Forge (character)
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Forge | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | The Uncanny 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 |
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Forge is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. A mutant with an unsurpassed brilliance in technology, he has had a lengthy career as a government weapons contractor. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita Jr., Forge first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #184 (Aug. 1984).[1]
Forge shared a romantic relationship with
Publication history
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2010) |
Forge was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita Jr., and first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #184 (Aug. 1984).
Claremont's outline for the character's debut identifies Forge as Daniel Lone Eagle, although that name has not been used for the character in Marvel canon.[2]
As part of
Fictional character biography
Early years
Forge is a mutant with an innate superhuman talent for
While in the army, Forge served in the
Years later, Forge creates cybernetic replacements for his lost limbs. When Tony Stark stops making advanced weaponry for the US government, Forge is hired as an employee of the Defense Department.[5]
One of his earliest commissions is to design a weapon to detect the Dire Wraiths. Subsequently, Forge constructs a device capable of neutralizing mutant powers. Following orders from the President, Henry Peter Gyrich, an agent of the National Security Council, takes the device.[6] Forge protests because the device is untested and extremely dangerous to use. The device is used against Rogue, 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.[7]
Romance
Forge rescues Storm after she falls into a river. Forge brings her back to his home in
Forge later improves his Neutralizer, but is hesitant to design more devices like it because of what happened with Storm. With the help of the Wraiths' enemy,
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.
X-Men
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 and
Destiny
Forge, still unaware of the X-Men's resurrection, fights alongside
Banshee approaches Forge, on a lead given by Lorna Dane (Polaris) that the team is still alive.[17] Forge is convinced by visions that all the X-Men are still alive. During this time, his days as a soldier in the Vietnam War are depicted.[18] The two of them plan to travel all over the world looking for their missing friends, starting with Storm in Cairo, Egypt,[19] but their plane is ambushed by the Fenris Twins. Later, they go to the ruins of the Xavier Mansion (destroyed during the events of Inferno), and rescue Jean Grey from a gang of Masque's Morlocks.[20] They finally learn that the X-Men are indeed alive, but have faked their deaths for the time being.[21]
Forge and Banshee eventually find the X-Men and become full-time members.[22] They fight against several threats, such as Genoshan soldiers,[23] Skrulls,[24] and the Shadow King.[25] During X-Tinction Agenda, Forge's skills are critical in defeating Cameron 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.[26]
End of romance
After the events of the Muir Island Saga, Forge becomes a member of the X-Mansion's "support team".[27] He redesigns the Danger Room and the Blackbird jet.[28]
With the arrival of
X-Factor
Forge replaces
When the team begins to experience personal problems, Forge takes a more active involvement, gradually taking over the leadership of the remaining members of X-Factor. In this role, he sees the mutant criminals
Xavier's Underground
Forge takes part in Xavier's Underground movement. He works with a former X-Factor member,
Later,
Messiah Complex
After Forge sends Madrox and Layla 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.[48] He is seen later in the recovery room along with other injured X-Men.[49]
Divided We Stand
Forge suffers an array of injuries, including serious head trauma, from Bishop's attack during his mad quest to murder the first mutant child following M-Day. Bishop steals several time travel devices that Forge is reverse 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 off in his home at Eagle Plaza to devote all his time to this work. But before he begins, he enhances his home's defense systems to ensure that he never falls victim to such an attack again.[50]
Ghost Box
Forge later returns in Astonishing X-Men #29, when the X-Men fly to his complex on Wundagore Mountain to confront him about his apparent role in an inter-dimensional invasion of Earth.[51] After following a trail of mysteriously genetically created mutants and death, the X-Men track Forge down, who through a monologue, reveals his true 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 of Abigail Brand and Beast, 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.[52]
Cable and X-Force
As part of
All-New, All-Different Marvel
As part of the All-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 programmed Cerebra 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.[54]
Dawn of X
Professor X tasks Forge with modifying Cerebro so it can store backups for mutant minds.[55] Forge would later assist the Marauders with recovering his mutant power neutralizers after they were co-opted by the Russians.[56]
In Destiny of X, Forge is selected to be part of the new X-Men team during the second Hellfire Gala.[57]
Powers and abilities
Forge is a mutant with a superhuman intuitive talent for inventing mechanical devices, backed up by the ability to visually perceive mechanical 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 his subconscious mind. Hence, Forge himself might not be entirely aware of exactly how he figured out how to create an invention of his. Sometimes, he must disassemble a device he has made to even figure out how it works.
Forge wore synthetic stretch fabric backed by micro-thin bulletproof Kevlar 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 hand-held 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.
Reception
- In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Forge 38th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[58]
- In 2018, CBR.com ranked Forge 30th in their "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World" list.[59]
- In 2018, CBR.com ranked Forge 19th in their "20 Most Powerful Mutants From The '80s" list.[60]
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
In the
Age of X
An alternate version of Forge is present in the Age of X reality. He was present when Magneto used New York City skyscrapers to create his so-called "Fortress X".[62]
Exiles
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 the Exiles. Originating from Earth-2814, he was married to his reality's Storm. In this reality, the Skrulls succeeded 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.[63]
Here Comes Tomorrow
In the apocalyptic alternate future of Here Comes Tomorrow, the final arc of Grant Morrison's run of New 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.[64]
House of M
Forge is seen in House 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 aiding Jarvis and Stark in tracking down the mutant gene bombs that Johnny Storm and Stark are hunting down all over the city.[65]
Hulk: Future Imperfect
In the mini-series Hulk: 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.[66]
Marvel Zombies
Forge appears in
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 and Iron Man's armors. The inter-dimensional transporter is the only technology Forge is unable to rebuild, and it is later revealed that Fabian 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.[68]
Mutant X
The version of Forge who appears in the Mutant X comic is virtually the same as his mainstream incarnation: he first used his powers to manufacture anti-mutant technology for the government,[69] 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.[70]
Old Man Logan
As revealed by Old Man Logan, the Earth-21923 Forge was not with the X-Men the night when the villains rose and Mysterio 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 when Rhino 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.[71]
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 by Sabretooth clones, Forge sacrifices his life to detonate his secret weapon, an unstable Old Man Speedball.[72]
Ronin
In an alternate reality of X-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 called
Ultimate Marvel
The Ultimate Marvel version of Forge has been dramatically re-imagined. He became a member of the Brotherhood of Mutants and follows Magneto with the promise of getting to strike back at humans.[74] 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. Forge, slightly naive, agreed to build it, the promise of Magneto's offer of ownership of Canada and a hate-free world blinding him. It was only at the final stages of his machine that he realized what he was truly doing — about to slaughter millions of people. He attempts to confront Magneto about this, telling him that he was under the impression that Magneto would only frighten the humans. Magneto replies that at the start of a new nation, one must make sacrifices and coldly asks Forge if he is hesitating. Forge hastily assures him no; he is later seen depressed and angry.[75]
In the 'Magnetic North' storyline it is revealed that he was freed from prison by Mystique. As a pair, they frame Lorna 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 the Triskelion; the headquarters for the Ultimates and a supervillain prison. They kill dozens of S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers during the attack and even more die cleaning up the prison break which results.[76]
He is then taken into custody, but escapes the Triskelion using a phasing device, also helping Wolverine break out as well. Although, according to
In other media
Television
- Forge appears in X-Men: The Animated Series, voiced by Marc Strange.[citation needed] This version is the leader of X-Factor. Additionally, an alternate timeline version who serves as the leader of a mutant resistance also appears in the series.
- Forge appears in X-Men: Evolution, voiced by Sam Vincent.[citation needed] This version possesses the additional ability to transform one of his hands into a multi-tooled robotic device and was trapped in a pocket dimension for three decades due to one of his inventions backfiring until he is rescued by Nightcrawler in the present.
- Forge appears in Wolverine and the X-Men, voiced by Roger Craig Smith.[citation needed] This version is an inexperienced member of the X-Men who serves as their engineer and mission analyst.
- Forge appears in X-Men '97, voiced by Gil Birmingham.[79]
Video games
- Forge appears as a non-playable character (NPC) in X-Men II: The Fall of the Mutants.[citation needed]
- Forge appears in X-Men: Children of the Atom.[citation needed]
- Forge appears in Storm's ending in X-Men vs. Street Fighter.[citation needed]
- Forge appears as a playable character in X-Men: Mutant Academy 2, voiced by Marc Strange.[citation needed]
- Forge appears as a playable character in X-Men: Next Dimension, voiced by Carlos Ferro.[citation needed]
- Forge appears as a NPC in X-Men Legends, voiced by Lou Diamond Phillips.[80]
- Forge appears as a NPC in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, voiced again by Lou Diamond Phillips.[80]
- Forge appears as a NPC in X-Men: Destiny, voiced by Phil LaMarr.[80]
- Forge makes a cameo appearance in Strider Hiryu's ending in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.[citation needed]
- Forge appears in Marvel Heroes, voiced by Carlos Alazraqui.[80]
- Forge appears in Marvel Snap.[81]
References
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^ "The Claremont Run". Twitter. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Richards, Dave (14 September 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: The Future is Hopeless for "Cable and X-Force"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- ISBN 978-1465455505.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #184 (Oct. 1984)
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #184
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #185
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #186 (October 1984)
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #187–188
- ^ Rom #66
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #220–223
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #224 (Dec. 1987)
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #226
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #227
- ^ The New Mutants #66 (Aug. 1988)
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #254–255.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #255.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #262–263
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #259-260.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #261-262.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #262.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #273.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #264.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #275-277.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #278-280.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #270-272.
- ^ X-Men (Vol. 2) #5.
- ^ X-Men (Vol. 2) #1, 8.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #289-290.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #290.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #301-302.
- ^ X-Factor #93
- ^ The Infinity Crusade #1–6
- ^ X-Factor #114
- ^ X-Factor #120
- ^ X-Factor #120–121
- ^ X-Factor #128–129
- ^ X-Factor #132–133
- ^ X-Factor #132–134
- ^ X-Factor #135
- ^ X-Factor #136
- ^ X-Factor #137
- ^ X-Factor #145
- ^ X-Factor #149
- ^ X-Men #103
- ^ Uncanny X-Men Annual 1999.
- ^ Mystique #1
- ^ X-Men #206
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #494 (2008)
- ^ X-Men: Divided We Stand #2 (2008)
- ^ Astonishing X-Men #29
- ^ Astonishing X-Men #30
- ^ Marvel Now Point 1 #1
- ^ Extraordinary X-Men #1
- ^ Powers of X #5
- ^ Marauders #10.
- ^ X-Men: Hellfire Gala one shot (2022).
- ^ June 09, Darren Franich Updated; EDT, 2022 at 12:31 PM. "Let's rank every X-Man ever". EW.com. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Lealos, Shawn S. (2018-09-16). "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
- ^ C. B. R. Staff (2018-09-02). "Fast Times At Mutant High: The 20 Most Powerful Mutants From The '80s". CBR. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
- ^ X-Man #1–4
- ^ Age of X: Alpha #1
- ^ Exiles vol. 3 #1
- ^ New X-Men #151
- ^ Iron Man: House of M #1–3
- ^ The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1
- ^ Marvel Zombies #1–6
- ^ Marvel Zombies 2 #1–7
- ^ Mutant X #13 (Sept. 1999)
- ^ Mutant X #4 (Jan. 1999)
- ^ Extraordinary X-Men #18 (2017)
- ^ Dead Man Logan #7-10. Marvel Comics (2018)
- ^ X-Men: Ronin #2
- ^ Ultimate X-Men #27
- ^ Ultimate X-Men #28–30
- ^ Ultimate X-Men #62–64
- ^ Ultimate Hulk vs. Wolverine #4–5
- ^ Ultimatum #3
- ^ Romano, Nick. "'X-Men '97' exclusive look reveals legacy costumes, Theo James casting". EW.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Forge Voices (X-Men)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 23, 2024. 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 opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ "Forge - Marvel Snap".