Healer is a fictional 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...

 character 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.

Publication history

The Healer's first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men

Uncanny X-Men

Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...

#179 (March 1984), and he was created by Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...

 and Paul Smith

Paul Smith (comics)

Paul Smith is an American comic book artist.-Early life:Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but only lived there three days. His father was a U.S. Naval aviator, and the family moved several times during his childhood...

.

The character first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #179 (March 1984), The New Mutants #20 (October 1984), The Uncanny X-Men #254 (December 1989), and #291 (August 1992).

The Healer appeared as part of the "Morlocks" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...

#9.

Fictional character biography

Virtually nothing is known of the past of the man known only as the Healer before he joined the underground community of mutants known as the Morlocks

Morlocks (comics)

The Morlocks are a group of several fictional comic book mutants associated with the X-Men in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, they were named after the subterranean race of the same name in H. G. Wells' novel The Time Machine. They first appeared...

 who lived in "The Alley", a huge tunnel located beneath Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...

.

The Healer was amongst the few Morlocks that managed to escape the massacre of their community by the superhuman team of assassins known as the Marauders

Marauders (comics)

The Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita, Jr., the team first appear in Uncanny X-Men #210 The Marauders is a team of fictional supervillain characters in comic books published by...

. The Healer was dispatched to Muir Island

Muir Island

Muir Island is a small, fictional island off the northern coast of Scotland in the Marvel Comics universe. It plays a prominent role in the X-Men comics and its related series.-History:...

, home of the genetic research station run by Moira MacTaggert

Moira MacTaggert

Dr. Moira Kinross MacTaggert is a fictional character appearing in X-Men stories in the Marvel Comics universe. She works as a geneticist and is an expert in mutant affairs. Olivia Williams played a minor role of Dr. Moira MacTaggert in X-Men: The Last Stand...

, to tend to the wounded survivors of the massacre.

Later, the Healer sought out the Morlocks' former leader, Callisto

Callisto (comics)

Callisto is a Marvel Comics fictional character, associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #169 ....

, to enlist her aid in resuming leadership of the Morlocks following the death of the usurper, Masque

Masque (comics)

Masque is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. Masque was originally a prominent member of the sewer-dwelling community of mutant outcasts called the Morlocks, led by Callisto.-Publication history:...

. Rejecting the Healer's request, Callisto was attacked by the Morlocks and both she and the Healer were injured in the battle. Seeking refuge with the superhuman mutant adventurers known as the X-Men

X-Men

The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...

, the Healer gave the final measure of his power to heal Callisto, leaving him a lifeless husk.

Powers and abilities

The Healer was a mutant possessed of the superhuman ability to tap into the specific gene that causes superhuman mutations, directing the mutagenic energy those cells produce into rapidly healing their owner's body from wounds or diseases. Healing particularly severe damage to another's body caused the Healer great physical strain. His ability could not affect normal humans, only active mutants. In fact, it was known to cause cancer in normal humans, as their physiology could not handle the mutations he induced.

Video games

• The Healer made several appearances in X-Men Legends
  X-Men Legends
  X-Men Legends is an action role-playing video game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. It was released on the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox consoles in the fall of . Barking Lizards Technologies developed the N-Gage port of the game, which was released in early...
  
  , voiced by Edward Asner. He was featured as an ally to the Gene Nation
  Gene Nation
  Gene Nation is a Marvel Comics mutant terrorist organization and enemies of the X-Men. They originated from a group of Morlocks that survived the Mutant Massacre by escaping to another dimension.-First Incarnation:...
  
   leader Marrow
  Marrow (comics)
  Marrow , is a Marvel Comics character, associated with the X-Men. She is a mutant whose bones grow out of her skin and can be removed from her body, providing her with potential knives and clubs as well as body armor....
  
  . He would also equip characters with certain items such as health or energy packs.