Plague was a fictional character

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...

 in the 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...

 universe

Marvel Universe

The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...

. She was originally a member of the Morlocks

Morlocks (comics)

The 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...

 before joining the Horsemen of Apocalypse

Horsemen of Apocalypse

The Horsemen of Apocalypse is a team of fictional supervillain characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team is first mentioned in X-Factor #10 , and makes their full appearance in X-Factor #15...

.

Publication history

Plague first appeared in Uncanny X-Men

Uncanny X-Men

Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...

#169-170 (May-June 1983), and was created by Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont

Chris 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, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...

 and Paul Smith

Paul Smith (comics)

Paul Smith is an American comic book artist.-Early life:Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but only lived there three days. His father was a U.S. Naval aviator, and the family moved several times during his childhood...

.

The character subsequently appears as Pestilence in X-Factor #10 (November 1986), #15 (April 1987), #17 (June 1987), #19 (August 1987), #22-25 (November 1987-February 1988), Power Pack (February 1988), and Daredevil #252 (March 1988.

Plague appeared as part of the "Morlocks" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...

#9.

Fictional character biography

Plague is an old woman that was a member of a large community of mutants who felt they were outcasts who live in the underground tunnels beneath New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut known as the Morlocks

Morlocks (comics)

The 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...

.

Plague was present during the Morlock massacre

Mutant Massacre

"Mutant Massacre" was a major Marvel Comics crossover storyline, which took place during the fall of 1986. It primarily involved the superhero teams the X-Men, X-Factor and the New Mutants...

 by the Marauders

Marauders (comics)

The 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...

 and was terrorized by Sabretooth

Sabretooth (comics)

Sabretooth 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...

, who was unaware of her ablilites and left weakened and might have died if not for his healing factor. Apocalypse

Apocalypse (comics)

Apocalypse is a fictional character who is an ancient mutant that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Factor #5 , created by writer Louise Simonson and designed by artist Walter Simonson...

 arrived and saved Plague from the massacre, stating that he had plans for her to serve him as the Horseman Pestilence.

After being transformed into Pestilence, Plague, War

War (comics)

War is the name of three fictional characters, who are Marvel Comics supervillains. Two are discussed here: both members of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse. the first War and Abraham Kieros...

, and Famine

Famine (comics)

Famine is a fictional character, a Mutant supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. She is most notable for being one of the original four horsemen of the villain Apocalypse.-Fictional character biography:...

 battled X-Factor

X-Factor (comics)

X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...

 in Central Park and were defeated by Iceman

Iceman (comics)

Iceman 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 vol. 1 #1, ....

, but not before they killed countless humans. After the fourth Horseman, Death, was revealed, Apocalypse had the Horsemen battle each other, to find the leader and Death beat them all.

After Apocalypse teleported X-Factor on his Celestial Ship, they battled the Horsemen again and, after their defeat, the Horsemen were sent into Manhattan to incite chaos. X-Factor and the Power Pack battled the Horsemen and Lightspeed knocked Pestilence off her flying steed, whereupon she fell to her death.

Power

Plague's immune system made her essentially immune to all known diseases. However, she could be exposed to a disease, alter it to be more lethal, and then spread it by touch. Her power was augmented by Apocalypse to an unknown degree.

As Pestilence, she also utilized an electric flying robotic steed constructed by Apocalypse's Ship.

Television

• Plague first makes a cameo in the X-Men
  X-Men (TV series)
  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...
  
  episode "Captive Hearts
  Captive Hearts (X-Men)
  Captive Hearts is the fifth episode from the first season of X-Men: The Animated Series. Fox Kids broadcast the episode on January 30, 1993. It introduced the villains known as "Morlocks" to the series...
  
  " as one of the Morlocks fighting the X-Men and incapacitating Gambit. She returns in the episode "Come the Apocalypse
  Come the Apocalypse
  Come the Apocalypse is an episode in the animated TV series X-Men Animated Series. This episode is loosely based on X-Factor #24.-Characters:X-Men: Professor X, Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Jean Grey, Jubilee...
  
  " wanting a cure and is eventually transformed into the Horseman Pestilence. She is voiced by Judy Marshak in both episodes.