Superhero Origins: Banshee
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VOICE OVER: David
Born as Sean Cassidy, he is the heir to his family's fortune and castle in Ireland. An inspector at Interpol, he lost his wife during a terrorist bombing, before relocating to New York. Soon after, he fell into a life of crime when a member of the villainous organization called Factor Three placed a headband on his head. With the device, he was stripped of his moral values and forced to use the power of his superhuman vocal cords to fight the X-Men. Freed from the headband's control by Professor Xavier, he later joined their ranks. Join http://www.Watchmojo.com as we explore the comic book origins of Banshee.
Superhero Origins: Banshee
He was named after a legendary ghost from Irish mythology due to his ability to emit sonic screams. Welcome to Watchmojo.com, and today we will explore the origins of Banshee.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginings and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline, which unfolded in the 1967 issue of the “Uncanny X-Men” #28, and was expanded upon in issues #94 and #254.
Born as Sean Cassidy, he is the heir to his family’s fortune and castle in Ireland. Discovering his emerging mutant powers in his adolescence, he kept them a secret. Later, he graduated from college in Dublin and became a detective at Interpol, rising to the rank of inspector.
Unaware that his wife was pregnant, Sean went away on a prolonged mission. During this period, she delivered a child. Unfortunately, she was killed in a terrorist bomb attack before she could tell him about their newborn daughter Theresa.
Even worse, his cousin, a fellow mutant and competitor named Black Tom took it upon himself to keep the child a secret and raise her as his own, renaming her Siryn.
Retuning from his mission, and filled with grief, Sean left Interpol to become a detective for the New York police department. Soon after, he drifted into a life of crime when the mysterious Mutant Master, a member of the villainous organization called Factor Three, placed a headband on his head. With the device, he drained Banshee of his moral values and controlled his actions.
Using the power of his superhuman vocal cords to generate sonic blasts, and ability to use it to fly with his aerodynamic suit, he became known as Banshee, a name that paid tribute to an ancient whaling spirit from Irish Mythology. It was at this time that he was forced to fight and destroy the X-Men.
During the course of the ensuing battle, he was freed from the headband’s control by a psychic bolt by Professor Xavier. Grateful to the team, and recognizing their kindness, he asked to join their ranks.
Becoming a member of Xavier’s second class, he fought alongside the likes of mutants such as Colossus, Nightcrawler, Storm and Wolverine.
Over the years he even managed to reunite with his daughter, a mutant with a similar sonic ability. He also mentored a younger team of mutants known as Generation X, and led the X-Corps team.
An older mutant with a thick Irish accent and love of pipe smoking and alcohol, Banshee was reinvented for the 2011 film “X-Men First Class.” In that film, he retained his signature abilities and ability to fly, but was made much younger, became a member of the Xavier’s first class, and stripped of his Irish background.
He was named after a legendary ghost from Irish mythology due to his ability to emit sonic screams. Welcome to Watchmojo.com, and today we will explore the origins of Banshee.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginings and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline, which unfolded in the 1967 issue of the “Uncanny X-Men” #28, and was expanded upon in issues #94 and #254.
Born as Sean Cassidy, he is the heir to his family’s fortune and castle in Ireland. Discovering his emerging mutant powers in his adolescence, he kept them a secret. Later, he graduated from college in Dublin and became a detective at Interpol, rising to the rank of inspector.
Unaware that his wife was pregnant, Sean went away on a prolonged mission. During this period, she delivered a child. Unfortunately, she was killed in a terrorist bomb attack before she could tell him about their newborn daughter Theresa.
Even worse, his cousin, a fellow mutant and competitor named Black Tom took it upon himself to keep the child a secret and raise her as his own, renaming her Siryn.
Retuning from his mission, and filled with grief, Sean left Interpol to become a detective for the New York police department. Soon after, he drifted into a life of crime when the mysterious Mutant Master, a member of the villainous organization called Factor Three, placed a headband on his head. With the device, he drained Banshee of his moral values and controlled his actions.
Using the power of his superhuman vocal cords to generate sonic blasts, and ability to use it to fly with his aerodynamic suit, he became known as Banshee, a name that paid tribute to an ancient whaling spirit from Irish Mythology. It was at this time that he was forced to fight and destroy the X-Men.
During the course of the ensuing battle, he was freed from the headband’s control by a psychic bolt by Professor Xavier. Grateful to the team, and recognizing their kindness, he asked to join their ranks.
Becoming a member of Xavier’s second class, he fought alongside the likes of mutants such as Colossus, Nightcrawler, Storm and Wolverine.
Over the years he even managed to reunite with his daughter, a mutant with a similar sonic ability. He also mentored a younger team of mutants known as Generation X, and led the X-Corps team.
An older mutant with a thick Irish accent and love of pipe smoking and alcohol, Banshee was reinvented for the 2011 film “X-Men First Class.” In that film, he retained his signature abilities and ability to fly, but was made much younger, became a member of the Xavier’s first class, and stripped of his Irish background.
