The cyborg known only as Bonebreaker was the original leader of the band of cybernetically-enhanced assassins known as the Reavers. After suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of the superpowered mutant adventurers known as the X-Men, Bonebreaker sought out the renegade White King of the Hellfire Club, Donald Pierce, for help in rebuilding himself and his Reavers. Pierce did so, and, seizing the opportunities presented to him to further his anti-mutant crusade, assumed command of the group himself.
Later, the Reavers were seemingly destroyed by giant robotic Sentinels summoned from the future by the time-traveling mutant Trevor Fitzroy. However, the Reavers did not die, and were rebuilt by Pierce to assist him in capturing Milo Thurman, a former government employee who possessed incredible natural prophetic abilities. Pierce intended to transform Thurman into a cyborg Reaver under his control, but his plan was foiled by Thurman's former lover, the mutant mercenary known as Domino. However, before Domino could destroy the Reavers' base, Pierce managed to download almost 60% of Thurman's consciousness into his own mind.
Pierce later returned in Sydney, Australia as a thrall of the psionic entity known as the Shadow King. Through Pierce, the Shadow King sent the Reavers to capture the X-Man named Rogue, whom the Shadow King sought to make his consort. However, Rogue's will prevailed, the Shadow King was defeated, and Pierce and the Reavers were taken into custody by the Australian authorities.
