Marvel Universe

Xorn

Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
Unrevealed

Aliases
(Kuan-Yin) posed as Magneto before being killed; (Shen) None

Identity
Secret

Occupation
(Kuan-Yin) Former terrorist, teacher, adventurer; (Shen) Former adventurer

Citizenship
China

Place of Birth
Xianjiang Uygur, China

Known Relatives
Unidentified parents, unidentified aunt & uncle

Group Affiliation
(Kuan-Yin) Formerly Brotherhood of Mutants, Xavier Institute Faculty, X-Men; (Shen) Formerly X-Men

Education
Unrevealed

Height
(both) 6'2"

Weight
(both) 210 lbs.

Eyes
(both) Inapplicable

Hair
(both) Inapplicable

Powers
The Xorns' possess miniature stars in their brains, each having a primary state. Kuan-Yin's star manifested as a sun, while Shen's star manifests as a black hole. Kuan-Yin's sun was capable of emitting blinding light that could instantly incinerate another being. Shen's black hole emits an intense gravity field that not even light can escape. The Xorns are capable of reversing their stars' natural states. That is, Kuan-Yin could cause his star to collapse in on itself to form a black hole, while Shen is able to cause his star to flare into a sun.

The Xorns can also feel the movement of energy and emotion on many scales. They possess gravitational senses that allow them to manipulate energy for a variety of purposes, including warping of gravitational fields, sensing when a death has occurred in their vicinity, shaking gravitational particles in the air around them to allow them to speak other languages, and to heal others. Given the nature of their mutant abilities, the Xorns do not need to breathe, nor do they require food or water to survive.

Paraphernalia
The Xorns' heads are encased in metal helmets so as to safeguard those around them from the effects of their stars.

First Appearance
(Kuan-Yin) New X-Men 2001 Annual (2001); (Shen) X-Men #157 (2004)

Origin
(Kuan-Yin) New X-Men 2001 Annual (2001); (Shen) X-Men #157-159 (2004)

Significant Issues
Kuan-Yin rescued by X-Men, joined team (New X-Men Annual 2001); Kuan-Yin with X-Men, vs Imperial Guard (New X-Men #122-126, 2002); Kuan-Yin began teaching Special Class (New X-Men #135, 2003); Kuan-Yin sought to recruit Carter into Special Class (Uncanny X-Men #430, 2003); Kuan-Yin impersonated Magneto, attacked Manhattan, killed Jean, killed by Wolverine (New X-Men #146-150, 2003-2004); Shen found by X-Men, taken to Institute (X-Men #157-160, 2004); Shen briefly joined X-Men, vs Brotherhood, left X-Men (X-Men #162-164, 2004-2005)

The Xorn brothers' mutant natures manifested as tiny stars inside their heads that flared out of control, devastating their small village in China until villagers managed to clamp metal masks around what was left of their heads. The anti-mutant Communist regime separated the brothers, keeping Shen in isolation in the village while Kuan-Yin was incarcerated in an underground prison. Kuan-Yin escaped once, but was recaptured soon after and a new prison constructed around him. Meanwhile, the Chinese government formed the Eight Immortals to keep Shen secure. Later, Kuan-Yin's warden made a deal to sell him to John Sublime, who sought to harvest Kuan-Yin's mutant mind. Rather than face such a grisly fate, Kuan-Yin attempted suicide by reversing the power of his star, creating a black hole that threatened to destroy the world. The X-Men arrived to defuse the situation by inviting Kuan-Yin to join the team. He accepted, but first sought time to meditate.

Cyclops later visited Kuan-Yin to seek help against the threat of Nano-Sentinels released by the malevolent Cassandra Nova. They were captured by the alien Shi'ar's Imperial Guard, which had fallen under Nova's control, but managed to escape to the Xavier Institute where Kuan-Yin healed the X-Men, allowing them to better oppose Nova. Kuan-Yin subsequently took up a teaching position at the Institute and came to instruct the Special Class, into which he unsuccessfully attempted to recruit the powerful young mutant Carter Ghazikhanian. At some point, Kuan-Yin was coerced by an unknown party into believing he was the X-Men's nemesis Magneto, and he launched a devastating attack on Manhattan which was opposed by the X-Men. Kuan-Yin killed Jean Grey and was subsequently slain by Wolverine.

Later, the X-Men were called to China after Shen's powers had again flared out of control. Opposed by the Eight Immortals, the Chinese Army, and Chinese national hero the Collective Man, the X-Men prevailed. After taking Shen to the Institute, he sensed that the individual responsible for his brother's corruption had been hiding amongst the X-Men for some time, and was still in their midst. Shen subsequently joined the X-Men in opposing an attack by the Brotherhood of Mutants. To stop the killing, Shen saw no alternative but to release his black hole, pulling the villains into the void. He then left the X-Men to reflect on the immensity of his actions.

After the events of M-Day, Xorn's consciousness took control of the collected energies of the Earth's depowered mutants and attempted to bond with the Magneto, in exile in Genosha. The Sentry forced the collective into the sun, seemingly ridding the world of Xorn once and for all.

Retrieved from "http://marvel.com/universe/Xorn"

contributors: jstephens, Max Spider, Network