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Tag (comics)
Encyclopedia
Tag is a fictional character
, a Puerto Rican
mutant
appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics
. He first appeared in New Mutants
, vol. 2 #7 and was a member of the student body of the Xavier Institute
and the Hellions squad therein.
's squad after the X-Mansion
was rebuilt. He joined up with the Hellions
and took on the codename "Tag." He never questioned Hellion
and went along with his plans.
Tag is featured in the New X-Men: Hellions series that debuted in October 2005. While vacationing in Hellion's parents' home, the entire squad stumbles upon the secret of the Kingmaker. In a seemingly magical ritual, Tag and the others say their full name into the phone after guarding a number hidden in a safe. A man called the Kingmaker appears shortly afterwards and convinces the squad that he can grant them their heart's desires in exchange for a later favor. Tag becomes the business manager for his friends; this is his wish as arranged by their new ally. Brian simply didn't want to lose his friends after they became famous. However, the favor turns out to be the theft of a biological weapon. Before they realize the immoral implications, the group fights Diamondback
and Paladin
. Then they rebel. Despite the Kingmaster being physically formidiable (he can shake off Tag's powers) the Hellions retrieve and destroy the weapon.
After most of the world's mutants lost their powers during the Decimation
, Emma Frost decided it would be best if non-powered students left the school. While some left early, Tag stuck around the mansion as long as possible. After he and several other mutants (including Dryad
and Network
) said goodbye to their friends, they climbed on a bus out of Xavier's. Unfortunately, the bus was destroyed by a missile launched by William Stryker
's Purifiers
. Tag and the others that were in the bus were killed.
. When Quire committed suicide, Cruz doubted it and started investigating his friends death. Cruz ends up saving Douglas Ramsey
and Shan Coy Manh
from Sean Garrison by "tagging" him, making him run away from himself, which he accomplishes by jumping out of the window to his death.
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 Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
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...
appearing in comic books published by 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...
. He first appeared in New Mutants
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of teenaged mutant superheroes-in-training published by Marvel Comics. They have been the main characters of three successive comic book series, which were spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise....
, vol. 2 #7 and was a member of the student body of the Xavier Institute
X-Mansion
In 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...
and the Hellions squad therein.
Fictional character biography
Brian Cruz came to Emma FrostEmma Frost
Emma 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....
's squad after the X-Mansion
X-Mansion
In 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...
was rebuilt. He joined up with the Hellions
Hellions (comics)
There have been several groups of fictional characters in the Marvel Comics universe who have been known as the Hellions. These groups were rivals of various teams of younger mutant heroes in the X-Men franchise....
and took on the codename "Tag." He never questioned Hellion
Hellion
Hellion is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was a member of the student body of the Xavier Institute before its closing and is a member of the X-Men's training squad. He first appeared in New Mutants, vol. 2 #2.-New Mutants, vol...
and went along with his plans.
Tag is featured in the New X-Men: Hellions series that debuted in October 2005. While vacationing in Hellion's parents' home, the entire squad stumbles upon the secret of the Kingmaker. In a seemingly magical ritual, Tag and the others say their full name into the phone after guarding a number hidden in a safe. A man called the Kingmaker appears shortly afterwards and convinces the squad that he can grant them their heart's desires in exchange for a later favor. Tag becomes the business manager for his friends; this is his wish as arranged by their new ally. Brian simply didn't want to lose his friends after they became famous. However, the favor turns out to be the theft of a biological weapon. Before they realize the immoral implications, the group fights Diamondback
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
and Paladin
Paladin (comics)
Paladin is a Marvel Comics character, a mercenary. While he claims that Paladin is his real name, he often goes by the name Paul Denning . Though not precisely a supervillain, his mercenary activities often bring him into conflict with superheroes.-Publication history:Paladin first appeared in...
. Then they rebel. Despite the Kingmaster being physically formidiable (he can shake off Tag's powers) the Hellions retrieve and destroy the weapon.
After most of the world's mutants lost their powers during 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...
, Emma Frost decided it would be best if non-powered students left the school. While some left early, Tag stuck around the mansion as long as possible. After he and several other mutants (including Dryad
Dryad (comics)
Dryad is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, she first appeared in New X-Men: Academy X #1.-Fictional character biography:...
and Network
Network (comics)
Network is the name of three unrelated fictional characters in the Marvel Comics universe. One is a teleporting villain, the others are both superheroines with the power to communicate with and/or manipulate machines.-Network :...
) said goodbye to their friends, they climbed on a bus out of Xavier's. Unfortunately, the bus was destroyed by a missile launched by William Stryker
William Stryker
Col. William "Bill" Stryker, M.D. is a fictional comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, and enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Brent Anderson, he first appeared in the 1982 graphic novel X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.Rev...
's Purifiers
Purifiers
The Purifiers, also known as the Stryker Crusade, are a fictional paramilitary/terrorist organization in the Marvel Comics universe and enemies of the X-Men...
. Tag and the others that were in the bus were killed.
Powers and abilities
Tag could "tag" other people, originally causing them to emit a psionic signal compelling others to run away from the tagged subject. In the Hellions mini-series he further developed his abilities to cause people to flock to a tagged individual as well. He then finds he can do this to inanimate objects as well. His powers can be resisted by those with mental training; they also have range limits.House of M
Tag appeared in the House of M and had a unrequited crush on Quentin QuireQuentin Quire
Quentin Quire, also known as Kid Omega, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in New X-Men #122 , although he went unnamed until New X-Men #134...
. When Quire committed suicide, Cruz doubted it and started investigating his friends death. Cruz ends up saving Douglas Ramsey
Cypher (comics)
Cypher is a fictional mutant character, a superhero from Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #13 .-Fictional character biography:Doug Ramsey was born to Philip and Sheila Ramsey...
and Shan Coy Manh
Karma (comics)
Karma is a fictional superheroine from Marvel Comics created by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller.Karma is a mutant endowed with the ability to seize control of another's mind, though she has sometimes been depicted with other more extensive psionic abilities...
from Sean Garrison by "tagging" him, making him run away from himself, which he accomplishes by jumping out of the window to his death.