Skin (comics)
| Skin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Panel from Generation X #63 Art by Steve Pugh |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Uncanny X-Men #317 |
| Created by | Scott Lobdell Joe Madureira |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Angelo Espinosa |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | Generation X |
| Abilities | Six feet of extra, malleable skin which can be stretched or reshaped at will |
Skin is a fictional mutant in the Marvel Universe of comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #317. (1994)
Contents |
[edit] Fictional character biography
Angelo Espinosa was a former gang member from the Los Angeles area who faked his own death to leave that part of his life behind. Skin was one of four young mutants (including M, Husk, and Blink) abducted by the Phalanx, a techno-organic alien race. The reason behind the abductions was so that the Phalanx could uncover the secret behind their inability to assimilate mutants into their collective. Through their combined efforts and those of Banshee, Emma Frost, Sabretooth, Synch, and Jubilee, the four young mutants managed to escape their confines; although, Blink sacrificed herself by using her powers to destroy the Phalanx that had captured them.[volume & issue needed]
Afterwards, Skin accepted an invitation to enroll in the Massachusetts Academy, a school for mutants owned by Emma Frost. As a member of Generation X, Skin was joined by Synch, Jubilee, Husk, and M (and later by Chamber, Penance, and Mondo). During his stay at the Massachusetts Academy, Skin developed a crush for fellow student M and became close friends with Chamber because both couldn't pass for normal humans in public. However, he was also hunted by a mutant-killing vigilante known as the X-Cutioner who believed Skin responsible for the death of Angelo Espinosa. The X-Cutioner did not know that Skin, in fact, was Angelo Espinosa. Skin and Chamber succeeded in defeating the vigilante, but kept the secret.[volume & issue needed]
After the Academy closed due to the machinations of Adrienne Frost, Skin returned to Los Angeles with Jubilee in tow. Some time later, Skin and Jubilee, along with Magma, Bedlam, and a handful of other unknown mutants were found crucified on the lawn of the X-Mansion. This action was done by the Church of Humanity, a militant, religious anti-mutant organization. Archangel used his blood's healing properties to revive Jubilee and Magma but neither Bedlam nor Skin survived. [1]
Jubilee, Husk, and Archangel went to visit Skin's grave after Jubilee had recovered only to find that the owner of the cemetery was about to dig Angelo up and remove him because of his status as a mutant. The girls argued with the foreman, but he insisted that it was against the religious convictions of the cemetery to bury mutants. He offered to cremate Angelo's remains and give them to the girls, which he ultimately did.[volume & issue needed]
Skin was later resurrected by means of the Transmode Virus to serve as part of Selene's army of deceased mutants. Under the control of Selene and Eli Bard, he takes part in the assault on the mutant nation of Utopia.[2] Skin's fate is uncertain as it is unknown if he was among the mutants teleported to Genosha by Blink to serve as a sacrifice to the newly-deitious Selene or if he was among the mutants that managed to escape Utopia.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Skin possessed approximately six feet[3] of extra skin. He was capable of stretching, deforming, wrapping, expanding, and compressing this extra amount of epidermis. When Skin is performing any of these stunts, it is only the epidermis that was manipulated; Skin's skeletal structure was the same as any normal, average boy of his age and height. Skin's skin had a greyish tone and, because of the extra amount, gave him the appearance of a melted candle. At one point, along with compressing his skin tighter against his body, Skin was learning to manipulate the pigment melanin in his epidermis in order to appear normal. However, performing these two stunts together caused him to have migraines and he soon gave up on the idea of being normal.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] Age of Apocalypse
In the alternate timeline of the Age of Apocalypse, Skin was featured in Generation Next as one of the protegés tapped by Colossus and Shadowcat to rescue Illyana Rasputin from enslavement at the Sugar Man's Core. Due to their more militant training, Skin was depicted as using his powers in a much more aggressive fashion, including impaling opponents with skin protrusions. He was killed in the subsequent attempt to escape from the Core.[volume & issue needed]
[edit] Ultimate Universe
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Skin was mentioned to receiving a beating nearly to death from humans by Sunspot.[volume & issue needed]
[edit] In other media
- Skin appeared in the made-for-TV Generation X film portrayed by Augustin Rodriguez. In the film, his powers were closer to true elasticity, similar to Mister Fantastic. However, it caused him pain to use this power.
- In the film X2, his name appears on a list of names Mystique scrolls through on Stryker's computer while looking for Magneto's file.
[edit] Controversy
- Throughout the issue Uncanny X-Men #427, Angelo is referred to mistakenly as "Angelo Torres" by author Chuck Austen. Many fans were upset with this flagrant disregard for the 'deceased'.[4]
