posted via usenet from original post by: ----------------------------------------------------------- PAREGORIC GREENSTOOL MRLAVIN@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU Mike Lavin University at Buffalo ----------------------------------------------------------- ************************************************************ EMMA FROST/HELLIONS Profile Version 1.3, July, 1995 Changes since last update: Additional comments on UXM 314. tons of minor details from OHATMUDE, which I had not consulted for prior editions of this Profile. Cameo posthumous appearance in GenX 7. Questions: 1. What are the real names of Beef & Bevatron? 2. Did Bevatron and Beef appear anywhere besides NW 10 and UXM 281-282? 3. Have I missed any Hellions appearances? (esp. non-mutant titles) EMMA FROST/HELLIONS Profile Version 1.3, July, 1995 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Chronology of Hellions Appearances 3.0 Team Origin and Composition 3.1 The Hellfire Club 3.2 Hellions' Membership 4.0 The White Queen 5.0 Profiles of Team Members 6.0 The Massachusetts Academy 7.0 Brief History of the Hellions 8.0 The Aftermath 8.1 The Hellions 8.2 The White Queen 9.0 Acknowledgements Abbreviations Used: FLS Firestar Limited Series GX Generation X GXCP Generation X Collector's Preview NM New Mutants NW New Warriors OHATMUDE Official Handbook of Marvel Universe/Deluxe Ed. UXM Uncanny X-Men XF X-Force XM X-Men XMC X-Men Classic (formerly Classic X-Men) 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Hellions was the name of a team of young mutants recruited and trained by the White Queen (Emma Frost) to assist the Hellfire Club achieve its goal of world domination. The name (pronounced HEL-yuns) reflects the group's association with the Hellfire Club, as well as the term's connotation of wild youth. Most Hellions appearances took place in the New Mutants comic book. Although the Hellions were pawns of a ruthless, sinister organization, the team members themselves were not depicted as fearsome enemies of the New Mutants. The relationship between the two teams is best described as a rivalry between competing schools. Nearly all members of the Hellions are now dead, and the team itself has been disbanded. A variety of recurring questions relating to the Hellions appear on r.a.c.m.x. because of ties between the former team and the newly-formed Generation X. This Profile, designed to address those questions, is posted infrequently as the need arises. 2.0 CHRONOLOGY OF HELLIONS APPEARANCES Stories are listed in chronological order, not the order in which they were published. Appearances of the White Queen, Magma, Thunderbird II, and Firestar are listed only if they relate directly to the Hellions. XMC 3 (11/86) James Proudstar flashback. NM 16 (6/84) Hellions first appearance. NM 17 (7/84) Duel between Cannonball and Jetstream. FLS 1 (3/86) Firestar joins Hellions. * FLS 2 (4/86) Firestar trains with Hellions. UXM 193 (5/85) Thunderbird II, Firestar, Empath, and Roulette battle the X-Men. * NM 26 (4/85) White Queen punishes Empath. (Empath app. only). FLS 3 (5/86) White Queen's manipulation continues. FLS 4 (6/86) Firestar leaves the Hellions, destroys their base. NM 31 (9/85) One-page profiles of Catseye and Empath. NM 39 (5/86) New Mutants temporarily join Hellions. NM 40 (6/86) New Mutants return to Xavier's School. NM 43 (9/86) New Mutants teach Empath a lesson. NM 53 (7/87) Hellions and New Mutants socialize. NM 54 (8/87) Contest between Hellions and New Mutants. NM 56 (10/87) Second contest between the teams. NM 57 (11/87) Magma joins Hellions (no Hellions appearances). NM 62 (4/88) Magma and Empath visit Nova Roma (M & E only). NM A4 (1988) Magma captured by High Evolutionary (Magma and Empath only). NM 81 (11/89) Empath and Magma in Nova Roma (briefly). NM 99 (3/91) Thunderbird II joins New Mutants (no Hellions). NW 10 (4/91) Hellions battle New Warriors. NW A1 (7/91) Flashback retells origin of Firestar. UXM 281 (10/91) Jetstream and Beef killed. UXM 282 (11/91) Remaining active members are slaughtered. NW 31 (1/93) Requiem for Hellions. XF 32 (3/94) Child's Play Cross-Over NW 45 (3/94) Child's Play Cross-Over XF 33 (4/94) Child's Play Cross-Over NW 46 (4/94) Child's Play Cross-Over XF 34 (5/94) Magma breaks up with Empath UXM 314 (7/94) Recovered Emma learns of Hellions' deaths. XF 42 (1/95) Warpath confronts Emma Frost GX 7 (9/95) Brief view of Hellions as image in Emma's mind. * Firestar Limited Series was intended for release a year earlier, but was delayed. UXM 193 takes place after events in FLS 2. 3.0 TEAM ORIGIN AND COMPOSITION With the notable exception of Firestar, the actual recruitment of team members has never been shown or described. The White Queen has stated that she used her vast wealth and telepathic powers to comb the corners of the Earth in search of young mutants (UXM 314). 3.1 THE HELLFIRE CLUB This elite private club, which is over 200 years old, accepts only the world's richest and most powerful people to its ranks, and membership is passed on from one generation to the next (XM 29). The American headquarters is located on New York's Fifth Avenue, near the Avenger's Mansion. At gala events, members dress in eighteenth-century garb to flaunt their disdain for modern moral strictures and to celebrate the decadence and cutthroat spirit of a bygone era. Unknown to most members, the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club has a hidden agenda: nothing less than complete control of major world governments and resources. The Inner Circle is governed by a small band of ruthless leaders known as the Lords Cardinal. Following a bloody coup led by Sebastian Shaw, a group of powerful mutants assumed control of the Inner Circle and became the new Lords Cardinal. The Inner Circle views mutants as weapons to be used and controlled--powerful resources in their quest for world domination. The definitive statement of this philosophy was made by Emma Frost, a telepathic mutant known as the White Queen: "The group...that possesses mutants has an incalculable advantage over those that don't." (NM 16). To this end, the Hellfire Club seeks to recruit young and impressionable mutants as soon as the teenagers' powers manifest themselves. The White Queen was the Lord Cardinal in charge of mutant recruitment and training. The Hellfire Club's first attempts to enlist young mutants involved the unsuccessful recruitment of Kitty Pryde (now known as Shadowcat) and a foiled kidnapping of Allison Blaire (the Dazzler), events chronicled in UXM 129-130. Since those early, failed attempts, the Hellfire Club viewed its continued efforts as a desperate contest with Charles Xavier for the allegiance of young mutants throughout the world. This deadly competition mirrored a similar strategy followed earlier by Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and subsequently by such other groups as the Mutant Liberation Front. The Hellfire Club's Inner Circle first appeared behind the scenes (as the Council of the Chosen) in UXM 96. Although all of the former Lords Cardinal have either left or been killed, the Hellfire Club still exists under the current leadership of Shinobi Shaw, Sebastian's son. The Hellfire Club is based on a real organization of the same name that existed in 18th century England. Founded by Sir Francis Dashwood in the 1730s, the original Hellfire Club was a secret enclave of wealthy reprobates who engaged in sexual hanky- panky and conducted Satanic rituals while dressed in monk's robes. Club activities took place in caves near Dashwood's estate (West Wycombe Manor) and in the nearby Medmenham Abbey. Club members included some of the realm's most illustrious Peers, including John Montagu, the famous fourth Earl of Sandwich. The Club's motto, translated from Old French, was "Do What You Want." Subsequently, the term "Hellfire Club" has become synonymous with debauchery, and has been depicted in novels, plays, and movies. As a side-note, the fondly remembered TV show "The Avengers," had John Steed and Emma Peel investigating the revival of the Hellfire Club, in an episode entitled "A Touch of Brimstone." I mention it because the actor who played the leader of the Club was Peter Wyngarde, best known for his role as TV detective Jason King. (The "Dark Phoenix Saga" introduced Jason Wyngarde as the Mastermind's alter-ego.) Marvel's Hellfire Club is loosely based on this historical prototype. According to OHATMU, the Marvel version was founded in England in the 1760s. Sir Patrick Clemens and Diana Knight founded the New York City chapter in the 1770s, becoming the first Black King and Queen. 3.2 HELLIONS' COMPOSITION The founding members of the Hellions (first seen in NM 16) were Catseye, Empath, Jetstream, Roulette, Tarot, and Thunderbird. (To avoid confusion between Thunderbird and another character of the same name who appeared in earlier issues of UXM, the Hellion is referred to here as Thunderbird II.) Firestar was recruited next (FLS 1), but because the White Queen had special plans for this powerful but naive girl, Firestar was seldom allowed to study or train with the Hellions. The eighth student to join was Magma, a former member of the New Mutants who felt she would be happier with the Hellions (NM 57). Firestar and Magma may be thought of as "adjunct" members. Magma and Empath subsequently took a leave of absence to visit Magma's home in Brazil; they never rejoined the team. Beef and Bevatron were the last members to join (NW 10). For a period of several weeks, the New Mutants themselves actually became Hellions. The events surrounding this unexpected interlude are described in Section 7.0 of the Profile. Approximately ten unnamed Hellions are shown briefly in UXM 282 before they are killed. On several occasions, the White Queen indicated she sought young mutants from around the world, regardless of their power level. It can be inferred that the nameless teenagers seen in this episode represented a combination of newer recruits and less powerful mutants unsuited to combat training. Nothing has been said about these unknown casualties since their death. 4.0 THE WHITE QUEEN Name: Emma Frost First Appearance: UXM 129 Profile: During her involvement with the Hellions, Emma Frost was a member of the Lords Cardinal, the ruling elite of the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle. Each Lord Cardinal is named for a chess piece, hence the name "White Queen." She was the Chairman and Headmistress of the Massachusetts Academy, which was owned by the Hellfire Club. She recruited and trained the Hellions, in much the same fashion that Xavier formed the original X-Men and the New Mutants. Powers: The White Queen is a powerful telepath, exhibiting a remarkable variety of psionic powers similar to those of Professor Xavier. Xavier himself considers Emma to be a telepath of prodigious talent. Her specific powers include the ability to read minds and communicate telepathically, astral projection, painful mind-blasts which can injure or even kill an adversary, the ability to erase a person's memories and to heal mental trauma through "psychic surgery," the power to stimulate or deaden the pain and pleasure centers in a person's brain, to subtly brainwash susceptible minds and persuade them to do her bidding, and to telepathically sedate someone for as long as she continues to exert mental control. Emma has been known to place "psychic inhibitors" in the minds of mutant adversaries to prevent them from using their powers. She recently revealed her ability to rearrange the "mental engrams" of mutants so their distinctive mutant thought patterns cannot be detected by Cerebro-type devises or by other telepaths (UXM 314). The White Queen also uses her powers to create realistic illusions with apparent ease. She uses the latter power to mask her presence from those around her, to alter her appearance, and to cause people to experience events which are not actually occurring. Unlike Xavier, the White Queen has no compunctions about using any of these powers for her personal benefit. Background: The White Queen is a member of a wealthy, aristocratic Boston family, whose roots in this country can be traced back to the American Revolution. The family made its fortune in the New England shipping and merchant trades during the nineteenth century. Despite her family's resources, the White Queen achieved most of her fabulous wealth through her own ambition and skill, employing her telepathic abilities for unfair competitive advantage and personal financial gain. She has frequently boasted of using her powers in this manner. According to OHATMUDE, Emma gained control of a previously existing multi- billion-dollar corporation, which she renamed Frost International upon becoming the majority stockholder. Emma maintains a townhouse in New York, a mansion near the Massachusetts Academy, and various other residences (OHATMUDE). She also owns a fabulous penthouse apartment in San Francisco (shown recently). Emma Frost is presently Chairman of the Board of Frost Enterprises, a large, publicly-traded U.S. corporation. It has been called "one of the hottest stocks on Wall Street" (UXM 314). Note: OHATMUDE refers to the company as "Frost International." Since both companies are described as the ultimate parent company of Emma's operations, it is unlikely that one is a subsidiary of the other. Apparently, Emma decided to change the name to Frost Enterprises at some point. The corporation owns a spectacular high-rise headquarters on New York's upper West Side (first seen in UXM 314). According to OHATMUDE, the firm also owns properties in Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C., and elsewhere around the world. OHATMUDE describes the corporation's core businesses as the manufacture of transportation vehicles (aircraft and ships), transportation services (shipping, passenger airlines, and air freight), and electronics. Emma is also highly skilled in electronics, and has created many sophisticated machines, including a device to enhance psionic powers, used by Mastermind during the Dark Phoenix saga. Personality: Until recently, Emma has been portrayed as a cold, scheming villain who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She never hesitated to use her formidable powers to torture her captives, kill her enemies, or cruelly manipulate anyone who could further her plans in the slightest way. Emma was consistently shown to be driven by greed and a lust for power. The White Queen is supremely confident of her abilities and disdainful of others. Consequently, she tends to underestimate her adversaries and allies alike. As indicated in a backup story (XMC 34, written by Ann Nocenti) the White Queen also uses her sexual appeal as a weapon. She wears sexy, revealing costumes to keep men off-balance. She may be one of the only characters in the X-Universe who routinely buys her combat uniforms at Victoria's Secret (TM). Emma feels tremendous guilt and personal responsibility for the deaths of her students (UXM 314, NM 42). In Emma's view, Xavier's students survived and flourished, while hers were killed. This traumatic realization has led her to join forces with Xavier in training the newest generation of young mutants. Perhaps Emma's most defining personality trait is her desire to be in control--both of herself and her environment. She punishes her underlings harshly because she views their failures as her own (UXM 314). Early History: Emma Frost's first chronological appearance (XMC 7) told the story of her ascension to the position of White Queen, when Sebastian Shaw, Emma, and others used their powers to kill Edward (Ned) Buckman and his associates, wresting control of the Inner Circle from them. The White Queen's first encounter with the X-Men (UXM 129) was precipitated by her attempt to recruit the young Kitty Pryde as a student at the Massachusetts Academy. In subsequent issues (130-131), she captured members of the X-Men and tortured them, but her plans were foiled and the X-Men believed she had been killed by the Phoenix in its Jean Grey incarnation. A second major confrontation (UXM 151-152) also centered around Kitty Pryde. When Kitty's parent's ordered her to leave Xavier's and enroll in the Massachusetts Academy, the White Queen used the opportunity to attack Storm with a "persona exchange gun," transferring her mind into Storm's body and vice versa. While inhabiting Storm's body, she gained Ororo's weather powers, but lost her telepathic powers. Emma then infiltrated the X-Men and helped the Hellfire Club subdue the team. Once again her plans were thwarted, and the two women's minds were restored to their original bodies. Immediately preceding the Hellions' first appearance, the White Queen was felled by a psionic attack from an unknown assailant (UXM 169). The culprit was later (NM 15) revealed as Mastermind, who used his enhanced abilities to confront her with "illusions so terrible... horrors so primal" that her mind retreated into a catatonic state. This episode was resolved off- panel, and the White Queen later remarked that the Mastermind underestimated her courage and determination. In short, she "dragged herself out of that abyss" through her own force of will (NM 15). Mastermind went on to stage an ambitious series of insidious behind-the-scenes attacks on Mystique, Rogue (still a member of the Brotherhood), and various X-Men (UXM 169-175). These subtle machinations caused critical repercussions for the lives of several X-Men, but the Emma Frost incident was little more than a minor plot teaser. However, it is interesting to note that the White Queen was the first enemy Mastermind chose to attack after his return to sanity. A flashback story (XMC 34) explains the intense rivalry and mutual enmity shared by these two members of the Hellfire Club. Emma Frost's recent history is presented in Sections 7.0 and 8.2 of this Profile. Present Status: Together with Banshee, the White Queen serves as co-teacher of Generation X at the Massachusetts Academy. In XF 42, Paige Guthrie describes Emma's status as "more like a Principal." 5.0 PROFILES OF TEAM MEMBERS 5.1 BEEF. Name: unknown. First Appearance: NW 10. Power: Super strength and enhanced stamina. Personality: Not terribly bright. Arrogant and brutish. Beef exhibited the traits typical of a schoolyard bully. The White Queen held him in low regard, calling him "boorish" in his first appearance, and "blundering" in his second. Comments: Beef enjoyed intimidating people weaker than himself, but was unprepared to battle super-powered adversaries. In his first appearance, he was handily defeated by Namorita; in his second appearance, an armored Trevor Fitzroy felled him with a single, vicious blow, causing him to plummet to his death. Present status: deceased. 5.2 BEVATRON. Name: unknown. First Appearance: NW 10. Power: Fired bio-electric bolts. Personality: Appeared to be confident and eager to fight. Although his confrontation with Firestar (NW 10) was his first real combat experience, he enjoyed the exhilaration of battle. Comments: Spoke with a French accent. He was seriously injured in a fall during his first battle (NW 10). He recovered from his injuries, only to be killed later by Trevor Fitzroy. Present status: deceased. 5.3 CATSEYE. Name: Sharon Smith (real name unknown.) First Appearance: NM 16 Power: A lavender-furred were-cat. Strong, fast, agile; enhanced senses, outstanding night vision. According to OHATMUDE, she had the strength of a large tiger when in feline form, and would have become much stronger as she got older. She could also walk up walls, and unlike cats, had a prehensile tail. Background: Raised by a cat, Sharon Smith lived in her cat-form beneath the streets of New York for many years (NM 31). Catseye was unaware she had a human form until the White Queen found her (revealed in letter column, NM 23). According to OHATMU, her powers were obvious at birth, causing her parents to abandon her. Personality: Wild, amoral, playful; more animal than human. Enjoyed hunting; killed for food. The White Queen indicated that Sharon possessed a phenomenally high IQ; Catseye learned to speak and read in less than a year (NM 31). Comments: Catseye preferred to remain in her animal form and she viewed humans as clumsy. According to OHATMUDE, Catseye believed herself to be a cat who can take human shape. When in human form, she retained her tail. She utilized child-like speech patterns because of her unfamiliarity with human language (e.g., she called people "smooth skins; referred to Rahne as her "redfur furfriend;" and called Empath "sneaky badboy.") Catseye was one of the most interesting Hellions, with vast, unexplored potential for character development. Present status: deceased 5.4 EMPATH. Name: Manuel Alfonso Rodrigo de la Rocha (Note: name frequently spelled De La Rocha). First Appearance: NM 16. Power: Empath telepathically senses the emotions of people around him. He also psionically manipulates and controls the emotions of others. His eyes usually glow when he utilizes these powers. In NM 62, Manuel explained to Magma that he is bombarded by the emotions of people around him, and that he must fasten on a single, strong emotion to protect himself from being overwhelmed. Background: Born in Castile, Spain; his parents were impoverished members of Spanish nobility who could trace their roots back to the days of Imperial Rome (OHATMUDE). Empath has brown hair and black eyes. Personality: Aristocratic, superior, and proud. Originally, Empath was sadistic and brutal, taking great pleasure in the pain he caused others. He treated his victims as playthings rather than persons. He blithely endangered the lives of his teammates without remorse. In a somewhat melodramatic diary notation, Professor Xavier suggests Empath may be the most evil person he has ever met (NM 31). From the beginning, Empath challenged the White Queen, until she decided to slap him down. As he began to fall in love with Magma, Empath's personality slowly changed. Although he has tried to rationalize his past behavior to Magma and himself, it is also clear that he enjoyed manipulating others. Empath eventually found happiness in his relationship with Magma, and solace in the secluded world of Nova Roma. This environment meant so much to him that he used his powers to convince the populace that all was well in Nova Roma, even after Selene's spell wore off. When Magma broke off their relationship (XF 34), Empath became bitter once more, saying "Magma was my last hope for redemption." Comments: The White Queen viewed Empath as a kindred spirit, and planned to make him her special protege. Empath once fought Professor Xavier (UXM 193); although Xavier's powers were extremely weakened at the time, Empath still lost. In a similar encounter, the White Queen easily resisted his telepathic assault (NM 26). On the other hand, his power can be formidable. His assault on Magneto had a devastating effect, despite the fact that Magneto has been shown to possess impressive psionic defenses. In NW 31, Firestar used her microwave radiation to render herself immune to Empath's manipulations; in UXM 193, however, Empath clearly manipulated Firestar with his powers. After recovering from Empath's control, his victims are often left with strong feelings of disgust. When Empath exerts control, the process is clearly unpleasant. The White Queen was training him to apply subtler telepathic influence, so that his manipulation would be virtually imperceptible to the victim. OHATMUDE indicates that Empath arranged for Sunspot and Magma to be kidnaped by the Gladiators. Nothing in the story (NM 29-31) suggests that this is the case; in fact, the plot implies that the kidnapping was the Shadow King's idea. Present status: Last seen trudging across the Swiss Alps (XF 34), following the "Child's Play" cross-over. 5.5 FIRESTAR. Name: Angelica Jones. First Appearance: UXM 193 (Note: Firestar first appeared in the television cartoon "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" in 1985). It appears that Marvel intended her comic book debut to be the Firestar Limited Series, scheduled for release in the spring of 1985. For some reason, the Limited Series was delayed by nearly one year, which caused a minor continuity problem in the x- titles. Power: Firestar generates microwave energy, which she can use to fire devastating blasts and generate intense heat. She flies by riding on microwave-generated air currents. Background: Angelica's mother died when she was young. She was raised by her father (Bartholomew) and his mother, who Angelica called Nana. The family moved frequently due to Bart's job, so Angelica was lonely and unsure of herself. Her beloved grandmother died on the same day that Angelica's mutant powers manifested themselves, although the timing of the two events was coincidental. Personality: As a young girl, Firestar was naive, trusting, and eager for friendship. She has since grown to be a strong-willed young woman with fewer self-doubts. Comments: Angelica was 13 when recruited by Emma Frost. She spent over a year in the White Queen's tutelage. According to Tom Brevoort, editor of the New Warriors, she is now 16 years old. Present status: founding member of New Warriors. 5.6 JETSTREAM. Name: Haroun ibn Sallah al-Rashid. (Marvel seemed to have trouble with this name. In his first appearance, Jetstream's name is given as Hamahl al-Rahman. His actual full name is first mentioned in NM 39, but is spelled incorrectly as Haroum. OHATMUDE lists it as Haroun.) Unlike the other Hellions, his teammates almost always called him by his codename. First Appearance: NM 16. Power: Jetstream generated a powerful rocket blast, enabling him to fly at speeds approaching Mach 1. This blast could only be generated downward, in the direction of his feet. His power was similar to Cannonball's, with three notable exceptions: Jetstream was not as fast as Cannonball; he was more maneuverable than Cannonball; and he lacked Cannonball's protective blast field. Background: Jetstream spoke Arabic and English, but his specific nationality was never revealed in a comic book appearance. OHATMUDE lists his birthplace as the Rif Mountains of Morocco, and describes him as a Berber Moor. Personality: Jetstream was headstrong, combative, serious, and proud, but he was also condescending to friends and foes alike. Like Thunderbird II, he was one of the more honorable Hellions. Comments: In addition to being a mutant, Jetstream was a cyborg (NM 17). When his powers first manifested, Jetstream enjoyed flying, but shortly thereafter, his body was badly burned by the blast force. The circumstances surrounding this traumatic event were never shown or recounted in a comic book appearance. According to OHATMU, Jetstream was given bionic legs and other body parts by the Hellfire Club; in gratitude, he agreed to serve the group. The Hellfire Club also provided Jetstream with electronic guidance and surveillance components which helped stabilize and control his flight. The largest components, located on his back and upper legs, also may have redirected the force of his blast to protect his body, though their exact purpose was never explained. The bionic backpack could be folded and concealed inside his cyborg body (OHATMUDE). Present status: deceased. 5.7 MAGMA. Name: Allison Crestmere (During her membership with the NM and Hellions, Magma believed her name to be Amara Juliana Olivians Aquilla.) First Appearance: NM 8 (briefly); NM 10 (as Magma). Power: Control over the earth's molten core. When using her powers to the fullest, Magma converts into a being of molten lava. She can generate intense heat, then cool it instantaneously. She shoots powerful lava blasts. Magma can also cause earthquakes and create massive upheavals of rock. Background: The New Mutants met Magma when they discovered Nova Roma, a fabulous city in the heart of the Brazilian rain forest. The city appeared to have been built by ancient Romans (who traveled to the new world centuries ago) in partnership with the native Incans. Magma believed her father to be Lucius Antonius Aquilla, the First Senator of Nova Roma. Aquilla's wife, whom Amara believed to be her mother, was murdered by Selene. It was later revealed that the city was a centuries-old hoax perpetrated by Selene, and that Magma was the kidnapped daughter of a British diplomat (NW 31). Magma continued to live with Empath in the Brazilian jungle, at the Nova Roma Resettlement Camp, until the events of the "Child's Play" cross-over. Personality: Magma is extremely formal in her personal relationships, and her manner borders on aloofness. She conducts herself with a regal bearing, but she is quite self-sufficient, strong-willed, and possesses high intelligence. She occasionally let her hair down with other members of the New Mutants, but she was never entirely comfortable at Xavier's School. Magma resented the fact that Empath concealed the true story of Selene's trickery. As a result, she felt their entire relationship was a lie, and that she could not trust him to stop manipulating her emotions. She then broke off their relationship. Comments: Magma resided at the Massachusetts Academy as a Hellion for a brief period only. She then returned to Nova Roma. Because of her upbringing, Magma has a strong religious belief in the gods of Mount Olympus. Present status: Following the events of the "Child's Play" cross- over, Magma decided, "Nothing more can be done for me in the resettlement camp." (XF 34). She then announced she would travel to England to seek her real parents. Nothing has been seen of her since. 5.8 ROULETTE. Name: Jennifer "Jenny" Stavros. First Appearance: NM 16 Power: Threw luck-changing light-disks, causing good or bad luck to befall her target. Black disks caused bad luck, white disks caused good. In NM 16 the disks are called "Wheels of Fortune," but this was the only time that designation was used. Background: Several issues of the New Mutants implied that Roulette's father is a professional gambler or casino employee. According to OHATMUDE, he is a casino dealer. He came to America as a young man, and Jenny was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She was the youngest of six children. As she grew older, she began to run with street gangs in the Atlantic City area. It was at this point she was recruited by Emma Frost (OHATMUDE). Jenny had blonde hair and fair skin. Personality: Jenny was generally portrayed as flirtatious, but with an "in your face" attitude. Although she often displayed a jocular nature, she was also quite malicious. She enjoyed hurting people because it was "fun." She and Empath often instigated one another to stir up trouble on the team. Present status: deceased 5.9 TAROT. Name: Marie-Ange Colbert First Appearance: NM 16. Power: Turned two-dimensional pictures into living three- dimensional beings which she could control mentally. It was implied that this ability is magical in nature. Tarot always carried a deck of tarot cards, and it was these images she animated with her powers. Tarot also used the cards to predict the future with remarkable accuracy, though it is unclear whether this was part of her mutant abilities. Background: Little is known. Tarot spoke with a French accent, but her birthplace was never specified in comic book appearances. OHATMU indicated her birthplace as Lyons, France. Personality: With the exception of her involvement with Empath, Tarot was seldom shown interacting with her teammates. She tended to be taciturn and reserved. She was also completely dependent upon her tarot cards, and seldom made a move without consulting them. Comments: Tarot was strongly attracted to Empath, but it is impossible to tell how much of this was due to Empath's manipulation. She taunted him routinely, but meekly submitted to his attempts at mind control, despite his cruel and casual treatment of her. Tarot was the only team member who did not object to Empath's hurtful assaults. In contrast, the other Hellions despised Empath for his actions and were angered by them. When Empath's true feelings for Magma became obvious, Tarot was intensely jealous. Tarot was usually shown with dark red hair, but in the Firestar Limited Series she was drawn with black hair, presumably to avoid confusion with the lead character. Present status: deceased. 5.10 THUNDERBIRD II (later known as WARPATH). Name: James Proudstar First Appearance: NM 16 Power: Speed, strength, agility, enhanced eyesight. OHATMUDE cites James's strength level at 2 tons, but in an early X-Force, Cable indicates the young man is getting considerably stronger as he grows older. Background: James is an Apache Indian, raised on the (fictitious) Camp Verde Reservation in Arizona. He is the younger brother of the original Thunderbird (John Proudstar), who was killed in battle as a member of the X-Men (UXM 95). OHATMU lists his parents (now deceased) as Neal and Maria. James chose the name Thunderbird to honor his brother's memory, and probably as a reminder of his quest for revenge. Personality: James is proud and quick to anger. He is a natural leader with a noble bearing, close ties to his tribal roots, and a strong sense of right and wrong. Thunderbird II was by far the most mature of the young Hellions. Despite his headstrong attitude, James is still confused about what to do with his life. Comments: In a memorable flashback story (XMC 4), the young James is shown at the grave of his brother, swearing vengeance against the X-Men, who he blamed for John's death. The White Queen later indicated that she used her telepathic powers to fan his hatred and recruit him to the team (FLS 3). Following the events in UXM 193, James remained with the Hellions for a brief time largely because he was confused and at loose ends. Thunderbird II was the field leader of the Hellions (NM 39). The name "Warpath" was first used in X-Force 1. His current age, 19, was revealed in XF 42. Present status: member of X-Force 6.0 THE MASSACHUSETTS ACADEMY. The headquarters and home for the Hellions was the Massachusetts Academy, a prestigious private high school in Snow Valley, Massachusetts. The Academy was founded in 1700 as a private boarding school (OHATMUDE and GXCP), and it gradually became one of the premiere college preparatory schools in the nation. The students, all of whom were the children of rich or prominent families, were groomed to become the country's future leaders. The Academy was a coeducational institution serving grades 7 through 12. In recent years, the Academy had been acquired by the Hellfire Club, and Emma Frost was installed as both Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Headmistress. (Emma herself often used the traditional title of "Headmaster.") Emma spent a surprising amount of time at the school despite her other corporate and financial obligations, and she maintained a large residence nearby (OHATMUDE). The school was operated by subordinates in her absence. At the time of the Hellions' attendance, total enrollment at the school hovered around 1,000. Only a handful of these students were mutants. Indeed, the regular students had no idea the Hellions existed. It is unclear whether members of the Hellions attended classes with the regular students or whether they received private tutoring. However, the Hellions have been shown in the halls of the classroom buildings, as well as attending the Academy's social functions, so it can be assumed they attended at least some regular classes. The facilities of the Academy are extensive, consisting of seventeen buildings. A detailed map in OHATMUDE shows 2 faculty residence halls, 2 student dormitories, a main administration building, 3 classroom buildings, a gymnasium, a library, and several service buildings, including a student lounge, a cafeteria, a chapel, and a riding stable. The administration building is said to dominate the entire valley (GXCP). The Hellions' training area was located in secret underground facilities, accessed through the Academy's administration building. The area was guarded and operated by uniformed mercenaries of the Hellfire Club. Located in the facility were the Combat Room and the White Queen's mutant detection equipment. The Combat Room was a less-sophisticated counterpart to Xavier's Danger Room. The mutant detection equipment was called Cyberiad (NM 43) but has also been called Mutivac (FLS 1). Much of the technology used in the Combat Room and in Cyberiad had been stolen from the X-Men themselves, prior to the days of Shi'ar technology. When Warhawk was hired to attack Xavier's School (UXM 110), his primary mission was to plant surveillance equipment for the Hellfire Club (though this fact was not made clear to readers at the time). Emma Frost arranged to transfer stewardship of the Academy to Charles Xavier in the event of her own death or incapacitation. After she lapsed into a long-term coma (following the attack by Trevor Fitzroy and the Sentinels), Xavier did indeed assume control of the property. Details about this transaction are sketchy, but since the Hellfire Club was the owner of the Academy, and Emma was the last surviving Lord Cardinal of the Club, it is quite possible that she made these arrangements. The Massachusetts Academy is no longer used primarily as a private high-school, but as the headquarters of a new mutant team called Generation X. With the exception of this mutant band, no students appear to be enrolled at the Academy at this time. The existence of the Massachusetts Academy was first revealed in UXM 129, though not by name. The first appearance of the school (and the first mention of its actual name) took place in UXM 151. The first appearance of the Combat Room was in NM 17. 7.0 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HELLIONS The New Mutants, in an attempt to rescue Doug and Kitty from the White Queen, battle the Hellions for the first time (NM 15-17). Angelica Jones, age 13, discovers her mutant power and is recruited by the Massachusetts Academy before Xavier can contact her (FLS 1-2). Thunderbird II, with the unwanted assistance of Empath, Roulette, and Firestar, attempts to exact his revenge against Xavier and the X-Men (UXM 193). The White Queen punishes Empath for interfering with her indoctrination of Firestar (NM 62). Firestar breaks free of the White Queen's control, destroys the Hellions' underground headquarters, and quits the team (FLS 3-4). The New Mutants are severely traumatized from their recent encounters with the Beyonder. A demoralized Magneto transfers his students to the Massachusetts Academy, where they join the Hellions. In an uncharacteristic act of altruism, the White Queen works with Magneto to heal the New Mutants' deep psychic injuries, and the team returns to Xavier's School (NM 38-40). The New Mutants retaliate against Empath for his recent brutal treatment of their friends Sharon Friedlander and Tom Corsi (NM 43). The Hellions and New Mutants engage in a series of friendly competitions involving Viper and the Silver Samurai (NM 53-54) and a mutated bird creature called Birdbrain (NM 56). Magma, who feels increasingly isolated at Xavier's School, and who is gradually falling in love with Empath, decides to enroll in the Massachusetts Academy (NM 57). Magma and Empath, flying to Nova Roma to visit her father, crash in the jungle and struggle to survive (NM 62). Magma is later kidnapped from Nova Roma by the High Evolutionary's minions, then rescued by the New Mutants (NM Annual 4). Thunderbird II quits the Hellions to return to the Camp Verde Reservation. When Cable tries to recruit him for a new team, James declines the offer, saying, "I've gotten a *lot* of pressure from the Academy to return--almost bordering on *threats*--but I'm going home." Upon his arrival, he is horrified to discover the entire Reservation has been wiped out. Clues point to the Hellfire Club. Thunderbird II then joins Cable and the New Mutants to seek revenge against the Hellfire Club (NM 99). The Hellions, with new members Beef and Bevatron, attack the New Warriors in retaliation for Night Thrasher's infiltration of the White Queen's computer system, and to punish Firestar's defection. After the battle, the White Queen agrees never to bother Firestar again (NW 10). The White Queen solicits help from the X-Men against a brutal, unknown enemy. Trevor Fitzroy and his Sentinels attack the combined forces of the X-Men and Hellions. Jetstream and Beef are killed immediately, the White Queen and Jean Grey appear to die, and the remaining Hellions are captured (UXM 281). Fitzroy massacres the rest of the Hellions. Jean Grey, who has transferred her consciousness into the brain-dead body of the White Queen, is rescued by the X-Men (UXM 282). Firestar, Warpath, and Cannonball travel to Nova Roma to tell Empath and Magma about their teammates' death. The secrets of Nova Roma and Magma's true identity are revealed (NW 31). Emma awakens from her coma, but her consciousness is in Iceman's body. Fleeing Xavier's, her first thoughts are to find the Hellions. This issue reveals a great deal about Emma's motivations and methods of operation. She almost admits to herself that she formed the Hellions for her personal protection, and to do her dirty work. She dismisses this thought and decides she did everything for the children;s sakes. When she breaks into the headquarters of Frost Enterprises, she finally learns that the Hellions are dead. The news devastates her to the point of asking the security guards to kill her, but Xavier intervenes (UXM 314). 8.0 THE AFTERMATH 8.1 THE HELLIONS The deaths of the Hellions in UXM 281-282 were handled in a clumsy and confusing manner. With the exception of Jetstream, Beef, and Tarot, the murdered team members were unnamed, making it unclear to readers whether anyone survived. To complicate matters, Tarot appeared to die in UXM 281, but apparently survived to be killed again in the next issue. In addition, approximately 10 never-before-seen, unnamed Hellions also died in the attack. As if these blunders weren't sufficient, Empath was clearly shown throughout UXM 281 and is presumed to have died in the next issue. Actually, he was in Nova Roma the entire time. It wasn't until NW 31 that the fates of the team members were clearly stated. The only surviving members of the Hellions are Empath, Magma, Warpath (Thunderbird II), and Firestar. During the Child's Play" cross-over, members of the Upstarts attempted to capture the surviving members of the Hellions in another of the Gamesmaster's contests (XF 32-33 and NW 45-46). After the Upstarts were defeated, Magma broke up with Empath and the two went separate ways. Nothing has been seen of Magma or Empath since the aftermath of the "Child's Play" cross-over. Emma has not attempted to contact Empath since she has recovered from her coma. Firestar is currently a member of the New Warriors, while Warpath is an active member of X-Force. Warpath recently visited Emma Frost to discuss the Hellfire Club's role in the massacre at the Camp Verde Reservation (XF 42). He accepts Emma's explanation that the Hellfire Club had nothing to do with the attack. It was then revealed that Emma encouraged James to leave the Hellions and return to the Reservation in the first place, because he no longer fit in following his confrontation with Professor Xavier. Emma explained, "You came to us because you wanted to become more like your brother--and then you learned that was no longer what you wanted out of life." The story implied that Warpath chose to suppress Emma's true role because he found it easier to blame her for what happened. (This helps explain Warpath's earlier remarks about threats from the Academy in NM 99.) 8.2 THE WHITE QUEEN Xavier transferred Jean Grey's mind from Emma Frost's shell, back to Jean's cryogenically preserved body; Emma remained in a coma, believed brain-dead (UXM 283). Small clues presented in UXM 283-284 indicated that Emma's consciousness did survive, buried so deep within her that even Xavier could not detect it. In subsequent issues, an accidental power surge reawakened Emma's consciousness and transferred it temporarily to Iceman's body (UXM 311 and 313). When the White Queen realized the Hellions had been killed, and that she bore a large measure of responsibility for their fate, Emma began to confront her private demons (UXM 314). The process ultimately led to her present role as co-teacher of Generation X. 9.0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Martin Louis Blase (Blaze) m-blase@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu Lindsey Lee Bullard gcwh@wpi.edu Kevin Chang chang@minerva.cis.yale.edu Addison Godel (desperado) addison.godel@tag.org David R. Henry (drh) dhenry@plains.nodak.edu Dwayne MacKinnon (DMK) 910252m@dragon.acadiau.ca Jeff L. jsl4783@tntech.edu Steve Wells wells_s@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz David Zeiger dzeiger@netcom.com Legal Notice: The names of all characters, teams, and devices described in this Profile are trademarks of Marvel Comics.