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Tempo (comics)
Encyclopedia
Tempo is a fictional, African-American mutant
villain in the Marvel Comics
universe. She was first introduced as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front
in the comic title New Mutants
, when Rob Liefeld
took over as the penciller of that series. Although she was first allied with villains, she once seemed to see error in those ways and retire to a normal life.
was to liberate the incarcerated New Mutants
members Rusty and Skids
. They broke them out of prison and the pair joined the MLF out of confusion (and, as later evidence showed, neural implants kept them there). Tempo continued to be a mainstay in the team's ventures, including fighting Wolverine
, Sunfire, X-Factor
and other heroes while causing mayhem in the name of mutant rights.
In the battle with X-Factor, Tempo attempts to use her time-bending powers against the super-speedster known as Quicksilver
, but she—along with her teammates—discover that X-Factor is a much tougher foe than X-Force when they are defeated and Stryfe is almost captured.
Following the unsuccessful battle, the MLF decides to blow up the Tucker Clinic—a place where pregnant mothers can have prenatal DNA
testing to see whether or not they would have mutant babies. X-Factor shows up in time to stop the clinic from destructing, but they fail to prevent the death of Dr. Tucker. The MLF leaves, not knowing that it was Tempo who had given an anonymous tip to X-Factor about their plans. Due to Tempo having the same last name as Dr. Tucker, it is heavily hinted that she is related to him, or possibly his daughter.
After a series of supposedly unconnected art theft
s by various strike teams (all of which are related to Apocalypse
), the members of the MLF approach Mister Sinister
and propose a trade. In exchange for a genetic matrix (none other than the Legacy Virus
) which Stryfe owned, Sinister would hand over the captive Cyclops
and Jean Grey
. These events begin the X-Cutioner's Song
crossover. In the end, all of the MLF members are taken into custody.
decides to restart the MLF. He breaks Tempo, Forearm
, Reaper
, and Wildside
out of prison and gives them their first mission: kill Henry Peter Gyrich
. The MLF also picks up new members Locus
and Moonstar
. Their assassination
attempt is foiled by X-Force, Locus and Sunspot
become lost, but Feral
defects to the MLF after having a heated discussion with Gyrich. Tempo intervenes in an attack on Gyrich by Feral and is denounced and exiled from the MLF by Reignfire. Having no place to go, Tempo leaves with X-Force.
offers Tempo membership to X-Force, which she declines. Instead, she says that she wants to go off to college and put aside the super-powered lifestyle. She was briefly affiliated with the MLF during Operation: Zero Tolerance
. In X-Force Vol 1 #67, Tempo, Dragoness, Wildslide
, Forearm and Danielle Moonstar
investigate the Wakeman Center and the possibility they are constructing a new strain of the Legacy Virus
. Wildside irrationally hits Locus, who leaves, stranding Tempo and the others. They work with X-Force to escape but the only MLF members who do are Forearm and Danielle.
occurred, where the Scarlet Witch
removed the mutant genome
from over 90% of the world's mutant population, Tempo was one of the few to retain her powers. She is now a member of the Acolytes
as re-created by Exodus
.
She participates in the Acolytes' raid on the X-Mansion and in the final battle on Muir Isle, where she is knocked out by Cable
. Tempo's ability to slow time was used to give the Acolytes an escape after their defeat and the shooting of Charles Xavier
, who was taken with them.
After Utopia was formed, Tempo moved into it, and began to work with the X-Men, fighting both Emplate and Selene's Army.
, a rogue personality of the mutant known as Legion, Tempo, like all residents of Utopia, was transformed into a soldier of Fortress X. A squad leader, she was injured in battle when her attempts to use her powers to slow down the treads of an enemy tank backfired and she was struck by the resulting shrapnel. Though she was successful in stopping the tank, her injuries were fatal and before she died, her memories were absorbed by Legacy
. Due to the nature of the reality warp, all of the residents of Fortress X were the actual residents of Utopia transformed in mind and body by Legion’s power and as such, when Tempo died in the altered reality, it's possible that her death carried over into the true, corrected reality.
by amplifying her own personal speed to cause her to crash into a wall while flying.
Strain provides a time limit on how long Tempo can maintain a major time manipulation. It is not established how long that limit is, but she was able to completely freeze the X-Men and surrounding Sentinels for several minutes while she and the Acolytes conducted a thorough search of the X-Men mansion.
Tempo can also levitate herself and fly at subsonic speeds.
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...
villain 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. She was first introduced as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front
Mutant Liberation Front
The Mutant Liberation Front, or MLF, is a Marvel Comics supervillain group, primarily enemies of X-Force. Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld, the original MLF first fully appeared in The New Mutants #87 ....
in the comic title New Mutants
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of teenaged mutant superheroes-in-training published by Marvel Comics. They have been the main characters of three successive comic book series, which were spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise....
, when Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld is an American comic book writer, illustrator, and publisher. A prominent artist in the 1990s, he has since become a controversial figure in the medium....
took over as the penciller of that series. Although she was first allied with villains, she once seemed to see error in those ways and retire to a normal life.
Stryfe's leadership
Tempo was one of the founding members of the terrorist organization known as the Mutant Liberation Front (or MLF). One of their first missions under the leadership of StryfeStryfe
Stryfe is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . The character was created by Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld, and first appears in The New Mutants #87...
was to liberate the incarcerated New Mutants
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of teenaged mutant superheroes-in-training published by Marvel Comics. They have been the main characters of three successive comic book series, which were spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise....
members Rusty and Skids
Skids (comics)
Skids is a Marvel Comics mutant. Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jackson Guice, she first appeared in X-Factor vol. 1 #7 .-Morlocks:...
. They broke them out of prison and the pair joined the MLF out of confusion (and, as later evidence showed, neural implants kept them there). Tempo continued to be a mainstay in the team's ventures, including fighting 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...
, Sunfire, 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...
and other heroes while causing mayhem in the name of mutant rights.
In the battle with X-Factor, Tempo attempts to use her time-bending powers against the super-speedster known as Quicksilver
Quicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
, but she—along with her teammates—discover that X-Factor is a much tougher foe than X-Force when they are defeated and Stryfe is almost captured.
Following the unsuccessful battle, the MLF decides to blow up the Tucker Clinic—a place where pregnant mothers can have prenatal DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
testing to see whether or not they would have mutant babies. X-Factor shows up in time to stop the clinic from destructing, but they fail to prevent the death of Dr. Tucker. The MLF leaves, not knowing that it was Tempo who had given an anonymous tip to X-Factor about their plans. Due to Tempo having the same last name as Dr. Tucker, it is heavily hinted that she is related to him, or possibly his daughter.
After a series of supposedly unconnected art theft
Art theft
Art theft is usually for the purpose of resale or for ransom . Stolen art is sometimes used by criminals to secure loans.. One must realize that only a small percentage of stolen art is recovered. Estimates range from 5 to 10%. This means that little is known about the scope and characteristics of...
s by various strike teams (all of which are related to 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...
), the members of the MLF approach Mister Sinister
Mister Sinister
Mister Sinister is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #221 and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri....
and propose a trade. In exchange for a genetic matrix (none other than 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....
) which Stryfe owned, Sinister would hand over the captive Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
and 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...
. These events begin the X-Cutioner's Song
X-Cutioner's Song
"X-Cutioner's Song" is a crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics' in twelve parts from the November 1992 to early 1993. It involved the Uncanny X-Men, X-Men , X-Factor, and X-Force....
crossover. In the end, all of the MLF members are taken into custody.
Reignfire's leadership
Soon after, a tyrannical despot named ReignfireReignfire
Reignfire is a fictional character and villain created by Marvel Comics for their series X-Force. His original creators were Fabian Nicieza and Matt Broome, who had completely different plans for the villain than what evolved....
decides to restart the MLF. He breaks Tempo, Forearm
Forearm (comics)
Forearm is a fictional mutant villain in the Marvel Comics universe. He was first introduced as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front in New Mutants #86, after Rob Liefeld took over as the penciller of the series...
, Reaper
Reaper (Marvel Comics)
Reaper is the name of several fictional characters in the pages of Marvel Comics, most notably the Reaper whose real name is Pantu Hurageb, a mutant in the X-Force comic book series...
, and Wildside
Wildside (comics)
Wildside is a fictional mutant villain and sadist in the Marvel Comics universe. He was first introduced as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front in the comic title New Mutants, when Rob Liefeld took over as the penciller of that series...
out of prison and gives them their first mission: kill Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Avengers Vol. 1 #165 and was created by Jim Shooter and George Pérez.-Fictional character biography:...
. The MLF also picks up new members Locus
Locus (comics)
Locus is a fictional mutant villainess in the Marvel Comics universe. She was first introduced as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front in the comic title X-Force under the leadership of Reignfire...
and Moonstar
Danielle Moonstar
Danielle "Dani" Moonstar, originally codenamed Psyche and later Mirage, is a fictional Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men....
. Their assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt is foiled by X-Force, Locus and Sunspot
Sunspot (comics)
Sunspot is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero most commonly associated with X-Men-related groups the New Mutants and X-Force....
become lost, but Feral
Feral (comics)
Feral is a fictional character that appears in the Marvel Universe. She has been both a superhero and a supervillain and most recognizably associated as a member of X-Force.-Fictional character biography:...
defects to the MLF after having a heated discussion with Gyrich. Tempo intervenes in an attack on Gyrich by Feral and is denounced and exiled from the MLF by Reignfire. Having no place to go, Tempo leaves with X-Force.
On her own
After leaving the MLF, CableCable (comics)
Cable is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared as an infant in Uncanny X-Men #201...
offers Tempo membership to X-Force, which she declines. Instead, she says that she wants to go off to college and put aside the super-powered lifestyle. She was briefly affiliated with the MLF during Operation: Zero Tolerance
Operation: Zero Tolerance
"Operation: Zero Tolerance" was a crossover storyline that ran through Marvel Comics' X-Men related titles during 1997. The story followed from the "Onslaught Saga" and focused on individuals, including Bastion and Henry Peter Gyrich, within the United States government and their attempts to use...
. In X-Force Vol 1 #67, Tempo, Dragoness, Wildslide
Wildside (comics)
Wildside is a fictional mutant villain and sadist in the Marvel Comics universe. He was first introduced as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front in the comic title New Mutants, when Rob Liefeld took over as the penciller of that series...
, Forearm and Danielle Moonstar
Danielle Moonstar
Danielle "Dani" Moonstar, originally codenamed Psyche and later Mirage, is a fictional Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men....
investigate the Wakeman Center and the possibility they are constructing a new strain 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....
. Wildside irrationally hits Locus, who leaves, stranding Tempo and the others. They work with X-Force to escape but the only MLF members who do are Forearm and Danielle.
After M-Day
When the events of M-DayDecimation (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...
occurred, where the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
removed the mutant genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
from over 90% of the world's mutant population, Tempo was one of the few to retain her powers. She is now a member of the Acolytes
Acolytes (comics)
The Acolytes is a team of comic book mutant supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The Acolytes followed the principles of the mutant Magneto, particularly the mutant right of superiority over normal humans. Some members of the Acolytes even worshipped him with a religious fervor and regarded...
as re-created by Exodus
Exodus (comics)
Exodus is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Joe Quesada, he first appeared in X-Factor #92...
.
She participates in the Acolytes' raid on the X-Mansion and in the final battle on Muir Isle, where she is knocked out by Cable
Cable (comics)
Cable is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared as an infant in Uncanny X-Men #201...
. Tempo's ability to slow time was used to give the Acolytes an escape after their defeat and the shooting of Charles Xavier
Professor X
Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
, who was taken with them.
X-Men Legacy
Professor X was able to enter the Acolytes secret compound and convinced Exodus to consider joining the X-Men to prepare the mutants for the return of the "messiah child" (Hope Summers), and also to prevent things like M-Day from ever happening again. The Acolytes disbanded, with several joining the X-Men, but Tempo was undecided.After Utopia was formed, Tempo moved into it, and began to work with the X-Men, fighting both Emplate and Selene's Army.
Age of X and possible death
When reality was warped due the machinations of XAge of X
"Age of X" is a comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics which features an alternate reality of the X-Men. The first issue of the storyline, Age of X: Alpha, was published in January 2011. Publication continued in February, March, and April 2011...
, a rogue personality of the mutant known as Legion, Tempo, like all residents of Utopia, was transformed into a soldier of Fortress X. A squad leader, she was injured in battle when her attempts to use her powers to slow down the treads of an enemy tank backfired and she was struck by the resulting shrapnel. Though she was successful in stopping the tank, her injuries were fatal and before she died, her memories were absorbed by Legacy
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...
. Due to the nature of the reality warp, all of the residents of Fortress X were the actual residents of Utopia transformed in mind and body by Legion’s power and as such, when Tempo died in the altered reality, it's possible that her death carried over into the true, corrected reality.
Powers and abilities
Tempo can manipulate time. Most often she slows or stops her opponents or speeds herself or her teammates. She has been able to prevent a number of grenades from exploding by keeping them in suspended motion, and she was also able to successfully attack RogueRogue (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...
by amplifying her own personal speed to cause her to crash into a wall while flying.
Strain provides a time limit on how long Tempo can maintain a major time manipulation. It is not established how long that limit is, but she was able to completely freeze the X-Men and surrounding Sentinels for several minutes while she and the Acolytes conducted a thorough search of the X-Men mansion.
Tempo can also levitate herself and fly at subsonic speeds.