Basilisk (comics)
- For the mutant created by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely see Basilisk (Mutant)
| Basilisk | |
|---|---|
| File:MTIO-17.gif The supervillain Basilisk battles the Thing and Spider-Man in Marvel Two-In-One vol. 1, #17. Cover by Joe Sinnott | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (Supervillain) Marvel Team-Up vol. 1, #16 (Mutant) New X-Men vol. 1, #135 |
| Created by | (Supervillain) Len Wein & Gil Kane (Mutant) Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | (Supervillain) Basil Elks (Mutant) Unknown |
| Team affiliations | (Mutant) Xavier Institute student body, Brotherhood of Mutants |
| Abilities | (Supervillain) Superhuman strength, durability and stamina Flight Energy projection Temperature and molecular manipulation (Mutant) Paralyzing Pulse |
The Basilisk is the name of two fictional characters that appear in the Marvel Universe. The first is a supervillain and first appears in Marvel Team-Up vol. 1, #16. The second is a mutant and first appears in New X-Men vol. 1, #135. Both are currently deceased.
Basilisk (Supervillain)
Fictional character biography
Basil Elks is a petty thief who breaks into a museum to steal what he believes is an ordinary emerald - but is in fact a Kree artifact called the Alpha Stone. Elks, however, miscalculates the security guards rounds and was caught and fired upon when he reached for a weapon. The guards bullet accidentally hits and shatters the gem, causing an explosion that transforms Elks into a humanoid reptilian - his skin becomes green and scaly and his eyes are now large and red. Elks then flash-freezes the guard in place, and realising that he now had superhuman abilities decides to become a supervillain and calls himself the Basilisk. The Basilisk then realises that the Alpha Stone has a twin - the Omega Stone - which he becomes determined to find so as to increase his powers. This brings the Basilisk into conflict with Captain Marvel (who is seeking the Stones), Spider-man, Mr. Fantastic and finally the Mole Man in his underground lair.[1]
The Basilisk is presumed dead after being engulfed by a wave of lava, but survives and several years later resurfaces to attack New York City. Although now powered by both Stones, the Basilisk is defeated by Spider-Man and the Thing, and is again thought to be dead.[2]
The Basilisk eventually reappears and decides to retaliate against the Thing by attacking Four Freedoms Plaza, the headquarters of the Fantastic Four. As soon as the Basilisk appears, however, he is shot and killed by the vigilante called the Scourge of the Underworld.[3]
Powers and abilities
Courtesy of the Alpha Stone, the Basilisk possessed enhanced physical strength, reflexes, and stamina. The Basilisk's main offensive weapon were his eye beams, which could be concussive force (these could also be directed at the ground for limited flight) or energy that manipulated temperature (boiling or freezing extremes) or molecules. While these powers are enhanced once the Basilisk acquires the Omega Stone, he was still not invulnerable, as Scourge kills him with one shot.
Basilisk (Mutant)
Fictional character biography
Basilisk is a mutant and a student at the Xavier Institute. Possessing limited intelligence and persecuted in his youth due to his abnormal appearance, Basilisk is extremely aggressive. Once Basilisk's mutant power manifested itself he suffered from brain seizures until a scientist gives him a device to help regulate the ability.
At one point Basilisk saves his class from the U-Men - humans who hunt mutants for their organs - after being told by Ernst that fellow student No-Girl would agree to date him. Soon afterwards Basilisk joins the Brotherhood, led by Magneto. Unfortunately, when Magneto launches an assault against New York, he accidentally kills Basilisk. [4]
Powers and abilities
Basilisk possesses an overly-fleshy head devoid of all features except for sunken ears, a slit-like mouth, and a single centred eye socket. A camera-like device is located in this socket that allows Basilisk to control his superhuman mutant ability to emit a pulse of high-frequency strobe light from his brain. The light paralyzes any sentient being that views it, causing them to fall into a rigid fascinated state. The length of the effect varies depending upon the strength of will of the onlooker.