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Cypher (Douglas Aaron "Doug" Ramsey) is a character appearing in
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...
s published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
. The character appears usually in the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963). Although initial ...
family of books, in particular those featuring the
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, sub ...
, of which Cypher has been a member. Cypher belongs to the subspecies of humans called
mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities. He is able to easily understand any language, whether spoken or written.
The character is not related to the cyborg of the same name who appeared in ''Sabretooth and Mystique'' (1996–1997).
Publication history
Created by writer
Chris Claremont
Christopher S. Claremont (; born November 25, 1950) is an English-born American comic book writer and novelist. Claremont is best known for his 16-year stint on ''Uncanny X-Men'' from 1975 to 1991, far longer than that of any other writer,Clarem ...
and artist
Sal Buscema
Sal Buscema ( ; born Silvio Buscema, , on January 26, 1936) is an American comics artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he had a ten-year run as artist of ''The Incredible Hulk (comic book), The Incredible Hulk'' and an eight-year run as art ...
, the character first appeared in ''
The New Mutants
The New Mutants may refer to:
*''New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teena ...
'' #13 (March 1984).
Initially used as a supporting cast member, he was assimilated into the titular superteam in ''The New Mutants'' #21 (November 1984). During his run as a member of the team, Cypher was the least popular of the
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, sub ...
, as series writer
Louise Simonson
Louise Simonson (née Mary Louise Alexander; born September 26, 1946) is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as ''Conan the Barbarian'', '' Power Pack'', ''X-Factor'', ''The New Mutan ...
recounted: "He wasn't fun to draw. He just stood around and hid behind a tree during a fight... Every artist who ever did him said 'Can't we kill this guy?' We would get letters from fans about how much they hated him. We never got any letters from people saying they liked him until he was dead."
Cypher was killed in ''The New Mutants'' #60 (February 1988). The story was acclaimed as one of the most touching moments in the series, and sparked a surge in popularity for the character.
Following his death, Cypher was frequently referenced and even had a solo story in ''The New Mutants Annual'' #6 (July 1990), appearing as a ghost. His tombstone appears as one of
Magneto
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current. Unlike a dynamo, a magneto does not contain a commutator to produce direct current. It is categorized as a form of alternator, ...
's most traumatic memories when psychically assaulted by
Professor X
Professor X (Prof. Charles Francis Xavier) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 ( ...
and
Jean Grey
Jean Elaine Grey-Summers is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''Uncanny X-Men, The X-Men'' #1 ...
.
After the events of the "
Phalanx Covenant
"Phalanx Covenant" was a crossover storyline that ran through Marvel Comics' X-Men family of books in September and October 1994. One of its unique aspects was that the X-Men themselves only played a minor role in the story.
Plot
The X-Men ar ...
" storyline, a techno-organic being known as "Douglock" takes Cypher's form in ''
Excalibur
Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
'' #78 (June 1994), but this being turns out to be
Warlock
A warlock is a male practitioner of witchcraft.
Etymology and terminology
The most commonly accepted etymology derives '' warlock'' from the Old English '' wǣrloga'', which meant "breaker of oaths" or "deceiver". The term came to apply special ...
infused with Cypher's memories.
The character was resurrected during the 2009–2010 "
Necrosha
"Necrosha" is a 2009–10 comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics featuring the X-Men family of characters. In the storyline, Selene decides to utilize the techno-organic virus’s power to bring any deceased mutant back to lif ...
" storyline and appeared regularly in subsequent issues of ''New Mutants'' (vol. 3) (2009–2012), ''
All-New X-Factor'' (2014–2015), and ''New Mutants'' (vol. 4) (2020–2023). In the 2024 limited series ''X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse'', Cypher is selected as the heir to
Apocalypse
Apocalypse () is a literary genre originating in Judaism in the centuries following the Babylonian exile (597–587 BCE) but persisting in Christianity and Islam. In apocalypse, a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a ...
, transformed to resemble his predecessor, and renamed Revelation.
Fictional character biography
New Mutants
Douglas Aaron "Doug" Ramsey is born to Philip and Sheila Ramsey in
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a County (United States), county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, bordering the Long Island Sound and the Byram River to its east and the Hudson River on its west. The c ...
. He becomes friends with
Kitty Pryde
Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. The character First appearance, first appeared in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #129 (January 1980) and was ...
after she moves there to join
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
X-Mansion and Xavier Institute are the common names for a mansion and research institute appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The mansion is depicted as the private estate of Charles Francis Xavier and serves as the bas ...
. The two share an interest in computers, Kitty's talent for building hardware complementing Doug's skill at writing software.
A talented hacker, Doug serves as a supporting character for his first few appearances, unaware of Kitty's mutant powers or the true nature of Xavier's School. When
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne (comics), John Byrne, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''The Uncanny ...
offers Doug a scholarship to her
Massachusetts Academy, hoping to recruit him to serve the villainous
Hellfire Club
Hellfire Club was a term used to describe several exclusive Club (organization), clubs for high-society Rake (character), rakes established in Great Britain and Ireland in the 18th Century. The name most commonly refers to Francis Dashwood, 11t ...
as a member of the
Hellions, Kitty accompanies him on a trip there and is captured, but she is later rescued by the New Mutants.
Though Doug's memory of the mutant-related events is wiped by Frost, he does not accept the scholarship.
The New Mutants later call upon Doug to help them communicate with the newly-arrived
techno-organic alien
Warlock
A warlock is a male practitioner of witchcraft.
Etymology and terminology
The most commonly accepted etymology derives '' warlock'' from the Old English '' wǣrloga'', which meant "breaker of oaths" or "deceiver". The term came to apply special ...
, revealing that they are mutants and superheroes and that Doug himself is a mutant. Doug subsequently becomes a member of the New Mutants, taking the alias Cypher. With Cypher's affinity for technology and being more readily able to understand Warlock than most others, the two of them become fast friends.
Whereas Warlock refers to his teammates with the prefix "selfriend," after Cypher saves his life by offering to share some of his life energy with Warlock, Warlock gives Cypher the unique identifier of "selfsoulfriend".
Cypher becomes the team's computer expert and researcher, writing programs for the X-Men's
Danger Room
The Danger Room is a fictional training facility appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It first appeared in ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The facility is depicted as built for ...
.
He is the only one of the New Mutants who never tells his parents that he is a mutant, as he fears rejection.
Despite being instrumental in many of his team's successful missions, Cypher suffers from occasional feelings of inadequacy. These feelings are driven by his lack of combat-oriented powers
and the way Warlock often encapsulates him to provide defense in times of danger.
Cypher helps rescue
Psylocke
Psylocke is the name of two connected characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. Both characters are portrayed as Mutant (Marvel Comics), mutants, a subspecies of humans born w ...
from
Mojo
Mojo may refer to:
* Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in Hoodoo
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* ''Mojo'' (2017 film), a 2017 Indian Kannada drama film written and directed by Sreesha Belakvaadi
* '' ...
, venturing deep into her mind and saving her psyche from being torn apart by
Spiral
In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving further away as it revolves around the point. It is a subtype of whorled patterns, a broad group that also includes concentric objects.
Two-dimensional
A two-dimension ...
. The shared experience creates a deep emotional bond between the two, though neither pursue those feelings any further due to their inappropriate age difference.
Cypher is initially interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with Kitty,
but they eventually decide to remain friends,
and he later enters into a relationship with his teammate
Wolfsbane.
When Warlock's father, the
Magus
Magi (), or magus (), is the term for priests in Zoroastrianism and earlier Iranian religions. The earliest known use of the word ''magi'' is in the trilingual inscription written by Darius the Great, known as the Behistun Inscription. Old Per ...
, attacks the team, Cypher defeats him by reprogramming him into an infantile state.
After the New Mutants rescue a humanoid bird creature named
Bird-Brain, Cypher is initially jealous of Wolfsbane's affection for him, but after he manages to understand and translate the creature's language,
he and Wolfsbane bond with Bird-Brain.
During the subsequent battle against the
Ani-Mator, a geneticist working for
Cameron Hodge, Cypher takes a bullet intended for Wolfsbane and dies.
Magneto, leader of the New Mutants at the time, explains Cypher's death to his parents as a hunting accident. A grief-stricken Warlock tries to steal Cypher's body in a confused attempt to reanimate it, but his teammates convince him to return the body. Cypher's ghost later appears to Wolfsbane when she visits his grave in the cemetery.
He later appears in a fantasy staged by
Captain Britain
Captain Britain is a title used by various superheroes in comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with Excalibur. The moniker was first used in publication by Brian Braddock in ''Captain Britain'' #1 by writer Chris Cl ...
's patron Merlyn to aid
Excalibur
Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
in exposing and battling the vengeful spirit of the late X-Men member
Changeling
A changeling, also historically referred to as an auf or oaf, is a human-like creature found throughout much of European folklore. According to folklore, a changeling was a substitute left by a supernatural being when kidnapping a human being. ...
.
Douglock
Warlock is killed by
Cameron Hodge during the 1990–1991 "
X-Tinction Agenda
"X-Tinction Agenda" is a 1990 crossover comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics that ran through ''Uncanny X-Men'' and its spin-off titles, ''X-Factor'' and ''New Mutants''. "X-Tinction Agenda" not only reunited the X-Men after a prolo ...
" event,
and his ashes are scattered on Cypher's grave at Wolfsbane's request.
Later, the techno-organic
Phalanx
The phalanx (: phalanxes or phalanges) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar polearms tightly packed together. The term is particularly used t ...
resurrect Warlock with Cypher's memories and appearance, intending to use him as a "
Trojan horse
In Greek mythology, the Trojan Horse () was a wooden horse said to have been used by the Greeks during the Trojan War to enter the city of Troy and win the war. The Trojan Horse is not mentioned in Homer, Homer's ''Iliad'', with the poem ending ...
" to infiltrate the X-Men.
This gestalt entity, called
Douglock, breaks free of the Phalanx's programming
and joins
Excalibur
Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
.
Unaware of his real identity as Warlock, Douglock believes himself to be a new entity based on the "genetic and mental engrams" of Cypher and Warlock. He enters into a relationship with Wolfsbane
and becomes a valued part of Excalibur, appearing regularly in the ''
Excalibur
Excalibur is the mythical sword of King Arthur that may possess magical powers or be associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. Its first reliably datable appearance is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''Historia Regum Britanniae''. E ...
'' title until its conclusion. After the team disbands, Warlock's personality resurfaces, but exhibits more human speech patterns and appearance. Warlock manifests Cypher's translation powers and maintains a copy of Cypher's memory, but Cypher's personality is not active.
Resurrection and New Mutants Reunion
During the 2009–2010 "
Necrosha
"Necrosha" is a 2009–10 comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics featuring the X-Men family of characters. In the storyline, Selene decides to utilize the techno-organic virus’s power to bring any deceased mutant back to lif ...
" event, Cypher is resurrected with the
transmode virus as a thrall of
Selene
In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Selene (; , meaning "Moon")''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη is the goddess and personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene (), she is traditionally the daughter ...
and
Eli Bard and tasked with killing former teammate
Magma
Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma (sometimes colloquially but incorrectly referred to as ''lava'') is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also ...
.
He is confronted by his old teammates, during which he displays a greatly enhanced ability to read body language and anticipate actions, and is subdued. After Warlock fails to restore his true personality,
Cypher is kidnapped by the Hellions, who wish to reprogram him,
but he is rescued by his former teammates, who sever his connection to Selene and restore his original personality and free will.
Cypher joins the X-Men's
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, sub ...
squad and makes regular appearances throughout subsequent issues of ''New Mutants'' (vol. 3). The transmode virus which rebuilt his body is still present, but Cypher reprograms it into permanent remission.
Cypher appears in the 2010 "
Second Coming
The Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Advent or the Parousia) is the Christianity, Christian and Islam, Islamic belief that Jesus, Jesus Christ will return to Earth after his Ascension of Jesus, ascension to Heaven (Christianity), Heav ...
" event, during which he helps defeat Cameron Hodge with his enhanced abilities,
accompanies
X-Force
X-Force is a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. Conceived by writer/illustrator Rob Liefeld, the team first appeared in ''New Mutants'' #100 (April 1991 ...
on a time-travelling mission to stop an invasion of Sentinels from the future,
and assists
Cable
Cable may refer to:
Mechanical
* Nautical cable, an assembly of three or more ropes woven against the weave of the ropes, rendering it virtually waterproof
* Wire rope, a type of rope that consists of several strands of metal wire laid into a hel ...
in defeating
Master Mold
Master Mold is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics most commonly appearing as an enemy of the X-Men and the leader of the Sentinel mutant-hunting robots.
Publication history
Master Mold first appeared in ...
.
Following the 2011 "
Schism
A schism ( , , or, less commonly, ) is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization, movement, or religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a split in what had previously been a single religious body, suc ...
" and the 2011–2012 "
Regensis" events, Cypher, along with most of the New Mutants, moves to the X-Men's island base of Utopia off the coast of San Francisco.
He plays a key role in defeating an alternate future version of himself called Truefriend, which had taken over the world by splicing Warlock's tech into people under the guise of helping them. With the help of
Doctor Strange
Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #110 (cover-dated July 1963). Doctor Strange serves as ...
, Truefriend is prevented from coming into existence.
All-New X-Factor
Cypher joins the corporate-sponsored
X-Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...
and regularly appears in ''
All-New X-Factor'' (2014–2015),
[Danger
Danger is a lack of safety and may refer
Places
* Danger Cave, an archaeological site in Utah
* Danger Island, Great Chagos Bank, Indian Ocean
* Danger Island, alternate name of Pukapuka Atoll in the Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean
* Danger Island ...]
. This strains his relationship with Warlock, who has romantic feelings for Danger, but the two later reconcile.
Hunt for Wolverine
After X-Factor disbands, Cypher isolates himself to focus on decoding the entire Internet. However, his powers will not allow him to stop once he begins, causing him to develop an addiction to Internet use. He becomes a hermit, living in a dilapidated shack in New Jersey. During the 2018 "
Hunt for Wolverine" storyline, Cypher is approached by
Daredevil,
Misty Knight
Mercedes "Misty" Knight is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Jenny Blake Isabella and Arvell Jones, the character was first mentioned in '' Marvel Premiere'' #20 (January 1975) and first appear ...
, and Nur for help in locating
Wolverine
The wolverine ( , ; ''Gulo gulo''), also called the carcajou or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species, member of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The w ...
. Initially unresponsive and hostile when Nur cuts off his Internet access, Cypher eventually calms down and agrees to assist, though abstaining from Internet use affects him negatively. At the investigation's conclusion, Cypher admits his addiction and turns to Daredevil for help.
His Internet addiction subsequently stabilizes.
Cypher also aids Daredevil in bringing down
Kingpin, who had taken over from Matt Murdock as Mayor of New York.
Krakoan Age
In the 2019 ''
House of X'' and ''
Powers of X
''House of X'' and ''Powers of X'' (abbreviated as ''HOX'' and ''POX'') are two 2019 comic book miniseries published by Marvel Comics featuring the X-Men by writer Jonathan Hickman and artists Pepe Larraz, R. B. Silva, and Marte Gracia. Both boo ...
'' miniseries, Cypher helps establish
Krakoa
Krakoa is a fictional living island appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It first appeared in '' Giant-Size X-Men'' #1 and was created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum. While often depicted as an antagonist, Krakoa later fe ...
as a mutant nation, using his powers to communicate with the island.
He is granted a seat on the
Quiet Council and acts as the voice of Krakoa, representing the island's interests in matters of state.
In addition to his Quiet Council duties, Cypher rejoins the New Mutants once more,
and appears regularly in ''New Mutants'' (vol. 4) and other various X-Men titles throughout the
Krakoan Age
The Krakoan Age was a series of ''X-Men'' storylines published by Marvel Comics from 2019 to 2024. The Krakoan Age began with the Jonathan Hickman limited series ''House of X'' and ''Powers of X'' (July – October 2019) and it consists of fo ...
.
During the 2020–2021 "
X of Swords
"X of Swords" (pronounced "Ten of Swords") is a comic book crossover story arc set during the larger " Krakoan Age" storyline, which debuted in September 2020, published by Marvel Comics. It was part of Marvel's "Dawn of X" relaunch of its ''X-M ...
" event, Cypher is chosen as one of Krakoa's representatives in the eponymous tournament, wielding Warlock as his "sword."
He is slated to face off against
Bei the Blood Moon, a member of the opposing team from
Arakko
A-Bomb
Abomination
Absorbing Man
Abraxas
Abyss
Abyss is the name of two characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Nils Styger
Abyss is a mutant and the half-brother of Nightcrawler. He was cr ...
. However, rather than fight, they are made to marry, earning each of their teams a point for completing the ceremony. Though they are largely strangers to each other, Cypher is fascinated with Bei due to his inability to understand her (a result of her psionic powers conflicting with his own).
During
Annihilation
In particle physics, annihilation is the process that occurs when a subatomic particle collides with its respective antiparticle to produce other particles, such as an electron colliding with a positron to produce two photons. The total energy a ...
's invasion of Otherworld at the end of the tournament, Cypher convinces his new wife to betray her Arakkii comrades and help the Krakoans fight the forces of Amenth.
Despite the circumstances of their marriage and their communication barrier, Cypher and Bei remain married after the tournament and live together happily on Krakoa, appearing together in subsequent X-Men titles.
During the 2022 "
Destiny of X" event, after the Quiet Council was revealed to potentially be under the influence of
Mister Sinister
Mister Sinister (Dr. Nathaniel Essex) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri, the character was first mentioned as the employer behind the team ...
, the council voted to disband. Krakoa quickly swallowed Cypher and trapped him somewhere underground, refusing to release him for his own protection.
Distraught by the disappearance of her beloved husband, Bei employed numerous scent trackers and telepaths to locate him, but none could detect his presence on Krakoa.
Cypher is eventually released and reappears during the 2023 "
Fall of X
"Fall of X" is a 2023 relaunch of the X-Men line of American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is the sequel to the " Destiny of X" publishing initiative, and is the final initiative in the Krakoan Age of the X-Men. The phase started with ...
" event. He participates in the X-Men's counteroffensive against the anti-mutant terrorist group
Orchis
''Orchis'' is a genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), occurring mainly in Europe and Maghreb, Northwest Africa, and ranging as far as Tibet, Mongolia, and Xinjiang. The name is from the Ancient Greek ὄρχις ''orchis'', meaning "testicl ...
and later assists in remerging a fractured Krakoa.
From the Ashes
Cypher appears in the 2024 miniseries ''X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse'', in which he is chosen to compete in a tournament to be the successor of
Apocalypse
Apocalypse () is a literary genre originating in Judaism in the centuries following the Babylonian exile (597–587 BCE) but persisting in Christianity and Islam. In apocalypse, a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a ...
. Ultimately, Cypher wins the tournament. Transformed by
Celestial technology into Revelation, he commits himself to evolving Apocalypse's legacy and protecting mutant-kind on Earth.
Powers and abilities
Cypher is a
mutant
In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It i ...
who possesses a superhuman intuitive facility for translating languages, spoken or written, human or alien in origin. His superhuman skill is extended to his great facility in deciphering codes and
computer languages
A computer language is a formal language used to communicate with a computer. Types of computer languages include:
* Construction language – all forms of communication by which a human can specify an executable problem solution to a comput ...
, and he is also able to read inflection and body language which allows him to understand the vast subtext of a conversation. Rather than working the problem out step by step in his conscious mind, he instead subconsciously solves the problem. Hence, he can reach the correct solution by means that appear to be leaps of logic, and he himself may not be consciously aware of the entire process by which he reaches the right answer.
Since his resurrection by
Selene
In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Selene (; , meaning "Moon")''A Greek–English Lexicon's.v. σελήνη is the goddess and personification of the Moon. Also known as Mene (), she is traditionally the daughter ...
's use of the
transmode virus, Cypher's powers have evolved to the point where he can read all aspects of "language." He is able to read his opponents' body language and the patterns of their combat moves to counter the attacks of several opponents attacking him at once. By considering the exercise of combat skills to be a form of language, he proved a match for the combined might of the
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, sub ...
.
He is able to "read" architectural structure and integrity to ascertain a building's weaknesses.
He also appears capable of "speaking" binary; giving verbal commands in machine code that can reprogram the machine.
Cypher is an expert in translating and designing
computer software
Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications.
The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...
. He took university-level courses in languages and
computer science
Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans Theoretical computer science, theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to Applied science, ...
. He can hack some of the most protected computers.
Cypher has been infected by techno-organic viruses on multiple occasions. The presence of the virus has allowed him at times to cheat death and to demonstrate techno-organic shapeshifting, transmode infection, and life-absorption abilities.
Cypher was taught by an imprisoned
Magik
Magik (Illyana Nikolaievna Rasputina) (Russian language, Russian: Ильяна Николаевна Распутина) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cock ...
how to cast a mystical teleportation spell which allows him to transport himself and others to either Hell or Hel.
Cypher is the only mutant who can communicate with the island
Krakoa
Krakoa is a fictional living island appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It first appeared in '' Giant-Size X-Men'' #1 and was created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum. While often depicted as an antagonist, Krakoa later fe ...
and interpret the island's sentiments.
Cypher's powers render him unable to understand any being who communicates without language. For example,
Bei the Blood Moon's Doom Note is a sound and not a language, thus Cypher is incapable of understanding it, regardless of the Doom Note's psionic translation of itself to be understood by all who hear it.
Cypher gained additional powers after being greatly enhanced by
Celestial technology and transformed into Revelation.
Reception
In 2014, ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' ranked Cypher 48th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in "
Age of Apocalypse
"Age of Apocalypse" is a 1995 comic book crossover storyline mostly published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. The ''Age of Apocalypse'' briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616 and had ramifications in the main Marvel Comic ...
." This version is the adopted son of
Destiny
Destiny, sometimes also called fate (), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual.
Fate
Although often used interchangeably, the words ''fate'' and ''destiny'' ...
and lives in
Avalon
Avalon () is an island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appeared in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 ''Historia Regum Britanniae'' as a place of magic where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was made and later where Arthur was taken to recove ...
. He is later killed protecting Destiny from the
Shadow King
The Shadow King (Amahl Farouk) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as an enemy of the X-Men. His nemesis is the X-Men's leader, Professor X, while he also figures into the backstory of the X-M ...
.
Age of X
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in "
Age of X." This version is an ally of
Magneto
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current. Unlike a dynamo, a magneto does not contain a commutator to produce direct current. It is categorized as a form of alternator, ...
who was infected with an alien substance, giving him the ability to regenerate his body and control technology.
Cyberlock
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in ''
X-Force Annual'' #1 (May 1992). This version is a member of X-Force who fused with
Warlock
A warlock is a male practitioner of witchcraft.
Etymology and terminology
The most commonly accepted etymology derives '' warlock'' from the Old English '' wǣrloga'', which meant "breaker of oaths" or "deceiver". The term came to apply special ...
while retaining his memories, becoming known as Cyberlock.
Days of Future Present
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in "
Days of Future Present
"Days of Future Present" is a storyline published by Marvel Comics, appearing in the 1990 annuals of ''Fantastic Four'', ''X-Factor'', ''The New Mutants'' and ''The Uncanny X-Men''. Centered on the appearance of an adult version of the powerful m ...
." This version is infected with the
transmode virus and transformed into a cyborg.
Exiles
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in the ''
Exiles'' story arc "Legacy." This version is fused with Warlock after being infected with the
Legacy Virus
The Legacy Virus is a fictional plague appearing in American comic books featuring the X-Men published by Marvel Comics. It first appeared in an eponymous storyline in Marvel Comics titles, from 1993 to 2001, during which it swept through the mut ...
, creating a new virus called Vi-Lock that infects over half of Earth's population. Cypher is subsequently kept in stasis before being killed by one of the infected.
House of M
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in "
House of M
"House of M" is a 2005 comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics, consisting of an eight-issue comic book limited series with a number of crossover tie-in books written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel. Its first i ...
." This version is a teacher at the New Mutant Leadership Institute.
Marvel Zombies
A zombified alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in ''
Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth'' #9 (May 2010).
Rahne of Terra
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in ''
Wolverine: Rahne of Terra'' and its sequel, ''Wolverine: Knight of Terra''. This version is a peasant named Douglas who marries Queen
Rain
Rain is a form of precipitation where water drop (liquid), droplets that have condensation, condensed from Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is res ...
of Geshem.
Truefriend
An alternate timeline variant of Cypher appears in ''New Mutants'' (vol. 3) (2012). This version permanently merges with Warlock and then kills his former friend. He takes over Earth using Warlock's
transmode virus and becomes known as Truefriend. He is defeated by the
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, sub ...
of the
mainstream continuity and prevented from ever coming into existence.
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in the
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel, later known as Ultimate Comics, was an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the Ultimate Marvel Universe, later known as the ...
imprint. This version is a human computer programmer and a student at
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne (comics), John Byrne, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''The Uncanny ...
's
Academy of Tomorrow.
During the "
Ultimatum
An ; ; : ultimata or ultimatums) is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a coercion, threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance (open loop). An ultimatum is generally the ...
" storyline, he is killed by
Jamie Madrox
James Arthur Madrox, also called the Multiple Man, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Len Wein, he first appeared in '' Giant-Size Fantastic Four'' #4 (February 1975).
...
.
What If...?
An alternate universe variant of Cypher appears in ''
What If...?'' (vol. 2) #12 (April 1990). This version is a scholar and
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...
's
vizier
A vizier (; ; ) is a high-ranking political advisor or Minister (government), minister in the Near East. The Abbasids, Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was at first merely a help ...
after she becomes queen of
Asgard
In Nordic mythology, Asgard (Old Norse: ''Ásgarðr''; "Garden of the Æsir") is a location associated with the gods. It appears in several Old Norse sagas and mythological texts, including the Eddas, however it has also been suggested to be refe ...
.
References
External links
*
*
UncannyXmen.net Spotlight On Cypher
{{Chris Claremont
Characters created by Chris Claremont
Characters created by Sal Buscema
Comics characters introduced in 1984
Fictional linguists
Fictional polyglots
Marvel Comics cyborgs
Marvel Comics male superheroes
Marvel Comics mutants
Marvel Comics psychics
Marvel Comics telepaths
New Mutants
X-Factor (comics)