Shatterstar

Superherobox|


caption=Shatterstar
Art by Rob Liefeld
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Shatterstar
real_name=Gaveedra-7, Benjamin Russell
species=Human Mutant
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="New Mutants" Vol.1 #99 (March 1991)
creators=Fabian Nicieza
Rob Liefeld
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=X-Force New Mutants
aliases=
powers=-Superhuman senses, strength, speed, stamina, agility, flexibility, dexterity, reflexes, coordination, balance, endurance.
-Accelerated healing
-Enhanced learning capability
-Ability to generate bio-energies through metal of swords|

Shatterstar (aka Gaveedra-Seven and Benjamin Russell) is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza he first appeared in "The New Mutants" #99 (March 1991) and has been a regular in the title "X-Force" since its inception.

Publication history

Since his debut Shatterstar has mainly appeared in X-Force with some issues devoted solely to him. In 2006, he had his own limited series, "X-Force: Shatterstar".

Fictional character biography

Shatterstar comes from the planet Mojoworld (about a century in the future, as opposed to the Mojoverse which co-exists with the contemporary Earth dimension, making him a time traveler as well as a dimension-hopper) which is ruled by the alien tyrant Mojo V. There, Shatterstar was created to be a slave, he claims to have had no parents, only a "gestation chamber." He was genetically engineered to have enhanced physical capabilities so he could serve as an arena gladiator.

Shatterstar learned the arts of battle as a warrior in arenas on Mojoworld, where he participated in combats staged for Mojo's television programs. It’s assumed it was here he developed his strong sense of honor and pride as a warrior, to combat the constant violence and death in his life. Eventually he escaped and joined the Cadre Alliance, the rebel group that sought to overthrow Mojo V's dictatorship. From there, he learned the Cadre’s language and began taking part in missions, one of which sent him back in time to find the X-Men and get their assistance in defeating Mojo.

He did not find the X-Men though. Shatterstar was either teleported or traveled back in time to Earth at the point just before Cable reorganized the New Mutants into X-Force ["New Mutants" vol. 1 #99] . With Cable’s assurance that they would help him defeat Mojo (though with the use of time travel it was not urgent that they leave anytime soon) Shatterstar became a founding member of the new team.

Later Shatterstar discovered, to his bewilderment, that he also had the memories of an Earthling named Benjamin Russell ["X-Force" vol. 1 #54, 56, 59-61] . Soon afterwards, Mojo made Cable and Shatterstar his prisoners and transformed them into digital images for one of his television programs. In the course of the show, Shatterstar was mortally wounded in combat. Mojo's sometime ally Spiral teleported Cable and Shatterstar back into reality, where they regained their true forms. Spiral brought Cable, Shatterstar, Longshot, (who was Shatterstar's ally on Mojoworld), and the X-Force member Siryn to the Weisman Institute for the Criminally Insane in Rutland, Vermont.

There Spiral directed them to the bedside of one of its patients, a mutant named Benjamin Russell who had no living relatives, had been in a coma since his powers had emerged, and, curiously, looked identical to Shatterstar. Longshot transferred Shatterstar's "uemeur," or soul, into Benjamin Russell's body, and the two became one. Apparently Shatterstar's body merged with Russell's as well, for the resulting body bore the starburst pattern that Shatterstar had around his left eye and his hair lengthened greatly. Restored to full health and consciousness, and feeling "whole" for the first time in his life, Shatterstar resumed his work as a member of X-Force. However, this does not explain why Shatterstar had some of Benjamin Russell's memories before they merged, or why they looked so much alike. There are still too many mysteries yet to be explained about Shatterstar's true origin. It was hinted that Shatterstar may have been the child of Longshot and the mutant X-Man Dazzler in the early run of X-Men in 1992, and a later medical exam conducted by the Beast upon Shatterstar revealed that he indeed possessed DNA identical to that of Longshot, his rumored father, along with such genetic features as hollow bones and a lack of white blood cells. Dazzler revealed that she was pregnant with Longshot's child and Longshot suggested the name "Shatterstar" for the unborn child ["X-Men" vol. 2 #11] . Longshot and Dazzler returned to MojoWorld to free Longshot's people and Dazzler later appeared without Longshot and without a child. It has been speculated that Dazzler miscarried ["X-Men" vol. 2 #47] , though it has not been established officially what became of the infant.

Shatterstar accompanied Rictor to the Richter home in Mexico to try and end Rictor's family's arms-dealing business. Both characters have since appeared separately so one assumes they succeeded, though it’s not known why they later parted.

Shatterstar is later seen in Madripoor, earning his money by fighting in arenas. He was sought out by Spiral, who had one of her agents make Shatterstar believe she wanted to kill him [X-Force: Shatterstar #1-4] . However, Spiral had previously admitted in an emotional confession to Cable, when he demanded that she reveal all that she knew about the answers behind the mysteries of Shatterstar's origin immediately after Shatterstar and Benjamin Russell had been merged, that both young men "meant more than life itself to her" before teleporting away. With a fake quest, Spiral lured Shatterstar to an alternate universe she had conquered and ruled. On that Earth, Spiral had also killed most of that world's heroes and mutants. That Earth's Shatterstar had been killed as well. He was found by that Earth's rebel forces, including Cable and some other members he knew from X-Force. Together, they eventually defeated Spiral. Upon returning to the mainstream Earth, Shatterstar was contacted by Cable and requested to temporarily join him on a mission to defeat the Skornn [X-Force vol. 2 #1-6] . Shatterstar agreed, but first Cable wanted him to train with monks on Mount Xixabangma. After those monks were killed by Skornn's worshipers, Shatterstar was reunited with his old team and they eventually killed the Skornn.

Following M-Day and the passing of the Superhuman Registration Act, Shatterstar teamed up with Domino and Caliban (all X-Force members) to break The 198 out of the encampment set up for mutants on the grounds of the Xavier Institute. They took the escapees to a secret base provided to them by Captain America via Nick Fury. While fighting O*N*E he nearly killed Micromax, claiming that while there is no such thing as murder during war, he had only meant to disable him. Now that The 198 are free his whereabouts are unknown.

Powers and abilities

Shatterstar possesses an overall superhuman level of physical and mental power (senses, strength, speed, reflexes, agility, flexibility, dexterity, coordination, balance, endurance), as a result of the extra-dimensional genetic engineering that created him. He is an excellent strategist and has had extensive training in many forms of the martial arts of Mojoworld; in particular, he is a master swordsman. His bones are hollow, making him far lighter than he looks and further increasing his athletic and acrobatic skills. He also has enhanced learning capabilities, being able to quickly learn and master languages and technology. He customarily wields two swords and on occasion carries other weaponry as well. Shatterstar is able to regenerate damaged or destroyed tissue much faster than an ordinary human. Injuries such as slashes and stabbings heal completely within a matter of hours. Additionally, his body possesses the ability to shift his internal organs within his body, lessening the chances of serious wounds. He also has the mutant ability to channel and generate powerful vibratory shock waves (and perhaps bio-electricity) charges through these blades, though he rarely uses them as they tend to exhaust him, and prefers to depend instead on his martial prowess.It is not clear as to whether his rarely used mutant abilities were removed after M-Day.

Relationships

Although Shatterstar was revealed to have a designated "genetic bond mate," Windsong (whom he never met and is now deceased), in the Mojoverse, he later claimed that even though he was fully capable physically, he had never felt any sexual stirrings or romantic love and has long felt incomplete, even in his native dimension.

It is not known if this is still the case as it happened before the joining with Benjamin Russell, who is assumed to have a fully developed sexuality. Since then his emotional state has been fluctuating. While in X-Force he displayed emotion, having developed a strong affection for his friend Rictor, it was even hinted that his feelings went beyond friendship, but after his time training on Mount Xixabangma he claimed there was no emotion within him.

Other versions

Future Imperfect

Shatterstar and his two-bladed sword are one of many dead heroes memoralized in the trophy room of the elderly Rick Jones in the dystopia alternate future of "Future Imperfect".

hatterShot

[X-Force Annuals #1] In an alternate future, the X-Force team lead by Cannonball were approached by Mojoworld Spineless Ones, Mojo. Spineless Ones were searching for the X-Force in hopes of helping them to liberate their planet, this time from Shatterstar, who had since taken over as ruler and oppressed the Spineless Ones. Arriving on Mojoworld, the mutants and their allies found their way to a stadium, where Spineless Ones were being forced to partake in gladiator-style combat. X-Force joined the fray, and when Shatterstar realized the error of his ways, his second-in-command, The Scheduler, betrayed him. Shatterstar, along with the X-Force defeated the Scheduler and his followers. Presumably, X-Force then returned to their own world.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/s/shatterstar.htm Shatterstar] at MarvelDirectory.com