| Dr. Lorna Sally Dane Polaris | |
|---|---|
.webp) Textless variant cover ofX-Men (vol. 6) #6 (January 2022). Art byRussell Dauterman andMatthew Wilson. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The X-Men #49 (October 1968) |
| Created by | Arnold Drake Jim Steranko |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Lorna Sally Dane |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | Horsemen of Apocalypse Starjammers X-Factor Acolytes X-Men |
| Notable aliases | Mistress of Magnetism Pestilence Polaris Malice |
| Abilities |
|
Polaris (Dr. Lorna Sally Dane) is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerArnold Drake and artistJim Steranko, the characterfirst appeared inThe X-Men #49 (October 1968),[1] though she is not called Polaris untilThe X-Men #97 (February 1976).[2] Dane has also been a member of theX-Men and theX-Factor, in which she is frequently paired with her on-again off-again romantic interestHavok (Alex Summers).[3]
Like the other X-Men, Lorna Dane belongs to the subspecies of humans calledmutants, who are born with superhuman abilities.[4] She can controlmagnetism in a manner similar to her father,Magneto, who served as the X-Men's main antagonist in early stories (The X-Men #1-11, published 1963-65). Although it was speculated for decades, the fact that Magneto was her father was not revealed until a 2003 storyline, some 35 years after the character's debut.[5][6] Many of Lorna's stories involve her mental instability and mental health issues, particularly herbipolar disorder, which is exacerbated by the repeatedbrainwashing episodes and other traumatic events. Lorna's mental health has also been a factor in storylines where she becomes evil or loses control of her abilities. The character has been known as Polaris, Malice, and Pestilence at various points in her history.[7]
The character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, includingvideo games,animatedtelevision series, and merchandise. Lorna Dane made her live-action debut inThe Gifted (2018), portrayed byEmma Dumont.
Lorna Dane debuted inThe X-Men #49 (October 1968),[8] created by writerArnold Drake and artistJim Steranko.[9] Her powers manifest inThe X-Men #50, and in issue #60 she joins the X-Men.[2] Drake and Steranko's successors on the series,Roy Thomas andNeal Adams, introduced a romance between Lorna andHavok.[2]
She appeared in the 1975Giant-Size X-Men #1, but in the next appearance of the X-Men,The X-Men #94 (August 1975), she quits the team.[2] She and Havok return inThe X-Men #97 (February 1976) as villains under the mental control ofErik the Red, with Lorna calling herself Polaris for the first time.[2] Polaris and Havok are returned to normal byThe X-Men #119 (March 1979), and became regular members of the X-Men's supporting cast.[2]
Polaris joins the relaunched X-Factor inX-Factor #71 (October 1991) and remains with the group until the end of the series,X-Factor #149 (September 1998).[2]
Lorna Dane continued to appear inThe X-Men, now retitledThe Uncanny X-Men, as well as a new series simply titledX-Men (no "The"). InThe Uncanny X-Men #431 (November 2003) a DNA test proves that she is the daughter of Magneto. She had previously been revealed to be of this parentage inThe X-Men #50 (her second appearance), but most saw this as being invalidated by the revelation inThe X-Men #58 (July 1979) that the Magneto who claimed to be her father was a robot.[2] She rejoins X-Factor inX-Factor Investigations and the 2014All-New X-Factor.[10]
She then appeared in the 2019Captain Marvel,[11][12] the 2020X-Factor series,[13] the 2020X of Swords: Creationone-shot,[14] the 2021X-Men series,[15] the 2021X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic series,[16] the 2022Marauders series,[17] the 2023Scarlet Witch series,[18] the 2024Fall of the House of X series,[19] and the 2024X-Factor series.[20]
The new costume worn by Polaris in theFall of the House of X (2024) series was designed by comic book artist Lukas Werneck.[21] Marvel Comics requested a suit paying homage toMagneto.[22]
Lorna Dane met the original team ofX-Men while still a student.[23] When the villainMesmero used his "psyche-generator" to summon mutants in North America with latent powers,[24] Lorna found herself compelled to travel to San Francisco, where Mesmero was. There she encountered the X-ManIceman, who broke her trance by causing her to slip on a patch of ice and then convinced her to come to his apartment. At the apartment, Lorna met the rest of the X-Men who soon learned that she had latent mutant powers.[25] Mesmero and his android Demi-Men captured her and took her to their desert headquarters, with the X-Men in pursuit. The psyche-generator awakened her mutant powers and Mesmero named her "Queen of the Mutants".
When the X-Men attempted to rescue her,Magneto revealed himself as the leader of the group behind her abduction—and, more importantly, claimed to be Lorna's father.[26] Despite the X-Men's assertions that Magneto is evil, Lorna could not bring herself to fight her own father.[24]Iceman returns from meeting with her foster parents who told him that her birth parents had died in a plane crash years earlier. This information caused Lorna to turn against Magneto[27] but it was later revealed that she had caused the accident and Magneto had her memories of it erased with the help of Mastermind.[28] For a while, Iceman was attracted to her, but Lorna did not truly reciprocate his feelings.[29] She instead fell in love with their teammateHavok.[30]
Unbeknownst to Lorna, the Magneto who claimed to be her father is revealed to be an android. Shortly after, Lorna was captured bySentinels, but was rescued by the X-Men.[31] Lorna joined the X-Men and began living atXavier's mansion.[32] Lorna aided Havok and the X-Men in repelling the alienZ'Nox's attempted invasion of Earth.[33]
Lorna Dane's first "code name" was Magnetrix, but she quickly decided that she did not like this name. However, that did not keep Havok from continuing to use that name as a way to annoy and flirt with her.[34] The two leave the X-Men to pursue their mutual interest ingeophysics.[35] They moved to the Diablo mountain range in California.[36]
Lorna, with Havok, is later seen battling theHulk.[37] When the old and new X-Men fought the mutant islandKrakoa, Lorna displayed the full potential of her powers for the first time by disrupting the Earth's magnetic field, which sent Krakoa into deep space.[38] They then joinedMoira MacTaggert at her facility for genetic research onMuir Island.[39]
Lorna received a new costume ofShi'ar design, when her mind came under the domination of the Shi'ar Intelligence agent Davan Shakari, also known asErik the Red. It was Erik the Red who gave Lorna the codenamePolaris, which she has continued to use ever since. At the time, Shakari servedD'Ken, then emperor of the Shi'ar Galaxy. Shakari kidnappedAlex Summers and Lorna, and subjected them to a powerful form of mind control. He turned them against the X-Men in an attempt to assassinateProfessor Charles Xavier. A massive battle ensued atKennedy International Airport, with the duo battling the X-Men. Polaris was defeated byStorm, but Shakari managed to escape with both her and Havok. Xavier eventually freed both Polaris and Havok from Shakari's control.[40]
Polaris and Havok remained inactive as members of the X-Men, though they did return from time to time to assist the team. With the X-Men, they battledProteus on Muir Island.[41] For the most part, Lorna and Alex remained in civilian life for a number of years, settling in New Mexico and completing their college degrees. They were forced to reluctantly help the X-Men inArcade's Murderworld.[42] Their new life was interrupted when theMarauders ambushed them around the time of theMutant Massacre. Polaris’ mind was overtaken by the psionic being known asMalice.[43][44]
Under Malice's control, Lorna attacked the X-Men as leader of the Marauders.[45] Shortly thereafter, the Malice entity found that it had become permanently bonded to Lorna's body.[46] She led the Marauders against the X-Men duringInferno.[47] AfterMister Sinister was seemingly killed, Malice's hold over Lorna weakened. Temporarily regaining control of her own mind, Lorna was able to place a phone call to the X-Men in Australia for help, but they arrived too late. Lorna had been taken to be with her alleged half-sisterZaladane, a priestess for the Savage Land's Sun People.[48] The X-Men arrived in time to witness Zaladane's getaway, though Havok managed to infiltrate her army in disguise while the X-Men followed. In the Savage Land, the X-Men found that Zaladane had amassed an army of Savage Land natives who were being mentally controlled for her byWorm, one of theSavage Land Mutates. Zaladane revealed that she is in fact Lorna's sister and, using theHigh Evolutionary's machinery, stripped Lorna of her magnetic powers, taking them as her own. In addition, the process managed to finally separate Lorna from Malice. Zaladane and her forces clashed withKa-Zar and the X-Men. During the encounter, Lorna'ssecondary mutation activated: she grew in height, became invulnerable, and gained superhuman strength. Zaladane's army was released from Worm's control, and Lorna finally regained her freedom.[49]
Having nowhere else to go, Lorna went toMoira MacTaggert's mutant research station onMuir Island. On her way there, her secondary mutation activated again, as evidenced by a sudden increase in height. At this time, she discovered that her new mutation also affects those around her, amplifying negative emotions such as anger and hate.[50]
Upon examination, Dr. MacTaggert was at a loss to explain Lorna's new mutation, although she did confirm that the only way Zaladane could have taken her powers away was if she had been a biological sibling.[51] Shortly after her arrival, Lorna joined theMuir Island X-Men team formed by Moira and former X-ManBanshee.[52] This team defended Muir Island from the attackingReavers, who were hunting forWolverine.[53]
Prior to this time, it had not been clear that Polaris was actually drawing strength from being a nexus for negative emotional energies. Polaris’ status as a nexus, however, was perceived by the villainousShadow King. The Shadow King used Polaris as a gateway to allow him access to the physical world from theastral plane, causing a worldwide increase in anger, hatred, and violence in the process.[54] Polaris was freed of his influence with the help ofX-Factor and the X-Men during theMuir Island Saga.[55] Upon the defeat of the Shadow King, Polaris’ magnetic powers return due to a combination of Zaladane's death a short time before and the neural-disruptive psionic blade of the X-ManPsylocke, leaving no trace of her increased size, strength, or emotion-control powers.[56]
Polaris was then asked to join the newly formedX-Factor byValerie Cooper, and, tired of hiding out on Muir Island, she accepted.[57] Havok and Polaris were set as its leaders. Although joining X-Factor offered Polaris the chance to reunite with Havok, their relationship remained largely unresolved.[58] Polaris was able to come to terms with her experiences with mind control thanks to psychiatristDr. Leonard Samson, helping her to develop her confidence.[59] Polaris developed a strong belief in Xavier's dream while a member of X-Factor.[60] Polaris became the government's secret weapon against a possible attack from Magneto, with the government hiring the mercenaryRandom to test her abilities.[61] Malice later returned to bother her once more but Havok and Polaris, out of their love for each other, each tried to absorb her, preventing the other from being possessed. In the end, Malice perished at the hands ofMister Sinister.[62]
Shortly thereafter, Havok was kidnapped by agents of theDark Beast, who forged a note explaining that Havok needed to get away from Polaris. This devastated Polaris, causing her to feel abandoned and betrayed.[63] X-Factor's atmosphere changed as the criminalsMystique andSabretooth were forced by the government to join the group.[64][65] Polaris began to question her place on the team after this, especially as most of her original teammates were no longer active. She discovered Havok's fate as he attacked X-Factor with the Dark Beast's agents, apparently under mind-control. After Havok was defeated, Polaris tried to reach out to him, only to be attacked and severely injured when she felt she could trust him.[66] When Sabretooth betrayed and attacked the team, Polaris was severely injured.[67]
After recovering from her injuries, and learning that Havok's "terrorist" activities had been a front for his true undercover work, Polaris forgave him, although she rejected him romantically.[68] She also agreed to join Havok's new X-Factor team. However, during their first team meeting, she could only watch as Havok was seemingly killed in the explosion of a faultytime machine constructed by the mutant from the future,Greystone.[69] Although Havok had left Polaris in charge of his team while trying to stop Greystone, she apparently did not feel like she could keep the team together, and they disbanded shortly thereafter.[69]
Weeks later,Nightcrawler encountered Lorna in a church and she confided in him that she felt she was being followed and that she was sure Alex was still alive.[70] A group ofSkrulls working withApocalypse were indeed shadowing her and broke into her apartment to retrieve the headgear from Havok's original costume. Lorna then learned that she was one ofThe Twelve, a team of mutants supposedly destined to usher in a new golden age for mutant-kind.[71] Polaris journeyed with the X-Men toEgypt to battle Apocalypse. During the encounter, Magneto, another member of The Twelve, discovered that he could use Lorna to tap into the Earth's magnetic field with incredible force, effectively hiding the reduced state of his powers at the time.[72]
AfterApocalypse was defeated, Polaris returned toGenosha with Magneto to supply him with power and help him keep order. She believed she was doing it for the greater good, but also enjoyed the education in her powers that she received. Magneto launched a full-scale assault on Carrion Cove, the last city opposing his rule, to gain access to technology that would restore his full abilities. Polaris attempted to stop him, but she was defeated and left the country with theAvengers. She later returned withQuicksilver to help oppose Magneto's tyrannical rule.[73]
Although Quicksilver was discovered and forced to leave Genosha, Polaris maintained a low profile to covertly transport refugees from the war to other nations, as well as monitor Magneto's actions.[74] After Magneto's spine was severed by Wolverine, Polaris was able to steal a blood sample from his medical tests, which she used to confirm that Magneto was her biological father.[75] WhenCassandra Nova’sSentinels destroyed Genosha and massacred millions, Polaris was one of the few survivors. She was left emotionally scarred after witnessing the massacre after being unable to save them.[76]
Later, some of the X-Men went to Genosha to survey what occurred there. They encountered a nude and deranged Polaris in Genosha after its population was massacred byCassandra Nova'sSentinels.[77] When Polaris rejoined the X-Men, the extremely traumatic experience had left her with a darker, more ruthless personality, even killing some members of the anti-mutantChurch of Humanity. Havok broke up with Polaris after they were about to be married, leaving her at the altar for nurseAnnie Ghazikhanian with whom he had an affair while he was in a coma using telepathy. Polaris now driven to instability yet again went berserk and commenced to go on a rampage that nearly resulted in her killing Havok. A case was made that it was due to the trauma from Genosha but nobody bought it.Juggernaut succeeded in knocking her out.[78] She remained this way until some psychic therapy withProfessor Xavier. Polaris promised to do no more harm and she was accepted back to the X-Men.[79]
Iceman later admitted to Polaris that he still had feelings for her and after some mild flirtation, the two began a relationship.[80] The relationship was not to last, however, since Lorna's other relationships (namely with Havok) were still unresolved. Havok has confessed to still loving her after Annie had left him, however, Polaris pushed him away.[81]
It was revealed that Polaris had lost her powers onM-Day,[82] but had avoided telling her teammates. When confronted by Valerie Cooper, who has knowledge of her power loss, Polaris claimed that her power loss is psychological and she believes she is preventing herself from using them. Polaris eventually was forced by circumstance to accept that her powers were gone and admit the fact to the rest of the team—whereupon all the other members of her squad, except her would-be-paramours Iceman and Havok, revealed to her that they had already guessed it. She then left the mansion with Havok to "search" for her lost powers, irrationally convinced they lay with an alien named Daap, a seeming twin to the deceasedX-Statix memberDoop, who she had seen on a recent mission in space. Daap soon crashed to Earth and kidnapped Polaris and theLeper Queen, the leader of the anti-mutant group known as the Sapien League.[83]
Apocalypse took them both, restrained the Leper Queen, and forcibly transformed Polaris into the new Pestilence. Seemingly mind-wiped, she ingested viruses from theWorld Health Organization and was attempting to create a meta-plague. In the climactic battle between the X-Men, the Avengers, and Apocalypse, Wolverine discovered a choking Pestilence was Lorna.[84] She was recovering in theX-Mansion when former Horsemen of ApocalypseGambit andSunfire returned to take her away. She arose and refused to go with them, but also decided to quit the X-Men.[85] Polaris decided to leave that night to search for Apocalypse in Egypt. She went alone and was later hunted until Havok and the new Uncanny X-Men team saved her.Emma Frost has also noted that her powers seem to be "strange and mutating".[86]
After being rescued from an anti-Apocalypse cult by the new team, Polaris agreed to joinProfessor X,Darwin,Havok,Marvel Girl,Nightcrawler, andWarpath on their mission to stopVulcan.[86] Her current relationship with Havok is still developing. Polaris seemed to finally show concrete signs of forgiving Havok, telling him to "just shut up and kiss me" after the team won their first battle against the entire regiment of Shi'ar soldiers in their beginning struggle againstD'Ken and in support of Lilandra.[87] Although Havok initially rebuffs her advances, hesitant to "start up again after" everything that happened between them, Lorna says that he needs to "blow off some steam" and the scene ends with them kissing. Polaris helps in the big fight and seriously hurts Vulcan andGladiator with her powers, but in the end she is one of the X-Men left behind.[88]
Following the death ofCorsair at the hands of Vulcan, Polaris joined the newest incarnation of theStarjammers, intending to kill Vulcan and restoreLilandra Neramani to the Shi'ar throne.[88] Their mission proved unsuccessful and Polaris, along with Havok,Ch'od, andRaza, was captured and incarcerated on an underwater planet by Vulcan.[89]
Lorna was later shown to still be a prisoner of Vulcan and his forces. Vulcan ordered her to be heavily drugged so they can further study this.[90] She was later freed by Havok and the other Starjammers, who vowed to kill Vulcan.[91]
Polaris and the Starjammers played a large role in the War of Kings storyline, which also featured Vulcan, The Inhumans, Nova, and The Guardians of the Galaxy.[92] Pursued by a Shi'ar superdestroyer after escaping, Lorna uses the fact that she isCrystal'ssister-in-law to allow the Starjammers through the Kree's defensive shield.[93] After the Shi'ar Imperial Guard's attack on Crystal and Ronan's wedding, Lorna plays a minor but pivotal role in regaining Kree popular support for the Inhumans by making sure that Crystal's humanitarian acts towards the injured Kree civilians are broadcast all over the Kree networks.[94] After this, she once again joins the Starjammers on their mission to rescue Lilandra. They promptly commandeer a Shi'ar Ironclad (which she helps capture by magnetizing the Starjammer to its hull) which they then use to join the main Shi'ar fleet until their cover is blown when they rescueRocket Raccoon and his team, theGuardians of the Galaxy.[95] Following the surrender of the Shi'ar to the Inhumans, Lorna remains on the Shi'ar homeworld along with Havok and Marvel Girl.[96]
Through Ch'od, and apparently due to the incident of Rachel and Korvus both losing the connection to the Phoenix Force, it is known that Polaris, Havok, Rachel and Korvus have departed for Earth.[97]
Magneto,Rogue,Frenzy, andGambit respond to Rachel's distress call and Rogue uses Legion's powers to teleport to the space station they are on.[98] Lorna, Korvus and Alex are mind controlled by an alien force and are being used to help torture and kill Shi'ar.[99] When she meets up with Magneto their reunion is short lived as the Shi'ar attack the assembled group and Lorna, Alex and Korvus attack Magneto, Frenzy and Gambit.[99] Rachel's actions break them free of the mind control and the X-Men join forces. Polaris says she has many things she wanted to ask Magneto and he responds by saying at another time when they are out of danger.[100] The team works together to build a black hole that takes the space station and all aboard back to Earth ending Lorna's space arc.[101]
Polaris along with Havok are seen joining Wolverine's side after Wolverine suggests that they go out on their own away from their family and join X-Factor.[102]
During the Breaking Points storyline,[103]Longshot used his psychometric powers to read a photograph of Lorna's mother and nominal father from which Longshot learned the truth about their death. Lorna forced Longshot to show her what he had seen, usingM's telepathic powers to make a connection. Lorna was devastated to learn that the first outbreak of her powers led to their death in a plane crash. Magneto hadMastermind manipulate her memories to repress her involvement in her parents' death.[103] Later, Polaris and Havok have broken up, due to Havok agreeing to lead theUncanny Avengers,[104] and Polaris wanting to remain with X-Factor.[105]
Polaris is now the leader of X-Factor. The name was bought from Maddox by Serval's CEO Harrison Snow. X-Factor is a corporate team that protects the interest of the company.[106] It is revealed that Harrison secretly had nanos put in her right eye, without her consent.[107] Her half brother Quicksilver is on the team and is secretly spying on her for her ex Havok.[107]
During the "Last Days" part of theSecret Wars storyline, Polaris assisted Magneto during the incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610. As the energies of the two planets inched closer to impact cascade and send chaos through the streets, Magneto and Polaris are taking the fight to this "other" Earth, battling the parallel Sentinels sent after them. Polaris is shocked to see the energy levels her father is exhibiting, all the while trying to protect the people caught in the crossfire of Magneto and the Sentinels.[108]
During theSecret Empire storyline, Polaris breaks in on a prison in New Tian when Havok is about to attack the time-displaced Jean Grey andJimmy Hudson.[109] While Jean and Jimmy look for their teammates, Polaris manages to defeat Havok and helps the young mutants to escape. Upon escaping, Polaris andDanger reveal to the team that Magneto assigned them to look after them, which they've done secretly.[110]
In the new status quo for mutants postHouse of X and Powers of X, Professor X and Magneto invite all mutants to live on Krakoa and welcome even former enemies into their fold.[111] Polaris is seen with Magneto as he explains the process of resurrection for mutants involving the combined powers of The Five (Hope Summers, Goldballs, Proteus, Eva Bell and Elixir).[111]
Polaris is seen attacking the last compound ofOrchis on Earth with Magneto, Storm, and Cyclops.[112] Later, she joins Rachel Summers, Daken, Northstar and former X-students Eye-Boy and Prodigy in anew initiative in Krakoa: they are to investigate any mutant death and prepare a report for The Five as part of the Resurrection Protocols of Krakoa. Their first case involves the supposed death of Northstar's twin sister, Aurora.[113] Following the conclusion of theX-Factor title, Polaris was elected during theHellfire Gala to become a new member of the mainX-Men team.
Lorna Dane possesses the ability to controlmagnetism.[114] She regained her magnetic powers afterM-day by celestial technology that reactivated her X-gene.[115][116] She can manipulate metals which are susceptible to magnetism. She has the power to manipulate the iron in a body to reverse the blood flow.[117] Polaris is able to generate magnetic energy pulses. She can create magnetic force-fields. She has the power to manipulatemagnetic fields.[118] Polaris can use her abilities to allow herself to fly.[119] She is able perceive the world around her solely as patterns of magnetic and electrical energy. She has the ability to perceive the natural magnetic auras surrounding living beings as well.[120] Polaris can also absorb energy.[121]
Polaris had shown the ability to ingest virulent diseases without harm, absorbing their traits, and according to Apocalypse is able to spread a "meta-plague" that will kill anyone who has not been inoculated with the virus' vaccine, the Blood of Apocalypse. She had also been shown to fight off toxins and drugs quicker than normal.[90]
Additionally, Lorna Dane possesses expertise in geophysics, and has earned a doctorate in that field.[122]
Alex Schlesinger ofScreen Rant described Polaris as one of the "X-Men's most iconic mutants" and as an "iconic hero."[123] Deirdre Kaye ofScary Mommy called Polaris a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[124] Maite Molina ofComicsVerse noted the popularity of Polaris among comic book fans, saying, "She does not believe there is a point in one’s heroic journey where you have to establish yourself. Polaris has fought against the tension of her agency. She has lived a history where much was taken from her. Ultimately, she has endured. So, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles and countless foes, Lorna has never faltered in her steadfast role as a member of the X-Men. This is why she is so beloved."[125] Lukas Shayo ofComic Book Resources called Polaris one of the best female X-Men characters, writing, "Lorna Dane is a force to be reckoned with in the field, and she is remarkably creative with her powers."[126]
Commenting specifically on the popularity of Polaris's relationship with Havok, Matt Merante wrote, "Readers often connect to these characters as they relate to their mercurial relationship and resistance to familial expectations. The visual appeal of Polaris's green mane and Havok's distinct costume combined with the extreme potency of their powers make them interesting on a visceral level, but ultimately, it's their emotional connection that has endured in the annals of comic book history. For them, love is a choice made even in times of great strife."[2]
Polaris was the winner of a popularity contest held by Marvel Comics in 2021,[127][128] which served to determine who would be the final member of a new X-Men team that would debut during theHellfire Gala storyline.[129][130]
An alternate version of Polaris appears in theAge of Apocalypse reality. She was one of the many prisoners in Sinister's Breeding Pens, and a victim of theDark Beast's tests. She had been rendered nearly powerless becauseRogue had absorbed her abilities and permanently retained half of her powers when the two had a fallout prior to Rogue being taken to the X-Men. PrelateScott Summers frees her, but she cannot recognize him; she mistakes him for Magneto, whom she believes is her father.[131]
An alternate version of Polaris appears in the "House of M" storyline. Magneto becomes romantically involved with Susanna Dane an American exchange student in Europe who is helping smuggle him from place to place. When Magneto finds out she is having a child he tells her to go home because what she is doing is likely to get her and her child killed. Lorna Dane grows up in California and watches Magneto declare war on the human governments as a child.[132] Eventually Magneto reveals he is her father when he becomes ruler of Genosha. Polaris is shocked and storms off due to him never having been there for her. She eventually comes around as she is seen later when the new world order began, where mutants were the ruling class and with Magneto being their monarch. Lorna is still residing with him in his palace on Genosha with all his children. Polaris, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were considered royalty in this reality, and Lorna eventually develops a close relationship with her father.[133]
An alternate version of Polaris appears inMutant X. She works as a long-term member of the X-Men, after Magneto takes over from an ill Professor Xavier. This Polaris knows she is the daughter of Magneto. The X-Men briefly fight and lose against an insaneMadelyne Pryor. Later, they seemingly perish in an atomic explosion but survive this as well. Polaris is one of the victims in the reality-threatening battle involving Pryor and theBeyonder. Badly injured, she dies in her father's arms, reassured that everything will be okay.[134]
An alternate version of Polaris appears in theUltimate Marvel continuity ofUltimate X-Men. She is an attractive teenage mutant girl who is a member of theAcademy of Tomorrow, a mutant peacekeeping squad led byEmma Frost. In this continuity, she is also the girlfriend ofHavok but as a twist, she was also the ex-girlfriend of his brotherCyclops, whom Havok resents with a passion.[135]
Polaris is framed for killing dozens of people with her powers during a rescue mission, and imprisoned in the Triskelion of theUltimates with mutant terroristMagneto. After beating him at Chess after only 12 or so games, Magneto beats her into unconsciousness with a chair, and then uses her to goad Havok into rescuing her, so that he can escape the maximum-security cell by swapping places withMystique. In the end, Polaris' name is cleared and she returns to the Academy of Tomorrow.[136] She was killed in Ultimatum along with the rest of the Academy of Tomorrow except for Havok.[137] It is implied in Havok's discussion of the events leading up to the explosion that there may have been more than meets the eye going on.[138]
An alternate version of Polaris is drafted onto the interdimensional superhero teamthe Exiles. Originating from Earth-8149, she is seemingly killed in battle with a group of Sentinels engineered to destroy her, but is plucked out of time moments before her death to join the Exiles.[139] In the end Polaris finds out Magneto her father has turned to the side of good because of her death to avenge her murder at the hand of Sentinels.[140]
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