| Adam Neramani Adam X | |
|---|---|
 Cover toX-Force #30 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | X-Force Annual #2 (October 1993) |
| Created by | Fabian Nicieza Tony Daniel |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Adam Neramani |
| Species | Human mutant /Shi'ar hybrid |
| Team affiliations | Strong Industries Shi'ar Imperium Crystal Claws |
| Notable aliases | Adam-X the X-Treme Ascendant One X-Treme Adam-X |
| Abilities |
|
Adam Neramani is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerFabian Nicieza and artistTony Daniel, the characterfirst appeared inX-Force Annual #2 (October 1993). Adam Neramani is a half-alien half-mutant.[1] As part of an effort to diversify the genes of the royalShi'ar bloodline, he was genetically engineered using theDNA of Emperor D'Ken and Katherine Summers, making him the half-brother ofScott Summers.[2] He is known under thecodenamesAdam-X andX-Treme.[3] Neramani is also calledAdam X the X-Treme.[4]
In 1993,Fabian Nicieza introduced Adam Neramani as a grunge-inspired character who was part mutant, part Shi'ar, and whose origin contained hints that he might be the half-brother ofCyclops andHavok. However, this storyline was left unresolved when Nicieza departed from theX-Men series in 1995.[5] Nicieza later confirmed that he intended Neramani to be the half-brother of Cyclops and Havok:
Adam X was intended to be the illegitimate offspring of D'Ken and Kate Summers. Taken from D'Ken and raised on a farming planet.[6]
It was later revealed that, after theShi'ar recognized the potential of the Summers bloodline, they engineered another child by combining the DNA of Emperor D'Ken and Katherine Summers. This child, Adam Neramani, was developed in an artificial womb but grew up unaware of his true lineage. His journey eventually led him to Earth, where his mutant ability to ignite blood first manifested.[7]
Adam Neramani debuted inX-Force Annual #2 (October 1993), created byFabian Nicieza andTony Daniel.[8] He appeared in the 2020X-Factor series,[9] and in the 2021X-Men Legends series.[10]
Finding himself on Earth and unaware of his own past, Adam-X began working for industrialist Martin Strong helping bring mutants to a Strong Industries plant where he would seemingly give them shelter. In exchange, Strong promises to help Adam-X regain his identity. During this time, Adam-X develops a close friendship with fellow mutantMichelle Balters, also known as Neurotap. Unbeknown to Adam-X, Strong Industries was, in actuality, funded byProject Wideawake to develop a means to exterminate the "X" gene that makes mutants. Discovering the truth, Balters flees from Strong Industries and Adam-X is sent to bring her back in.
X-Force had already begun investigating Strong's activities when they cross paths with Balters. X-Force attempted to preserve Balters' freedom but they were momentarily incapacitated by Adam-X's mutant ability. Balters is able to escape with X-Force and provide him with information about Strong.
Although initially meeting as adversaries, Adam-X and X-Force eventually join to combat Martin Strong, once they discover that he is a mutant himself. Adam-X andShatterstar, in particular, discover a mutual affinity due to their alien mutant status and love of battle. Membership to X-Force is offered to Adam-X but he declines, choosing instead to find his past and find who he is.
For unknown reasons,Mister Sinister, under the pseudonym of Mr. Milbury, hiresArcade to "test" Adam-X. At the same time,Major Domo hires Arcade to get rid of Shatterstar. Arcade decides to meet the demands of both employers by capturing the two and pit them against one another in Murderworld. After yet again battling one another briefly, Adam-X and Shatterstar join forces and work their way through Murderworld and defeat Arcade.
While traveling in theCanadian Yukon wilderness, Adam-X witnesses Phillip Summers' plane crash. Adam-X is able to rescue Summers before his plane explodes. Adam-X uses his mutant power to "heat" Summers' blood and keep him warm until he finally manages to carry him to a hospital. They are greeted by Summers' grandson,Cyclops and Cyclops' wife,Jean Grey. The twoX-Men thank Adam-X for his efforts and, using Jean's telepathy, Adam-X is able to share some of his memories with Phillip, showing him the ships he flew while with the Shi'ar.
Adam-X meetsCaptain Marvel, and the two encounter Shi'ar agent Davan Shakari (akaErik the Red). Shakari reveals that Adam-X is the human/Shi'ar hybrid son of EmperorD'Ken. Adam-X kills Shakari.[11]
Years later, Adam-X finally returns in San Francisco, sitting drunk in a bar with other mutants. He is angry that humans are trying to prevent new mutant births and he participates in a riot. Adam is later arrested byEmma Frost and herDark X-Men.[12] They are taken into custody by the Dark X-Men.[13] Later he and the other prisoners are freed by theX-Force and teleported to the island of Utopia.[14]
Adam-X is one of the many aliens arrested under orders fromHenry Peter Gyrich, who had orchestrated a coup with the alien-monitoring agencyS.W.O.R.D. He is imprisoned with many other earth-dwelling aliens, such asBeta Ray Bill andUltra Girl. All the aliens are released byAbigail Brand, the former leader of S.W.O.R.D. Adam-X assists in driving off an alien invasion and is allowed his freedom. Brand, now in control again, clarifies she owes each of them a one-time favor.[15]
Among the over 50 plans Cyclops utilized to try to stopJuggernaut, Adam X was used to ignite Juggernaut's blood. The result was "worse than ineffective" as Juggernaut remained unstoppable, and for 15 minutes, burned anything he touched.[16]
The anthology titleX-Men Legends reveals that Adam is genetically related to the Summers family, as genetic information from Katherine Summers was used in his creation.[17]
Adam Neramani is aShi'ar-mutant hybrid.[18] He possesses superhuman strength, speed, sight, and stamina, abilities that are typical of the Shi'ar race.[19] Due to his mutant heritage, he can igniteoxygenated blood, causing intense, immobilizing pain, and he can spread this effect across multiple targets simultaneously. He took down an entire group of soldiers led byErik the Red with his powers.[20]
George Marston ofNewsarama said that Adam Neramani perfectly embodies '90s superhero clichés, evident just by looking at him. He found that the character goes beyond the typical trends of the era, even calling himself "X-Treme" in a time when adding an "X" to anything made it a hit. Marston also stated that Neramani's powers, like his blood being acid that can catch fire, and his exaggerated look push the '90s comic book style to its extreme, make him stand out as a symbol of the era, pushing the boundaries of superhero tropes.[21]