Random (comics)
Random | |
---|---|
Notable aliases | Alex |
Abilities | Body composed of a form of protoplasm which he can reconstruct at will to change his size and shape, alter to counteract any mutant force that is directed at him (within a certain perimeter), and shoot as bio-matter projectiles. |
Random (Marshall Evan Stone III) is a fictional character and antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Peter David for the series X-Factor. He was originally presented as an opponent of X-Factor, but he later became their reluctant ally.
Fictional character biography
The complete origin of Random is unclear. It appears that he was created from a mass of protoplasm by
"Alex" eventually escapes, shifting his appearance to that of a muscle-bound man and creating the identity of bounty hunter Random. It is unknown if the name Marshall Evan Stone III is his real name or just a name he created for his new Random persona. According to the memories of Charlie Ronalds, a person with Random's powers killed Charlie's parents when Charlie was very young, though Random has never been confirmed as the killer.[1]
In his first encounter with the government-sponsored
Because of his success as a bounty hunter, Random is contracted to go after X-Factor member Polaris. During their battle, Random tells her that the same government that employs her hired him to kill her. Polaris doesn't believe him, but he assures her that there are mutant haters in the government. After a brief scuffle, Polaris leaves, later confessing to Havok that she felt Random was holding back during the fight, as if he wanted her to win.[3]
Joining X-Factor
After X-Factor encountered the religious fanatic
Following Haven's defeat, Forge pays Random and offers him a permanent job on the team, which he declines. Shortly thereafter, Random, Forge, and Polaris track down Colonel Malone, the man who hired Random to kill Polaris. The trio find him, but he commits suicide before they can question him. However, Malone's assistant informs them that the government never planned on killing Polaris—they only wanted to test her limits as part of their plan to use her as a fail-safe against Magneto. If Random had defeated her, she would have been brought in and brainwashed to become the government's weapon.[5]
The Brotherhood
Random returns after Havok re-forms the
Random is next hired by
Random resurfaces on Genosha during Magneto's rule and is quickly dispatched when the ad hoc Genoshan Assault X-Men squad attacks the island to rescue Professor X.[7]
Weapon X
Random is later captured by the refurbished
Post M-Day
Random is one of the few mutants that retained their superhuman powers after
Random and the Acolytes later attack the
X-Men: Legacy
When Professor Xavier returns to New Avalon to confront Exodus, Random is still among the Acolytes. Xavier convinces Exodus to disband the group and find a new way to help mutantkind, and Random, Amelia Voght, and Omega Sentinel decide to relocate to San Francisco in response to the X-Men's call for all mutants to relocate there.[13]
Random is next seen on
Following the battle, Random attends
Random later appears as a member of the Utopians alongside
House of X
Random later appears as one of the villainous mutants invited to come live on the newly created mutant island of Krakoa, provided he no longer holds any grudges towards his fellow mutants.[18]
Powers and abilities
Random's body is made of morphing protoplasm which can change into almost any shape he can imagine and commonly changes his forearms into weapons that fire hardened protoplasm projectiles from his own biomatter. He is able to randomly counteract any force or mutant ability directed at him, alter his mass and strength and rapidly regenerate damaged or detached/severed biomatter and limbs.
Reception
- In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Random 91st in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[19]
In other media
Television
- Random made non-speaking cameo appearances in Asteroid M. In "Secrets Not Long Buried", Random is one of the many mutant residents of the mutant-dominated community of Skull Mesa.
References
- ^ X-Factor Annual #8 (1993)
- ^ X-Factor #88 (March 1993)
- ^ X-Factor #95 (October 1993)
- ^ X-Factor #100 (March 1994)
- ^ X-Factor #102 (May 1994)
- ^ Quicksilver #8–9 (June–July 1998)
- ^ X-Men (vol. 2) #112 (May 2001)
- ^ Weapon X (vol. 2) #5 (March 2003)
- ^ X-Men: The 198 Files (January 2006)
- ^ X-Men (vol. 3) Annual #1 (March 2007)
- ^ X-Men (vol. 2) #202 (October 2007)
- ^ X-Men (vol. 2) #207 (March 2008)
- ^ X-Men: Legacy #225 (August 2009)
- ^ New Mutants (vol. 3) #14 (2010)
- ^ X-Men: Second Coming #2 (2010)
- ^ X-Men: Legacy #242 (January 2011)
- ^ All-New X-Men #40
- ^ House of X #5
- ^ June 09, Darren Franich Updated; EDT, 2022 at 12:31 PM. "Let's rank every X-Man ever". EW.com. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
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