Fantomex

Fantomex is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Igor Kordey, the character first appeared in '' New X-Men'' #128 (August 2002). Fantomex is an escaped experiment from the Weapon Plus Program. He was designated as Charlie Cluster-7 while growing up in a high tech facility.

Development

Concept and creation

Fantomex resembles the titular character of the Italian comic book ''Diabolik'' and its film adaptation '' Danger: Diabolik''. The character of Diabolik was in turn loosely based on the character Fantômas, the subject of a series of early-20th century French detective thrillers and a popular Mexican comic book adaptation, who Fantomex is named for. Fantomex's name, Jean-Phillipe, is a reference to actor John Phillip Law, who starred as Diabolik in ''Danger: Diabolik''. In addition, his Weapon X designation—"Weapon XIII"—is a reference to the secret agent protagonist of the Franco-Belgian comic '' XIII''.

Publication history

Fantomex debuted in '' New X-Men'' #128 (August 2002), and was created by Grant Morrison and Igor Kordey.

In July 2013, Marvel announced the character's first solo series, ''Fantomex MAX'', written by Andrew Hope, and illustrated by Shawn Crystal. The series does not take place in current Marvel continuity, and the character is not affiliated with any other Marvel characters. In this series, the character of Fantomex is a more literal take on the Diabolik character, with a storyline less influenced by traditional superhero plots, skewing more towards the concepts of intrigue and adventure. Issue #1 debuted on October 2, 2013.

Fantomex then made sporadic guest appearances with the X-Men until October 2010 when he has a permanent member of the new ''Uncanny X-Force'' with Rick Remender and Jerome Opeña as the creative team. That series ran for 35 issues and explored Fantomex's background and developed his character. Fantomex then was added to the short-lived ''X-Force'' vol. 4, which only lasted 15 issues. Fantomex returned to the X-Men in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' vol. 4 in issues #8–18. Fantomex's was added to the roster of the fourth volume of ''Astonishing X-Men'' with his apparent death in issue #6 and final appearance in issue #7.

In August 2020, Fantomex starred in ''Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex'' #1, a solo one-shot comic.

Fictional character biography

Fantomex is a techno-organic being created by the Weapon Plus program to serve as a super-Sentinel against Earth's mutant population.'' New X-Men'' #130 (October 2002) He was born and raised in the World, an artificial environment. Fantomex claims to have been raised in a virtual version of France with imperfect programming. He develops a French sense of identity and persona; while his experiment designation is Charlie Cluster-7, he usually goes by the name Jean-Phillipe.

During his first appearance, Fantomex seeks asylum at the X-Corporation in Paris while fleeing from authorities. He recruits Professor X and Jean Grey to travel to the Channel Tunnel and destroy Weapon XII. Fantomex destroys Weapon XII and learns that he is Weapon XIII. Grey allows Fantomex to escape before the authorities arrive.

Dark Reign, Nation X, and Second Coming

During the " Dark Reign" event, Norman Osborn attempts to take control of the World and Weapon Plus. Wolverine and Noh-Varr head to the World to try to stop Osborn but are attacked by Weapon Plus creations infected by Allgod (Weapon XVI). Noh-Varr is rescued by Fantomex, and the two of them make their way to the World's brain, where they confront and defeat Allgod. Fantomex uses a shrink ray he stole from Doctor Doom to shrink the World and take it for his own. Fantomex later joins X-Force alongside Wolverine, Archangel, Psylocke, and Deadpool.

Uncanny X-Force

When Psylocke is captured by the Brotherhood of Mutants, Fantomex sacrifices himself to save her. He is captured and killed when the Skinless Man cuts out his heart. With his connection to E.V.A. severed, she believes herself to be dying as well. She survives, however, and evolves into a humanoid form.

After Uncanny X-Force disbands, E.V.A. attempts to resurrect Fantomex via cloning, but due to his three brains, an error occurs and three different bodies are grown for each personality: the evil brain becomes "Weapon XIII", the noble brain becomes "Cluster", a female version of Fantomex; and the mischievous brain is restored to his proper body, taking the name of "Fantomex".

X-Force and Uncanny X-Men

Cable recruits Fantomex as part of his new X-Force team with the promise that he will help Fantomex find Cluster and Weapon XIII. He proves a questionable ally, as he constantly bickers with Psylocke and has a psychic sexual relations with Hope Summers.

He once kissed his X-Force colleague Doctor Nemesis on the lips in thanks for calling him "the best", showing that he is open to same-sex intimacy.

Astonishing X-Men

In ''Astonishing X-Men'', Fantomex is seemingly reunited with E.V.A after blaming Psylocke for taking E.V.A away from him. Professor X's astral self is trapped by the Shadow King and forced into a game with the X-Men as pawns, but Xavier is able to beat his old enemy by tricking him into bringing Rogue, Mystique, and Fantomex into the astral plane. Fantomex sacrifices his body so that Xavier can return to Earth. Fantomex returns in a self-titled one-shot, released in 2020.

Powers and abilities

Fantomex has an external nervous system referred to as E.V.A. that resembles a techno-organic flying saucer. The relationship between E.V.A. and Fantomex is symbiotic, so if E.V.A. experiences pain when she is not within Fantomex, he will feel it as well. Fantomex is mentally linked to E.V.A. and can control her movement. E.V.A. can reshape her body into a variety of forms, fly, and generate energy discharges.

Fantomex can create realistic illusions (he calls this ability "misdirection"). This ability is based on "reality skewing", rather than telepathy or holographic projection.

Fantomex is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and gunfighter. He once used special ceramic bullets covered in sentient mutant skin that never miss their target.

Fantomex's mask incorporates telepathy-blocking ceramics that render him completely immune to telepathy.

Former abilities

He once contained three brains with distinct personas and characteristics that were used for parallel and independent thinking in conjunction with his blood. These three brains allowed him to survive severe head wounds, since his secondary and tertiary brains could take over should one be destroyed. He lost these abilities after being resurrected, with all three brains being placed in separate clone bodies.

Reception

Kofi Outlaw of '' ComicBook.com'' said Fantomex quickly became a fan favorite character from the ''X-Men'' comics. English actor Ed Skrein praised Fantomex and called him one of his favorite characters, expressing interest in portraying him.

In 2014, ''Entertainment Weekly'' ranked Fantomex 44th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.

In 2018, '' CBR.com'' ranked Fantomex 5th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members" list.

Other versions

Days of Future Now

An alternate universe variant of Fantomex who was possessed by Sublime appears in the '' Days of Future Now'' storyline.

Here Comes Tomorrow

An alternate universe variant of E.V.A. appears in the ''Here Comes Tomorrow'' storyline. This version assumed a humanoid form after being separated from Fantomex.

In other media

* Fantomex makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Deadpool's ending in '' Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3''.
* Fantomex appears as a playable character in '' Marvel: Avengers Alliance''.
* Fantomex appears as a playable character in '' Marvel: Future Fight''.
* Fantomex appears as a playable character in '' Marvel Strike Force''.

Collected editions

References

External links

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{{Grant Morrison

Characters created by Grant Morrison
Comics characters introduced in 2002
Fictional assassins in comics
Fictional bisexual men
Fictional gentleman thieves
Fictional gunfighters in comics
Fictional soldiers
Marvel Comics characters who can teleport
Marvel Comics cyborgs
Marvel Comics LGBTQ superheroes
Marvel Comics male superheroes
Marvel Comics martial artists
Marvel Comics mutates
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