Huntsman (comics)

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caption=
character_name=Huntsman
real_name=Zona-Cluster 7
species=Human-Sentinel hybrid
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="New X-Men" #128 (2002)
creators=Grant Morrison
Igor Kordey
alliances=Weapon Plus Program
Super-Sentinels
aliases=Weapon XII
powers=Viral consciousness that spreads through touch, superhuman strength and stamina, psychic inmunity|

Huntsman, also known as Weapon XII, is a supervillain in the Marvel Universe and enemy of the X-Men. Huntsman first appeared in "New X-Men" #128 (August, 2002) and was created by Grant Morrison and Igor Kordey.

Fictional character biography

Huntsman belongs to the latest generation of living weapons created by Weapon Plus Program, and was designated Weapon XII. Like Fantomex (Weapon XIII) he was born and was artificially "evolved" in "The World", a man-made environment designed to create super-soldiers using Sentinel technology. He was intended to be one of the Super-Sentinels, a team of mutant hunters conceived by John Sublime as a publicity stunt to make the extermination of mutants acceptable to the public.

Huntsman, alongside Fantomex were transported from England to France via the Euro Tunnel, however, a fake train wreck set up by Weapon Plus itself released both Fantomex and Huntsman from their containment capsules, while also trapping 120 passengers, 30 asylum-seekers and numerous animals within the Tunnel. Members of X-Corporation Paris were dispatched to deal with the accident.

While Darkstar, Siryn, Multiple Man, M, Rictor and Cannonball were overwhelmed fighting Huntsman's possessed victims, Phoenix and Professor X were recruited by Fantomex in exchange for information on Weapon Plus.

Professor X and Phoenix arrive to find the X-Corp members nearly defeated, with Siryn injured and Rictor, immune to Huntsman's infection, saved by Madrox. Phoenix's telekinetic powers were useless against Huntsman's. Professor X takes over the mind of Madrox in order to create an army of mind-controlled duplicates to counter Huntsman's own army. Meanwhile, Fantomex shoots his way through Huntsman's victims, including Darkstar herself, in order to reach the train that contained Huntsman's kill switch. Fantomex activates the kill switch, killing not only Huntsman but also all those whose minds were infected.

When the military arrived, they eliminated all evidence of an anti-mutant conspiracy.

Powers and abilities

Huntsman possessed a mind that spread through skin contact, placing those he touched under his control, presumably by spreading nanites through his taloned fingers. He also possessed a coral-shaped exposed glowing brain, presumably the source of his powers. The process used to breed Huntsman also endowed him with massive musculature and immunity to telekinetic powers.