Forearm (comics)
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Forearm | |
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Mutant Liberation Front | |
Notable aliases | Michael McBride |
Abilities | Two additional arms, Superhuman strength, stamina and physical resistance |
Forearm (Michael McCain) is a fictional
Publication history
Forearm has a minor cameo appearance (nothing but his two right arms are seen, and only in one panel) as a member of the
of the series. This was immediately followed by his first full appearance in The New Mutants #87.Fictional character biography
Forearm was one of the founding members of the terrorist organization known as the Mutant Liberation Front (or MLF). One of their first missions under the leadership of Stryfe was to liberate the incarcerated New Mutants members Rusty Collins and Skids. They broke them out of prison and the pair joined the MLF out of confusion (and, as later evidence showed, neural implants kept them there).[1] Forearm continued to be a mainstay in the team's ventures, including fighting Wolverine,[volume & issue needed] Sunfire,[volume & issue needed] and X-Factor.[2]
Under the leadership of
Later,
After a series of supposedly unconnected art thefts (all of which are related to Apocalypse), Forearm is one of the few members of the MLF to approach Mister Sinister and propose a trade. In exchange for a genetic matrix (none other than the Legacy Virus which Stryfe owned), Sinister would hand over the captive Cyclops and Jean Grey. These events begin the X-Cutioner's Song crossover.[3] In the end, all of the MLF members are taken into custody- Forearm is defeated by Psylocke and Boomer working in tandem.[volume & issue needed]
Soon after, a tyrannical despot named Reignfire decides to restart the MLF. He breaks Forearm, Reaper, Wildside, and Tempo out of prison,[volume & issue needed] and gives them their first mission: capture Henry Peter Gyrich.[volume & issue needed] The MLF also picks up new members Locus and Moonstar.[4]
During the initial kidnap, Forearm is wounded by the self-described 'biosentry', Hardaway who is employed by Gyrich.[5] The other team members kill the man. The fact that Hardaway had been altered so much to battle mutants only serves to further enrage Forearm.[volume & issue needed]
Their mission is foiled by X-Force. During the battle Locus and Sunspot become lost, but Feral defects to the MLF after having a heated discussion with Gyrich. The team leaves and is taught teamwork by Moonstar, as, at the time, their ranks are once again down to four—Moonstar, Wildside, Forearm, and Feral. During this time Forearm and Moonstar begin to form a close friendship, as she sees something in him that is different from the other members of the terrorist outfit. During the time Moonstar was part of the team, Forearm ends up battling forces from the other-dimensional realm of Asgard, which had appeared due to Moonstar's history with the realm.[volume & issue needed]
Sometime later Reignfire begins to hunt down his followers, taking Wildside and Forearm out first. All would have been lost if not for X-Force and Locus teleporting in to stop the madman.[volume & issue needed]
Next the MLF travel to
In their last appearance, the MLF once again is trying to steal data on the Legacy Virus, this time from a government institution who is trying to manufacture their own strain of the disease. They infiltrate the building and take the scientists hostage. Again, through the sabotaging efforts of Moonstar, members of
When he surfaced next Forearm was part of a fighting championship in
Powers and abilities
Forearm had an extra set of arms that extend from beneath his first set, giving him four arms (hence the name). In addition to this, he also had increased strength, resistance to injury, and stamina. Cable and Warpath have both stated that Forearms' strength has increased since the first time they had fought him. Nonetheless, Warpath is able to defeat him with ease after a certain point, joking about toying with "the boy".
Other versions
Forearm was also featured in a What If issue that asks "What If Magneto Took Over the USA?". He is shown as a member of the MLF. In this storyline, Magneto killed Stryfe and coerced the remaining members of MLF to follow him. Forearm was also killed during this reality in an explosion.[7]
In other media
Forearm makes non-speaking cameo appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series. This version is an inhabitant of Skull Mesa and member of Magneto's army.