Infectia
Encyclopedia
Infectia is a fictional character
appearing in the Marvel Comics
universe
.
and Walt Simonson
.
The character subsequently appears in X-Factor #29-31 (June-August 1988), and #55 (June 1990), and she died of the Legacy Virus
in X-Men #27 (December 1993).
Infectia received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
#4.
with the ability to perceive the molecular structure of living beings and induce mutation
s in them by altering their gene
tic makeup. She typically manifested her power by kissing her intended target. When used on baseline humans, this power caused them to become deformed monsters with superhuman strength and a fanatical loyalty to Infectia, who called them her "Anti-Bodies". Unfortunately these mutations were unstable, and the Anti-Bodies would spontaneously combust after a short time.
She was a skilled geneticist having picked up her skills from her father who was also a well known scientist who'd made a lot of money from his research. Her mother appears to have died when Infectia was young and her father died whilst Infectia was in high school, leaving her his house and all his money. Infectia dropped out of school and started studying her powers. She started flirting with humans that wanted superpowers, (normally meeting them in bars). Infectia gave them super strength, by turning them into Anti-bodies, in return, they had to do something for her.
She originally appears as an adversary of X-Factor
. Infectia wishes to take control of X-Factor's sentient headquarters Ship
. She first gathers together some of her Anti-bodies and sent them to fight X-Factor. Jean Grey
kills the three minions. She then decides to seduce and control Iceman
with her powers, but she didn't know exactly what would happen as she'd never tried her powers on another mutant. Beast
foiled her plan when he intercepts a kiss intended for Iceman. The kiss left Beast comatose, and when he recovers he regains his intelligence (which Apocalypse
had caused to fade) and his blue furry form as an effect of Infectia's powers. Other kisses meant for Iceman are foiled by a junior group of mutants, the X-Terminators
, who were also living aboard Ship. Ship himself tries to help out but is limited as he is vulnerable to Infectia's powers. She is ultimately defeated off-Ship.
She later makes amends with Beast while dying from the Legacy Virus
. Beast cares for Infectia in her final days.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
appearing 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
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
Publication history
Infectia first appeared in X-Factor (1st series) #28 (May 1988), and was created by Louise SimonsonLouise Simonson
Louise Simonson, born Mary Louise Alexander , is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman: The Man of Steel, and Steel...
and Walt Simonson
Walt Simonson
Walter "Walt" Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist. After studying geology at Amherst College, he transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1972. His thesis project there was The Star Slammers, which was published as a black and white promotional comic book...
.
The character subsequently appears in X-Factor #29-31 (June-August 1988), and #55 (June 1990), and she died of the Legacy Virus
Legacy Virus
In the fictional Marvel Universe, the Legacy Virus was a devastating plague that ripped through the mutant population, killing hundreds and mutating so that it affected baseline humans as well....
in X-Men #27 (December 1993).
Infectia received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
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...
#4.
Fictional character biography
Infectia was a 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...
with the ability to perceive the molecular structure of living beings and induce mutation
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
s in them by altering their gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
tic makeup. She typically manifested her power by kissing her intended target. When used on baseline humans, this power caused them to become deformed monsters with superhuman strength and a fanatical loyalty to Infectia, who called them her "Anti-Bodies". Unfortunately these mutations were unstable, and the Anti-Bodies would spontaneously combust after a short time.
She was a skilled geneticist having picked up her skills from her father who was also a well known scientist who'd made a lot of money from his research. Her mother appears to have died when Infectia was young and her father died whilst Infectia was in high school, leaving her his house and all his money. Infectia dropped out of school and started studying her powers. She started flirting with humans that wanted superpowers, (normally meeting them in bars). Infectia gave them super strength, by turning them into Anti-bodies, in return, they had to do something for her.
She originally appears as an adversary of X-Factor
X-Factor (comics)
X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...
. Infectia wishes to take control of X-Factor's sentient headquarters Ship
Ship (comics)
The fictional A.I. entity originally known as Ship has appeared in several incarnations in the Marvel Universe. At times controlled by both the X-Men and their enemies, the sentient Ship A.I. has been at the core of a Celestial starship, two space stations, and a techno-organic being.-Ancient...
. She first gathers together some of her Anti-bodies and sent them to fight X-Factor. Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
kills the three minions. She then decides to seduce and control Iceman
Iceman (comics)
Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
with her powers, but she didn't know exactly what would happen as she'd never tried her powers on another mutant. Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
foiled her plan when he intercepts a kiss intended for Iceman. The kiss left Beast comatose, and when he recovers he regains his intelligence (which Apocalypse
Apocalypse (comics)
Apocalypse is a fictional character who is an ancient mutant that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Factor #5 , created by writer Louise Simonson and designed by artist Walter Simonson...
had caused to fade) and his blue furry form as an effect of Infectia's powers. Other kisses meant for Iceman are foiled by a junior group of mutants, the X-Terminators
X-Terminators
The X-Terminators are fictional characters in the Marvel Universe.-History:The name "X-Terminators" was originally used by X-Factor at that group's inception. The five original X-Men had founded X-Factor Investigations, and posed as normal humans purported to be an organization of mutant-hunters...
, who were also living aboard Ship. Ship himself tries to help out but is limited as he is vulnerable to Infectia's powers. She is ultimately defeated off-Ship.
She later makes amends with Beast while dying from the Legacy Virus
Legacy Virus
In the fictional Marvel Universe, the Legacy Virus was a devastating plague that ripped through the mutant population, killing hundreds and mutating so that it affected baseline humans as well....
. Beast cares for Infectia in her final days.