Skullbuster
Encyclopedia
Skullbuster is the name of three comic book
super villains all of which exist in Marvel Comics
' main shared
universe
. The original Skullbuster first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #229 (May 1988) and was created by Chris Claremont
and Marc Silvestri
.
, a gang of cyborgs living in a ghost town in Australia, who perpetrated robberies across the globe. Skullbuster, as well as Pretty Boy and Bonebreaker, avoided being sent through the Siege Perilous
along with the other Reavers after being defeated by the X-Men
. Under the leadership of Donald Pierce
, the remaining Reavers allied themselves with Lady Deathstrike
and her minions and began training to defeat the X-Men. The Reavers never ended up battling the X-Men but encountered Wolverine, beat him half to death, and then crucified him. After Wolverine escaped, the Reavers attacked Muir Island
where Skullbuster was shot and seemingly killed by Forge
. Skullbuster was not seen again for several years and Pierce recruited the badly injured Cylla Markham giving her cybernetic enhancements and the code name Skullbuster. When Lady Deathstrike kidnapped Milo Thurman, the mutant mercenary known as Domino
tracked them down and subsequently battled Deathstrike, Pierce, and Skullbuster. Pierce revealed that he resurrected Skullbuster by copying his cybernetic mainframe. Skullbuster whereabouts are unknown since his encounter with Domino. When the Reavers and the Shadow King battled the X-treme X-Men, a new Skullbuster was present and there was no mention of the original.
and Forge in finding their missing teammates, but the plane was shot down by Fenris
. Fatally injured, Cylla was rushed to a hospital and was invited by Donald Pierce
to join him in exchange for her health. She agreed to become a cyborg
, joining Pierce's Reavers
. Though she was replacing the original Skullbuster, Cylla mainly went by her real name. Her first mission brought her into contact with Wolverine
, and she was defeated through the combined efforts of Jubilee
and Yukio
. After the supposed deaths of the other Reavers, Cylla and Lady Deathstrike
fled. Cylla later resurfaced, allying herself with Bloodscream
in an attempt to murder Wolverine. However, Bloodscream betrayed her and sucked the life from her, killing her.
The implants of Skullbuster also include infrared optic scanners, a plasma grenade launcher, and machine guns.
The implants of Skullbuster also include steel wrist claws, an on-board targeting computer, a plasma blaster, and thermite launchers.
The implants of Skullbuster also absorb the energy from attacks and power sources.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
super villains all of which exist in 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...
' main shared
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
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...
. The original Skullbuster first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #229 (May 1988) and 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 Marc Silvestri
Marc Silvestri
Marc Silvestri is an American comic book artist, creator and publisher. He currently acts as the CEO for Top Cow Productions.-Early life:Marc Silvestri was born in Palm Beach, Florida.-Career:...
.
Original Skullbuster
The cyborg Skullbuster was a member of the original ReaversReavers (comics)
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe the Reavers are a team of criminal cyborgs. The most significant team of Reavers were dedicated to the destruction of the mutant X-Men, and a number of them especially wanted to take revenge on one particular X-Man, Wolverine. The name was originally used by...
, a gang of cyborgs living in a ghost town in Australia, who perpetrated robberies across the globe. Skullbuster, as well as Pretty Boy and Bonebreaker, avoided being sent through the Siege Perilous
Siege Perilous (comics)
Siege Perilous is the name of two fictional devices appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. The first appeared in books starring Captain Britain, and the second in books featuring the X-Men...
along with the other Reavers after being defeated by 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...
. Under the leadership of Donald Pierce
Donald Pierce
Donald Pierce is a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #132. He was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Donald Pierce is a cyborg.-Fictional character biography:...
, the remaining Reavers allied themselves with Lady Deathstrike
Lady Deathstrike
Lady Deathstrike , occasionally spelled "Deathstryke", is a Marvel Comics supervillain, a foe of the X-Men, especially Wolverine.Her father Lord Dark Wind created the adamantium-bonding process that was forced on Wolverine...
and her minions and began training to defeat the X-Men. The Reavers never ended up battling the X-Men but encountered Wolverine, beat him half to death, and then crucified him. After Wolverine escaped, the Reavers attacked 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:...
where Skullbuster was shot and seemingly killed by Forge
Forge (comics)
Forge is a fictional character in the , a superhero associated with The X-Men.A mutant with an unsurpassed brilliance in technology, Forge has had a lengthy career as a government weapons contractor. He shared a romantic relationship with Storm, and a brief affair with Mystique which led him to...
. Skullbuster was not seen again for several years and Pierce recruited the badly injured Cylla Markham giving her cybernetic enhancements and the code name Skullbuster. When Lady Deathstrike kidnapped Milo Thurman, the mutant mercenary known as Domino
Domino (comics)
Domino is a Marvel Comics character, best known as a member of the X-Men offshoot X-Force. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld, she first fully appeared in X-Force, vol...
tracked them down and subsequently battled Deathstrike, Pierce, and Skullbuster. Pierce revealed that he resurrected Skullbuster by copying his cybernetic mainframe. Skullbuster whereabouts are unknown since his encounter with Domino. When the Reavers and the Shadow King battled the X-treme X-Men, a new Skullbuster was present and there was no mention of the original.
Cylla Markham Skullbuster
Formerly a pilot, Cylla agreed to help BansheeBanshee (comics)
Banshee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero who operates as a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth, Banshee first appeared in X-Men #28 ....
and Forge in finding their missing teammates, but the plane was shot down by Fenris
Fenris (comics)
Fenris are two fictional characters from the Marvel Comics universe, namely German twins Andrea and Andreas von Strucker. They are the children of supervillain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker of HYDRA and the half-brother of Werner von Strucker. Andrea is female, Andreas is male...
. Fatally injured, Cylla was rushed to a hospital and was invited by Donald Pierce
Donald Pierce
Donald Pierce is a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #132. He was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Donald Pierce is a cyborg.-Fictional character biography:...
to join him in exchange for her health. She agreed to become a cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
, joining Pierce's Reavers
Reavers (comics)
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe the Reavers are a team of criminal cyborgs. The most significant team of Reavers were dedicated to the destruction of the mutant X-Men, and a number of them especially wanted to take revenge on one particular X-Man, Wolverine. The name was originally used by...
. Though she was replacing the original Skullbuster, Cylla mainly went by her real name. Her first mission brought her into contact with Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, and she was defeated through the combined efforts of Jubilee
Jubilee (comics)
Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men.A mutant, Jubilee had the superhuman power to generate "fireworks" of explosive plasma. A teenage "mall rat," she was the X-Men's youngest member in the early 1990s, often playing sidekick to...
and Yukio
Yukio (comics)
Yukio is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She is a female ninja of Japanese origin and is a supporting character of the X-Men. She first appeared in Wolverine #2 and was created by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller...
. After the supposed deaths of the other Reavers, Cylla and Lady Deathstrike
Lady Deathstrike
Lady Deathstrike , occasionally spelled "Deathstryke", is a Marvel Comics supervillain, a foe of the X-Men, especially Wolverine.Her father Lord Dark Wind created the adamantium-bonding process that was forced on Wolverine...
fled. Cylla later resurfaced, allying herself with Bloodscream
Bloodscream
Bloodscream is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe and an enemy of Wolverine.-Publication history:Bloodscream's first appearance was in Wolverine vol...
in an attempt to murder Wolverine. However, Bloodscream betrayed her and sucked the life from her, killing her.
Legacy
Outside of her membership with the Reavers, little has been revealed about the third Skullbuster. She participated in Shadow King's failed attack on the X-treme X-Men and after being defeated was handed over to the police.Powers and abilities
Like the other members of the Reavers, Skullbuster is a cyborg and has bionic implants that augment strength, stamina, leaping, and reflexes beyond the levels of a normal human.The implants of Skullbuster also include infrared optic scanners, a plasma grenade launcher, and machine guns.
The implants of Skullbuster also include steel wrist claws, an on-board targeting computer, a plasma blaster, and thermite launchers.
The implants of Skullbuster also absorb the energy from attacks and power sources.