| 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 flamboyantSouth Africanmutant who spoke in exaggeratedAfrikaans slang, Maggott was advertised as one of the strangest X-Men. His digestive system took the form of twoslugs which could eat through practically any substance. After feeding, the slugs reentered Maggott's abdomen and passed nourishment into him, giving him incredible power.[1]
Maggott was created by writerScott Lobdell and artistJoe Madureira, and first appeared inTheUncanny X-Men #345 (June 1997).[2]
Maggott was first seen as a mysterious mutant who is searching out the X-Men’s adversaryMagneto for an unknown reason.[3][4] His search led toAntarctica where Magneto was holding the X-Men captive. Maggott then joined up with the team and returned with them to theirWestchester, New York headquarters.[5]
For a short period of time, Maggott believed his companions were going off on their own and killing innocent people. He even tried to turn himself over to the police before being stopped by the X-Men. His companions turned out to be innocent, as the people had been slain by a faction ofN'Garai, though they hated to be called so. These entities are a demonic-type race that the X-Men had faced many times, mainly because a regenerating magical portal lies deep in the woods on the mansion's grounds.[6]
Maggott later was tempted by the entityShadow King with promises of a better life in exchange for his loyalty and abandonment of the X-Men. He managed to resist the villain.Marrow andCecilia Reyes were also propositioned by the King, but also resisted.Psylocke then rescues the X-Men after keeping Shadow King in a psionic prison, which forced her in retirement as she could not use her mind powers for anything or else the Shadow King would be released from the prison within Psylocke's mind.[7]
At first, he kept his past to himself, but Maggott eventually revealed his origin toWolverine.[8] 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, he 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 immediately 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. 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 parted ways, the X-ManBeast suggested Maggott transfer to the junior teamGeneration X, but his tenure there lasted only one issue and afterwards he fell out of sight.[9]
Maggott reappeared as an inmate at Neverland, aconcentration camp run byWeapon X where he was ultimately executed.[10] One of his slugs, which he gave to two children at the camp after foreseeing his death, was seen in a container inMister Sinister's laboratory.[11]
Maggott is later 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.[12] Maggott's fate is uncertain, as it is unknown if he was among the mutants teleported toGenosha byBlink to serve as a sacrifice to the newly-deitious Selene or if he was among the mutants who escaped Utopia.
Maggott was confirmed to still be alive and powered, as he was a guest at a superheroes and supervillains-themed costume party of New York branch of theHellfire Club and was later apparently passed out drunk with other party guests around an outdoor swimming pool.[13]
Maggott briefly appears during theX-Men Disassembled storyline battlingNate Grey.[14] He later becomes a citizen ofKrakoa, and is among the mutants hunted byKraven the Hunter during theA.X.E.: Judgment Day storyline.[15][16][17]
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. He additionally possesses a form ofpsychometry that enables him to view the recent past and future by reading psychic imprints from the environment.
In 2014,Entertainment Weekly ranked Maggott 100th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[18]
An alternate universe variant of Maggott from Earth-11326 appears inAge of X: Universe #1. This version is a prisoner of Camp Gorge before being killed byIron Man.[19]
An alternate universe variant of Maggott from Earth-1610 makes a cameo appearance inUltimate X-Men #47 as one of several mutants killed byMister Sinister.[20]
An alternate universe variant of Maggott from Earth-24201 appears inX-Tinction Agenda.[21]
An alternate universe variant of Maggott who became a disciple ofApocalypse appears inAge of X-Man.[22][23]
Maggott makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in theX-Men '97 episode "To Me, My X-Men".[24][25][26]