Ability toshapeshift into awolf-like humanoid or into a full wolf at will
Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair) is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character is commonly associated with theX-Men.[1] A Scottishmutant, Wolfsbane can transform into awolf or a transitional state somewhere between human and wolf, similar to awerewolf. She honed her powers to shift between human and wolf characteristics but must keep her feral instincts at bay when she does.
She was initially a member of the X-Men's original junior team, theNew Mutants. Later on, she joined thePentagon-sponsoredX-Factor and was also associated with the British superhero teamExcalibur. She appeared for a time as a teacher at Xavier's Academy inNew X-Men, then served as a member of theX-Factor Investigations detective agency, until she joined the newest incarnation ofX-Force. The character later returned to X-Factor and made several appearances as a member of the X-Men before rejoining the New Mutants.
Created by the writerChris Claremont and artistBob McLeod, Wolfsbane first appeared inThe New Mutants (September 1982), part of theMarvel Graphic Novelline.[2] She starred as a founding member of theNew Mutants and featured in nearly the entire run ofThe New Mutants (1983-1991), her last issue being #97. When the original fiveX-Men leaveX-Factor to rejoin the X-Men, Wolfsbane is recruited to join when it becomes a government operation inX-Factor #71 (October 1991) and was featured as a team member through issue #111 (February 1995) before the title was interrupted by the "Age of Apocalypse" crossover. Afterward, Wolfsbane leaves X-Factor and joinsExcalibur, starting withExcalibur #90 (October 1995) and appearing through the title's conclusion with issue #125 (October 1998). She was a supporting character in the limited seriesWarlock (1999–2000), and then appeared sporadically inNew Mutants (vol. 2) (2004) andNew X-Men (2004-2005). With the relaunch ofX-Factor (vol. 3) (2006), Wolfsbane once again saw regular publication as a central team member between issues #1 and #28 (2006-2008), after which she is transferred to the secret strike teamX-Force. During herX-Force (vol. 3) run between 2008 and 2010, she becomes pregnant by theAsgardianHrimhari and this pregnancy causes her to return to X-Factor, starting withX-Factor #207 (September 2010). Much of her time inX-Factor was dedicated to her pregnancy and her son, Tier, with her last appearance being inX-Factor #258 (August 2013). Wolfsbane made subsequent appearances in various X-Men titles, includingX-Men Blue (2017),The New Mutants: Dead Souls (2018), andUncanny X-Men (vol. 5) (2019). The character is killed inUncanny X-Men (vol. 5) #17 (July 2019), but is revived during theKrakoan Age and appeared regularly inNew Mutants (vol. 4) (2020–2023).
Rahne (pronounced "Rain"[3]) Grace Sinclair was born inUllapool,Scotland, the product of an illicit affair betweenPresbyterian ministerReverend Craig and an unnamedsex worker. She was delivered byDr. Moira MacTaggert. Rahne's mother dies in childbirth and her father raises her as an orphan and a ward of the church without revealing that she is his biological child.[4] When hermutant powers manifest, Reverend Craig leads anangry mob to kill her, believing her to be a werewolf. Rahne is rescued and later adopted by Dr. MacTaggert, who takes her to America to enroll atXavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.[5]
Taking the aliasWolfsbane, Rahne joins theNew Mutants. Although she is a shy, emotionally repressed girl, she builds a strong friendship with her teammatePsyche and harbors a crush onCannonball.[5] Wolfsbane's strict religious upbringing often makes her uncomfortable when dealing with mythological entities, her sorceress teammateMagik, or demons, as well as being the root of her self-loathing over her mutant power. The clash between the intense joy of using her powers and her religious beliefs causes her inner turmoil. While inAsgard, she is disturbed to find herself attracted toHrimhari, a shapeshifting wolf prince. Although he becomes her first serious love, she is unable to remain in Asgard without the rest of the New Mutants being forced to stay as well, so she returns to Earth with her teammates.[6][7] Wolfsbane eventually begins a relationship with her teammateCypher,[8] and is devastated when he is killed by theAni-Mator.[9] She later has a short-lived relationship with her teammateRictor.[volume & issue needed]
During the 1990–1991 "X-Tinction Agenda" event, Wolfsbane is captured and brainwashed into slavery onGenosha.[10][11] She is ultimately freed by transforming into her transitional lupine form, but she is unable to revert to her human form without succumbing to her Genoshan conditioning.[12] After the fall of Genosha, Wolfsbane remains on the island withHavok to help rebuild[13] and both later join the government-sponsoredX-Factor.[14] She develops feelings for Havok, a result of her Genoshan brainwashing and the feral nature of her transitional wolf form, and grows extremely jealous of his relationship with their teammatePolaris.[15][16]
Wolfsbane appears in the 1992 miniseriesThe Infinity War and its 1993 sequel,The Infinity Crusade. During the former, she is part of the rear guard who stay behind on Earth at theFantastic Four's headquarters and fight the various evil doubles that attack the building.[17] InThe Infinity Crusade, Wolfsbane's deep religious beliefs lead her to be approached by theGoddess. She, along with many other spiritual characters, is brainwashed into joining the Goddess' army but her mind is restored by the series' conclusion.[18]
The effects of her Genoshan brainwashing are eventually completely undone byHaven and Wolfsbane is once again able to return to her human form.[19]
Wolfsbane leaves X-Factor[20] and travels to Moira MacTaggert's base onMuir Island to care for her after she contracts theLegacy Virus. While there, she joinsExcalibur[21] and develops deep friendships with her allies, particularlyColossus andShadowcat.[22] She overcomes much of her shyness, discovers the truth of her parentage in a confrontation with Reverend Craig,[4] and is abridesmaid at the wedding ofCaptain Britain andMeggan.[23] Following Excalibur's disbanding, she and her teammate and love interestDouglock stay on Muir Island to assist Moira in her attempt to cure the Legacy Virus.[24]
Wolfsbane appears inWarlock (1999–2000), in which she helps former New Mutants teammateWarlock (revealed to have been Douglock all along) and theAvengers defeatBastion.[25] During the 2000 "Dream's End" storyline, Muir Island comes under attack by theBrotherhood, resulting in Moira's apparent death,[26] the destruction of the island, and the suppression of Wolfsbane's mutant powers whenMystique shoots her with a version ofForge's Neutralizer.[27]
Wolfsbane spends some time motorcycling across theUnited States following the loss of her powers, becoming less introverted, growing out her hair, and losing her Scottishbrogue before returning toNew York inNew Mutants (vol. 2).[28][29] She is hired as a supervising staff member for theParagons at theXavier Institute and becomes a part-time employee ofJamie Madrox's detective agency,X-Factor Investigations.[30][31]
During her appearances in bothNew Mutants (vol. 2) andNew X-Men (vol. 2), Wolfsbane begins a relationship withElixir, a student at the Xavier Institute.[28] A passionate encounter between the two causes Elixir's mutant healing abilities to restore her powers.[32] Though she ends the relationship upon being hired at the institute, Elixir continues to pursue her and they resume seeing each other in secret. Wolfsbane breaks up with Elixir again upon learning that he is casually dating his classmateWallflower, but their inappropriate relationship is later exposed to the entire school byWither in an attempt to end Elixir's budding romance with Wallflower. She subsequently resigns from her position at the institute and her friendship withDani Moonstar, Elixir's legal guardian, becomes strained.[33][34]
Wolfsbane joins the main cast ofX-Factor (vol. 3), in which she begins working full-time for X-Factor Investigations and reunites with former love interest and New Mutants teammate Rictor, now depowered in the wake ofM-Day.[35] Many aspects of her previous persona return, including her close-cropped hairstyle and Scottish accent, and her devout Presbyterian religiosity remains a central aspect of her character.[36] During her time with the detective agency, she is attacked by the villainousTryp and given visions of a possible future in which her feral instincts become uncontrollable and drive her to murder Jamie Madrox andLayla Miller on their wedding day.[37] She later confides in the agency'spsychiatristDoc Samson that she has considered killing herself to prevent this future from happening, conflicting with her religious beliefs on suicide.[38] Wolfsbane also rekindles her relationship with Rictor,[39] though their romance is cut short when she leaves the agency to joinX-Force.[40]
During the 2007–2008 "Messiah Complex" storyline, Wolfsbane is enlisted to help track downCable and the infantHope Summers.[41] She also helps Rictor infiltrate thePurifiers and discovers that her father, Reverend Craig, has joined the anti-mutant organization.[42] During the climactic battle, Wolfsbane is injured byRiptide, but her wounds, according toProfessor X, are superficial.[43]
Following the "Messiah Complex" storyline,X-Force was relaunched in early 2008, featuring Wolfsbane as a member of the eponymous team. During an assault on the Purifiers' base, she is captured and brainwashed into a sleeper agent, compelled to attack and mutilateAngel. In a later confrontation with the Purifiers, Reverend Craig inadvertently triggers Wolfsbane's programming and, in her feral state, she attacks and devours him.[44]
When the team decides that the psychological trauma Wolfsbane has experienced is too great for her to bear, theStepford Cuckoos are summoned to undo her Purifier brainwashing. Before they can erase her traumatic memories of consuming her father, however, they are interrupted, and X-Force is sent on a mission, leaving Wolfsbane behind. While alone, she reunites and runs away with Hrimhari.[45] Still conflicted over her experience with the Purifiers, she is encouraged to forgive herself by the wolf prince.[46] After an intimate night, the two are attacked by a trio ofFrost Giants. They manage to defeat them and although seemingly unharmed, Wolfsbane faints.[47]
During the publication ofX-Force (vol. 3), Wolfsbane appears in the "Secret Invasion" storyline as one of many heroes fighting off theSkrull invasion ofSan Francisco. She and the rest of X-Force are tasked with capturing one of the newSuper-Skrulls soBeast can study them to find a weakness.[48]
During the 2009–2010 "Necrosha" storyline, the unconscious Wolfsbane is brought to Utopia, theX-Men's island base off the coast of San Francisco, for healing, where it is discovered that she is pregnant with Hrimhari's child and the accelerated pregnancy is threatening her life.[49] Desperate to save his lover and unborn child, Hrimhari trades his soul toHela in exchange for the revival of a comatose Elixir, condemning himself to life in Hel. In order to ensure she survives her pregnancy, Elixir alters Wolfsbane's DNA, enhancing her strength and senses.[50] Wolfsbane is subsequently removed from active duty on X-Force and decides to leave the team altogether.[51]
Wolfsbane returns to New York to rejoin X-Factor Investigations, discovering her ex-boyfriend Rictor andShatterstar in an intimate embrace.[52] After a brief fight with Shatterstar, she decides to "save" Rictor's soul by claiming that he is the father of her child, not wanting him to be damned to Hell for homosexuality.[53] When the baby's true paternity is eventually revealed, she explains herself to Rictor, the two reconcile, and Rictor pursues his relationship with Shatterstar.[54]
Throughout her pregnancy, Wolfsbane is hounded by various gods and demons who want her powerful unborn child for their own ends.[55][56] She is abducted by Hrimhari's uncle, Agamemnon, and kept prisoner until she gives birth orally. The newborn immediately kills Agamemnon, alarming Wolfsbane with his brutality. Her repulsion frightens her baby, who runs away and is later found and adopted by the werewolfJack Russell.[57]
Wolfsbane later feels immense remorse for abandoning her son[58] and comes to fear that she will go to Hell for it.Siryn and Polaris take her to meet Father John Maddox, a duplicate of Jamie Madrox who has become a priest, who counsels her to let go of her self-pity and judgmental attitude and channel her negative energy into positivity.[59] With a new outlook, Wolfsbane searches for and reunites with her son Tier, and decides to leave X-Factor Investigations to live peacefully with him and Jack Russell.[60]
However, Wolfsbane and Tier are drawn back into conflict once more during the 2013 "Hell on Earth War" storyline. Tier's life becomes the focal point of a war for power among various rulers of Hell and he is ultimately killed by a soullessStrong Guy seeking to resurrectM.[61] A devastated and spiritually lost Wolfsbane is teleported to Father John's church, where she becomes a deacon.[62]
Wolfsbane appears inX-Men Blue during the 2017 "Secret Empire" storyline, in which she joins a mutant strike force assembled to resistHydra. Thanks toEmma Frost andMiss Sinister, she undergoes a secondary mutation that allows her to split her wolf form into five smaller wolves.[63]
Wolfsbane joins Magik's team of New Mutants in the 2018 limited seriesThe New Mutants: Dead Souls. During the series, she forgives her teammate Strong Guy, who has since reclaimed his soul, for killing her son. She, along with Magik, Strong Guy, andKarma, is later infected with thetransmode virus by Moonlock, the combined Mirage and Warlock.[64] She and her infected teammates are acquired by theOffice of National Emergency (O*N*E).[65] While Moonlock, Strong Guy, and Karma are forced into service asSentinel-like mutant hunters and killers,[66] Wolfsbane and Magik are less affected by the virus and thus only imprisoned.[67]
Wolfsbane and the other infected mutants are eventually freed from O*N*E byCyclops andWolverine[67] and later cured of the virus.[68] Wolfsbane joins the X-Men and participates in the defense of New York during the 2019 "The War of the Realms" storyline.[69] Later realizing she wants to live a normal civilian life, she quits the team.[70] However, not long after, she is accosted by four young men who beat her to death upon realizing that she is a mutant. Her death is mourned by her former teammates.[71]
AfterKrakoa is established as a mutant nation, Wolfsbane is resurrected bythe Five.[72] Appearing regularly inNew Mutants (vol. 4) (2020–2023) andNew Mutants Lethal Legion (2023), she rejoins the New Mutants[72] and receives therapy for her past traumas from Mirage.[73] When she questions why her son Tier has not been resurrected, the Five tell her that his revival is not possible, likely due to his Asgardian heritage, much to her despair.[74] She later helps free Amahl Farouk from the lingering influence of theShadow King[75] and aids Magik in transferring the throne ofLimbo toMadelyne Pryor.[76]
Wolfsbane is amutant with the ability to transform into a wolf at will, while retaining her human intelligence, or into a transitional form which combines human andlupine aspects.[77] While this ability is similar tolycanthropy, it is not magical in nature, but instead a complex biological function involving the mutant X-gene. She can change into a humanoid lupine form resembling awerewolf, or become an actualwolf. In either form, Wolfsbane has enhanced senses of hearing, sight, and smell (similar to those of a wolf's, but also superior to them); animal-like strength, agility, and reflexes; razor-sharp talons and fangs; and bestial instincts. In her lupine form, she can see into theinfrared andultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, thereby enabling her to perceive heat patterns and to see in the dark. She can also hear sounds and detect scents outside the normal human range. In her transitional form, Wolfsbane is stronger than she is in human form (though less agile than she is as a wolf), capable of speech, able to use herforepaws as hands, and easily stand erect, and at least some of her senses remain superhumanly acute.Mirage's powers, which enable her to communicate with animals, allow her to communicate telepathically with Wolfsbane to a limited degree when she is in her lupine form or transitional form; in her lupine form, Wolfsbane may have more difficulty understanding complex human concepts. Wolfsbane later learns to enter different transitional forms which vary slightly in appearance. In her "absolute" lupine form, she possesses superhuman strength and durability. She possesses regenerative abilities which allow her to recover from injuries in a few days which would incapacitate a normal human for weeks or months.
Wolfsbane's human form is normal in appearance, originally with the exception that her hair never grew more than a few centimeters long; this limitation has since been removed by a temporary biological change into a "mutate" by the Genengineer on the island ofGenosha. The artificial mutation process Wolfsbane underwent caused her to act with animalistic savagery in her lupine and "absolute" forms. Wolfsbane is shown to exhibit her keen sense of smell while in human form,[78] sensing traces of blood and spit on teammateStrong Guy's hand (identifying who the fluids belonged to), despite him having already wiped it clean. This is followed bySiryn's sonic-scream, leaving Wolfsbane's "doggy-ears...ringing for a week" implying her hearing is also enhanced in human form. Wolfsbane mentions toRictor that she indeed has her wolf senses in her human form but changes the subject before explaining further.[79]
AfterElixir alters her DNA in order for her to survive her pregnancy, Wolfsbane demonstrates greatly increased superhuman strength and durability to the point of being bulletproof.[50][80] Her senses are further heightened to the point that she is able to smell a missing teammate nearly a mile away and underground.[50] After giving birth to her child, these enhanced abilities fade and she returns to her original levels of strength and durability.[volume & issue needed]
After exposure to the Mothervine drug, Wolfsbane gains the ability to split her wolf form into five smaller wolves.[63]
In 2014,Entertainment Weekly ranked Wolfsbane 50th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[81]
In 2018,Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked Wolfsbane 18th in their "20 Most Powerful Mutants From The '80s" list,[82] and 17th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members" list.[83]
In the alternate timeline of the 1995–1996 "Age of Apocalypse" storyline, Wolfsbane finds herself stuck in her lupine form and is a companion ofDark Beast. When this reality was revisited ten years later inX-Men: Age of Apocalypse (May–June 2005), Wolfsbane has been rescued and has begun to rediscover her humanity. She is now capable of shifting into her hybrid form but is still very feral in her mindset.[84]
In the alternate reality seen in the 2011 "Age of X" storyline, Wolfsbane is briefly sheltered from the government by theFantastic Four, but her presence is betrayed by theInvisible Woman after she accidentally attacksFranklin Richards, resulting in all of the team but Invisible Woman being arrested.[85]
An alternate future version of Wolfsbane from the timeline originated by the 1981 "Days of Future Past" storyline appears inExcalibur #94 (February 1996). She spends much of her time viewing recorded images of death and destruction. She, along with a few surviving friends, participates in a raid on aBlack Air facility.[86]
In the alternate reality of the 1998–2001 seriesMutant X, Wolfsbane works alongside many of her New Mutant counterparts, making a living as thieves, living in the sewers and calling themselves "Marauders." She and her friends barely survive a mission in which they steal container that, unbeknownst to them, containsDracula.[87]
An alternate universe version of Wolfsbane, along with alternates of herX-Factor teammates, appears inMyS-TECH Wars #3 (May 1993) to fight alongside the heroes of the mainstream continuity. She does not survive the battle that follows.[88]
TheUltimate Marvel version of Wolfsbane makes cameo appearances inUltimate X-Men. She is seen on a viewscreen in her human form and receives passing mention inUltimate X-Men #43 (May 2004), during the selection process forEmma Frost's Academy of Tomorrow. In issue #50 (October 2004), she is seen in her hybrid form at aConey Islandfreak show. In issue #95 (August 2008), however, it is revealed that theAlpha Flight memberSasquatch (who first appeared in the previous issue) is in fact Rahne Sinclair, making it her first named appearance. She and the rest of her team use a drug known as Banshee, which can induce a secondary mutation or enhance an existing mutation. While using the drug, Rahne can still revert to a more human appearance that resembles aSasquatch. Later in the same issue, she is injured byNightcrawler, who, while trying to teleport her away, severs half of her right arm.[89]
In "What If... the New X-Men Died on Their Very First Mission?", apreteen Rahne joins Moira MacTaggert on a journey to look after Moira's old lover, Charles Xavier, following another severe punishment at the hands of Reverend Craig. MeetingBeast, they learn of the X-Men's secret and their deaths on Krakoa. They remain at the Xavier institute to look after the Professor, who has grown despondent over the loss of his students. WhenCount Nefaria and hisAni-Men later attempt to blackmail the United States government, Beast hastily assembles a team to engage them, but Rahne is accidentally taken along as well. When Beast's team is brought into dire straits by the Ani-Men, Xavier telepathically awakens Rahne's latent shape-changing potential, which allows her to rescue her friends. Afterwards, Rahne joins the newly formed X-Men as a "charter member", although she is last seen wearing her own personal costume.[90]
In "What If... the X-Men Had Stayed in Asgard?", Wolfsbane's actions diverge from those she committed at the end ofX-Men Annual #9 (December 1985), deciding that she cannot be separated from Hrimhari. Although Hrimhari later dies in battle, he leaves her with three children (depicted as a wolf cub, a human baby, and a wolf-human hybrid baby) and rulership over his people.[91]
An alternate reality version of Wolfsbane, namedRain, appears prominently in the 1991graphic novelWolverine: Rahne of Terra. She is the princess of the magical realm of Geshem and is prophesied to be consumed by a "Beast" on her sixteenth birthday. To save her from this fate, the Mage (Cable's counterpart) casts a spell that causes Rain to switch realities with Wolfsbane and alters the memories of both into believing they are the other. The spell is less potent outside of Geshem, however, and fails to maintain Rain's altered memory. She spends most of the novel restrained and under observation by theNew Mutants, who believe her to be Wolfsbane suffering from a form of psychosis. Eventually, Wolfsbane's true memories are restored and it is ultimately revealed that the prophecy was misinterpreted and was actually a metaphor for the manifestation of Rain's royal bond with the wild magic of the land itself (the so-called Beast) within ger, granting her powers similar to Wolfsbane's. Wolfsbane and Rain return to their respective realities and Rain becomes queen of Geshem. She later marries the peasant Doug (Cypher's counterpart).[92][93]
In the 1995 sequel,Wolverine: Knight of Terra, it is revealed that Rain's bond with the Beast was suppressed as a result of her time away from Geshem. The Beast, yearning to be free, induces unpredictable fits of feral rage in her. Eventually, her bond with the Beast grows so weak that it manifests outside of her, possesses an unnamed man (Sabretooth's counterpart), and goes on a murderous rampage to kill Rain and conquer Geshem. Rain again switches realities with Wolfsbane, this time as part of a plan by the Shaman (Professor X's counterpart) to protect her. While Wolfsbane andWolverine battle the Beast, Professor X helps Rain embrace the Beast within herself and reestablish her bond with Geshem's wild magic. Rain returns to Geshem and in doing so weakens the rogue Beast enough that it can be killed. Before Wolfsbane and Wolverine return home, Rain makes Wolfsbane a peer of the realm and Wolverine a knight.[93]
In the alternate future ofX-Men: The End, Wolfsbane is one of the staff at the X-Mansion.[94] When Skrulls impersonating old X-Men enemies attack the mansion, Wolfsbane sacrifices herself to save many of the surviving children, making brief telepathic contact with and thus awakening the comatose Dani Moonstar as she dies.[95]
Wolfsbane appears in theX-Men: The Animated Series episode "Cold Comfort" as a member of the government-sponsored team X-Factor.[96][97]
Wolfsbane appears inX-Men: Evolution, voiced byChantal Strand.[98] This version is a member of the X-Men's junior team, the New Mutants.[99] She lives at the Xavier Institute and displays a close bond withSunspot andMultiple.[100] Later in the series, she is forced to leave the institute after the world discovers the existence of mutants,[101] though she eventually rejoins the New Mutants in a flash-forward shown in the series finale.[102]
^Rosenberg, Matthew (w), Gorham, Adam (a), Garland, Michael, Andrew Crossley (col), Cowles, Clayton (let), Shan, Darren, Robinson, Chris, Paniccia, Mark, Jordan D. White (ed). The New Mutants: Dead Souls, vol. 1, no. 1–6 (May–October 2018). New York, NY: Marvel Comics.
^Rosenberg, Matthew (w), Villa, Carlos, Gómez, Carlos, Quinn, Robert (p), Vlasco, Juan, Di Benedetto, Adriano, Delecki, Michelle, Gómez, Carlos, Quinn, Robert (i), Guru-eFX (col), Caramagna, Joe (let), White, Jordan D., Robinson, Chris (ed). "We Have Always Been: Part 3" Uncanny X-Men, vol. 5, no. 19 (August 2019). New York, NY: Marvel Comics.
^Ayala, Vita (w), Reis, Rod (a), Reis, Rod (col), Lanham, Travis (let), Okoye, Anita, Brunstad, Sarah, White, Jordan D. (ed). "The Truth Shall Set Them Free..." New Mutants, vol. 4, no. 23 (February 2022). New York, NY: Marvel Comics.
^Buchanan, Bruce (August 2008). "The New Mutants: From Superhero Spin-Off to Sci-Fi/Fantasy".Back Issue! (29). Raleigh, North Carolina:TwoMorrows Publishing: 63.
^abc"Wolfsbane Voices (X-Men)".Behind The Voice Actors. RetrievedOctober 18, 2017. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
