Plague (comics)
| Plague | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Uncanny X-Men #169 (May 1983) |
| Created by |
Chris Claremont Paul Smith |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations |
Horsemen of Apocalypse Morlocks |
| Notable aliases | Pestilence |
| Abilities | adapt to and absorb any disease, then spread it through touch |
Plague was a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She was originally a member of the Morlocks before joining the Horsemen of Apocalypse.
Publication history
Plague first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #169-170 (May-June 1983), and was created by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith.
The character subsequently appears as Pestilence in X-Factor #10 (November 1986), #15 (April 1987), #17 (June 1987), #19 (August 1987), #22-25 (November 1987-February 1988), Power Pack (February 1988), and Daredevil #252 (March 1988.
Plague appeared as part of the "Morlocks" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #9.
Fictional character biography
Plague is an old woman that was a member of a large community of mutants who felt they were outcasts who live in the underground tunnels beneath New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut known as the Morlocks.
Plague was present during the Morlock massacre by the Marauders and was terrorized by Sabretooth, who was unaware of her abilities and left weakened and might have died if not for his healing factor. Apocalypse arrived and saved Plague from the massacre, stating that he had plans for her to serve him as the Horseman Pestilence.[1]
After being transformed into Pestilence, Plague, War, and Famine battled X-Factor in Central Park and were defeated by Iceman, but not before they killed countless humans.[1] After the fourth Horseman, Death, was revealed, Apocalypse had the Horsemen battle each other, to find the leader and Death beat them all.
After Apocalypse teleported X-Factor on his Celestial Ship, they battled the Horsemen again and, after their defeat, the Horsemen were sent into Manhattan to incite chaos. X-Factor and the Power Pack battled the Horsemen and Lightspeed knocked Pestilence off her flying steed, whereupon she fell to her death.[2]
Powers and abilities
Plague's immune system made her essentially immune to all known diseases. However, she could be exposed to a disease, alter it to be more lethal, and then spread it by touch. Her power was augmented by Apocalypse to an unknown degree.
As Pestilence, she also utilized an electric flying robotic steed constructed by Apocalypse's Ship.
In other media
Television
- Plague first makes a cameo in the X-Men episode "Captive Hearts", voiced by Judy Marshak. She appears as one of the Morlocks fighting the X-Men and incapacitating Gambit. She returns in the episode "Come the Apocalypse" wanting a cure and is eventually transformed into the Horseman Pestilence.