Prism (comics)
Encyclopedia
Prism is a fictional character
, a supervillain
in the Marvel Comics
universe
. He is a member of the Marauders
.
and Louise Simonson
.
The character subsequently appears in The Uncanny X-Men #240-241 (January-February 1989), #243 (April 1989), X-Man #13 (March 1996), Generation M #3 (March 2006), X-Men and Power Pack #4 (March 2006), X-Men: The 198 Files #1 (March 2006), X-Men #200-204 (August-December 2007), and X-Men: Messiah Complex #1 (December 2007).
Prism appeared as part of the "Marauders" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition
#18.
, Prism has the ability to absorb, reflect, and amplify beams of light and other energy with his crystalline body. Prism first appeared as part of a "search and destroy" mini-team of Marauders, consisting of himself, Arclight
, and Scrambler
, that were sent to eliminate the members of X-Factor
, who were leading an evacuation mission to help Morlocks
escape the Marauders. After using his powers to reflect Cyclops's optic blast back at him, X-Factor member Jean Grey
used her telekinetic powers to slam Prism against a nearby wall. Much to everyone's surprise, the move killed Prism as his body was ultimately too fragile to survive being slammed against the wall.
Prism, along with those fellow Marauders that also did not survive the Mutant Massacre
, was ultimately resurrected by Mr. Sinister using his cloning technology. However, Prism's lifespan was once again cut short when he was killed by a group of demonized police officers during the opening hours of the Inferno
, during a rematch between the Marauders and the X-Men (who had not battled Prism before).
Prism is a member of the 198 Mutants left after M-Day
, where he was institutionalized in a mental hospital, where he rose to power and exacted revenge on those who harassed him and lost their powers.
Alongside the other Marauders, Prism ambushed the X-Men at Mystique
's residence, and participated in the ensuing battle. The Marauders quickly defeated the X-Men and kidnapped Rogue
, returning to Mr. Sinister. It has also been revealed that Prism, with several of his teammates, assassinated the Dark Mother
.
Prism's body is found shattered by the X-Men when they arrive at an Alaskan town, trying to find the new mutant baby who has been born. Prism had been killed in a clash with the Purifiers
and was eaten by Predator X after the X-Men left.
, where a group of policemen shot Prism and shattered him. The third time was when X-Man
used his mental powers to slaughter all of the Marauders. His shattered body is found by the X-Men in an Alaskan town, where he and the Maurauders fought the Purifiers, and it was revealed he was killed and eaten by Predator X. It is unknown if Prism actually does die, or if he is able to piece his crystal body back together; this would explain his overconfidence and willingness to battle those stronger than him (Sinister regularly cloned members of the Marauders when they died), however, after M-Day it is unclear whether Sinister's samples of the Marauders survived and whether he can be cloned again.
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...
, a supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
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...
. He is a member of 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...
.
Publication history
Prism first appeared in X-Factor vol. 1 #10 (November 1986), and was created by Chris ClaremontChris 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 Louise Simonson
Louise 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...
.
The character subsequently appears in The Uncanny X-Men #240-241 (January-February 1989), #243 (April 1989), X-Man #13 (March 1996), Generation M #3 (March 2006), X-Men and Power Pack #4 (March 2006), X-Men: The 198 Files #1 (March 2006), X-Men #200-204 (August-December 2007), and X-Men: Messiah Complex #1 (December 2007).
Prism appeared as part of the "Marauders" 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...
#18.
Fictional character biography
As a member of the mercenary group, the MaraudersMarauders (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...
, Prism has the ability to absorb, reflect, and amplify beams of light and other energy with his crystalline body. Prism first appeared as part of a "search and destroy" mini-team of Marauders, consisting of himself, Arclight
Arclight (comics)
Arclight is a mutant supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:Arclight first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #210-211 , and was created by Chris Claremont and John Romita Jr....
, and Scrambler
Scrambler (comics)
Scrambler is a fictional mutant character in the Marvel Comics Universe. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #210 and was created by Chris Claremont, John Romita Jr and Dan Green.-Fictional character biography:...
, that were sent to eliminate the members 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...
, who were leading an evacuation mission to help 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...
escape the Marauders. After using his powers to reflect Cyclops's optic blast back at him, X-Factor member 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...
used her telekinetic powers to slam Prism against a nearby wall. Much to everyone's surprise, the move killed Prism as his body was ultimately too fragile to survive being slammed against the wall.
Prism, along with those fellow Marauders that also did not survive the Mutant Massacre
Mutant Massacre
"Mutant Massacre" was a major Marvel Comics crossover storyline, which took place during the fall of 1986. It primarily involved the superhero teams the X-Men, X-Factor and the New Mutants...
, was ultimately resurrected by Mr. Sinister using his cloning technology. However, Prism's lifespan was once again cut short when he was killed by a group of demonized police officers during the opening hours of the Inferno
Inferno (Marvel Comics)
Inferno was a Marvel Comics company-wide crossover in 1989 that mainly involved the mutant titles, namely The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Terminators, Excalibur, and The New Mutants...
, during a rematch between the Marauders and the X-Men (who had not battled Prism before).
Prism is a member of the 198 Mutants left after M-Day
Decimation (comics)
Decimation is the late 2005 Marvel Comics storyline spinning off from the House of M limited series. It focuses on the ramifications of the Scarlet Witch stripping nearly all of the mutant population of their powers, thereby reducing a society of millions to one of scant hundreds.This event, which...
, where he was institutionalized in a mental hospital, where he rose to power and exacted revenge on those who harassed him and lost their powers.
Alongside the other Marauders, Prism ambushed the X-Men at Mystique
Mystique (comics)
Mystique is a fictional character associated with the Marvel Comics' franchise X-Men. Originally created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, she first appeared in Ms...
's residence, and participated in the ensuing battle. The Marauders quickly defeated the X-Men and kidnapped Rogue
Rogue (comics)
Rogue was first slated to appear in Ms. Marvel #25 , but the book's abrupt cancellation left her original introduction story unpublished for over a decade, before seeing print in Marvel Super Heroes #11 in 1992. Rogue's first published appearance was in Avengers Annual #10...
, returning to Mr. Sinister. It has also been revealed that Prism, with several of his teammates, assassinated the Dark Mother
Dark Mother
Dark Mother is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. Her first appearance was in Cable #88.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Prism's body is found shattered by the X-Men when they arrive at an Alaskan town, trying to find the new mutant baby who has been born. Prism had been killed in a clash with the Purifiers
Purifiers
The Purifiers, also known as the Stryker Crusade, are a fictional paramilitary/terrorist organization in the Marvel Comics universe and enemies of the X-Men...
and was eaten by Predator X after the X-Men left.
Powers and abilities
Able to refract most forms of energy directed at him, including ambient light. He is also capable of storing light within his body, using it as a form of illumination or as a means of blinding his opponents.Death count
Prism has apparently died four times during his time as a Marauder. The first was when Jean Grey used her telekinetic powers to throw Prism against a wall, smashing him to pieces. The second was during InfernoInferno (Marvel Comics)
Inferno was a Marvel Comics company-wide crossover in 1989 that mainly involved the mutant titles, namely The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Terminators, Excalibur, and The New Mutants...
, where a group of policemen shot Prism and shattered him. The third time was when X-Man
Nate Grey
Nathaniel "Nate" Grey is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those related to the X-Men franchise...
used his mental powers to slaughter all of the Marauders. His shattered body is found by the X-Men in an Alaskan town, where he and the Maurauders fought the Purifiers, and it was revealed he was killed and eaten by Predator X. It is unknown if Prism actually does die, or if he is able to piece his crystal body back together; this would explain his overconfidence and willingness to battle those stronger than him (Sinister regularly cloned members of the Marauders when they died), however, after M-Day it is unclear whether Sinister's samples of the Marauders survived and whether he can be cloned again.