X-Ray (comics)
| X-Ray | |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #254 (December 1980) |
| Created by | Bill Mantlo Sal Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | James Darnell |
| Team affiliations | U-Foes |
| Abilities | Composed of hard radiation Generate and project radiation Fly |
X-Ray (James "Jimmy" Darnell) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe whose first appearance was in Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #254, and who was created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema. X-Ray is a member of the villainous group, the U-Foes. He is the brother of teammate, Vapor.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Jimmy Darnell was a propulsion fuel scientist who was part of a team organized by Simon Utrecht a millionaire, public official, and industrialist who wanted to simulate the crash that led to the powers of the Fantastic Four. Utrecht promised each member of the team super powers due to exposure (although intentional, not accidental) to cosmic radiation. Dr. Bruce Banner (known as the Hulk) who was on hand at the base during the launch, believed the ship to be having problems, and guided it back to Earth. The humans changed into superhumans, and called themselves the U-Foes (formerly the pronunciation of the term "U.F.O.s"), blaming Banner for cutting short their radiation exposure, and swearing vengeance on him while also pursuing new criminal careers. They battled the Hulk, and X-Ray fell unconscious when his powers went out of control.[1]
They again battled the Hulk and this time defeated him. In triumph, they exhibited the captive Bruce Banner on national television. However, Banner was freed by Rick Jones, Betty Ross, and the alien Bereet, and Banner transformed into the Hulk and defeated the U-Foes.[2]
With the U-Foes, he later escaped a special government prison and was accidentally "deflected" into the "Crossroads" dimension by Vector. X-Ray battled and defeated the Hulk with the help of the alien "Puffball Collective," but became trapped in a dimension inhabited by creatures that eat radiation.[3] X-Ray later escaped back to the "Crossroads" dimension with the U-Foes, and escaped back to Earth through a dimensional warp unintentionally created by the mutant Charles Little Sky. X-Ray battled the Avengers and Puma, and was defeated by Thor.[4]
With the U-Foes, X-Ray was later freed from the Vault. They attacked the Avengers West Coast, mistakenly believing that they had killed Vector. X-Ray battled the original Human Torch, and then escaped.[5]
During the Civil War storyline, X-Ray along with the other U-Foes joined the Thunderbolts Army.[volume & issue needed]
On the cover of Avengers: The Initiative #1, James was identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who are registered.[6][7]
Though a registered hero, X-Ray is later seen as part of the Hood's criminal organization who plan to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.[volume & issue needed]
During the Secret Invasion storyline, he is among the many supervillains who rejoined the Hood's crime syndicate and attacked an invading Skrull force.[8]
While he does not make an appearance in this series per se, a Skrull booby trap goes off in Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. and it is mentioned that he is one of the two U-Foes that are attempting to escape and is being dealt with by Nova.[volume & issue needed]
During the Dark Reign storyline, X-Ray and the U-Foes are revealed as members of the Initiative's North Carolina team.[9]
[edit] Powers and abilities
X-Ray's physical form has been permanently transformed into a living energy field of quasi-solid radiation as a result of exposure to cosmic radiation. In this form he can fly and emit various wavelengths of heavy radiation, including in the form of very potent concussive force blasts, shown capable of hurting even the Hulk, or 'negative gamma rays' that can transform the Hulk back into Bruce Banner, but this is only effective so long as he focuses.[10] He also has the ability to fly by levitation, or turn invisible.[11] Like his sister, he is intangible and mostly invulnerable to physical harm, although he can still be harmed by attacks that damage or disrupt his energy fields, such as a lead pipe used by the Hulk, or the vibranium in Captain America's shield. He can also be defeated if he is drained of his supply of radiation, as Thor once did with Mjolnir.[volume & issue needed]
Jimmy Darnell has a Master's degree in engineering.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Television
- X-Ray appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Hulk vs. the World." He is shown as an inmate at the Cube. In the episode "Gamma World" Pt. 1, he assists the U-Foes and Zzzax in attacking the Avengers when they enter the Cube.
[edit] Video games
- X-Ray (alongside the other U-Foes) appears in The Incredible Hulk video game voiced by Keith Ferguson.
[edit] References
- ^ Incredible Hulk #254
- ^ Incredible Hulk Vol. 2 #275-277
- ^ Incredible Hulk #304-305
- ^ Avengers #304
- ^ Avengers West Coast #53
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map
- ^ Secret Invasion #7
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #26
- ^ The Incredible Hulk vol. 1, #397 (Oct. 1992)
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol.2, #305
[edit] External links
- X-Ray at Marvel.com
