| Chamber | |
|---|---|
 Chamber as depicted inGeneration X #71 (November 2000). Art byArthur Adams. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Generation X #1 (November 1994) |
| Created by | Scott Lobdell (writer) Chris Bachalo (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jonothon Evan Starsmore |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | New Warriors Clan Akkaba Generation X X-Men Weapon X Jean Grey School |
| Notable aliases | Decibel |
| Abilities | Currently: Formerly:
|
Chamber (Jonothon Evan Starsmore; alternatively spelledJonothan) is asuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character is usually associated with theX-Men and theNew Warriors.
ABritishmutant, Jono possesses the ability to cast energy blasts from his chest. He had limited control of his power and destroyed much of his chest and lower face when his powers emerged. He lost his powers onM-Day, but replaced them with technology that gave him sonic-based abilities. He regained his powers after the events ofAge of X.
Jonothon was a member of the X-Men junior teamGeneration X. He was sullen and moody and had difficulty bonding with teammates. He has since been offered a permanent position in the X-Men's teaching staff.
Created by writerScott Lobdell and artistChris Bachalo, he first appeared inGeneration X #1[1] (November 1994).
Jonothon Evan Starsmore ("Jono" to his friends) is a native ofLondon and a mutant who possesses a furnace ofpsionic energy in his chest. This power first manifested in an explosion during a party he was attending with then girlfriend Gayle Edgerton. Its initial manifestation destroyed much of his chest and lower face and crippled Gayle.[2][3] As a result of his disfiguration, Jono can only speak viatelepathy. He does not require food, water, or air to survive; it is believed that he is sustained by or made entirely of psionic energy.[citation needed]
The primary manifestation of his abilities is his ability to fire powerful blasts of psionic force. It has been implied at numerous times that he has the potential to become one of the most powerful mutants on Earth, but his emotional issues have apparently prevented him from significantly exploring this potential. His disfigurement also left Jono sullen and angry and his teammates have often found him difficult to get along with.[volume & issue needed]
Shortly after his mutant powers manifest, Jonothon accepts an invitation to joinXavier's School for Gifted Youngsters at 18. He meets the future members of Generation X -M,Husk,Synch,Skin, andJubilee - after they arrive to save him fromEmplate, a mutant who feeds on mutantgenetic material to survive and attacks him at the airport.[4]
While living at the Xavier Institute, Chamber reconciles with Gayle Edgerton after they are both captured by Emplate. He later enters a relationship with Husk,[5] but their relationship is strained as Jono believes that he cannot offer the normalcy he assumes she wants.[volume & issue needed]
When the Xavier Institute is outed as harboring mutant students, an anti-mutant group attacks the school. After Synch is killed preventing a bomb from killing nearby human students, the Generation X kids feel that their training is over and disband the group.[6] Chamber is considered to join the X-Men, but declines.[7]
After failing to join the X-Men, Chamber returns to London, where he hooks up withpop star Sugar Kane. Kane and Chamber part ways after her manager stages her abduction by anti-mutant forces. The X-Men meet with Chamber in London and persuade him to join the team. He remains on the X-Men for some time, but often shows frustration with being treated as a junior member by his teammates and eventually asks to be relieved from active duty.[volume & issue needed]
After returning to the X-Men, Chamber learns that Husk is in a relationship withArchangel.[8] He also witnesses the death of his friend Skin, who is crucified by theChurch of Humanity.[9] These events drive Chamber over the edge; he attacks Archangel and is arrested. While Chamber is in prison,Brent Jackson recruits him into theWeapon X program.[10]
Following the warping of reality by theScarlet Witch, Chamber is one of the many mutants who lose their powers when reality is restored.Beast saves his life, but he is left unable to survive without his powers to sustain him. The X-Men leave him to be cared for at a hospital on life support.[11]
Jono is later abducted byFrederick Slade, a member ofClan Akkaba, who are descendants of Apocalypse and distant relatives of Jono. Under orders ofOzymandias, Jono has his body restored after being given a transfusion of Apocalypse's blood. In the process, he takes on the pigmentation and appearance of a younger version of Apocalypse. As a direct descendant of Apocalypse, Jono is considered a member of the Clan, but refuses to formally join them.[12]
Jono resurfaces as Decibel, a member ofNight Thrasher's incarnation of theNew Warriors.[13] As Decibel, Jono utilizes a high-tech suit that gives him the ability to create solidified sound constructs. He reveals that he chose these powers because he does not want to be a weapon of destruction anymore and can now create.[14] He serves with the New Warriors until they disband.[15]
Jono eventually makes his way to the X-Men's new Island nation ofUtopia. Shortly after his arrival,Legion rewrites history, making himself a hero. In this re-written world, Jono regains his powers, but loses the body restorations given to him by Clan Akkaba. When reality is restored, Jono retains the changes Legion made to him.[16] After the conflict of leadership between Wolverine and Cyclops, Chamber joins Wolverine at theJean Grey School for Higher Learning, where he teaches a course on "Coping With Physical Changes".[17][18][19][20]
Chamber is entrusted with the safety and security of the Jean Grey School's students when a violent threat is roaming the halls.[21] He is shown defending his students from an attack byWeapon Omega while giving a lecture in class.[22] Chamber is killed while battling one of Legion's multiple personalities,[23] but is later resurrected by Legion.[24] When the school moves toCentral Park, Chamber becomes a teacher there before being killed byHarpoon of theMarauders.[25][26][27]
Following the establishment ofKrakoa as a mutant nation, Chamber is resurrected and joins theNew Mutants along withMondo.[28][2] They go on a mission to theShi'ar empire with the intent of bringingCannonball to Krakoa. The New Mutants are assigned to transportDeathbird to Chandilar to beXandra Neramani's teacher, avoiding an assassination attempt byOracle. Chamber is later seen working withNightcrawler's Legionaries.[29]
Jono's thoracic and abdominal cavities are a chamber for a furnace of psionic energy capable of nuclear fission whose output can be projected as wide blasts of concussive force orlaser-like focused beams that disrupt atomic bonds.[20] The initial manifestation of said powers destroyed most of his internal organs along with his mouth and chest.[30][31][32] Chamber requires no food or oxygen and is seemingly indestructible, as he has disintegrated his own body along withD'Spayre's down to their sub-atomic components in a kamikaze attack and later reconstituted himself.[33][34]
Jono's appearance is so unusual that even other mutants are startled and repulsed. He has been implied to be a being of pure psionic energy inhabiting a dead organic shell that he can disintegrate and reassemble from memory.[35][36][37] Furthermore, Chamber possesses psychic abilities that enable him to communicate without a mouth.[38]
After being depowered by the events ofHouse of M, Jono's body was rebuilt by Clan Akkaba in the image of Apocalypse and he later employed technology to mimic sonic powers as Decibel. These powers included flight, sonic blasts and the creation of solid energy constructs. He has since been restored to his original form and powers by the events of Age of X.
In 2014,Entertainment Weekly ranked Chamber 35th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[39]
An alternate universe version of Chamber from Earth-295 appears inAge of Apocalypse. This version is the leader of Generation X whose body remains intact due to him receiving a cybernetic chest plate that regulates his powers.[40] He is later killed by a mob during an attack onSugar Man's lair.[41]
Jonothon Hex, a fusion of Chamber andDC Comics characterJonah Hex, appears in theAmalgam Comics one-shotGeneration Hex.[42]
An alternate universe version of Chamber from Earth-13729 appears inDoctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme #10 andUncanny X-Men: Winters End #1. This version is in a relationship withHusk and is later killed in a battle with theShi'ar.[43][44]