| Maggott | |
|---|---|
 Maggott as depicted inGeneration X #48 (December 1998). Art byTerry Dodson. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Uncanny X-Men #345 (1997) |
| Created by | Scott Lobdell (writer) Joe Madureira (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Japheth |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | X-Men Generation X Dark X-Men |
| Abilities |
|
Maggott (Japheth) is a fictionalsuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character was briefly a member of theX-Men.
A flamboyantZulu[1]mutant who uses exaggeratedAfrikaans slang, Maggott is advertised as one of the strangest X-Men. His digestive system takes the form of twoslugs which can eat through practically any substance. After feeding, the slugs reenter Maggott's abdomen and pass nourishment into him, giving him incredible power.[2]
Maggott was created by writerScott Lobdell and artistJoe Madureira, and first appeared inTheUncanny X-Men #345 (June 1997).[3]
Maggott is first seen as a mysteriousmutant who is searching out the X-Men's adversaryMagneto for an unknown reason.[4][5] His search leads him toAntarctica, where Magneto is holding the X-Men captive. Maggott joins the X-Men and returns with them to theirWestchester, New York headquarters.[6]
For a short period of time, Maggott believes his companions were going off on their own and killing innocent people. He even tries to turn himself over to the police before being stopped by the X-Men. His companions turn out to be innocent, as the people had been killed by a faction ofN'Garai.[7]
Maggott is tempted by theShadow King, who promises him a better life in exchange for his loyalty and abandonment of the X-Men. He manages to resist the villain.Psylocke rescues the X-Men after keeping Shadow King in a psionic prison. This forces Psylocke into retirement, as the Shadow King will escape if she uses her powers again.[8]
At first, he kept his past to himself, but Maggott eventually revealed his origin toWolverine. Maggott had been born a sickly child inApartheid-eraSouth Africa and was named Japheth. He was always very ill and could not digest solid food. Feeling himself to be a burden on his family, Japheth ran away from home with his younger brother. Having left home, hoping to die, he was found by Magneto, who uncovered the mutant slugs living in his digestive system. Compassionate at heart, Japheth rejected Magneto's philosophy and his offer to join him after witnessing him massacre white soldiers who were engaged in racist atrocities against black South African civilians.[9] In spite of this, he later sought out Magneto when he got older, for help in easing the pain caused by his unique mutation. After the then-current roster of the team parts ways, the X-ManBeast suggests Maggott transfer to the junior teamGeneration X, but his tenure there lasts only one issue.[10]
Maggott later appears as an inmate at Neverland, aconcentration camp run byWeapon X, where he is executed.[11] One of his slugs, which he gave to two children after foreseeing his death, is kept inMister Sinister's laboratory.[12]
In the "Necrosha" event, Maggott is resurrected via theTransmode Virus to serve as part ofSelene's army of deceased mutants. Under the control of Selene andEli Bard, he takes part in the assault on the mutant nation ofUtopia.[13] Maggott remains alive after Selene and Bard are defeated.[14]
Maggott briefly appears during theX-Men Disassembled storyline battlingNate Grey.[15] He later becomes a citizen ofKrakoa and a member of theMorlocks during theKrakoan Age.[16][17]
After the end of the Krakoan Age, Maggott returns to the Morlocks.[18] During the "X-Manhunt" storyline, Maggott is among the X-Men members who attempt to apprehendCharles Xavier after he escapes prison, but he is wounded byJuggernaut, who rips off his right arm.Storm infuses Maggott with the power ofEegun, which restores his arm and empowers him, making him anOmega-level mutant.[19][20]
Maggott's digestive system consists of a hollow cavity that houses two slugs called Eany and Meany. They share a telepathic link with him and can temporarily emerge from his body to digest solid matter, giving him superhuman strength and durability. Maggott possesses a form ofpsychometry that enables him to view the recent past and future by reading psychic imprints from the environment.
In 2014, Darren Franich ofEntertainment Weekly ranked Maggott 100th in his "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list, coming in last place. Franich criticized Maggott's "absolutely ridiculous" powers, stating that they "wouldn't be useful ever for anyone".[21]
An alternate universe version of Maggott from Earth-11326 appears inAge of X: Universe #1. This version is a prisoner of Camp Gorge before being killed byIron Man.[22]
An alternate universe version of Maggott from Earth-1610 makes a cameo appearance inUltimate X-Men #47 as one of several mutants killed byMister Sinister.[23]
An alternate universe version of Maggott from Earth-24201 appears inX-Tinction Agenda.[24]
An alternate universe version of Maggott who became a disciple ofApocalypse appears inAge of X-Man.[25][26]
Maggott makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in theX-Men '97 episode "To Me, My X-Men".[27][28][29]
Making his From the Ashes debut is the unstoppable devourer, the blue-skinned Zulu titan… Maggott!
Maggott had a nice brief introduction which made him seem like quite the villain. He had a tall statuesque design with glowing red eyes, it's a shame he later devolved into something far less cool.
With Storm's Eternity-powered lightning coursing through Maggott's body, the cosmic entity possessing Storm feeds him the essence of Eégún, the ancient spirit that killed Ororo before Eternity brought her back in Storm #4 by Ayodele and Lucas Werneck.
The newspaper that quickly flies across the screen has a main story about a mutant fashion show (maybe by mutant fashion designer Jumbo Carnation?), with Banshee, Dust, Maggot, and Marrow as models, along with a small image of Nature Girl and Squid Boy in the bottom left corner - many of whom are very deep cuts.
The paper also references the Hellfire Gala, an annual ball where the X-Men elect their new Krakoa representatives. It also advertises a mutant fashion show, which appears to feature Banshee, Dust, and Maggott, among others.
The Daily Bugle cover depicts the mutants Loa and Nature Girl (inset); and clockwise from top: Dust, Maggott, Marrow, and Banshee.