Leech (character)

Leech is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Leech made his first appearance in Uncanny X-Men as a Morlock, a group of mutants whose deformities force them to live in the sewers under Manhattan. He is usually depicted as being around twelve years old (his exact age is unrevealed). He speaks in broken English and refers to himself in the third person.

Publication history

Leech first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #179 (March 1984), and was created by

Leech appeared as part of the "Morlocks" entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #9.

Fictional character biography

The green-skinned Leech was orphaned as a toddler. His parents left him to die when his mutations became apparent. He was found by the Morlock

During the Mutant Massacre story arc, Mister Sinister rallies his henchmen, the Marauders, to infiltrate the sewers and massacre all the Morlocks living there in an effort to rid the world of "genetically impure" mutants. While many Morlocks are killed, Leech and Caliban survive, rescued by Power Pack and the X-Terminators (X-Factor in their role of mutant hunters). Leech joins Artie in the care of X-Factor until they could be enrolled in St. Simons, a private school that willingly accepts mutant children.^[2]

Soon after they began attending this school, Leech and Artie are captured by mutant-hunting

Leech, Artie, and Taki return to St. Simons, though they do not stay out of trouble. Taki's crush on a teacher leads to uncovering a plot by mutant-hating humans to kidnap and kill as many mutants as possible. The young trio disobey orders and literally fly off. After much violence, the kidnapping plans are discovered and the conspirators arrested.[4] A nearby resident, Ida Fassbender, discovers the trio's technologically assisted jaunts, and her paranoia endangers their lives. She resolves the problem and unofficially becomes the boys' grandmother. Leech is comforted by Ida's resemblance to Annalee.^[5]

Another kidnapping plan works successfully and Artie and Leech are taken by the murderous mutant terrorists

This group was composed of second-generation Morlocks, the descendants of those who survived the massacre in the tunnels. They were born and raised in an alternate dimension with a faster flow of time than this one, called The Hill. They sought revenge for those who wronged their forebears. Gene Nation led a campaign to hunt down and kill as many humans as possible, since it was the humans' unwillingness to accept them that forced their parents into the tunnels in which they were massacred. Leech and Artie wanted no part of this, but were trapped until they were rescued by Generation X. They were thereafter made junior members.^[6]

Generation X

Leech and Artie continued to live in the

At some point, Leech is captured by the revived Weapon X program and was used by the Weapon X program to keep imprisoned mutants under control. When the program was about to be discovered, those responsible attempted to erase all information surrounding it by killing the prisoners. Leech survives and is one of the estimated 198 mutants who retained their powers after M-Day and moves to an encampment in the Xavier Institute.^[11]

When an exploding supervillain causes the general public to turn on superheroes,

Leech and Artie Maddicks were invited to Franklin Richards's birthday, and as a gift, Franklin invited them to live with the Fantastic Four.[15] The two are now in a special class with intelligent moloids, Alex Power (Zero-G) of the Power Pack and other gifted kids.^[16] It is later revealed that Leech's cancelling powers were the reason that Reed Richards wanted him to be with Franklin.^[17] Leech later joins Reed's new Future Foundation superhero team.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Powers and abilities

Leech can dampen or completely suppress, for an undetermined amount of time, the powers and abilities of any superpowered beings within 50 feet of him.

Leech has also been shown to dampen abilities that are non-mutant in origin at times, like the Fantastic Four, Hazmat of the Avengers Academy,[20] and during Marvel's Mutant Massacre crossover event, Leech negated the powers of the superhero team Power Pack, whose abilities were bestowed on them by an extraterrestrial.^[21]

In X-Men: the Animated Series, Leech was shown to possess telekinesis when he stole fruits from a fruit stand and moved humans that were in his way when trying to escape.

When his ability has been targeted at mutants with super strength, at times his victims have become temporarily thin and frail.

Reception

• In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Artie and Leech 23rd in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.^[22]

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

During the Age of Apocalypse, Leech is among the featured Morlocks that are survivors of Mister Sinister's experiments.^[23]

Ultimate Marvel

Leech was introduced to the Ultimate Marvel Universe in Ultimate X-Men #82 as a member of the Morlocks. He was never shown using his powers, so it is unclear as to whether or not they are the same. He looks similar, but more like an old man than a child. He was shot and killed by Sinister in issue #90.^[24]

In other media

Television

• Leech appears in X-Men: The Animated Series, voiced by John Stocker. This version possesses the additional ability of telekinesis.
  • Leech appears in X-Men '97, voiced by David Errigo, Jr.
• Leech appears in X-Men: Evolution, voiced by Danny McKinnon. This version is named Dorian Leech and has a human appearance.

Film

Leech appears in X-Men: The Last Stand, portrayed by Cameron Bright. This version is named Jimmy, possesses a more human appearance, and was used by Worthington Labs to create a "mutant cure" before joining the Xavier Institute.

References