Onslaught
In the Marvel Comics fictional universe, Onslaught was a supervillain who appeared in the X-Men comics in the 1990s. He was responsible for the Onslaught Saga crossover, which began in Onslaught: X-Men and ended in Onslaught: Marvel Universe and led directly into the Heroes Reborn event.
The nature of Onslaught's powers was at first unclear, but he managed to defeat or intimidate the most powerful figures in the X-Men books, including Juggernaut. The X-Men fought an inconclusive battle with his "herald", Post. After this, it became clearer that his powers were mental in nature, and Onslaught proposed a psychic "marriage" to Jean Grey, who turned him down.
Onslaught was ultimately revealed to be Professor X's repressed subconscious under the influence of the darker aspects of Magneto's mind, which he had directly contacted and "shut off" the last time the X-Men fought Magneto.
It took the combined powers of the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, The Incredible Hulk and Doctor Doom to defeat Onslaught, but all of the non-mutant heroes present were apparently killed in the process, save for the Hulk, who was somehow split physically between Bruce Banner and the Hulk, with Banner apparently dying alongside the heroes. It was later revealed that Franklin Richards had placed those who had "died" in a pocket universe, from which they eventually returned.
Comic Information
First Appearance: X-Man #15
Last Appearance: Onslaught: Marvel Universe
Aliases: Charles Xavier, Magneto, That Which Shall Survive
Powers and Abilities
Onslaught has shown a wide variety of abilities including super strength, energy projection, the ability to stun any desired team when combat begins, and mental manipulation. Though unrevealed, his source of power is probably telepathic in nature.
Creation of Character
Onslaught was created in X-Men #25, with his origins beginning in Uncanny X-Men #322. During the Fatal Attractions story arc, Magneto ripped the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton, causing Professor X to shut down his mind. During this exchange, a portion of Magneto was transferred into Professor X, which lingered in him and caused his deepest and darkest supressed thoughts to be released.
Character History
After manifesting into a physical being, Onslaught set out to acquire the means to his plans. He first acquired X-Man from Mr. Sinister, who had earlier stolen him from the protection of the X-Force. Onslaught then gained control of Franklin Richards, the reality-changing son of Fantastic Four members Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. He went on to create his citadel in New York City from where he imprisoned X-Man and Franklin to harness their immense powers. He ultimately shed his armor to become a being of pure psionic energy. Only after numerous Marvel heroes sacrificed their lives was Onslaught able to be defeated, and his ultimate destruction led to the creation of an alternate Heroes Reborn universe.
Comic Appearances
The Onslaught story arc took place over numerous Marvel issues and also is available in a 6 volume trade paperback.
- Uncanny X-Men #322
- X-Men Special Issue: The Road to Onslaught
- X-Men #53
- Uncanny X-Men #334
- X-Men #54
- Cable #34
- Avengers #401
- Fantastic Four #415
- X-Man #18
- X-Men #55
- Uncanny X-Men #335
- Fantastic Four #416
- Uncanny X-Men #336
- Cable #35
- X-Man #19
- X-Men #56
- Excalibur #100
- Generation X #18
- Incredible Hulk #444
- Wolverine #104
- X-Factor #125
- X-Force #57
- Amazing Spider-Man #415
- Avengers #402
- Green Goblin #12
- X-Men Unlimited #12
- Incredible Hulk #445
- Iron-Man #332
- Punisher #11
- Spider-Man #72
- Wolverine #105
- X-Factor #126
- X-Force #58
- Onslaught Marvel Universe Special
- Uncanny X-Men #337
- X-Men #57
- Onslaught Epilogue- The Path to Redemption
- Excalibur #101
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