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| Forge | |
|---|---|
.png) Forge as depicted inX-Factor #106 (September 1994). Art bySteve Lightle. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | TheUncanny X-Men #184 (Aug. 1984) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont (writer) John Romita Jr. (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | United States Army X-Men X-Factor X-Corporation X-Force |
| Notable aliases | Maker, Genesis |
| Abilities |
|
Forge is asuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, most commonly in association with theX-Men. Amutant with an unsurpassed brilliance in technology, he has had a lengthy career as a government weapons contractor. Created by writerChris Claremont and artistJohn Romita Jr., Forge first appeared inTheUncanny X-Men #184 (August 1984).[1]
Forge shared a romantic relationship withStorm and a brief affair withMystique, which led him to associate with the X-Men and thus enhancing the technology at theX-Mansion. He was also a member ofX-Factor.
Forge was created by writerChris Claremont and artistJohn Romita Jr., and first appeared inTheUncanny X-Men #184 (August 1984).
Claremont's outline for the character's debut identifies Forge asDaniel Lone Eagle, although that name has not been used for the character in Marvel canon.[2]
Forge appeared inUncanny X-Men as a recurring character to the team, as well as five issues ofRom, and issues of other X-Men related titles. After the events ofThe Fall of the Mutants, Forge remained behind in Dallas, appearing in 2 issues ofNew Mutants. Forge assisted theMuir Island X-Men, before leaving to find the missing X-Men.[3] He participated in theDays of Future Present,X-Tinction Agenda, and theMuir Island Saga storylines. Forge joins the team, before being reduced to a support role to the X-Men teams, and finally leaving themansion.[4] Forge joinedX-Factor in issue 93, and left the team in issue 136, last appearing in the series in issue 145. He appeared sparingly in X-Men comics as technical support, and a recurring role in theMystique solo series andNew X-Men.[5][6]
As part ofMarvel NOW!, Forge returns as a member of Cable'sX-Force.[7] After the conclusion of the series, Forge played a supporting role inStorm (Vol. 3) as well as a team member inExtraordinary X-Men.
Forge appeared in many issues during theKrakoan Age, going on to join the island's X-Men, before leaving the team in the 2023Hellfire Gala. During theFrom the Ashes relaunch, Forge began the newX-Force team.[8]
Forge is a mutant with an innate superhuman talent for invention and is anintuitive genius.[9] He is aNative American of theCheyenne nation. Despite being trained as amedicine man, he primarily relies upon technology rather thanmysticism to accomplish his tasks. This causes conflict with his teacher, Naze, and ultimately leads him to leave and join the military.[volume & issue needed]
While in the army, Forge served in theVietnam War. After rising in the ranks to become asergeant, he was asked to joinS.H.I.E.L.D.[volume & issue needed] Forge declines, seeing his need is inVietnam. During his second tour of duty in the war, his comrades are killed by enemy troops. In anger, he uses their spirits to summon a band of demons to destroy the opposition. Forge, concerned about his former comrades, decides to order aB-52 bombing on his position to close the portal from the world of the unliving. The bombs destroy the spirits, but he is injured as well, losing his right leg and right hand. This action allows the demon called theAdversary to come to Earth. After this, Forge is hesitant to employ his mystical abilities.[volume & issue needed]
Years later, Forge createscybernetic replacements for his lost limbs. WhenTony Stark stops making advanced weaponry for theUS government, Forge is hired as an employee of theDefense Department.[10] One of his earliest commissions is to design a weapon to detect theDire Wraiths. Subsequently, Forge constructs a device capable of neutralizing mutant powers.Henry Peter Gyrich, an agent of theNational Security Council, takes the device, following orders from thePresident.[11] Forge protests because the device is untested and extremely dangerous to use. The device is used againstRogue, who was wanted for allegedly killing a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. However, the device instead removes the powers of her teammate,Storm.[12]
Forge rescues Storm after she falls into a river. Forge brings her back to his home inDallas,Texas. During her recovery, romantic feelings develop between them. When she finds out he is the person who developed the device which removed her abilities, Storm leaves.[13] They are briefly reunited to fight the common enemy of the Dire Wraiths, who are trying to prevent Forge from perfecting his neutralizer. They are defeated by the combined forces of the X-Men,Magik, andAmanda Sefton.[14]
Forge later improves his Neutralizer, but he is hesitant to design more devices like it because of what happened with Storm. With the help of the Wraiths' enemy,Rom the Space Knight, Forge creates a large-scale version of the Neutralizer in Earth's orbit. Rom and Forge use the device on the Wraith's homeworld, casting the entire race into the other-dimensionalLimbo.[15]
After saving the world, Forge destroys all remaining Neutralizers and focuses on ridding the Earth of the Adversary. The Adversary, in the shape of Naze, convinces Storm that Forge was driven insane by her leaving and is planning to open a gate to hell.[16] Storm tries to kill Forge, but the moment she stabs him she sees that she was tricked.[17] During the events of theFall of the Mutants crossover, the Adversary banishes Storm and Forge to another dimension which is devoid of human life. Storm and Forge spend an unknown amount of time there, rekindling their romance. Forge restores Storm's abilities and uses them to power a gate back home.[18]
Forge and Storm arrive on Earth and join the X-Men in their battle with the Adversary. Forge is required to sacrifice nine willing lives to banish the Adversary forever; eight X-Men andMadelyne Pryor volunteer and die in the casting of Forge's spell. The goddessRoma intervenes and secretly restores the X-Men to life.[19]Magik, younger sister of X-ManColossus, sees Forge as responsible for the death of her brother and attacks Forge, who fights back using his knowledge of Native-American sorcery. Feeling guilty over his involvement, Forge allows Magik to stab him with her Soulsword in the hopes it will kill him. Instead, its effects cause both mutants to come to terms with their shortcomings.[20]
Forge, still unaware of the X-Men's resurrection, fights alongsideMystique'sFreedom Force and an interim team of X-Men against the group of villains, theReavers, atMuir Island. Forge creates a rifle that deactivates the cyborg enemy Skullbuster and forces the rest of the Reavers to retreat. During the battle,Destiny is killed, but not before she foresees that Forge and Mystique will one day love one another, a fact that both parties find implausible. Mystique blames him for Destiny's death.[21]
Banshee approaches Forge, acting on a lead given byPolaris that the team is still alive.[22] Forge is convinced by visions that those X-Men are still alive.[23] The two of them plan to travel the world looking for their missing friends, starting with Storm inCairo,Egypt,[24] but their plane is ambushed by theFenris Twins. Later, Forge and Banshee go to the ruins of the Xavier Mansion (destroyed during the events ofInferno) and rescueJean Grey from a gang ofMasque'sMorlocks.[25] They finally learn that the X-Men are indeed alive, but they have faked their deaths.[26] Forge and Banshee eventually find the X-Men and become full-time members.[27] They fight against several threats, such asGenoshan soldiers,[28]Skrulls,[29] and theShadow King.[30] DuringX-Tinction Agenda, Forge's skills are critical in defeatingCameron Hodge and overthrowing the Genoshan government. His plans are kept deep inside his own mind by a self-induced trance that even the forced removal of his artificial limbs cannot break.[31]
After the events of theMuir Island Saga, Forge becomes a member of theX-Mansion's "support team".[32] He redesigns theDanger Room and theBlackbird jet.[33]
With the arrival ofBishop and Storm's constant involvement with the team, Forge and Storm's relationship becomes rocky. Forge leaves the X-Men after coming to believe Storm would have rejected his proposal of marriage.[34] The pair continue to have an on-again, off-again relationship, until it ends completely. Forge returns home to Dallas to resume work as a government contractor and to help with the mental care of Mystique, who is becomingschizophrenic.[35] During her stay, Forge and Mystique grow closer and have an affair.[36]
Forge replacesValerie Cooper as the new government liaison for the mutant superhero teamX-Factor.[37] Forge goes on his second cosmic adventure while with X-Factor, venturing to the far side of the sun with dozens of other superheroes in the incident known as theInfinity Crusade.[38] Forge is personally affected as one of his team,Wolfsbane, is kidnapped by the villain the Goddess. Forge ends up orbiting a duplicate Earth in an escape pod, along with the vigilanteNomad.[volume & issue needed]
When the team begins to experience personal problems, Forge takes a more active involvement, gradually become the leader of the remaining members. In this role, he sees the mutant criminals Mystique andSabretooth forced to become unwilling members of his team.[39][40] Forge also comes to terms with his heritage when the Adversary returns. With Naze's assistance, Forge defeats the Adversary by combining technology created using his mutant powers with his mystical abilities.[41] After X-Factor is tricked into hunting and battling former team memberMultiple Man,[42] Forge severs the team's involvement with the government and leads them underground.[43] Forge and Mystique become more attracted to one another while working together as members of the team, with Forge ultimately falling in love with Mystique.[44] During their time underground, another former X-Factor member,Strong Guy, awakens from a coma that he suffered due to his powers over-stressing his heart. Forge creates a device that saves Strong Guy's life.[45] Forge and other team members are severely injured after Sabretooth betrays and attacks the team.[46] Mystique escapes her forced membership while Forge is recuperating.[47] After recovering from his injuries, Forge refuses to become a member of a new X-Factor line-up led by former team leaderHavok, as he feels that Havok is no longer trustworthy.[48] This new version of X-Factor disbands shortly thereafter.[49] For a time, Forge is not active on any mutant groups, though he briefly works as support staff at the X-Men's mansion.[50]
Forge takes part in Xavier's Underground movement. He works with a former X-Factor member, Multiple Man, in Genosha.[51] Afterwards, Forge returns to the X-Men and briefly becomes a mentor toDanielle Moonstar.[volume & issue needed]
Later,Charles Xavier asks him for help in locating Mystique whom he needs for a clandestine mission.[52] Forge also helpsCannonball andSiryn findCable with the aid ofDeadpool.[volume & issue needed] Forge builds a pair of gauntlets forNew X-Men team memberSurge;[volume & issue needed] afterward, he returns to his lab to build aNimrod unit with the primary objective of protecting mutants and secondary objective of protecting humans.[volume & issue needed] He then encounters a time-traveling Nimrod suffering from severe damage which demands that Forge fix him. This version of Nimrod comes from an alternate future, and had compelled an alternate version of Forge (married to Storm, with two children) to build a device to allow it to travel to the past. The alternate Forge had seemingly complied, but actually built a device to send Nimrod not only back in time, but also to another timeline, and to disable him upon arrival.[volume & issue needed] Nimrod threatens to harm this reality's Storm, and Forge offers to transfer Nimrod into his own version of the Sentinel, to which Nimrod agrees. The transfer is interrupted by the arrival of Surge and the rest of the New X-Men, who had received Forge's distress call through Surge's own gauntlets; in the ensuing battle, Forge helps them defeat Nimrod.[volume & issue needed]
After Forge sendsMadrox andLayla to the future, he goes on a mission at Cyclops' behest to rendezvous with the other X-Men, who are on their way to confront Sinister's forces. He is shot by a seemingly treacherous Bishop.[53] He is seen later in the recovery room along with other injured X-Men.[54]
Forge suffers an array of injuries, including serious head trauma, from Bishop's attack during his mad quest to murder the first mutant child followingM-Day. Bishop steals several time travel devices that Forge isreverse engineering. Throughout his recovery, Forge is obsessed with recreating his notes and research on these devices. Fixated to an unhealthy degree on this project, Forge shuts himself away in his home at Eagle Plaza to devote all his time to this work. However, before he begins, he enhances his home's defense systems to ensure that he never falls victim to such an attack again.[55]
Forge returns inAstonishing X-Men #29, when the X-Men fly to his complex onWundagore Mountain to confront him about his apparent role in an inter-dimensional invasion of Earth.[56] After following a trail of mysteriously genetically created mutants and death, the X-Men track down Forge, who reveals his madness. He wants to save the world from the Annexation, an invasion from a parallel world on the other side of the Ghost Box, the trans-dimensional teleporter. He plans to send the X-Men to the parallel universe that is home to the Ghost Boxes to destroy them before the Annexation begins. The X-Men try to talk Forge down, but he rebukes them and forcibly opens the Ghost Box, risking all life on Earth. Thanks to the assistance ofAbigail Brand andBeast, a laser is shot into the opening of the Ghost Box. Before everything is destroyed, Ororo offers Forge a chance to come back with them. A bitter Forge rejects her offer, and stays in his complex as it is destroyed.[57]
As part ofMarvel NOW!, Forge is shown to still be alive following the destruction of his complex. He has apparently restored his original right hand (but still uses a prosthetic for his right leg). Forge is approached byCable (after he used his telepathic abilities to help cure Forge of insanity) to be in a newX-Force team created by Cable.[58]
As part of theAll-New, All-Different Marvel, Forge appears as a member of Storm's X-Men as their primary technician even though his relationship with Storm is awkward and strained. Forge programmedCerebra into the body of a Sentinel with the capability to showcase human emotion and the ability to teleport along with mutant detection so she could be a bridge between Earth and Limbo.[59]
Professor X tasks Forge with modifyingCerebro so it can store backups for mutant minds.[60] Forge would later assist the Marauders with recovering his mutant power Neutralizers after they were co-opted by the Russians.[61]
InDestiny of X, Forge is selected to be part of the new X-Men team during the secondHellfire Gala.[62]
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Forge is amutant with a superhuman intuitive talent for inventing mechanical devices, backed up by the ability to visually perceivemechanical energy in action. This power allows him to instinctively recognize the potential and functional uses of any machine or technological device in his visual range, a skill that combined with his natural intelligence gives him the ability to conceive, design and build highly advanced mechanical devices; and operate, modify and disassemble existing technology or create countermeasures for it. Forge's superhuman talent for invention does not mean that he is of a superhuman intellect; even a genius at invention must for the most part consciously work out the theoretical principles behind the invention and then the design of the invention itself through a series of logical steps. In Forge's case, however, many of these logical steps are worked out by hissubconscious mind. Forge himself is sometimes not fully aware of how he created a device and must disassemble it to determine how it works.
Forge wore synthetic stretch fabric backed by micro-thin bulletproofKevlar and thermal insulation while a member of the X-Men. He sometimes employs devices of his own invention. Most notable among these was his Neutralizer gun that could suppress superhuman mutant abilities. The only known examples of this device have been destroyed. Forge has also invented a handheld scanning device that can detect the presence of superhuman beings or aliens.
Forge has knowledge of many scientific and technological fields. He also possesses various mystical abilities such as spell casting through mystical training, though he rarely uses them. He possesses extensive knowledge of Native American magic.
His bionic-robotic right hand (which he has since restored to its original organic state) and right leg often contain concealed weapons and devices that he can use in combat. In addition, they can be outfitted with computer interfaces and plasma blasters. His skill as a hand-to-hand combatant and as a marksman from his military training were so impressive that Nick Fury offered him a job with S.H.I.E.L.D.
In theAge of Apocalypse reality, Forge was a member of Magneto's rebels, the X-Men, and years of combat against Apocalypse's empire had left him a cyborg with a mostly-robotic body except for the right half of his face.[citation needed] He left them to go his own way and became the founder and leader of the Outcasts, an anti-Apocalypse resistance cell of mutants disguised as a traveling theater group. The Outcasts' consisted ofSauron,Toad,Brute, andMastermind, and laterSonique andEssex, who is rescued by the group from the Infinites during their attack on a train. He became a father figure toNate Grey, and also his trainer, teaching him how to combat without using his powers. When the Outcasts were attacked byDomino and her henchmenCaliban andGrizzly, Forge attempted to distract them with a Flash Grenade and later in the battle personally killed Grizzly for killing Toad. Forge was eventually killed by Sinister, who had been masquerading as a member of the Outcasts called Essex.[66]
An alternate version of Forge is present in theAge of X reality. He was present when Magneto usedNew York City skyscrapers to create his so-called "Fortress X".[67]
An alternate version of Forge, who appears to be a White American with no apparent Native heritage (but still a cyborg with a robotic right leg, though now also with a robotic right full-arm instead of just a robotic right hand), is drafted onto the interdimensional superhero group theExiles. Originating from Earth-2814, he was married to his reality's Storm. In this reality, theSkrullssucceeded in conquering Earth, but Forge rebuilt and reprogrammed Sentinel City to destroy their command city. He seemingly perished in the explosion, but was instead plucked out of time and put on the Exiles.[68]
In the apocalyptic alternate future ofHere Comes Tomorrow, the final arc ofGrant Morrison's run ofNew X-Men, a British Mutant under the name Smith had taken Forge's alias, the Maker. Though his powers and his relation to Forge, if any, are unknown, he bore some physical resemblance to the former Maker, and also carried numerous mechanical tools.[69]
Forge is seen inHouse of M as a scientist working under Tony Stark,Iron Man. He is one of Stark's most trusted employees and is one of the first to learn that he is truly Iron Man. He utilizes his skills in technology and computers by aidingJarvis and Stark in tracking down the mutant gene bombs thatJohnny Storm and Stark are hunting down all over the city.[70]
In the mini-seriesHulk: Future Imperfect, describing an alternate timeline where the Hulk becomes the Maestro, the Maestro claims that Forge created a weapon specifically designed to kill the Maestro, but that the Maestro killed him before the weapon could be used. The present-day Hulk would later encounter Forge using such a weapon.[71]
Forge appears inMarvel Zombies alongside Magneto'sAcolytes as one of few survivors who were hiding on Asteroid M from the hordes of zombie superheroes on Earth. He constructs artificial limbs for theBlack Panther after the zombieGiant-Man consumes some of his original ones. Forge becomes close friends with Black Panther, and Forge's daughter later marries Black Panther's son, and the couple later conceives a child. After the Panther's and Forge's children die under mysterious circumstances (later revealed that to have been murdered by Malcolm Cortez), both friends become closer through their shared tragedy, and help to raise their grandson together.[72]
During the former heroes' forty years of absence, Forge anticipates that the zombies would return. Over the decades he and his forces plunder the technological remnants of the world. He makes improvements to Reed Richards' and Tony Stark's technologies for defenses of the colony New Wakanda, such as the Avengers' force field projector andIron Man's armors. The inter-dimensional transporter is the only technology Forge is unable to rebuild, and it is later revealed thatFabian Cortez's son, Malcolm, has sabotaged it by removing some of its key components. Forge dons one of the Iron Man armors when the zombies return. After multiple extensive battles, the surviving zombies and the colonists begin a truce because the returning zombies' hunger has faded. Cortez ambushes and teleports the zombies to another dimension to seize power within the colony.[73]
The version of Forge who appears in theMutant X comic is virtually the same as his mainstream incarnation: he first used his powers to manufacture anti-mutant technology for the government,[74] and later becomes Storm's lover. However, because Storm has become a vampire in the Mutant X universe, he allows her to regularly drain blood from him so that she will not have to violate her oath to never take a life.[75]
As revealed byOld Man Logan, the Earth-21923 Forge was not with the X-Men the night when the villains rose andMysterio tricked Wolverine into killing his fellow X-Men. Many years later after the villains took over the United States of America and renamed it Amerika, Forge was shown living in a Cheyenne reservation in South Dakota whenRhino led the Rhino Gang into invading. While Forge's highly advanced weaponry defeated the Rhino Gang, Forge rode an exo-skeleton which he used to beat Rhino to death. Upon ending up on Earth-616, Old Man Logan told Forge about the fate of his Earth-807128 counterpart. Even though Old Man Logan never visited the Cheyenne Reservation, he was sure that Forge was the one responsible for protecting it from the Rhino Gang.[76]
Old Man Logan's return to this Wasteland sees a renewed focus on Forge. He has built a fortress on his land, above and below. When it is attacked bySabretooth clones, Forge sacrifices his life to detonate his secret weapon, an unstable Old Man Speedball.[77]
In an alternate reality ofX-Men: Ronin, the X-Men are superheroes based out of Japan. Forge is a Japanese police officer with an attraction to Storm. He also helps build and pilot an array of robots calledSentinel Force which are sent against the X-Men.[78]
TheUltimate Marvel version of Forge became a member of theBrotherhood of Mutants and followsMagneto with the promise of getting to strike back at humans.[79] This version of Forge is also now of Asian Indian descent, a play upon the mainstream version of the character's American Indian heritage.
Magneto ordered Forge to invent a machine that would enhance his abilities to a point where Magneto would be able to kill every human on Earth. It was only at the final stages of his machine that he realized what he was truly doing, and attempted to confront Magneto. Magneto asks Forge if he is hesitating, and Forge hastily assures him no; he is later seen depressed and angry.[80]
In the 'Magnetic North' storyline it is revealed that he was freed from prison byMystique. As a pair, they frameLorna Dane with one of Forge's devices. It causes her powers to malfunction, killing dozens of innocent people. Later, Forge does nothing as Mystique snaps the neck of a female police officer and assumes her form. As part of a carefully thought out plan, Forge and Mystique later personally attack theTriskelion; the headquarters forthe Ultimates and a supervillain prison. They kill dozens ofS.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers during the attack and even more die cleaning up the prison break which results.[81]
He is then taken into custody, but escapes the Triskelion using a phasing device, also helping Wolverine break out as well. Although, according toNick Fury inUltimate Wolverine vs. Hulk, he orchestrated the escape forWolverine to lead him to theHulk's location.[82] He is later tortured and killed in theSavage Land by the Brotherhood.[83]
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