- Externals
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team_name= Externals
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="X-Force" # 10
creators=Rob Liefeld Fabian Nicieza Mark Pacella
base=Various
members=Absalom
Burke
Candra
Crule
Gideon
Nicodemus
Saul
Selene
Apocalypse
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sortkey=PAGENAME|The Externals were a
fictional group ofX-Men antagonist s and subspecies of mutants.Background
All of the Externals were originally portrayed as immortal and important, playing an extremely major role in the future and Apocalypse's rise to power (as expressed by Cable), but eventually most were killed off. Only Selene, a previously established character, was spared from the purge. Saul, Absalom, Gideon, Nicodemus, Burke, and Crule (to a lesser extent) formed the self-fashioned "High Lords", bent on playing power games and manipulating events behind the scenes. Crule was employed as an enforcer and assassin for the other High Lords, while Candra and Selene preferred to play their own schemes separately and didn't take any part on the High Lords gatherings.
Each External was claimed to represent an intangible concept:
*Absalom -
*Burke - fortitude
*Candra -guile
*Cannonball -hope
*Crule - ferocity
*Gideon - opportunity
*Nicodemus -wisdom
*Saul -patience
*Selene - corruption
*Apocalypse -destruction (possibly)At one point, X-Men regular and former New Mutant Cannonball was declared an External by Cable, although Selene denies this. Apocalypse has also been referred to as an External on several occasions; his
longevity is believed by Selene to be mostly due to technological means, although Apocalypse was already many centuries old before his first encounter with the technology he would later integrate himself with. To note, Selene herself needs to maintain her supply of life force that she drains from human victims.Ultimately, the Externals Nicodemus and Burke died of the
Legacy Virus , Candra was destroyed by Cyclops, and the rest were drained of their life force by Selene. Selene, Apocalypse and Cannonball are the only living Externals left.Other Versions
Askani
In (Earth-4935), the Externals were all killed by Apocalypse who ascended to power and gained control of the entire planet up till the 39th century.
Age of Apocalypse
In the alternate reality created when the time travelling Legion killed his own father, its unknown what happened with the Externals as only a few had made their presence known as soldiers of Apocalyse. Candra, Selene and Gideon were recruited as Horsemen of Apocalypse, Cannonball was a member of Sinister´s Elite Mutant Force and there is some expeculation that Crule was the mutant known in this reality as Wolverine. Absalom, Burke, Nicodemus and Saul did not made an appearance nor were mentioned, so it is possible that they were killed during Apocalypse ascension.
In other media
"X-Men: The Animated Series"
*In the episode "Sanctuary Part 2", Saul and Gideon are seen watching
Fabian Cortez announce his scheme to the Earth.*In the episode "Externally Yours", Gambit's past involvement with the respective guilds of Thieves and Assassins, as well as with the External Candra (depicted here as an African-American "spirit lady", as opposed to a Caucasian telekinetic, and merely known as "The External") are detailed.
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