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Asylum (comics)
Encyclopedia
This article is about the Marvel Comics characters. For the Image Comics anthology, see Asylum (Image Comics).
Asylum is the name of two characters in the Marvel Comics
Universe.
energies that converted her body into a psionic mist that caused hallucinations in anyone who touched it. She later was able to use her Darkforce energies as an offensive weapon. She was vulnerable at the one solid part of her body, a golden mask. After being defeated while fighting solo against the New Warriors
Nova
, Firestar
and Speedball
, she seemed to dissipate except for her mask, and has not been seen in action since.
powers were driving him insane. He is placed in the Smythers drug rehabilitation clinic, but the doctors hold little hope for him. Unknown to the doctors, Gallante's mutant powers allow him access to the dimension of Darkforce
, an extra-dimensional energy resembling tar. Although the energy possesses no true sentience, Gallante displaces his feelings of darkness and despair to it and allowed it to mimic an empathic sentience that feeds off and perpetuates Gallante's dark feelings.
Through Gallante, the Darkforce is able to access his dimensional plane, as its natural tendency was to fill the relative vacuum of darkness such a dimension of light creates. Soon, the Darkforce began to use Gallante to allow it to seep into his world, kidnapping those who could access Darkforce, such as Cloak
, Shroud
, and Quagmire
, and trapping them within its dimension. It also began to flood New York City
and envelop those with dark or violent tendencies, unleashing that side of them. Gallante grew mad as the power of the darkness increases, and he succumbs wholeheartedly to the Darkforce, desiring to destroy the world.
With an army of Darkforce-controlled individuals, Gallante, calling himself Darkling, is confronted by an assemblage of Earth's heroes, including the New Warriors
, Spider-Man
, members of the Fantastic Four
, Archangel
, and Doctor Strange
. Several superheros temporarily fall to the influence as well. The New Warriors' Firestar
and Dagger
are able to use their powers to disrupt Gallante's access to the Darkforce, and the heroes are ultimately able to convince Gallatne of the error of his ways. Deciding that to understand himself meant to live with his darkness, Gallante disappears into the Darkforce dimension, taking its residual energies with him.
Gallante was able to return to Earth
by way of a mask once used by the villain Asylum. A gang member finds the mask and dons it. He becomes overwhelmed by the perception it gives him into the darkness within the psyche of those around him. As the Darkforce exudes from the mask and consumes him, Gallante had taken his place. Taking the identity of Asylum for himself, Gallante seeks out the former Asylum’s teammates, Psionex
, and takes on the role of their new leader. The team becomes determined to use their abilities to clean up New York City as their newest superhuman champions.
Unfortunately, Asylum leads Psionex to attack a group of supposed gang members that merely turned out to be youths playing with toy guns. Before realizing this mistake, Asylum forces a child into the Darkforce Dimension to face the darkness within him, and the boy emerges dead. Distraught that his powers would accidentally cause the death of an innocent, Gallante flees and is pursued by his teammates, who were determined to make Gallante face justice (although most were pursuing him so that they themselves would not be implicated in the charges). During their conflict, they are confronted by the New Warriors, who manage to disrupt Gallante's connection to the Darkforce Dimension in order to capture him. They convince him that vigilantes shouldn’t be above the law, and he needs to be accountable even for an accidental death. Asylum is remanded to the police, and Psionex was given over to its creators, the company Genetech, for custody.
At some later point, Gallante relapses into insanity and is re-admitted to a mental institution. Recently, while still institutionalized, Gallante is used by Thunderbolts
members Baron Zemo, the Fixer
, Blizzard & MACH-IV as a conduit to the Darkforce dimension, in order to retrieve the body of the criminal Blackout
and rescue the second Smuggler (Conrad Josten)
.
#1.
, an energy based on darkness. So powerful is his access that Gallante was able to open a rift the size of Manhattan between his dimension and the Darkforce's. Although initially Gallante could not consciously control the Darkforce he released, it would often act as a part of his subconscious desire, such as flooding and destroying the world or releasing the dark impulses of others. He could surround himself in Darkforce, creating a separate, giant-sized body, and could manipulate masses of Darkforce as he desired, creating shapes, tendrils, and blasts of energy. After regaining some control over his abilities, Gallante could even teleport himself and others by using his body as a portal to the Darkforce Dimension. Once inside the dimension, Gallante’s victims would be confronted with their greatest fears as the Darkforce heightened and fed off the "darkness" within their psyches.
Asylum is the name of two characters in the 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...
Universe.
Fictional character biography
The first Asylum was a mental patient who was imbued with DarkforceDarkforce
-Description:It is a powerful, extra-dimensional energy that can be manipulated in slightly different ways by a handful of beings that are attuned to it. There are slight yet inconclusive hints that it may be a corruptive influence of some kind and perhaps even sentient...
energies that converted her body into a psionic mist that caused hallucinations in anyone who touched it. She later was able to use her Darkforce energies as an offensive weapon. She was vulnerable at the one solid part of her body, a golden mask. After being defeated while fighting solo against the New Warriors
New Warriors
The New Warriors is a Marvel Comics superhero team, traditionally consisting of young adult heroes. They first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 .-General publication history:...
Nova
Nova (comics)
Nova is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Upon becoming a member of the galaxy's Nova Corps , the youth gained enhanced strength, flight, injury resistance, and a specialized uniform with life support.In May 2011, Nova placed 98th on IGN's Top 100 Comic...
, Firestar
Firestar
Firestar is a fictional mutant superhero in the . Debuting in 1981 on the NBC animated television series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, she has the ability to generate and manipulate microwave radiation, which allows her to generate intense heat and flames, and to fly...
and Speedball
Speedball (comics)
Robert "Robbie" Baldwin is a comic book superhero character, appearing in books published by Marvel Comics.Originally known as Speedball, the character was created by artist Steve Ditko and writer Tom DeFalco, initially as a candidate for Marvel's separate New Universe imprint.Baldwin first...
, she seemed to dissipate except for her mask, and has not been seen in action since.
Asylum (Henrique Manuel Gallante)
Fictional character biography
Henrique Manuel Gallante was a drug-addicted youth left abused and abandoned from his home and whose burgeoning mutantMutant (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...
powers were driving him insane. He is placed in the Smythers drug rehabilitation clinic, but the doctors hold little hope for him. Unknown to the doctors, Gallante's mutant powers allow him access to the dimension of Darkforce
Darkforce
-Description:It is a powerful, extra-dimensional energy that can be manipulated in slightly different ways by a handful of beings that are attuned to it. There are slight yet inconclusive hints that it may be a corruptive influence of some kind and perhaps even sentient...
, an extra-dimensional energy resembling tar. Although the energy possesses no true sentience, Gallante displaces his feelings of darkness and despair to it and allowed it to mimic an empathic sentience that feeds off and perpetuates Gallante's dark feelings.
Through Gallante, the Darkforce is able to access his dimensional plane, as its natural tendency was to fill the relative vacuum of darkness such a dimension of light creates. Soon, the Darkforce began to use Gallante to allow it to seep into his world, kidnapping those who could access Darkforce, such as Cloak
Cloak and Dagger (comics)
Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
, Shroud
Shroud (comics)
Shroud is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Super-Villain Team-Up #5, , and was created by Steve Englehart and Herb Trimpe.-Conception:...
, and Quagmire
Quagmire (comics)
Quagmire is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who is a native of the universe of the Squadron Supreme. He first appeared in Squadron Supreme #4 Quagmire (Jerome Meyers) is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who is a native of the universe of the Squadron Supreme. He first...
, and trapping them within its dimension. It also began to flood New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and envelop those with dark or violent tendencies, unleashing that side of them. Gallante grew mad as the power of the darkness increases, and he succumbs wholeheartedly to the Darkforce, desiring to destroy the world.
With an army of Darkforce-controlled individuals, Gallante, calling himself Darkling, is confronted by an assemblage of Earth's heroes, including the New Warriors
New Warriors
The New Warriors is a Marvel Comics superhero team, traditionally consisting of young adult heroes. They first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 .-General publication history:...
, 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...
, members of the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, Archangel
Archangel (comics)
Warren Kenneth Worthington III is a fictional character, a comic book antihero in the Marvel Comics universe. Originally known as Angel and later Archangel, Worthington is one of the founding members of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-creator Jack Kirby, he first appeared in...
, and Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
. Several superheros temporarily fall to the influence as well. The New Warriors' Firestar
Firestar
Firestar is a fictional mutant superhero in the . Debuting in 1981 on the NBC animated television series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, she has the ability to generate and manipulate microwave radiation, which allows her to generate intense heat and flames, and to fly...
and Dagger
Cloak and Dagger (comics)
Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
are able to use their powers to disrupt Gallante's access to the Darkforce, and the heroes are ultimately able to convince Gallatne of the error of his ways. Deciding that to understand himself meant to live with his darkness, Gallante disappears into the Darkforce dimension, taking its residual energies with him.
Gallante was able to return to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
by way of a mask once used by the villain Asylum. A gang member finds the mask and dons it. He becomes overwhelmed by the perception it gives him into the darkness within the psyche of those around him. As the Darkforce exudes from the mask and consumes him, Gallante had taken his place. Taking the identity of Asylum for himself, Gallante seeks out the former Asylum’s teammates, Psionex
Psionex
Psionex are a team of comic book supervillains and occasional anti-heroes in the Marvel Comics universe. They were created by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley, first appearing in New Warriors vol. 1 #4.-Profiles:*Pretty Persuasions - Heidi P...
, and takes on the role of their new leader. The team becomes determined to use their abilities to clean up New York City as their newest superhuman champions.
Unfortunately, Asylum leads Psionex to attack a group of supposed gang members that merely turned out to be youths playing with toy guns. Before realizing this mistake, Asylum forces a child into the Darkforce Dimension to face the darkness within him, and the boy emerges dead. Distraught that his powers would accidentally cause the death of an innocent, Gallante flees and is pursued by his teammates, who were determined to make Gallante face justice (although most were pursuing him so that they themselves would not be implicated in the charges). During their conflict, they are confronted by the New Warriors, who manage to disrupt Gallante's connection to the Darkforce Dimension in order to capture him. They convince him that vigilantes shouldn’t be above the law, and he needs to be accountable even for an accidental death. Asylum is remanded to the police, and Psionex was given over to its creators, the company Genetech, for custody.
At some later point, Gallante relapses into insanity and is re-admitted to a mental institution. Recently, while still institutionalized, Gallante is used by Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts (comics)
The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
members Baron Zemo, the Fixer
Fixer (comics)
The Fixer is a name used by two fictional characters, both of are which were introduced as villains in the Marvel Comics universe.-Roscoe Sweeney:...
, Blizzard & MACH-IV as a conduit to the Darkforce dimension, in order to retrieve the body of the criminal Blackout
Blackout (comics)
Blackout is the name of two fictional characters, both supervillains, in the Marvel Comics universe.-Marcus Daniels:-Fictional character biography:...
and rescue the second Smuggler (Conrad Josten)
Smuggler (comics)
Smuggler is a fictional character in Marvel Comics as a superhero.-Fictional character biography:Conrad Josten is the youngest of the four Josten children born to farmers living outside Madison, Wisconsin. Conrad's oldest brother Carl was killed by a loan shark soon after the Thunderbolts were...
.
Civil War/The Initiative
Henrique has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book Avengers: The InitiativeAvengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
#1.
Powers and abilities
Gallante is a mutant with the psionic ability to tap into the dimension of the DarkforceDarkforce
-Description:It is a powerful, extra-dimensional energy that can be manipulated in slightly different ways by a handful of beings that are attuned to it. There are slight yet inconclusive hints that it may be a corruptive influence of some kind and perhaps even sentient...
, an energy based on darkness. So powerful is his access that Gallante was able to open a rift the size of Manhattan between his dimension and the Darkforce's. Although initially Gallante could not consciously control the Darkforce he released, it would often act as a part of his subconscious desire, such as flooding and destroying the world or releasing the dark impulses of others. He could surround himself in Darkforce, creating a separate, giant-sized body, and could manipulate masses of Darkforce as he desired, creating shapes, tendrils, and blasts of energy. After regaining some control over his abilities, Gallante could even teleport himself and others by using his body as a portal to the Darkforce Dimension. Once inside the dimension, Gallante’s victims would be confronted with their greatest fears as the Darkforce heightened and fed off the "darkness" within their psyches.