Dead Girl
Encyclopedia
Dead Girl is a fictional character
, a mutant
superheroine in Marvel Comics
' X-Statix
series. She is a mixture of ghost
and zombie
. Her civilian name has never been fully revealed, but she admitted after some cajoling that her first name is/was "Moonbeam." Dead Girl's mutant gene allows her to return to semi-life after dying; she is also able to become intangible and communicate with other dead people.
X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl. The series ran for five issues and focuses on a vengeful dead villain, The Pitiful One, intent on gathering other residents of Hell - such as Miss America
, Kraven
, Mysterio
, The Ancient One
, and Dead Girl's previous teammate The Anarchist
- to bring himself to life once more.
There has been some question as to whether the series is connected to the rest of Marvel continuity, and yet several intriguing things occur; among them is Dead Girl's pseudo-romantic involvement with Stephen Strange. She revealed in the fifth issue that her first name is Moonbeam. Eventually, she and her assembled team of heroes stop the Pitiful One.
. The dead heard her cries and lured the killer back to the crypt in which he had buried her. Dead Girl awoke and took her revenge on him. Eventually, X-Force (soon to be renamed X-Statix) hires her and invites her to join them.
Her abilities are put to good use for the team. She is able to take machine gun fire and other deadly weaponry that would kill her allies. Her first discovery of being able to read a corpse allows her to save the life of the Anarchist
, with whom she would later become romantically involved.
, over the harm visited upon Lacuna
, a girl for whom Orphan cares. Dead Girl is able to talk with Spike in what she claims to be Hell itself. She gives Spike a 'Bank of Hell' card in exchange for information about Mister Code, a murderous cult leader (it turns out Code had Lacuna shot on Freeman's request).
In another incident, she recites a cursed song and her skull is destroyed by the foot of her recently deceased teammate Phat
. This is only a temporary condition and the real purpose for the recitation appears, another recently deceased team member called 'Henrietta
' (X-Statix has a high mortality rate). Being tuned into the world of the dead, Dead Girl is able to figure out that Henrietta desires revenge on the people who temporarily killed her years ago.
During X-Statix's last mission, after a confrontation with the Avengers
, Dead Girl 'properly' dies of an unknown illness. The rest of the team soon perishes in a battle with unknown gunmen.
and Dead Girl, with the aid of her dead friends, were able to stop them. In order to combat the Pitiful One's plans, Dead Girl and Strange enlist help from dead heroes sent to Heaven
, including Ant-Man II, the Phantom Rider and someone known as the Piano-Player; they also call on Mister Sensitive
and U-Go Girl
, two of Dead Girl's former teammates. A number of deceased Marvel characters make appearances, including Gwen Stacy
, Mockingbird
, and Moira MacTaggert
.
and communicate with the cells, bacteria, and disintegrating tissue of corpses, temporarily resurrect the recently deceased as zombie
s or ghost
s, and briefly summon images of deceased people from the minds of others. She has above-average strength, speed, agility, and reflexes.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
superheroine in Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' X-Statix
X-Statix
X-Statix was a fictional team of mutant superheroes in Marvel Comics, specifically designed to be media superstars. The team, created by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred, first appears in X-Force #116 and originally assumed the moniker X-Force, taking the name of the more traditional superhero team,...
series. She is a mixture of ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
and zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
. Her civilian name has never been fully revealed, but she admitted after some cajoling that her first name is/was "Moonbeam." Dead Girl's mutant gene allows her to return to semi-life after dying; she is also able to become intangible and communicate with other dead people.
Publication history
Dead Girl starred in the miniseriesMiniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
X-Statix Presents: Dead Girl. The series ran for five issues and focuses on a vengeful dead villain, The Pitiful One, intent on gathering other residents of Hell - such as Miss America
Miss America (Marvel Comics)
Miss America is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #49 Miss America (Madeline Joyce Frank) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in Marvel Mystery...
, Kraven
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter is a fictional character, a supervillain and enemy of Spider-Man appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Kraven's name is Sergei Kravinoff. He also appears as Xraven, with white-grey skin and red eyes, possessing the powers of X-Men. He is the half-brother of Dmitri...
, Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
, The Ancient One
Ancient One
The Ancient One is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe. He was the mentor of Doctor Strange and preceded him as Sorcerer Supreme.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Dead Girl's previous teammate The Anarchist
Anarchist (comics)
The Anarchist is a fictional character from Marvel Comics.He was a member of the superhero team X-Statix. The Anarchist first appeared in X-Force #116 and was created by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred...
- to bring himself to life once more.
There has been some question as to whether the series is connected to the rest of Marvel continuity, and yet several intriguing things occur; among them is Dead Girl's pseudo-romantic involvement with Stephen Strange. She revealed in the fifth issue that her first name is Moonbeam. Eventually, she and her assembled team of heroes stop the Pitiful One.
Fictional character biography
Dead Girl has few memories of when she was still alive; she believes she was a young actress who was murdered by her co-star/lover, who then sealed her body inside a mausoleumMausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
. The dead heard her cries and lured the killer back to the crypt in which he had buried her. Dead Girl awoke and took her revenge on him. Eventually, X-Force (soon to be renamed X-Statix) hires her and invites her to join them.
Her abilities are put to good use for the team. She is able to take machine gun fire and other deadly weaponry that would kill her allies. Her first discovery of being able to read a corpse allows her to save the life of the Anarchist
Anarchist (comics)
The Anarchist is a fictional character from Marvel Comics.He was a member of the superhero team X-Statix. The Anarchist first appeared in X-Force #116 and was created by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred...
, with whom she would later become romantically involved.
Team Efforts
The Orphan kills team owner Spike FreemanSpike Freeman
Spike Freeman, was a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He was the owner of the second team of X-Force and X-Statix, who first appeared in X-Force vol. 1 #117, and was created by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred...
, over the harm visited upon Lacuna
Lacuna (comics)
Lacuna is a fictional character, a mutant and the occasional ally of the superhero group X-Statix.-Fictional character biography:...
, a girl for whom Orphan cares. Dead Girl is able to talk with Spike in what she claims to be Hell itself. She gives Spike a 'Bank of Hell' card in exchange for information about Mister Code, a murderous cult leader (it turns out Code had Lacuna shot on Freeman's request).
In another incident, she recites a cursed song and her skull is destroyed by the foot of her recently deceased teammate Phat
Phat (comics)
Phat is an openly gay fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Universe. He was created by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred in X-Force vol. 1 #117...
. This is only a temporary condition and the real purpose for the recitation appears, another recently deceased team member called 'Henrietta
Henrietta Hunter
Henrietta Hunter is a fictional character in the X-Statix series. She is a mutant with superhuman powers. She was a "pop star" from the fictional country of "Europa", and the one-time leader of the X-Statix.-Publication history:...
' (X-Statix has a high mortality rate). Being tuned into the world of the dead, Dead Girl is able to figure out that Henrietta desires revenge on the people who temporarily killed her years ago.
During X-Statix's last mission, after a confrontation with the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
, Dead Girl 'properly' dies of an unknown illness. The rest of the team soon perishes in a battle with unknown gunmen.
Afterlife
While in the afterlife, she went up against a being called the Pitiful One who had a resurrection plan utilizing the denizens of the afterlife. Only Doctor StrangeDoctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
and Dead Girl, with the aid of her dead friends, were able to stop them. In order to combat the Pitiful One's plans, Dead Girl and Strange enlist help from dead heroes sent to Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
, including Ant-Man II, the Phantom Rider and someone known as the Piano-Player; they also call on Mister Sensitive
Mister Sensitive
Mister Sensitive is a fictional character from Marvel Comics, who was a prominent castmember in the X-Statix series. He first appeared in X-Force vol...
and U-Go Girl
U-Go Girl
U-Go Girl was a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe, and a member of the superhero team X-Force, as well as X-Statix. She first appeared in X-Force vol...
, two of Dead Girl's former teammates. A number of deceased Marvel characters make appearances, including Gwen Stacy
Gwen Stacy
Gwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy appears as a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #31 ....
, Mockingbird
Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)
Mockingbird is a fictional character, a superhero in the who first appears in the Ka-Zar story in Astonishing Tales #6 written by Gerry Conway and pencilled by Barry Smith...
, and Moira MacTaggert
Moira MacTaggert
Dr. Moira Kinross MacTaggert is a fictional character appearing in X-Men stories in the Marvel Comics universe. She works as a geneticist and is an expert in mutant affairs. Olivia Williams played a minor role of Dr. Moira MacTaggert in X-Men: The Last Stand...
.
Powers and abilities
Physically deceased, her mutation triggered by death, Dead Girl can command any body part severed from her and rebuild her molecular structure from virtually any physical attack, regardless of how much damage or destruction she sustains, even if reduced to a skeleton. She can safely "survive" toxic conditions deadly to anyone else. She can also become intangible and walk on air, transform her hands into claws, and otherwise alter her body to an unclear extent. She can communicate telepathically with dead spirits either using their physical remains or on the astral planeAstral plane
The astral plane, also called the astral world, is a plane of existence postulated by classical , medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions...
and communicate with the cells, bacteria, and disintegrating tissue of corpses, temporarily resurrect the recently deceased as zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s or ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
s, and briefly summon images of deceased people from the minds of others. She has above-average strength, speed, agility, and reflexes.