Pathway (comics)

Superherobox|

caption=Pathway
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Pathway
real_name=Laura Dean
species=Human Mutant
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Alpha Flight" #53 (Dec 1987)
creators=Bill Mantlo and Jim Lee
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=Beta Flight
aliases=
powers=Interdimensional transportation|

Pathway (Laura Dean) is a fictional character, mutant and a superhero featured in the publications of Marvel Comics. Most of her appearances were in the series Alpha Flight.

Publication history

Laura Dean first appeared in "Alpha Flight" #53 (December 1987), and was created by Bill Mantlo and Jim Lee.

The character subsequently appears in "Alpha Flight" #54-62 (January-September 1988), #64-71 (November 1988-June 1989), #82 (March 1990), #109-112 (June-September 1992), and #120 (May 1993).

Laura Dean received an entry in the "Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89" #2.

Fictional character biography

Laura Dean's parents (Darby and Susan) were extremely mutaphobic Americans who decided to have Laura's twin fetus destroyed because it was obviously a mutant. Whilst still a fetus, the soon-to-be Laura protected her twin sister by using her mutant power to open portals to other dimensions and sent her to the realm that would later be called Liveworld.

After her birth, Laura grew up autistic and withdrawn from the world. In an attempt to cure her autism, her parents sent her to the New Life Clinic, which was actually run by the insane villain Scramble.

Laura managed to escape, but was later caught by Bedlam and forced to become a member of his team of Derangers. During the clash with Alpha Flight, Laura swapped places with her twin in Liveworld, whom she had dubbed Goblyn.

After Alpha Flight defeated Bedlam, Goblyn and Laura were admitted into Beta Flight under the misbelief that they were one and the same person. However, this was all sorted out when Alpha Flight travelled to Liveworld and there encountered the Dreamqueen. When they returned to Earth, and Alpha disbanded, Laura and Goblyn went to live with the Purple Girl.

They re-joined Beta Flight when Talisman dispatched them on a quest for Northstar, thanks to Laura's ability to open portals to other dimensions. The two stayed on when the team was once again funded by the government and Department H was re-formed. However, both were severely injured when Wild Child went insane and attacked them. Laura sent Goblyn instinctively to Liveworld and had to return with Beta Flight to save her.

Since the disbanding of Alpha Flight after the clash with the Hardliners, resulting in the subsequent disbanding of Beta Flight, Pathway's whereabouts are unknown.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://alphanex.alphaflight.net/index.php/PathwayAlphaFlight.Net Alphanex Entry on Pathway]