Marauder (comics)
The Marauders are the name of several distinct villainous or anti-heroic groups and individual characters within the Marvel Comics universe, primarily associated with the X-Men franchise.
Original Marauders (Mr. Sinister's Team):
The most well-known iteration of the Marauders is a team of mutant mercenaries and assassins employed by the geneticist Mister Sinister. This group was responsible for the Mutant Massacre, a brutal attack on the Morlocks, a community of mutants living in the tunnels beneath New York City. Key members of this group included:
- Scalphunter (John Greycrow): A Native American mutant with the ability to assemble weapons from available materials.
- Arclight (Philippa Sontag): A mutant with the power to generate seismic blasts.
- Harpoon (Kodiak Noatak): An Inuit mutant who could generate energy spears that could disrupt mutant powers and be fatal.
- Blockbuster (Michael Baer): A super-strong and durable mutant. (Multiple characters have used this name and affiliation.)
- Prism (Unnamed): A mutant whose body was composed of crystalline shards, capable of refracting light into damaging beams.
- Riptide (Janos Quested): A mutant who could transform his body into a whirling vortex of razor-sharp bone shards.
- Scrambler (Kim Il Sung): A mutant capable of disrupting powers and technology.
- Vertigo (Unnamed): A mutant with the power to induce disorientation and nausea.
This initial Marauders team was largely comprised of clones or genetic constructs of previous mutants, allowing Sinister to resurrect them after they were killed.
The Marauders (Post-Krakoa):
Following the establishment of the mutant nation of Krakoa, a new group calling themselves the Marauders emerged. This team, led by Kate Pryde (formerly Kitty Pryde, now known as Shadowkat), aimed to rescue mutants endangered around the world, particularly those fleeing persecution by anti-mutant organizations. This version of the Marauders operated more as a mutant rescue squad than a villainous group. The composition of this team has varied, and included characters such as Iceman, Storm, Bishop, and Pyro.
Other Uses:
The term "Marauders" has occasionally been used to refer to other, less prominent villainous groups or individuals within the Marvel Universe, often with similar themes of mercenary violence or association with Sinister's agenda.
The term also sees usage referring to the Marauders of the Star Wars Legends continuity, referencing a specialized class of warship. This is unrelated to the Marvel Universe concept.