DJ (comics)

DJ
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	New X-Men: Academy X #2 (2004)
In-story information
Alter ego	Mark Sheppard
Species	Depowered Human Mutant
Team affiliations	Corsairs training squad Paragons training squad Xavier Institute
Abilities	Depowered; formerly Musical empathy (ability to gain different powers depending on which genre of music he listens to).

DJ (Mark Sheppard) is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a student at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning who first appears in New X-Men: Academy X #2 (2004).

Fictional character biography

Mark Sheppard was born in the fictional town of Bluewater Village as revealed in New X-Men. It was also revealed that his father was an alcoholic and his mother died when he was young.^{[citation needed]}

At the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, DJ is a member of the Corsairs training squad who transfers to the Paragons squad sometime between New X-Men: Academy X #2 and #12. DJ and his Paragons teammates were upset when their mentor, Rahne Sinclair, left the school. His powers were never really explored, as we saw little action with the Paragons. DJ's first name and codename were revealed in New X-Men, vol. 2 #24, and his last name and powers were revealed in the New X-Men: Academy X Yearbook Special.

Mark is very flirtatious, and he says that his favorite things are girls (all kinds). DJ is voted "most flirtatious" in the New X-Men: Academy X Yearbook Special.^[1]

Death

DJ is one of the many students depowered on M-Day. He and Preview are the only depowered members of the Paragons. Although Preview is not on the bus of depowered students that is bombed by William Stryker's Purifiers as it leaves the school, DJ is. When X-23 hears someone shouting "Help me!" she follows the voice and finds an almost-dead Mark with blood all over his mouth and abdomen.^[2] He is the only student from the bus who is still alive when X-23 and Elixir arrive. Elixir assures Mark that he will heal him, but he is unsuccessful, and Mark dies moments later.^[3]

Powers and abilities

Prior to his depowering, DJ possessed the ability to manipulate energy based on the type of music he was listening to.^[1] For example, classical music allowed him to generate force fields, rock music allowed him to create destructive energy blasts, the uplifting beats of gospel music allowed him to fly, and dance music allowed him to manipulate light.^{[citation needed]} He carried an MP3 player around with him, even when he was depowered.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} New X-Men: Academy X Yearbook Special #1
2. ^ New X-Men, vol. 2 #24
3. ^ New X-Men, vol. 2 #25

External links

• UncannyX-Men.net—Yearbook Entry on the Paragons