Dustin Gebel
Marvel teases revelations about everyone’s favorite giant gun toting mutant, Bishop, and his time travel mission in an upcoming two part story of X-Men Legends. The issues (#5-6) will be written and drawn by Bishop co-creator Whilce Portacio, who’ll be joined by scribe Brian Haberlin on writing duties. X-Men Legends is one of Marvel’s current titles that gives creators a chance to revisit and tell new, in-continuity stories during some of the publisher’s seminal runs.
Lucas Bishop, usually known by just his last name, is a mutant from a dark, alternative future where he worked as part of Xavier’s Security Enforcers (XSE). The group was a police force working to capture mutant criminals in a dystopia controlled by Sentinels. Bishop, the XSE and their dark future where first introduced in Uncanny X-Men #282 by Portacio and John Byrne.
“At heart, I love the genre of science fiction. Specifically, the world building aspect of science. So, when Karl and I created Lucas Bishop, we built in our heads, a world for Omega Squad to exist in,” Portacio explained. “In the original incarnation, we didn’t have much time to show any of that. Here in these two issues, Brian and I are able to give the audience a beginning glimpse of some of the detail of the world that Bishop left behind.”
Marvel has provided a detailed synopsis of the story, along with covers for both issues, which can be seen below:
The story will finally reveal the genesis of Bishop’s fateful time travel mission that pulled him from the future and into the X-Men’s present! Presaging Bishop’s first appearance in the classic Uncanny X-Men #282, the arc will shed new light on Bishop’s original motivations and the intense guilt he feels over his fallen teammates as well as provide surprising depth to the dystopian world he left behind. This incredible and moving two-parter is only the latest X-Men epic in X-MEN LEGENDS, the series that sees X-Men’s greatest creators return with all-new, in-continuity tales set during their original iconic runs!
Bishop, Malcolm, and Randall, the elite Omega Squad, have discovered a dark truth about the X.S.E. After a mission goes sideways, how far will they be willing to go to make this right? To the past — and beyond! Bishop will make the most shocking decision in X-MEN LEGENDS history that will redefine what you thought you knew about mutantkind’s future and the reason behind Bishop’s collision with the X-Men!
“We give flavor to the micro ecosystem that is The Pool, its inmates, their families, the X.S.E., and most importantly, Bishop and his character and personality,” Portacio continued. “I’ve always seen Bishop as much, much more than X-Men muscle. He has always been, to me, a man perfectly born to conquer a harsh world. Yet he hides within himself a heart more suited for a kinder existence…which gives him purpose in that harsh world.”
Since the original story that established him, the energy manipulating mutant has joined various X-Men teams, serving as one of the most battle ready mutants. Currently, Bishop holds the rank of Red Bishop in the Hellfire Club and Captain Commander of Krakoa, given to him during the events of Inferno. Bishop operates both of these roles while serving as a team member of the Marauders formed under Kate Pryde, aka the current Red Queen of the Hellfire Club.