Publisher Marvel Comics Species Human-Sentinel hybrid First appearance New X-Men #128 (2002) Affiliation Weapon Plus | Alter ego Zona Cluster-6 Notable aliases Weapon XII Fictional universe Marvel Universe | |
Created by Grant Morrison
Igor Kordey Team affiliations Weapon Plus Program
Super-Sentinels Creators Grant Morrison, Igor Kordej Similar Ultimaton, Washout, Malcolm Colcord, Shiva, Brent Jackson | ||
Huntsman, also known as Weapon XII, is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of the X-Men. Huntsman first appeared in New X-Men #128 (August, 2002) and was created by Grant Morrison and Igor Kordey.
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Fictional character biography
Huntsman belongs to the latest generation of living weapons created by Weapon Plus Program, and was designated Weapon XII. Like Fantomex (Weapon XIII) he was born and was artificially "evolved" in The World, a man-made environment designed to create super-soldiers using Sentinel technology. He was intended to be one of the Super-Sentinels, a team of mutant hunters conceived by John Sublime as a publicity stunt to make the extermination of mutants acceptable to the public.
Huntsman, alongside Fantomex were transported from England to France via the Euro Tunnel, however, a fake train wreck set up by Weapon Plus itself released both Fantomex and Huntsman from their containment capsules, while also trapping 120 passengers, 30 asylum-seekers and numerous animals within the Tunnel. Members of X-Corporation Paris were dispatched to deal with the accident.
While Darkstar, Siryn, Multiple Man, M, Rictor and Cannonball were overwhelmed fighting Huntsman's possessed victims, Phoenix and Professor X were recruited by Fantomex in exchange for information on Weapon Plus.
Professor X and Phoenix arrive to find the X-Corp members nearly defeated, with Siryn injured and Rictor, immune to Huntsman's infection, saved by Madrox. Phoenix's telekinetic powers were useless against Huntsman's. Professor X takes over the mind of Madrox in order to create an army of mind-controlled duplicates to counter Huntsman's own army. Meanwhile, Fantomex shoots his way through Huntsman's victims, including Darkstar herself, in order to reach the train that contained Huntsman's kill switch. Fantomex activates the kill switch, killing not only Huntsman but also all those whose minds were infected.
When the military arrived, they eliminated all evidence of an anti-mutant conspiracy.
Powers and abilities
Huntsman possessed a mind that spread through skin contact, placing those he touched under his control, presumably by spreading nanites through his clawed fingers. He also possessed a coral-shaped exposed glowing brain, presumably the source of his powers. The process used to breed Huntsman also endowed him with massive musculature and immunity to telekinetic powers.