Manikin (comics)
Encyclopedia
Manikin is a fictional mutant
character featured in the publications of Marvel Comics
. He is a super hero and former member of Alpha Flight
.
#44 (March 1987), and was created by Bill Mantlo
and Dave Ross.
The character subsequently appears in Alpha Flight Annual #2 (1987), Alpha Flight #45-46 (April–May 1987), #48-62 (July 1987-September 1988), #64-66 (November 1988-January 1989), #97 (June 1991), #101 (October 1991), #104 (January 1992), #109-112 (June–September 1992), #114-116 (November 1992-January 1993), #119-120 (April–May 1993), #122-124 (July–September 1993), #126 (November 1993), and #130 (March 1994).
Manikin received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
#5.
, a brilliant healer who used his mutant power of organic manipulation to help others (albeit in unethical manners, by using dead patients tissues in his work) His power mirrored the power of his brother Madison Jeffries
of Alpha Flight who could manipulate inorganic matter like metal and glass.
Lionel was, however, insane, and used his powers to absorb, and lobotomise, the brilliant Roger Bochs (who was the designer and pilot of the robotic Box
of Alpha Flight). Bochs' inventive mind, coupled with his Lionel's organic controlling powers allowed him to become a shapeshifting monster.
Whitman attempted to stop them, and had his entire physiology distorted by Lionel. His mouth was fused shut and his limbs were fused together.
The resulting stress triggered Whitman's mutant powers, and he reversed his disfigurement and manifested his four selves for the first time. His past and future selves all looked to the "normal" version of Knapp for guidance and direction. Despite his neophyte heroic status he helped in the defeat of Lionel Jefferies.
Knapp assumed the name of Manikin (as a pun on "Man-i-kin", since he viewed his alternate selves as kin/family) served as a member of Alpha Flight for a time, later shifting down to the training team of Beta Flight
to gain more experience.
Later, following an assault by the supervillain Jackal
, Manikin lost the power to summon the other manifestations of himself, but could instead change himself into any one of them at a time.
Proto: A semi-sentient
glob of primeval
goo capable of corroding substances through secretion of acid
.
Ape-Man: A pre-homo sapiens hominid with great strength.
Highbrow: A future descendant of humanity possessed of great intellect and the power to teleport
.
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 featured in the publications of 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...
. He is a super hero and former member of Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics, noteworthy for being one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Created by John Byrne, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 ....
.
Publication history
Manikin first appeared in Alpha FlightAlpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics, noteworthy for being one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Created by John Byrne, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 ....
#44 (March 1987), and was created by Bill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo is an American comic-book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics, best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: the Eagle Award-winning Micronauts and the long-running Rom. An attorney, he also worked as a public defender...
and Dave Ross.
The character subsequently appears in Alpha Flight Annual #2 (1987), Alpha Flight #45-46 (April–May 1987), #48-62 (July 1987-September 1988), #64-66 (November 1988-January 1989), #97 (June 1991), #101 (October 1991), #104 (January 1992), #109-112 (June–September 1992), #114-116 (November 1992-January 1993), #119-120 (April–May 1993), #122-124 (July–September 1993), #126 (November 1993), and #130 (March 1994).
Manikin 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...
#5.
Fictional character biography
Whitman Knapp was a young intern at a Canadian Hospital, who was unaware he was a mutant. He worked with Lionel JeffriesScramble (comics)
Scramble , also known as Scramble the Mixed-Up Man, was a Marvel Comics supervillain and Canadian mutant. Specifically, he was an enemy of Alpha Flight, but for a brief time he was alternately their ally...
, a brilliant healer who used his mutant power of organic manipulation to help others (albeit in unethical manners, by using dead patients tissues in his work) His power mirrored the power of his brother Madison Jeffries
Madison Jeffries
Madison Jeffries is a fictional character, a mutant superhero in the . He first appears in Alpha Flight #16 and was created by John Byrne.- Publication history :...
of Alpha Flight who could manipulate inorganic matter like metal and glass.
Lionel was, however, insane, and used his powers to absorb, and lobotomise, the brilliant Roger Bochs (who was the designer and pilot of the robotic Box
Box (comics)
Box is a superhero from Canada. He was featured in Marvel Comics publications, notably Alpha Flight.-Fictional character biography:...
of Alpha Flight). Bochs' inventive mind, coupled with his Lionel's organic controlling powers allowed him to become a shapeshifting monster.
Whitman attempted to stop them, and had his entire physiology distorted by Lionel. His mouth was fused shut and his limbs were fused together.
The resulting stress triggered Whitman's mutant powers, and he reversed his disfigurement and manifested his four selves for the first time. His past and future selves all looked to the "normal" version of Knapp for guidance and direction. Despite his neophyte heroic status he helped in the defeat of Lionel Jefferies.
Knapp assumed the name of Manikin (as a pun on "Man-i-kin", since he viewed his alternate selves as kin/family) served as a member of Alpha Flight for a time, later shifting down to the training team of Beta Flight
Beta Flight
Beta Flight is a fictional superhero team owned by Marvel Comics that exists in that company's Marvel Universe. Along with Gamma Flight, Beta Flight is one of the "minor leagues" of the Canadian team Alpha Flight. Originally, Beta Flight was the intermediate level team. Members are more...
to gain more experience.
Later, following an assault by the supervillain Jackal
Jackal (Marvel Comics)
The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 , and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Ross Andru. In The Amazing Spider-Man #148 The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in...
, Manikin lost the power to summon the other manifestations of himself, but could instead change himself into any one of them at a time.
Powers and abilities
Manikin is able to summon three of his genetic relatives from various points of human evolution:Proto: A semi-sentient
Sentience
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...
glob of primeval
Primeval
Primeval or primæval may refer to:* Primeval, a British science fiction television series.* Primeval , a 2007 film* Primeval , a score of music from the BBC TV series Doctor Who...
goo capable of corroding substances through secretion of acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
.
Ape-Man: A pre-homo sapiens hominid with great strength.
Highbrow: A future descendant of humanity possessed of great intellect and the power to teleport
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
.