but only sustains him and helps him to slow them down. It has been clearly stated that Bishop is also able to absorb and process kinetic energy similarly to
Sebastian ShawSebastian Hiram Shaw is a fictional comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, and is an adversary of the X-Men.A mutant, Shaw possesses the ability to absorb kinetic energy and transform it into raw strength...
, but in a much less effective way.
His powers make it difficult to harm him with energy-based attacks; however, he can become overloaded from absorbing too much energy, though his upper limits are unknown, even to himself. He is, however, partially vulnerable to non-energy weapon attacks. If he were to be shot by a projectile weapon or hit with a crowbar, it could harm him. He carries guns that fire laser beams and plasma charges, and through which he can channel his personal energies.
He can "let his spirit go" as seen in
X-Treme X-Men Annual #1. It's unknown if this is a mutant talent, or an ability taught to Bishop sometime in his life.
He has also demonstrated the ability of instinctively knowing where he is and the present hour and date even if asleep, first mentioned in
X-Treme X-MenX-Treme X-Men was a comic book published by Marvel Comics from 2001 through 2004. All 46 issues of the series were written by Chris Claremont. The first 24 issues were drawn by Salvador Larroca, and the final 22 issues were drawn by Igor Kordey....
#1. Although being the great-grandson of
GatewayGateway is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe, an Australian mutant with the ability to teleport objects and people from one location to another. He is considered an unofficial member of the X-Men...
, a mutant possessing extensive dealings with time travel, this aspect is not one of Bishop's mutant powers. Bishop's explanation is that due to training, he knows where he is at all times.
Bishop is a highly athletic man, an excellent hand-to-hand combatant with many years of armed and unarmed combat training, and a superb marksman with firearms. When he first came to the modern era, Bishop carried XSE guns from his time that fired laser beams and plasma charges. He also wore his XSE uniform, modeled after X-Men uniforms, which contained body armor.
His current right arm is a prosthetic, stolen from
ForgeForge is a fictional character in the , a superhero associated with The X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita Jr., he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #184 ....
. A nuclear powered battle ready arm, incorporates in its design a time-travel device, the ability to channel his energy blasts through, and enhanced strength and resilience.
Ultimate Bishop
In
Ultimate X-MenUltimate X-Men is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics since 2001. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running X-Men comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
#43 when Emma Frost introduces some of the candidates for the new, government-supported mutant team to the president, a muscular
African AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. In the United States, the terms are generally used for Americans with at least partial Sub-Saharan African ancestry...
with braided hair and a golden chain around his neck is shown on a screen.
The president says, "No to Bishop. Not with his criminal record."
A time-traveling Bishop appears in
Ultimate X-Men #76. Moments after the battle with Cable concludes, he appears asking if he's too late to stop Cable.
Wolverine knocks him unconscious and the X-Men interrogate him. He is wearing the same uniform as the members of Cable's
squadThe Six Pack is a team of fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe. The original team debuted in X-Force #8, March , created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld.-Fictional team biography:...
. He appears to be much older than the mainstream Bishop, because of his gray hair. He then leads the team into battle with Cable's squad. However, he fails to stop Cable from kidnapping Charles Xavier (everyone believes Xavier is dead) and is now trapped in the present day, due to Cable's destuction of the device that allowed him to time travel.
In
Ultimate X-Men #80, Bishop has a conversation with his younger self, who is incarcerated, in which he tells him not to use his powers to escape. By
Ultimate X-Men #84, Bishop has formed a new team of X-Men (consisting of
WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
, Storm,
PyroPyro is a fictional character in Marvel Comics and an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 ....
,
DazzlerDazzler is a Marvel Comics superhero, associated with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 ....
, Angel,
PsylockePsylocke is a fictional character depicted in comic books published by Marvel Comics, most notably those comics featuring the superhero team the X-Men. The character has also appeared in licensed adaptations...
, and himself). He is using the new team to stop a new wave of
SentinelThe Sentinels are a fictional type of robot in the , most often appearing as enemies of the X-Men. They were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The X-Men #14 ....
attacks on mutants, caused by an unknown enemy, revealed in that issue to be the
FenrisFenris are two fictional characters from the Marvel Comics universe, namely German twins Andrea and Andreas von Strucker, children of supervillain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker of HYDRA. Andrea is female, Andreas is male...
twins and
Bolivar TraskBolivar Trask is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #14 . He is the creator of the Sentinels.-Fictional character biography:...
. Wolverine appears to distrust Bishop, promising to gut him if he tries anything suspicious. Bishop was unconscious during the fight with the Fenris twins and the Sentinels, but when Psylocke's life was at risk, he woke up to defend her and revealed that she was his future wife.
He killed both the Fenris twins with his abilities and went on to lead the New X-Men against the Sentinels. At the end of the battle, it was revealed to the reader that he was in fact working with Cable, and that the entire "Cable" affair had been a ruse to make the X-Men a stronger team. The team remains unaware of the deception and Wolverine stabbed Bishop at the end of issue #90, when Bishop stopped Storm and Dazzler from being able to save Angel from being killed by Sinister, before Bishop could reveal this. Bishop believes that it couldn't have happened any other way. Cable later reveals the ruse, but Wolverine shows no regret for killing Bishop. After the battle with
ApocalypseApocalypse is a fictional character from various comic books and graphic novels published by Marvel Comics. The character made his debut in the mid-1980s X-Men spin-off series, X-Factor , and was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jackson Guice...
is undone by the Phoenix, there is no evidence that Bishop has been returned to life, even though Angel was.
His powers have been revealed as density control. For example, he destroyed a Sentinel robot by causing its shell to increase in density and crush its inner parts; Bishop then reduced his own density (or increased that of the air around him) and floated to the ground. He also has access to teleportation technology.
Robert KirkmanRobert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible and Marvel Zombies.-Biography:Kirkman's first comic book work was self published, through the publisher Funk-O-Tron...
later admitted that the Bishop mentioned earlier in the series is the same as the one he introduced; faced with the fact that this Bishop was already introduced into continuity when he would have preferred the character to work with Cable, Kirkman simply introduced him as an older version of the previously-mentioned Bishop.
X-Men Noir
In
X-Men Noir, Bishop is depicted as the muscle for Remy LeBeau, the owner of a nightclub and casino called The Creole Club.
X-Men: The End
In the non-canon trilogy of miniseries, Bishop learns he has a teenage daughter,
AliyahAliyah Bishop is a fictional comic book character in the X-Men mythos. She first appeared in X-Men: The End - Book One: Dreamers & Demons #1, and was created by Chris Claremont and Sean Chen.-Fictional character biography:...
, by
DeathbirdDeathbird is a Marvel Comics supervillainess, an adversary of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in Ms. Marvel #9....
. She will become Majestrix of the
Shi'arThe Shi'ar are a fictional species of aliens in the Marvel Comics universe. The Shi'ar Empire also called the Aerie, is a vast collection of alien species, cultures and worlds situated close to the Skrull and Kree Empires, and alongside them, is one of the three main alien empires The Shi'ar (...
with her father as her Imperial Chancellor.
Television
- Bishop guest starred in a few episodes of the X-Men
X-Men, also known as X-Men: The Animated Series, is an American animated television series which debuted on October 31, 1992 in the United States on the Fox Network as part of its Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup ....
animated television series voiced by Philip AkinPhilip Akin is a Canadian actor who has been active for over thirty years in stage, film, and television. He has had featured roles in major American films such as The Sum of All Fears, S.W.A.T., and Get Rich or Die Tryin’...
. He travels back in time to stop the assassination of Senator Kelly and prevent the Days of Future Past"Days of Future Past" is a popular storyline in the Marvel Comics comic book The Uncanny X-Men issues #141 and #142, published in 1981. It deals with a dystopian alternate future in which mutants are incarcerated in internment camps...
timeline from occurring (with Bishop assuming Kitty PrydeKatherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 and was created by writer-artist John Byrne....
's role from the comic version of this tale). Bishop believes GambitGambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
to be the assassin, but it is later revealed that Mystique attempts the assassination in the guise of the Cajun X-Man. Upon returning to his own time after saving Kelly, he finds the world infected with a deadly plague. He returns in a later episode to stop the spread of ApocalypseApocalypse is a fictional character from various comic books and graphic novels published by Marvel Comics. The character made his debut in the mid-1980s X-Men spin-off series, X-Factor , and was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jackson Guice...
's techno-organic virusA techno-organic virus is a fictional virus in the Marvel Comics universe. The virus transforms organic material into techno-organic material. Techno-organic material resembles both machinery and living tissue...
, however, he also faces resistance from CableCable is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The New Mutants #87 , and was created by writer Louise Simonson and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld.-Creation:...
, who knows the virus is necessary as it will create antibodies necessary to the stabilization of the mutant genetic code. He also shows up in some more episodes, where he and his sister travel back in time to stop Fitzroy from killing a young Charles Xavier in the past, causing constant war between mutants and humans in the X-Men's time, and his time changes into one in which mutants have been all but exterminated by Master Mold. They eventually manage to save Xavier, but Bishop gets trapped in the Axis of Time during Apocalypse's attempt to control all of time in the "Beyond Good and Evil" episodes. After Apocalypse's defeat, Bishop returns to his own proper timeline.
- Bishop appeared in Wolverine and the X-Men
Wolverine and the X-Men is an animated television series by Marvel Animation. It is the fourth animated adaptation of the X-Men characters, the other three being "Pryde of the X-Men," X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men: Evolution....
voiced by Kevin Michael RichardsonKevin Michael Richardson is an American actor and voice artist, who currently stars in the Fox animated series The Cleveland Show.-Early life:...
. He appears as a member of Professor XProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
's future X-MenX-Men is a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 . Under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier creates a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the...
team.
Video games
- He is a playable character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
in X-Men: Next DimensionX-Men: Next Dimension is a fighting game, released in 2002 for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube video game consoles. It is the third game in the X-Men: Mutant Academy fighting game series, following X-Men: Mutant Academy and X-Men: Mutant Academy 2.-Storyline:Narrated by Patrick Stewart X-Men:...
.
- A younger version of Bishop makes a cameo in X-Men Legends
X-Men Legends is an action role-playing game released on several consoles in 2004. Players can play as one of 15 X-Men characters, switching between four computer controlled characters within one team...
voiced by Grey DeLisleGrey DeLisle is an American singer-songwriter, and voice actress.-Early life and early career:Grey DeLisle was born Erin Grey Van Oosbree in Fort Ord, California, of Irish, Dutch, French, Mexican, and Hispanic descent. She had a difficult childhood; her mother was addicted to drugs...
. He is almost killed by a SentinelThe Sentinels are a fictional type of robot in the , most often appearing as enemies of the X-Men. They were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The X-Men #14 ....
, but is saved by the X-MenX-Men is a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 . Under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier creates a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the...
.
- Khary Payton
Khary Payton is an American actor best known for voicing Cyborg in the Teen Titans animated series. In the cartoon series Justice League, Payton provided the voice of the villain Ten...
voices Bishop who is a playable character in X-Men Legends II: Rise of ApocalypseX-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse is a follow up to X-Men Legends. It is an action role-playing game released in 2005 for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, N-Gage, PlayStation Portable, and GameCube video game consoles as well as the PC.-Gameplay:...
. Bishop's status as a time traveler is mentioned in a trivia mini-game.
- Bishop appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 voiced by Emerson Brooks. He appears as an NPC
A non-player character, often shortened to NPC, is a character that is controlled by the gamemaster in role-playing games. When this definition extends to video games, an NPC in a video game is usually part of the program, and not controlled by a human....
for the Pro-Registration side and serves as a boss fight for the Anti-Registration Side.
Books
- Bishop plays a small part in the X-Men: The Last Stand
X-Men: The Last Stand is a 2006 superhero film and the third in the X-Men series. It is directed by Brett Ratner, who took over when Bryan Singer dropped out to direct Superman Returns. The movie revolves around a "mutant cure" that causes serious repercussions among mutants and humans, and on the...
novelization by Chris ClaremontChris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer...
. He is mentioned as a NYPDThe New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
Officer who is in charge of crowd control at Worthington Cure Clinics in the city of New York. He is also mentioned to be a former student at Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters, and he is an acquaintance of IcemanIceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #1, ....
.
- Bishop is a main character in the Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer and editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and X-Men novel trilogy Time's Arrow by Tom DeFalcoTom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well-known for his association with Marvel Comics and in particular for his work with Spider-Man.-Career:...
with Jason HendersonJason Henderson is a writer of computer games, novels and several comic book series.He is the creator of the comic book series Sword of Dracula from Image Comics, Strange Magic from Marvel Comics, and Soulcatcher...
(The Past), Adam-Troy CastroAdam-Troy Castro is a science fiction, fantasy, and horror writer living in Florida. He has more than eighty stories to his credit and has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Stoker....
(The Present), and eluki bes shaharRosemary Edghill is an American writer and editor, who has often used that pseudonym in place of her legal name, eluki bes shahar. Her primary genres are science fiction and...
(The Future), in which he and Spider-Man travel through time and into parallel universes. In these books, Bishop is able to use his energy absorption ability as an active power.
External links