Son of M
Encyclopedia
Son of M is an American
comic book
limited series
, a follow up to Marvel Comics
' "House of M
" event, starring the depowered Quicksilver
. Quicksilver was one of the many mutants to lose his powers as part of the Decimation
, which he was, in part, responsible for.
that she could undo her wrongs by using her powers to turn the world into a world of peace. Wanda warped reality into the House of M, a world where mutants were the majority, humans the minority, and Magneto
was the ruler. During a battle between Magneto's forces and heroes having regained their memories, a mutant named Layla Miller
was able to restore Magneto's memories of the original reality. Enraged, Magneto confronted Pietro, angry that he had done all of this in his name. Pietro said he believed his father would have let Wanda be killed by the other heroes, that he was protecting her, but Magneto replied Pietro had only used Wanda and himself.
Furious, Magneto killed Pietro. Wanda revived her brother and declared "No more mutants", changing the world back to its original form and causing approximately ninety percent of the mutant population to lose their powers, leaving the mutant race on the brink of extinction. Pietro was among those affected, resulting in his falling into depression, both because of his loss of power and over his betrayal of mutantkind.
. An attempt to stop an anti-mutant gang killing a mutant with an organism growing on his stomach
goes badly, until Spider-Man
intervenes, after which the angry Spider-Man confronts Pietro (angry with the fact that he still has memories of being married to Gwen Stacy
and having a child together from the House of M reality), which leads to Pietro jumping off a roof, seriously injuring himself and possibly breaking his spine. Crystal
, who Pietro had tried to contact earlier, then teleports in with Lockjaw
, to find her ex-husband lying hurt, blaming Spider-Man.
The badly injured Pietro wakes and interrupts Spider-Man's attempted explanation to tell Crystal that he had jumped off the roof. Crystal teleports him to the Inhumans' home for medical attention, believing he had become suicidal upon the loss of his powers and unaware of his true connection to the events.
After treatment by an Inhuman healer, Pietro wakes up and is reunited with his daughter Luna
. Deciding that he can not stand life as a human, Pietro asks Black Bolt
for permission to undergo Terrigenesis, exposure to the Inhumans' power-granting Terrigen Mist
. Pietro's request is denied since he is of human blood, and Terrigenesis is reserved only for those of pure Inhuman stock to decrease the chance of a detrimental mutation. It is also explained to him that Luna will not ever be allowed to partake of the Mists due to her being of partial human genetics. Luna introduces Pietro to a "Communicator," who tells Pietro much about the process of Terrigenesis, leading to him breaking into the sacred Terrigen Caves and knocking out a guard so he can go dive into the misty cave waters. Pietro returns to his room thinking that the exposure had no effect, only to be greeted by an older version of himself.
The older Pietro explains that the Mists did give him powers — he has time-jumped fourteen days into the future, but the time-travel has a degenerative effect on him, hence his haggard state, and he can only move forward in time and only remain there for short periods before he is pulled back.
Manipulated by his older self, Pietro begins working to take the Terrigen Crystals back to Earth and restore the mutant population. He gains Luna's loyalty, promising to bring her to Earth with him, and learns of Lockjaw's loyalty to Luna. Eventually, Pietro manages to get a container full of Terrigen Crystals to the past, and uses Lockjaw to take him and Luna back to his apartment in New York. Luna instructs Lockjaw not to let Crystal find them before he heads back to the Inhumans. Pietro explains the basis of his plan concerning the Terrigen Crystals, and tells Luna he is going to give back her birthright, exposing her to the Mists.
In Genosha, Pietro plans to restore the powers of any mutant left there. He and Luna first encounter Callisto
and restore her mutant ability of "super sense". Pietro and Luna go on to find other mutants that Pietro will "help". Shortly after, it begins to rain, and each drop feels like a needle piercing Callisto, as her powers have been augmented to a much higher level than before. As Pietro is in the process of restoring other mutant's powers, Magneto
shows up with Callisto in his arms announcing that Pietro has poisoned her. Pietro uses the same tactic he used to steal the gases, creating two time clones and pummelling Magneto into the ground. Pietro, who has been harboring hatred for his father for never acknowledging him, is now fueled by his father killing him during the events of House of M
.
Meanwhile, Videmus admits to allowing Pietro to escape with the Terrigen Crystals. He believes that the Inhumans have grown weak and dull with their luxurious, unchallenging lifestyle, and that by losing the Terrigen Mists they will grow strong again through adversity. Black Bolt punishes Videmus by forbidding him to ever make mental contact with another being ever again and forcing him to live in solitary confinement.
Leaving Callisto behind for Pietro and the other mutants to take to a hospital, Magneto takes his leave. At the hospital, Callisto is diagnosed as having taken a DNA altering drug. Hearing of this, Black Bolt turns to the Fantastic Four for help in retrieving the Terrigen Crystals. The US government, alarmed at the possibility of a mutant resurgence, is also interested in seizing them. The Inhumans ambush the restored mutants when they arrive at Genosha. During the battle, Pietro tries to slip away with the Terrigen Mists, but is shot by an American special forces unit. Lockjaw comes to the rescue by teleporting Pietro and his daughter away, but they leave the Terrigen Crystals behind, which the government agents promptly seize.
During the fight with the Inhumans, Unus the Untouchable
loses control of his forcefield and suffocates himself to death, proving that the Terrigen Mists are unhealthy for non-Inhumans. The Inhumans demand the return of the Terrigen Crystals, but the US agents refuse, citing national security concerns. Much to their astonishment, Black Bolt responds by declaring war on the United States, and destroys their choppers.
Pietro, Luna, and Lockjaw teleport to Pietro's California home. Pietro informs Luna that he still has enough Terrigen Crystals for him and Luna. He then instructs Lockjaw to take Luna back to Crystal. At the Fantastic Four's headquarters, Reed informs the Inhumans that the mutants have lost their powers again; the effect was only temporary. Furthermore, he severs ties with the Inhumans because of their declaration of war.
In an epilogue, Pietro spends a long time — in the narration, he is uncertain of whether it is "days, weeks [or] months" — exposing himself to the Terrigen Mists with no other sustenance, absorbing into himself their power to mutate others. He then jumps forward in time to the limit of his power, and sees the world aflame. Walking along a street, he decides to embrace rather than fight the future, he grabs someone off the street and mutates them with his hands, shining with shards of Terrigen.
s is examined directly in the six-issue follow up mini-series Silent War
, in addition to being touched upon throughout X-Factor
vol. 3 by Peter David
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, a follow up to 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...
' "House of M
House of M
House 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...
" event, starring the depowered Quicksilver
Quicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver 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...
. Quicksilver was one of the many mutants to lose his powers as part of the Decimation
Decimation (comics)
Decimation is the late 2005 Marvel Comics storyline spinning off from the House of M limited series. It focuses on the ramifications of the Scarlet Witch stripping nearly all of the mutant population of their powers, thereby reducing a society of millions to one of scant hundreds.This event, which...
, which he was, in part, responsible for.
Background
Following his sister's nervous breakdown, Pietro convinced WandaScarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
that she could undo her wrongs by using her powers to turn the world into a world of peace. Wanda warped reality into the House of M, a world where mutants were the majority, humans the minority, and Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
was the ruler. During a battle between Magneto's forces and heroes having regained their memories, a mutant named Layla Miller
Layla Miller
Layla Rose Miller, also known as Butterfly, 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...
was able to restore Magneto's memories of the original reality. Enraged, Magneto confronted Pietro, angry that he had done all of this in his name. Pietro said he believed his father would have let Wanda be killed by the other heroes, that he was protecting her, but Magneto replied Pietro had only used Wanda and himself.
Furious, Magneto killed Pietro. Wanda revived her brother and declared "No more mutants", changing the world back to its original form and causing approximately ninety percent of the mutant population to lose their powers, leaving the mutant race on the brink of extinction. Pietro was among those affected, resulting in his falling into depression, both because of his loss of power and over his betrayal of mutantkind.
Synopsis
Pietro struggles to deal with life as an ordinary human, and desperately uses a beacon to attempt to contact the InhumansInhumans
The Inhumans are a fictional race of superhumans, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This race appears in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics and exists in that company's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe....
. An attempt to stop an anti-mutant gang killing a mutant with an organism growing on his stomach
Johnny Dee
Johnny Dee is a fictional mutant character, in the Marvel Comics universe. He debuted in Son of M #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
goes badly, until Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
intervenes, after which the angry Spider-Man confronts Pietro (angry with the fact that he still has memories of being married to 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 ....
and having a child together from the House of M reality), which leads to Pietro jumping off a roof, seriously injuring himself and possibly breaking his spine. Crystal
Crystal (comics)
Crystal is a fictional character, a superhero in the . She is a member of the Inhumans and the younger sister of Medusa....
, who Pietro had tried to contact earlier, then teleports in with Lockjaw
Lockjaw (comics)
Lockjaw is a fictional character and alien bulldog-like being that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
, to find her ex-husband lying hurt, blaming Spider-Man.
The badly injured Pietro wakes and interrupts Spider-Man's attempted explanation to tell Crystal that he had jumped off the roof. Crystal teleports him to the Inhumans' home for medical attention, believing he had become suicidal upon the loss of his powers and unaware of his true connection to the events.
After treatment by an Inhuman healer, Pietro wakes up and is reunited with his daughter Luna
Luna (comics)
Luna Maximoff is a fictional supporting character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Luna first appeared in Fantastic Four #240 , and was created by John Byrne...
. Deciding that he can not stand life as a human, Pietro asks Black Bolt
Black Bolt
Black Bolt is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon) is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 Black...
for permission to undergo Terrigenesis, exposure to the Inhumans' power-granting Terrigen Mist
Terrigen Mist
The Terrigen Mist is a fictional substance from the Marvel Comics universe. It plays a prominent role in the stories of the Inhumans, a fictional race of super-humans...
. Pietro's request is denied since he is of human blood, and Terrigenesis is reserved only for those of pure Inhuman stock to decrease the chance of a detrimental mutation. It is also explained to him that Luna will not ever be allowed to partake of the Mists due to her being of partial human genetics. Luna introduces Pietro to a "Communicator," who tells Pietro much about the process of Terrigenesis, leading to him breaking into the sacred Terrigen Caves and knocking out a guard so he can go dive into the misty cave waters. Pietro returns to his room thinking that the exposure had no effect, only to be greeted by an older version of himself.
The older Pietro explains that the Mists did give him powers — he has time-jumped fourteen days into the future, but the time-travel has a degenerative effect on him, hence his haggard state, and he can only move forward in time and only remain there for short periods before he is pulled back.
Manipulated by his older self, Pietro begins working to take the Terrigen Crystals back to Earth and restore the mutant population. He gains Luna's loyalty, promising to bring her to Earth with him, and learns of Lockjaw's loyalty to Luna. Eventually, Pietro manages to get a container full of Terrigen Crystals to the past, and uses Lockjaw to take him and Luna back to his apartment in New York. Luna instructs Lockjaw not to let Crystal find them before he heads back to the Inhumans. Pietro explains the basis of his plan concerning the Terrigen Crystals, and tells Luna he is going to give back her birthright, exposing her to the Mists.
In Genosha, Pietro plans to restore the powers of any mutant left there. He and Luna first encounter Callisto
Callisto (comics)
Callisto is a Marvel Comics fictional character, associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #169 ....
and restore her mutant ability of "super sense". Pietro and Luna go on to find other mutants that Pietro will "help". Shortly after, it begins to rain, and each drop feels like a needle piercing Callisto, as her powers have been augmented to a much higher level than before. As Pietro is in the process of restoring other mutant's powers, Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
shows up with Callisto in his arms announcing that Pietro has poisoned her. Pietro uses the same tactic he used to steal the gases, creating two time clones and pummelling Magneto into the ground. Pietro, who has been harboring hatred for his father for never acknowledging him, is now fueled by his father killing him during the events of House of M
House of M
House 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...
.
Meanwhile, Videmus admits to allowing Pietro to escape with the Terrigen Crystals. He believes that the Inhumans have grown weak and dull with their luxurious, unchallenging lifestyle, and that by losing the Terrigen Mists they will grow strong again through adversity. Black Bolt punishes Videmus by forbidding him to ever make mental contact with another being ever again and forcing him to live in solitary confinement.
Leaving Callisto behind for Pietro and the other mutants to take to a hospital, Magneto takes his leave. At the hospital, Callisto is diagnosed as having taken a DNA altering drug. Hearing of this, Black Bolt turns to the Fantastic Four for help in retrieving the Terrigen Crystals. The US government, alarmed at the possibility of a mutant resurgence, is also interested in seizing them. The Inhumans ambush the restored mutants when they arrive at Genosha. During the battle, Pietro tries to slip away with the Terrigen Mists, but is shot by an American special forces unit. Lockjaw comes to the rescue by teleporting Pietro and his daughter away, but they leave the Terrigen Crystals behind, which the government agents promptly seize.
During the fight with the Inhumans, Unus the Untouchable
Unus the Untouchable
Unus the Untouchable is a fictional character from the comic book X-Men and part of the Marvel Comics Universe. A mutant, Unus is named for his ability to consciously project a force field which protects him from harm.-Origin:Angelo Unuscione was born in Milan, Italy...
loses control of his forcefield and suffocates himself to death, proving that the Terrigen Mists are unhealthy for non-Inhumans. The Inhumans demand the return of the Terrigen Crystals, but the US agents refuse, citing national security concerns. Much to their astonishment, Black Bolt responds by declaring war on the United States, and destroys their choppers.
Pietro, Luna, and Lockjaw teleport to Pietro's California home. Pietro informs Luna that he still has enough Terrigen Crystals for him and Luna. He then instructs Lockjaw to take Luna back to Crystal. At the Fantastic Four's headquarters, Reed informs the Inhumans that the mutants have lost their powers again; the effect was only temporary. Furthermore, he severs ties with the Inhumans because of their declaration of war.
In an epilogue, Pietro spends a long time — in the narration, he is uncertain of whether it is "days, weeks [or] months" — exposing himself to the Terrigen Mists with no other sustenance, absorbing into himself their power to mutate others. He then jumps forward in time to the limit of his power, and sees the world aflame. Walking along a street, he decides to embrace rather than fight the future, he grabs someone off the street and mutates them with his hands, shining with shards of Terrigen.
Legacy
The fallout of Quicksilver's theft of the Terrigen MistTerrigen Mist
The Terrigen Mist is a fictional substance from the Marvel Comics universe. It plays a prominent role in the stories of the Inhumans, a fictional race of super-humans...
s is examined directly in the six-issue follow up mini-series Silent War
Silent War
Silent War is a six-issue Marvel Comics comic book limited series which began in January 2007. It was written by David Hine, with art by Frazer Irving....
, in addition to being touched upon throughout 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...
vol. 3 by Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
.
Collected editions
- Decimation: Son of M (trade paperback, collects Son of M #1-6), 144 pages, ISBN 0-7851-1970-1