Born a mutant after her parents were exposed to the radioactive fallout of Hiroshima, Tamara Kurtz became a mutant terrorist and was recruited into the Mutant Liberation Front led by Stryfe. Arrogant and overconfident, Kurtz and her M.L.F. teammates Sumo and Kamikaze were sent to Madripoor to oversee the distribution of a drug destined to contaminate the world's water supplies, but were opposed by Cable's New Mutants, Sunfire, and Wolverine. After Stryfe's apparent death, the MLF continued under Wildside's leadership and Kurtz romanced him for a time. After attacking the Wakeman Oncological Research Center, the MLF reluctantly teamed with X-Force in opposing Operation: Zero Tolerance forces and Kurtz was among those captured. Following Zero Tolerance's closure, Kurtz was remanded into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.