Comic Book Origins: Bishop

Script by Craig Butler

Superhero Origins: Bishop

Some people try to see into the future; this guy actually comes from it. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origin of the X-Man known as Bishop.

As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen primarily to follow the storyline which unfolded in 1996 and 1997’s Xavier’s Security Enforcers #1-4 and which was expanded upon in 2009’s X-Men: The Life and Times of Lucas Bishop #1-3.

The time traveling Lucas Bishop has a pretty cool power – the ability to absorb most forms of energy used against him and then put it to his own uses. But as impressive as his power is, it’s his commanding presence that makes him so memorable.

Bishop first turned up as a seeming adversary in the X-Men in 1991. He had come from a dystopian future and was seeking a time traveling criminal by the name of Fitzroy who had escaped to our present day. Bishop’s origin was very bare-bones for a few years afterwards. But in 1996, a series offering a comprehensive look at his past began.

Bishop and his sister Shard came from a place known to audiences as the ‘Days of Future Past’ reality; a grim future where mutants and humans fight each other in a race war that nearly ended the world as we know it. After the war, mutants are now confined to relocation camps.Bishop was raised by his grandmother and taught him to emulate the now dead and legendary X-Men, who believed in the possibility of human and mutant coexistence.

After his grandmother’s death, Bishop and his sister Shard were trained to become members of a group called Xaviers Security Enforcers or X.S.E. This group sought to continue professor Charles Xavier’s dream of building a world where mutants and humans live peacefully together. Bishop distinguished himself in combat and was made a full XSE officer, the youngest ever picked.

Some years later, Bishop and Shard were lured into a trap by mind controlling villains known as Emplates who turned Shard against her brother. Distraught, Bishop subdued his sister and made a deal to save her. There was no way to restore her to normal, but he was able to arrange for a holographic duplicate of her to be created which would contain her mind and memories.

To make this happen, Bishop had to agree to work for a stranger named Witness. This mutant was eventually revealed to be Gambit, the last living member of the X-Men, connecting Bishop forever with the X-men of present day.

Sometime later, the renegade mutant Fitzroy reemerged and Bishop and his XSE colleagues chased him back to the X-Men’s time. Because Fitzroy’s portals were a “one way” trip, Bishop was stuck here and eventually became a member of the legendary X-Men.

Bishop’s origin was revised somewhat in a 2009 mini-series. Although most of the basic facts remained the same, there were more details about some areas of his life. For example, readers learned of Bishop’s deep connection to his father and how as a child he believed his entire family was killed. Escaping from the mutant ghetto, he met the Witness, with whom he crossed the country, pulling petty crimes to get food and energy.

Eventually, Bishop and Witness came to Las Vegas – where the boy discovered his grandmother and sister still alive.

Many readers have theorized that Bishop’s grandmother is actually Storm of the X-Men; while this has been subtly hinted at, it has not been definitely stated – so the debate goes on.

Due to his time-traveling nature, Lucas Bishop’s backstory is even more complicated than that of the typical Marvel hero. He’s a complex and fascinating character, and one of the most compelling members of Marvel’s premier band of mutant heroes. It’s no wonders his fans clamor for more.