Switchback is a fictional character

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 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...

 appearing 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...

. Created by writer Warren Ellis

Warren Ellis

Warren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...

 and artist Ken Lashley, she first appeared in X-Calibre #1 (March 1995).

Switchback initially appeared during the Age of Apocalypse

Age of Apocalypse

"Age of Apocalypse" is a 1995 - 1996 comic book crossover storyline published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. The Age of Apocalypse briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616, although it was later retconned as having occurred in the alternate universe of Earth-295, it had...

, an event which caused the history of the Marvel 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...

 to diverge from its usual path. Although many Age of Apocalypse characters were alternate versions of existing heroes and villains, Switchback counterpart in the Earth-616

Earth-616

In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 or Earth 616 is the name used to identify the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.-Origin of Earth-616:...

 has yet to be introduced.

Fictional character biography

Switchback first appeared as one of many refugees, escaping from 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...

's rule to Avalon. Her boyfriend Gary and her companions all die during the journey and Switchback is the only one to reach Avalon alive. When Avalon is attacked, she joins Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler (comics)

Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...

, 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...

 and Damask to form X-Calibre, a group that fights the Shadow King

Shadow King

The Shadow King, also known as Amahl Farouk, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Shadow King exists as an entity of pure psychic energy that feeds on the hatred of humanity...

 to save Avalon. Switchback's powers to manipulate time are combined with Nightcrawler's teleportation

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...

 and Damask's psionic

Psionics

Psionics refers to the practice, study, or psychic ability of using the mind to induce paranormal phenomena. Examples of this include telepathy, telekinesis, and other workings of the outside world through the psyche.-History and terminology:...

 skinning to defeat the Shadow King on the astral plane

Astral plane

The astral plane, also called the astral world, is a plane of existence postulated by classical , medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions...

Switchback did not appear in the 2005 "Age of Apocalypse" series, nor was she mentioned in it, so her current activities are unknown.

Powers and abilities

Switchback has the power to manipulate the last ten seconds of her personal timeline: she can replace herself with a younger version while retaining the memories of her older self. This time-shift is obvious to observers, as it also physically moves her body.

This ability has allowed her to escape telepathic

Telepathy

Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...

possession by the Shadow King, by shifting herself through time as soon as he attempted to control her.

In X-Calibre's subsequent battle with the Shadow King, Switchback found another use for her powers, successfully combining them with Nightcrawler's teleportation. Pushing her abilities to the limit she can expand her time field to cover several people, extending the teleport transition-time and allowing them to act and attack while still in transit through subspace.