 |
|
Treme, or THE X-Treme) really is, and how exactly he is related to the X-Men. Like most heroes, he is someone who doesn't seem to recall his own past, and is in search of his destiny. In this FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) file, I am going to make an attempt at clearing some things up about this extremely (no pun intended) cool character that we have come to know as Adam-X, and who he is, and what makes him tick (or ticks him off). I'd like to note here... it says X-Treme was created by Fabian Nicieza, with Greg Capullo and Jeff Johnson - so a special thanks to them for an awesome character! As I said, there is a lot of speculation surrounding Adam-X, so let's begin this FAQ shall we, so we can clear this up - maybe you will agree with what I have to say - maybe you will come up with your own speculation after this is all done and through. Let us find out... |
 |
|
Table Of Contents: Part One: The First Appearance of Adam-X: X-Force Annual #2 Part Two: Sparring Partners Unwillingly: X-Force #29 & X-Force #30 Part Three: Family Connections? X-Men #39, Captain Marvel #2, Captain Marvel #3 Part Four: Speculation Part Five: List Of Appearances Part Six: A Word From Fabian Part Seven (Added): Seeking His Past: X-Men #38 Part Eight (Added): X-Treme Gallery: A collection of X-Treme pictures. |
 |
|
Q1.) What is Adam-X's first appearance? A1.) X-Force Annual #2. Q2.) Is the story worth ripping open the bag to read? A2.) Yes. VERY much so! Not only do you get a good story, with a new and interesting character, you also get a cool promo card featuring the new character (Adam-X, in this case). Q3.) Is the X-Force Annual #2 worth much? A3.) Thankfully - or regretfully - depending on your view, it is not worth much, just like most annuals. Q4.) Who is Adam-X hunting in the beginning of X-Force Annual #2? A4.) Her name is/was Michelle Balters, a mutant who lives/lived in Denver, but was tracked down to Phoenix, Arizona by Adam-X when she tried to escape from the one known as Strong. Q5.) Is Adam-X a mutant? A5.) Yes. He mentions to Michelle that they are both mutants. Q6.) So what are Adam-X's powers? A6.) Well, he has super human agility, as well as the mutant ability to "ignite" a person's blood cells. The effect, as called by Michelle, is "Flash." At his command, he can "ignite" a person's blood cells to the point of either stunning them, or rendering them completely unconscious (as seen in X-Force Annual #2, with the members of X-Force). When "Flashed" - after oxygenating the blood, Adam-X then ignites a person's electrolytes in the person's blood supply. |
 |
|
Q7.) Could he kill someone - has he killed someone - with these powers? A7.) Well, recently, he did (apparently) kill Eric The Red. Undoubtedly, he is quite capiable of killing someone with his powers, since after oxygenating someone's blood, he can "Flash" them so much, that it can reach the point where the person's heart would literally - as digusting as it might be to imagine - explode within their body... Q8.) So how agile is this Adam-X fella? A8.) In the words of X-Force Annual #2:
"The mutant group (X-Force) moves into action...
using each member's unique gift to take down the
mysterious X-Treme... Shatterstar's agile leap
(using his sword)... Boomer's plasma bursts... Rictor's
vibratory quake emissions... but each of them sees
only a blur of motion in front of them and each
of them takes their shot... each one of them misses!"
And to top that off, hanging upside down, Adam-X adds:
"By the way, if you all take the time to check over your
arms and legs... you'll notice a bunch of nicks and cuts...
which I apologize for having caused... but you see, because
in order to use my mutant power, I have to oxygenate your
blood... having done that, then I can do ... THIS!"
And in one foul swoop the ENTIRE team of X-Force was out!
|
|
|
Q9.) So how come he's called X-Treme? A9.) I think Michelle best answered that when Cable asked who he was:
"The only names he has were given to him. Adam-X -- and when
he gets going - we call him X-Treme... cause that's what he
becomes... extremely angry... extremely powerful... extremely
dangerous..."
Q10.) Are there other powers that Adam-X has? He's sounding pretty cool! A10.) Yes there is another power mentioned. In X-Force Annual #2 (I told you it was worth getting and reading), Adam-X stands on his ship and peers into the Grand Canyon, and here's what it says:
"...X-Treme is on the hunt... and that means scanning for a
target almost a mile away... and spotting it with such clarity
of vision..."
So it seems our fellow mutant has uncanny sight ability as well.
Q11.) What exactly is his origin? A11.) Well, at this point, let's not get too into that... more on that a little bit later, after we find out some "ground" rules about Adam-X. However, he does drop one big hint in X-Force Annual #2, and says:
"Well then, Shatterstar, you'll be QUITE happy to learn
that I am NOT from this planet [Earth]!!"
|
|
|
Q12.) Interesting stuff here! I didn't know he was this cool! Who did/was Adam-X working for? He was obviously hunting down Michelle for some reason! A12.) Well, apparently Adam-X was working for someone named Strong (nice name, huh?). Q13.) Why would he work for someone if he said he didn't enjoy doing what he was doing in the first place? A13.) Apparently this person named Strong (who I believed was Eric The Red), promised to tell Adam-X of his past, which he knew nothing of. Adam-X hints that if he doesn't learn about his past, he will then turn out to be what he was "trained and bred for" - which turns out, according to him to be, the responsibility of killing every single mutant on the entire planet! Q14.) Who/where is Strong located? A14.) Strong Industries was a plant, just outside the city limits of Denver, where several mutants were brought to, and actually (supposedly) taken good care of. It was there Adam-X met Michelle. Q15.) So what was this Martin Strong's motive in all this? A15.) Martin Strong had the hidden agenda that he and a select group of scientists were working on a way to permenately eliminate the "X" gene that caused mutations (in which case, would ensure that no one else ever became a mutant again). Q16.) Who was Martin Henry Strong associated with? A16.) Martin Strong had government funding, and worked closely with Project: Wideawake (which dealt with the mutant hunting robots known as Sentinels). |
|
|
Q17.) Is Martin Henry Strong a mutant? A17.) His last name implies his mutant ability to a degree. It appears that Martin Strong is nigh-invulenerable, brushing off everything from Syrin's sonic scream to Cannonball's FULL blast. Not to mention, Feral detects two heart beats in his chest - and after slashing him open, he begins nearly immediately healing himself. Q18.) So what was Michelle's mutant name? A18.) Martin referred to her as "Nuerotap." (She had the mutant ability to look into someone's eyes and route an energy pulse through their optic nerves and through their entire nervous system). Q19.) Does Adam-X have a limit to how many he can "Flash"? A19.) Well, he has been seen in several panels "Flashing" up to five or more people at once, and not even showing the slightest bit of fatigue. Q20.) NOW can we learn where Adam-X is from? A20.) Okay, okay. Adam-X drops another hint when he fights along X-Force against Martin Strong, and says: {Flipping through the air}: "I have to tell you folks... from what you've shown me so far, you wouldn't have survived one day fighting in my world... Ch'ylaritha!" Q21.) So how does X-Force Annual #2 end? A21.) Let's just say that by now, you must realize you should go out and buy it and find out for yourself! It's an excellent issue, introducing an interesting character that has a ton of potential - more potential than any of us could have thought possible... |
 |
|
Q22.) So what's his next appearance? A22.) That would be X-Force #29. However, that is at the end of the book, so I guess technically, it's only a "cameo" appearance. Q23.) Okay, if that was a "cameo" then when was his next _full_ appearance? A23.) Didn't you read the beginning of the FAQ? Obviously, X-Force #30. :) Q24.) So what do we find out about Adam-X, or shall I call him X-Treme? A24.) Call him what you want - as long as it doesn't upset him. In X-Force number 30, right on the first page it states: "... Adam-X, the X-Treme. He does not know much about his past, only that he was raised on another planet. But knew, in his heart, that Earth was, in almost every sense, his home..." Q25.) Another planet, huh? That's pretty interesting. Any ideas? A25.) Yes. One main idea. That he is from the Shi'ar. He uses the phrase, "By the talons of T'thyees'sha." The use of the " ' " mark in names and language is _very_ common among the Shi'ar. Also when he scratches Shatterstar, he refers to his "spikes" as the "Thet'je Spikes" again using the " ' " in the name. |
 |
|
Q26.) So what else does this issue show? A26.) Aside from some great fight scenes, when X-Treme and Shatterstar turn the odds against Arcade in Murderworld, Arcade says:
"Call Mr. Milbury, tell him I'll be returning his
cash deposit to his numbered account in Zurich..."
And goes on to say that Major Domo had hired him to be rid of Shatterstar. This leaves obviously leaves it that this Mr. Milbury is the one that hired Arcade to get X-Treme. Now, as many may or may not know, Mr. Milbury is another name for the infamous Mr. Sinister. Q27.) So how does it end? A27.) Don't want to ruin it for you, but X-Treme gets the paper that explains that Mr. Mulbury had been the one that hired Arcade. He takes the paper and begins his quest for his past, hoping to find this mystery person.... |
 |
|
Q28.) So how does this begin? A28.) With the crash of Phillip Summers, Scott and Alex Summer's grand father. X-Treme's speed, endurance and agility are all taken into some serious consideration here... Waist deep in show, it still states here:
"Within minutes he [X-Treme] has covered six miles between
Highway 4 and the downed plane. If the knee-high snow or the
thick trees of the Canadian Yukon wilderness pose a problem,
he doesn't pay them much attention..."
Q29.) So, you think he's part Shi'ar, eh? Does this issue have any further proof of that? A29.) Glad you asked. Yes it does. During a time where X-Treme is carrying Phillip Summers, and the plane explodes, sending them tumbling off a small ledge, it reads:
"If his people, long ago, lost the ability to fly, he is
glad that, at the very least, they can still land with the
best of them."
Q30.) Wow. Sounds like he could be part Shi'ar. Anything else at all interesting in this story? A30.) Why yes. While Phillip Summers is talking about how he had a grey spell and blacked out, he looks at Adam and tells him he looks familiar. |
 |
|
Q31.) Okay. So he looks familiar. He said all people probably look the same when they're blurry, though. A31.) Well of course, you could look at it that way. But could he also see a little bit of Christopher and Anne Summers? (The mother and father of Scott and Alex, Cyclops and Havok respectively)? He has the physical features of Corsair (Christopher Summers) but the blond hair of Anne Summers. Just an idea, of course. More later. Q32.) So, going on...? A32.) Well, to poke back at my idea. Things seem pretty hopeless for the pair, but X-Treme gets to work, and comments that he never lets himself surrender to anything. To this, Phillip Summers says:
"Stubborn. But you get the job done. Reminds me of
several young men that I know."
They go on a bit here about the Summers family. Q33.) Okay, okay. So there seems to be a lot of ties here to the Summers. Go on with it. A33.) Not to further push to the point, but Jean Grey senses X-Treme's thoughts when he's in the room, and says they seem familiar. Q34.) Okay, so I admit it, already! It does seem to have to do with the Summers quite a bit! So how do the Shi'ar fit into this? A34.) Don't want to answer that just yet - but we get a good piece of information that X-Treme is _indeed_ from the Shi'ar when he asks Jean Grey to peek into his thoughts and share them with Phillip Summers. In those thoughts, it talks about boarding a Shi'ar Kjeth'ya Scout Craft. This of course finally lays to rest that he is indeed at least Shi'ar. |
|
|
Q35.) Wow. Very interesting. So is there more? A35.) Yes there is. It goes on to say... "...love that goes beyond explination... Scott feels that his fractured family lines have been made stronger because of this near tragedy... Little does he know how terrifyingly right he is..." It fades back at this point to show a red, steel glove. We learn later that this is the hand of Eric The Red. Then it pans farther back to show Eric The Red being watched, by someone with a blue glove, metallic sort of looking arm, and slivery things... which is, Mr. Sinister. Q36.) Wow. That's pretty intense. Hrm. So where do we land next? A36.) Keeping alone with the family ties theme, we jump to a brief cameo of X-Treme in Captain Marvel #2; hired by Eric the Red to get rid of Captain Marvel. Q37.) So I assume X-Treme is in Captain Marvel #3, right? A37.) He most certainly is. The opening page shows him carrying Captain Marvel, while scaling a mountain. They climb up it to seek out a place X-Treme has called "home" for the last two months. A Shi'ar ship called the Aerie. |
 |
|
Q38.) Cool. So what happens here? A38.) Well, Eric the Red sees them board the ship, and the Sidri - an alien race of bounty hunters (used by Deathbird once as well, to capture Christopher Summers in Uncanny X-Men #154) goes after them. Needless to say X-Treme and Captain Marvel make mince meat out of them, which is no easy job. Q39.) So they make it to Eric the Red? A39.) Yes they do. And here Eric the Red states:
"You have been dubbed the Forsaken One, Adam - but that
was a mistake on the Majestor's part, those many years ago.
Truly had you been rightfully admitted into the family, we
would not be in this predicament today... I am talking about
your destiny here... and that is something obviously enough
by the intricate plans of the Crystal Claws which should not
be rushed! Empress Lilandra sits on the throne this day only
because Majestor D'Ken was driven mad by his experiences inside
the M'Krann Crystal! She was not meant to guide the Imperium.
You see Adam, YOURS is the destiny of power - for you were bred
to introduce a HYBRID of specific genetic potential into the
Shi'ar monarchy! Adam-X, you were born to rule the Shi'ar
Imperium!... Who else should be the heir to the throne of the
Imperium but you - the only living child of Majestor D'Ken?!"
Q40.) Wow. Pretty intense. A40.) No kidding. Too bad Eric the Red probably doesn't live after that. Using his mutant ability to "flash fry" - he does so on Eric the Red causing his body to explode. And the ship goes down in a fiery explosion. X-Treme and Captain Marvel part ways after that, wishing each other luck, as X-Treme decides to wander the Earth... |
 |
"... I care Scott. Selfishly, I'll grant you, for the
fruitful pursuit of my own self-interests... But I
care enough to wish you and your BROTHERS to be
protected from this illness."
Cyclops even asks him about the "brothers" comment,
and Sinister brushes it off as his own mistake - and
that he had meant brother, as in Alex.
"... until a teleport beam yanked us aboard the starship. It
was a Shi'ar scouting mission. To them, Anne and I were zoo-
logical specimens, representing the HIGHER ORDERS OF LIFE ON
EARTH. We were separated. On the Imperial Throne World, I
escaped the slave pens and set out to find her. She was with
the Emperor [D'Ken]. My mistake then was in trying not to kill
him with my bare hands instead of shooting him down where he
stood. Guards came to his rescue, they wanted to execute me on
the spot, but D'Ken had other ideas..."
