X-Terminators

The X-Terminators is the name of several fictional groups of mutant characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of the group was created by Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove and first appeared in ''X-Terminators'' #2 (November 1988). The second incarnation was created by Leah Williams and Carlos Gómez and first appeared in ''X-Terminators'' (vol. 2) #1 (September 2022).

Publication history

The X-Terminators was initially the undercover name for the first incarnation of X-Factor, first using the name in ''X-Factor'' #8 (June 1986). The wards of these characters would then go on to take the name during the " Inferno" event, with a four-issue tie-in miniseries and appearances in ''The New Mutants'' #72–74 (February–April 1989) and ''The New Mutants Annual'' #7 (August 1991). The group would reform under Cable in the one-shot ''Cable: Reloaded'' (October 2021). The second group to take the name starred in a 2022–2023 five-issue limited series in the "Destiny of X" line of X-Men comics.

Fictional history

The five original X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, and Marvel Girl) had founded X-Factor, and posed as normal humans purported to be an organization of mutant-hunters. When they went into action in costume in public, they posed as another mutant team under the name X-Terminators. Eventually, X-Factor realized that this ruse was actually a ploy by their former business manager Cameron Hodge to worsen human-mutant relations and they abandoned the X-Terminators identity.

In their time posing as mutant-hunters, X-Factor secretly gathered together a number of mutants, including some Morlocks and several adolescents. The group consisted of Boom-Boom, Rusty Collins, Rictor, Skids, and two younger children, Leech and Artie Maddicks.

These young trainees were split between two boarding schools separated by about a mile. Artie and Leech were sent to a school for dyslexics. They enjoyed it there, especially after they convinced the teachers that they should be kept together. The older kids attended Phillips Exeter Academy (a real-life elite boarding school), and were tormented by the other students. Rusty himself, however, had gone to prison voluntarily, to answer for the accidental injuries he had caused with his flame powers.

When the events of " Inferno" began, goblins, sensing the powers in Artie and Leech, kidnapped them out of their beds at school. The demons were supposed to have gathered younger, more powerful children but were initially confused.

Taki, their new friend, fought the demons with his power to craft complex machinery from nearby objects. The demons knocked him out, escaping with the boys. Taki then formed a flying machine in order to gather the rest of the group. Initially, Rusty did not want to leave his prison cell, but agreed to do so when he understood the kids were in danger.

Artie, Leech, and Taki became prisoners of the demons for a while, with Taki forced to make complex machines that enhanced the powers of the demon leader N'astirh. The rest of the team joined up with the New Mutants. All the children kidnapped by the demons, including Artie, Leech, and Taki, were eventually rescued safely.

The younger kids were returned to school and, the older members joined forces with the New Mutants, effectively ending the team. In 2021, Cable recruited some of the old members in a mission to Breakworld in the Last Annihilation event. The team named itself the X-Terminators.

''X-Terminators'' was revived in 2022 for a limited series in the Destiny of X line, featuring Jubilee, Dazzler, Boom-Boom, and Wolverine. They teamed up again when vampires were targeting Dazzler's fans.

Members

In 1988, the team debuted in ''X-Terminators'' #1.

In other media

Television

* Boom-Boom, Rusty Collins, Skids, and Wiz Kid appear in the '' X-Men: The Animated Series'' episode "No Mutant Is An Island". These versions of the characters are orphaned mutants who Cyclops meets while visiting his old orphanage in Nebraska. A man known as Killgrave, who secretly possess mind-control powers, adopts them, seemingly out of charity. In reality, Killgrave intends to use their powers to take over as governor. Cyclops is ultimately able to free them from Killgrave's control.

References

External links

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{{X-Men characters

Fictional organizations
1988 comics debuts
Comics by Louise Simonson
Comics characters introduced in 1988
Comics characters
Marvel Comics titles
X-Men supporting characters
X-Men titles
X-Factor (comics)