Psionex

Psionex

Psionex vs the New Warriors, art by Mark Bagley
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance New Warriors (1st series) #4
Created by Fabian Nicieza
Mark Bagley
In-story information
Member(s) Mathemanic
Pretty Persuasions
Coronary
Impulse
Asylum
Asylum
Rage
Night Thrasher

Psionex are a team of comic book supervillains and occasional anti-heroes in the Marvel Comics universe.

Publication history

Created by Fabian Nicieza and Mark Bagley, Psionex first appeared in New Warriors vol. 1 #4.

Fictional character biography

Psionex are a group of artificially created superhumans who appeared as enemies of the New Warriors. The members are young people (assumed late teens to early twenties) altered by genetic, chemical, or biosurgical means by the Genetech Corporation to gain superpowers. They first battle the team of similarly aged heroes known as the New Warriors early in the latter team's career, but are soundly defeated and restrained.[1]

They later violently attempt to escape Genetech's custody, feeling that they are little more than lab specimens, but are again opposed by the Warriors; this battle would lead to the rebirth of Terrax, a former herald of Galactus whose essence had been contained at Genetech. Mathemanic and Impulse volunteer to aid the Warriors against Terrax (Mathemanic out of altruism, Impulse out of battle lust), but both receive severe injuries in the fight; though Mathemanic recovers and returns to his studies of mathematics, Impulse's injuries require him to permanently use a wheelchair, and he is forced to retire his costumed identity.[2]

The rest of Psionex escapes during the battle and go their separate ways. Warriors members Nova and Marvel Boy later check in on Pretty Persuasions at a New York City strip club, and Coronary would return to Genetech voluntarily for help in controlling his powers and possibly returning him to human form. Asylum struck out on her own, resurfacing in Central Park fighting Nova and two other Warriors, Firestar, and Speedball, a fight that ends with the female Asylum's disappearance.

Some time later, a former Warriors foe once known as Darkling takes up the mantle of Asylum and regroups Psionex as "heroes" under his leadership, including Impulse, whose powers allowed his body to eventually heal its injuries.[3] After an extended run of crime-fighting in which much excessive force is used to apprehend criminals, the team becomes wanted by the law after a boy dies in an encounter with Asylum, and Psionex is again opposed by the New Warriors. Though the death is ruled accidental (an undiagnosed heart condition determined as the cause), Asylum eventually takes responsibility and submits to police custody, while the rest of Psionex return to Genetech for observation.[4] Mathemanic briefly makes trouble through good intentions, focusing so desperately on the desire to turn back time and prevent the boy's death that he affects the perception of time in the greater NYC area, making it seem that the boy's death and subsequent events had yet to occur. Comforted by the Warriors, Mathemanic accepts that he cannot undo what has already happened and consciously dispels his effect.[5]

Psionex has not operated as their own team since the second Asylum's departure, though at least one member, Pretty Persuasions, has appeared out of Genetech's custody and at large (in the pages of New Thunderbolts, again employed as an exotic dancer).

During the Civil War storyline, the individual members of Psionex (excepting either incarnation of Asylum) are located and apprehended by Baron Zemo and his Thunderbolts, acting as agents of the United States government and enforcing the Superhuman Registration Act. The former Psionex members are given the "choice" of joining the Thunderbolts or else face jail time, either for previous criminal acts or for failing to register as superhumans in accordance with the act; they choose the former, joining several supervillains in swelling the Thunderbolts' ranks. The "recruits" are forced to aid the Thunderbolts and the rest of Earth's heroes in a global conflict against the machinations of the Grandmaster, facing a phenomenal number of suddenly empowered superhumans running rampant. No mention has been made since the resolution of that conflict of the fates of the Thunderbolts recruits, who were last shown being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of their opponents.

During the Dark Reign storyline, several members of Psionex were featured on the cover of Avengers: The Initiative.[6] Psionex is revealed as the new Initiative team for the state of Maryland.[7]

Psionex joins in the Siege of Asgard started by the head of the Initiative, Norman Osborn. Osborn's forces are defeated and the Initiative purged of criminals.[8]

Members

References

  1. New Warriors (Volume One) #4-5
  2. New Warriors (Volume one) #15-17
  3. New Warriors Annual #4
  4. New Warriors #52
  5. New Warriors #53
  6. Avengers: The Initiative #1
  7. Avengers: The Initiative #26
  8. Siege #1-4 (January 2010 - May 2010)

External links

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