Shatterstar
Shatterstar | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | The New Mutants #99 (March 1991) |
Created by | Fabian Nicieza Rob Liefeld |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Gaveedra-Seven |
Species | Genetically-engineered humanoid mutant |
Team affiliations |
|
Notable aliases | Benjamin Russell |
Abilities |
|
Shatterstar (Gaveedra-Seven) is a mutant superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in The New Mutants #99 (March 1991),[1] after which he became a member of the superhero team X-Force. He later became an employee of X-Factor Investigations, a private detective firm starring in the series X-Factor. In 2013, ComicsAlliance ranked Shatterstar as #29 on their list of the "50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics".[2]
Shatterstar is an unusual character among Marvel's mutant superheroes in X-Men books in that, although a human mutant, he was raised in an alternate dimension known as
Since 2007, the character has been portrayed as an outgoing
Shatterstar appears in Deadpool 2 (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), portrayed by Lewis Tan.
Creation
Liefeld spoke on the character's creation "I went into my files and found the original source of my inspiration for SHATTERSTAR. Carl Pott’s original sketch for Longshot had the white costume and the Eye Tattoo - Art Adams played with a version of this himself back in 1984. Knowing that Shatterstar was from Longshot’s reality, I fashioned this first look after the original un-used design, albeit with longer hair. This is why you listen to the experts, not wannabe revisionists."[6]
Publication history
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2008) |
Shatterstar first appeared in The New Mutants #99 (March 1991), and was created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld. He also appeared on a pin-up bonus cover in The New Mutants Annual #6 (July 1990) as part of a 'Vision to Come',[7] predating his appearance in The New Mutants #99.
Since his debut Shatterstar has mainly appeared in the original X-Force title, with some issues devoted solely to him. In 2005, the character was featured in his own limited series, X-Force: Shatterstar. Shatterstar became a member of X-Factor in X-Factor #45 (August 2009).
Shatterstar also starred in a 5-issue solo-run in 2018 titled Shatterstar.[citation needed]
Fictional character biography
Shatterstar comes from the planet Mojoworld (about a century in the future, as opposed to the Mojoverse, which co-exists with the contemporary Earth dimension, making him a time traveler as well as a dimension-hopper), which is ruled by the alien tyrant Mojo. There, Shatterstar was created to be a slave; he claims to have had no parents, only a "gestation chamber". He was genetically engineered to have enhanced physical capabilities so he could serve as an arena gladiator.
Shatterstar learned the arts of battle as a warrior in arenas on Mojoworld, where he participated in combats staged for Mojo's television programs. He developed a strong sense of honor and pride as a warrior, to combat the constant violence and death in his life. Eventually he escaped and joined the Cadre Alliance, the rebel group that sought to overthrow Mojo's dictatorship. From there, he learned the Cadre's language and began taking part in missions.
On one of these missions, Arize sent him back in time to Earth to find the
With X-Force on their first mission, Shatterstar battled the
X-Force's next mission involved attacking the
Later Shatterstar discovered, to his bewilderment, that he also had the memories of an Earthling named Benjamin Russell.
However, this does not explain why Shatterstar had some of Benjamin Russell's memories before they merged, or why they looked so much alike. There are still too many mysteries yet to be explained about Shatterstar's true origin. It was hinted that Shatterstar may have been the child of Longshot and the mutant X-Man
Dazzler revealed that she was
Shatterstar accompanied Rictor to the Richter home in Mexico to try to end Rictor's family's arms-dealing business.[23]
Shatterstar is later seen in
Following
X-Factor
In a 2009 X-Factor story, Shatterstar, whose mind is being controlled by the villain Cortex, attacks Strong Guy and Rictor.[30] Shatterstar is broken out of his trance-like state when Cortex's control over him is interrupted. Upon recognizing Rictor, he kisses him passionately.[31] Journeying to Detroit, Cortex confronts Longshot and the two fight. As Cortex attempts to gain control over Longshot, he is startled that Longshot, like Shatterstar, is extradimensional (limiting his degree of control) and that the two men are somehow related.[32]
Rictor and Shatterstar's relationship experiences conflict because Shatterstar—who now feels romantic and sexual potential within him for the first time—wishes to explore this whole new aspect of his life, desiring an
During the "Hell on Earth War" storyline, Shatterstar and Rictor are blasted by the God of Hell,
New Tian
During Secret Empire it is revealed that Shatterstar and Rictor were able to return to the present. He is part of the New Tian residents, along with Rictor and many other mutants.[35] After New Tian was dismantled, Rictor told Iceman that he and Shatterstar were now on a break.[36]
Landlord of Manor Crossing
Feeling unsure about himself and his relationship with Rictor, Shatterstar ended things between them.[37] Newly single, Shatterstar bought a property using the earnings he had made and named it Manor Crossing. He offered the rooms to multi-dimensional refugees like himself and served as both landlord and protector to his tenants. When Shatterstar's tenants were kidnapped by the Mojoworld mercenary group the Death Sponsors and their leader, former ally Gringrave, Shatterstar vowed to bring them home.[38]
With help from Rictor, Shatterstar followed the group to the world of Horus IV, which was ruled by the Grandmaster. Grandmaster tasked Gringrave with the kidnapping, hoping to use a gladiatorial battle between the enemies to satisfy the Horuvians lust for bloody conflict.[37]
After Shatterstar killed Gringrave in revenge for her actions,[39] Grandmaster himself entered the arena, seeking to gain control of Shatterstar for all eternity. But Shatterstar refused to concede and defeated Grandmaster by teleporting them to Earth-1218, a world where super-powered beings do not exist and Grandmaster's god powers could not work. Shatterstar was then rescued by Rictor, who reached out across the universe to find him and bring him home.[40]
eXtermination
Shatterstar was shocked when his former mentor Cable was slain while attempting to protect the time-displaced Iceman.[41] When it was revealed that a younger version of Cable was responsible, Shatterstar partnered with his former X-Force teammates to hunt down Kid Cable and have him answer for his crime. During the search, Shatterstar was turned into one of Ahab's mutant-hunting hounds and attempted to kill the time-displaced Jean Grey.[42] Shatterstar was subdued by Cannonball and freed of Ahab's influence.[43]
Krakoa
Shatterstar was of the many mutants that joined the mutant nation of Krakoa upon its creation. He was seen alongside many other Krakoans grieving Charles Xavier's death at the hands of anti-mutant super-human criminals that had infiltrated Krakoa and killed many of its residents, including Xavier.[44]
At some point, Shatterstar returned to Mojoworld, becoming the dimension's most subscribed and top-ranked live-streamer. However, Shatterstar began to feel trapped by the celebrity status he had created for himself. When fellow live-streamer Wind Dancer arranged for her own death to satisfy her fans, Shatterstar secretly informed the Krakoan X-Factor team of her death so they could claim Wind Dancer's body before Arize could produce a clone and force her to resume her stream. X-Factor was successful in their mission, but were forced to leave Shatterstar behind. They promised to return and rescue him.[45] The team eventually made good on this promise coming back alongside the New Mutants and arranging the freedom of all mutants there. After this they recruited Shatterstar to defeat The Morrigan, freeing Siryn from her control.[46]
He was then rewarded with memories of his past, which lead to him seeking Rictor out during the
After Merlyn overthrew
His first mission with this new team was to Blightspoke, a poisoned land where the remnants of collapsed realities are buried, and while there he and Rictor fought the Vescora and the team found its only resident Sheriff Gia Whitechapel and her crew imprisoned in a factory the makes solid Brightswill, a mutant depowering substance. The couple destroyed the factory with Gia's help, then the team headed toward Savalith, an ancient civilization founded by vampire-like beings.
Powers and abilities
Shatterstar possesses an overall superhuman level of physical and mental attributes (senses, strength, speed, reflexes, agility, flexibility, stamina, and intelligence), as a result of the extra-dimensional genetic engineering that created him. Shatterstar's strength allows him to wield a heavy barbell as easy as a
He is an excellent military strategist and has had extensive training in many forms of the martial arts and interpersonal combat of Mojoworld; in particular, he is a master swordsman. His bones are hollow, making him far lighter than he looks and further increasing his athletic and acrobatic skills. He also has enhanced learning capabilities, being able to quickly learn and master languages and technology. He customarily wields two single-edged swords with spiked hand-guards and on occasion carries other weaponry as well. Shatterstar is able to regenerate damaged or destroyed tissue much faster than an ordinary human. Injuries such as slashes and stabbings heal completely within a matter of hours. Additionally, he possesses the ability to shift his internal organs within his body, lessening the chances of serious wounds that get through his body armor. He has also been mentioned as having a lack of white blood cells, and DNA identical to his former teammate and father, Longshot.[56]
He also has the mutant ability to control frequencies of electricity, which he can use to generate powerful bioelectric vibratory shockwaves,[57] and can even channel bioelectric charges through his metallic blade weaponry; he rarely uses this power as it tends to exhaust him, but once used it as a surprise attack/secret technique to apparently kill Reaper of the MLF.[58]
After Shatterstar returned from the Mojoverse, he demonstrated the ability to open an X-shaped portal capable of teleporting individuals to their desired locations. This ability requires another individual to serve as the "focus," picturing the destination.[59] Creating such portals generates enough energy that it must be done outside, otherwise risking significant damage to any structure within which they are built. Shatterstar also requires a minimum of three to four hours to recharge between portal creation and since it requires his own energies. This ability is not actually artificial but merely another aspect of his ability to channel his energies through his swords.[60] Should his concentration be interrupted while an individual or object is partway through, those parts will be severed, ending up in the separate locations, the destination and the starting point of the portal.[61] During the Shatterstar miniseries of 2018 this was partially clarified in that his bioelectric powers are only the means to his teleportation capabilities and teleportation is actually his primary mutation. It was shown that he is able to use his hands to open portals, and does not need either his swords nor an actual other person as anchor if he wants to open a portal to where he already has been (using instead the memory of smell and sight) and he is able to traverse dimensions as well as interstellar distances, but not travel through time by himself.[62]
Reception
- In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Shatterstar 24th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[63]
- In 2018, CBR.com ranked Shatterstar 14th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members" list.[64]
Sexual orientation
Although Shatterstar was revealed to have a designated "genetic bond mate", Windsong (whom he never met and is now deceased), in the Mojoverse,[65] he later claimed that even though he was fully capable physically, he had never felt any sexual stirrings or romantic love—indicating a form of asexuality—and has long felt "lacking", even in his native dimension.[66]
This has since been retconned to be a lie on Shatterstar's part, as it is revealed in his Revised origin in his 2018 mini-series that he already had a sexual/romantic relationship with his gladiatorial mentor/partner Gringrave,[67] which ended when she betrayed him by tricking him into becoming a murderer, causing him to rebel against Mojo V.[68]
Since then his emotional state has been fluctuating. While in X-Force, he displayed emotion, having developed a close—and somewhat ambiguous—friendship with Rictor.[69][70][71][72][73] X-Force writer Jeph Loeb hinted that Shatterstar had romantic feelings for Rictor and was planning on making the two a couple, but he left the title before he could make this happen.[74]
Writer Peter David reflects that being the subject of "prolonged exposure to Earth" and around Rictor changed things for the warrior, and he began to develop a real romantic capacity.[75] In X-Factor (vol. 3) #45 (August 2009), Shatterstar and Rictor kiss.[76] Shortly after the issue was published, Peter David confirmed Rictor and Shatterstar's relationship on his blog and expressed his desire to explore it further.[77][78]
Shatterstar's co-creator, Rob Liefeld expressed disapproval with Shatterstar not being asexual, saying that Shatterstar was meant to be "asexual, and struggling to understand human behavior."[18] Fabian Nicieza stated, "In my final issue, I pretty clearly stated that Shatterstar had no real understanding of sexuality – homo or hetero – and needed to learn about general human nature before he could define his own sexual identity."[4] He added that "I had planned to make Shatterstar think he was in love with Rictor, but only because he simply didn't know any better about what love was. He would have figured, this is my best friend, I care about him, he cares about me, we spend time together, fight together, laugh together – I guess I must be in love with him."[4] Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada defended the development, and stated that if Rob Liefeld wanted it changed, he would have to "take it up with the next editor-in-chief".[5] Similarly, Peter David also defended the storyline, citing the work of other writers after Rob Liefield's tenure on the character, who hinted at the attraction between the two characters.[79] David explained in an interview that he took inspiration from Torchwood character Captain Jack Harkness, whom David describes as "swashbuckling, enthusiastic and sexually curious about anything with a pulse."[80] As such, David's X-Factor sees Shatterstar want to have a sexually open relationship on account of having been (as in Liefeld's stories) sexually and romantically closed off to the world all his life.[81] In the letter column to issue 232, a fan criticized David for conflating bisexuality with polyamory, to which David responded that Shatterstar is in fact both bisexual and polyamorous.[82]
Other versions
Shatterstar's double-bladed sword is seen among the relics in the trophy room of the elderly
In an alternate future seen in X-Force Annual #1, the
In the
In other media
Film
- Shatterstar appears in Deadpool 2 (2018), portrayed by Lewis Tan.[85] This version is named Rusty, a humanoid green-blooded alien from Mojoworld. He is recruited into X-Force by Deadpool and Weasel. However, Shatterstar is killed during the group's first mission.
- Shatterstar will appear in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), portrayed again by Lewis Tan.[86]
Video games
Shatterstar appears as an unlockable playable character in
References
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^ Wheeler, Andrew (2013-02-14). "ComicsAlliance Presents The 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
- ^ Melrose, Kevin (July 3, 2009). "Liefeld 'can't wait to someday undo' Shatterstar development". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
- ^ a b c Wheeler, Andrew. "Fabian Nicieza: Working for the Man". PopImage. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ^ Quesada, Joe; Phegley, Keil (July 14, 2009). "Cup O' Joe". CBR.com.
- ^ https://twitter.com/robertliefeld/status/1759347001165332662
- ^ "Shatterstar (Character)". Comic Vine.
- ^ New Mutants #99-100
- ^ New Mutants Annual #7
- ^ New Warriors Annual #1
- ^ X-Factor Annual #6 (Jan. 1, 1991)
- ^ X-Force #1
- ^ X-Force #3-4; Spider-Man #16 (Nov. 1, 1991)
- ^ X-Force #6-8
- ^ X-Force #54, 56, 59-61
- ^ X-Force #61
- ^ X-Men (vol. 2) #10-11
- ^ a b Melrose, Kevin (July 3, 2009). "Liefeld 'can't wait to someday undo' Shatterstar development". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
- ^ X-Force #45
- ^ X-Men (vol. 2) #11
- ^ X-Men (vol. 2) #47
- ^ a b X-Factor #259 (July 2013)
- ^ X-Force #70
- ^ X-Force: Shatterstar #1-4
- ^ X-Force (vol. 2) #1-6
- ^ Civil War: X-Men #1
- ^ Civil War: X-Men #2
- ^ Civil War: X-Men#3
- ^ Civil War: X-Men #4
- ^ David, Peter. X-Factor #43, May 2009, Marvel Comics
- ^ David, Peter. X-Factor #45, June 2009, Marvel Comics
- ^ David, Peter. X-Factor #47, August 2009, Marvel Comics
- ^ David, Peter. X-Factor (vol. 3) #208, October 2010, Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Factor #213
- ^ Secret Warriors (vol. 2) #3
- ^ Iceman (vol. 3) #9
- ^ a b Shatterstar (vol. 2) #2 (2018)
- ^ Shatterstar (vol. 2) #1 (2018)
- ^ Shatterstar (vol. 2) #4 (2018)
- ^ Shatterstar (vol. 2) #5 (2018)
- ^ Extermination #2 (2018)
- ^ Extermination #3 (2018)
- ^ Extermination #4 (2018)
- ^ X-Force (vol. 6) #2 (2019)
- ^ X-Factor (vol. 4) #3 (2020)
- ^ X-Factor (vol. 4) #9 (2020)
- ^ X-Factor Vol 4 10 (June 2021)
- ^ Excalibur Vol 4 21 (June 2021)
- ^ Excalibur Vol 4 24 (October 2021)
- ^ Excalibur Vol 4 24-26
- ^ Knights of X #1
- ^ Knights of X #2
- ^ Knights of X #3-4
- ^ X-Factor #200 (2010)
- ^ X-Factor #204 (2010)
- ^ X-Force #47 and 51
- ^ Shatterstar (vol. 2) #3
- ^ X-Force #28
- ^ Nation X: X-Factor #1 (2010)
- ^ X-Factor #201 (2010)
- ^ X-Factor #202 (2010)
- ^ Shatterstar (vol. 2) #1-5 (2018)
- ^ 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) - ^ Wyse, Alex (2018-04-11). "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members Ranked From Weakest To Strongest". CBR. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ^ X-Force #29 and 30. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Force #43. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Shatterstar (vol. 2) #2
- ^ Shatterstar (vol. 2) #4
- ^ Cable #22. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Force #56. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Force #59. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Force #60. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Force Annual '99. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Cronin, Brian (October 18, 2007). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #125". CBR.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- AfterElton.com. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
- ^ David, Peter. X-Factor (vol. 3) #45 (August 2009)
- ^ "STASH WEDNESDAY – June 24". PeterDavid.net. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ^ "STASH WEDNESDAY – June 24". PeterDavid.net. June 24, 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ^ "X-POSITION X-TRA: Peter David". Comic Book Resources. 2009-07-17. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
- ^ Mckenzie, Chaos (2010-02-25). "Peter David's "X-Factor": Earth Moving, Star Shattering". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
- ^ David, Peter. X-Factor #207 (2010). Marvel Comics.
- ^ David, Peter. X-Factor #232 (2012). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Force Annual #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Patrol #1
- ^ Sharf, Zack (April 27, 2018). "Bill Skarsgård Makes 'Deadpool 2' Debut: 'It' Actor Confirmed as X-Force Mutant Zeitgeist — First Look".
- ^ https://www.polygon.com/24070019/deadpool-wolverine-breakdown-secret-wars-cameos-x-men-easter-eggs
External links
- Shatterstar at Marvel.com
- Shatterstar at Marvel Directory
- Shatterstar at UncannyXmen.net