Maggott

Not to be confused with Maggot.

Maggott (Japheth) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was briefly a member of the X-Men.

Maggott
Maggott as depicted in Generation X #48 (December 1998). Art by Terry Dodson.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Uncanny X-Men #345 (1997)
Created by	Scott Lobdell (writer) Joe Madureira (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Japheth
Species	Human mutant
Team affiliations	X-Men Generation X Dark X-Men
Abilities	Slug-based digestive system Psychometry

A flamboyant Zulu^[1] mutant who uses exaggerated Afrikaans slang, Maggott is advertised as one of the strangest X-Men. His digestive system takes the form of two slugs which can eat through practically any substance. After feeding, the slugs reenter Maggott's abdomen and pass nourishment into him, giving him incredible power.^[2]

Publication history

Maggott was created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Joe Madureira, and first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #345 (June 1997).^[3]

Fictional character biography

Maggott is first seen as a mysterious mutant who is searching out the X-Men's adversary Magneto for an unknown reason.^[4][5] His search leads him to Antarctica, where Magneto is holding the X-Men captive. Maggott joins the X-Men and returns with them to their Westchester, New York headquarters.^[6]

For a short period of time, Maggott believes his companions were going off on their own and killing innocent people. He even tries to turn himself over to the police before being stopped by the X-Men. His companions turn out to be innocent, as the people had been killed by a faction of N'Garai.^[7]

Maggott is tempted by the Shadow King, who promises him a better life in exchange for his loyalty and abandonment of the X-Men. He manages to resist the villain. Psylocke rescues the X-Men after keeping Shadow King in a psionic prison. This forces Psylocke into retirement, as the Shadow King will escape if she uses her powers again.^[8]

At first, he kept his past to himself, but Maggott eventually revealed his origin to Wolverine. Maggott had been born a sickly child in Apartheid-era South Africa and was named Japheth. He was always very ill and could not digest solid food. Feeling himself to be a burden on his family, Japheth ran away from home with his younger brother. Having left home, hoping to die, he was found by Magneto, who uncovered the mutant slugs living in his digestive system. Compassionate at heart, Japheth rejected Magneto's philosophy and his offer to join him after witnessing him massacre white soldiers who were engaged in racist atrocities against black South African civilians.^[9] In spite of this, he later sought out Magneto when he got older, for help in easing the pain caused by his unique mutation. After the then-current roster of the team parts ways, the X-Man Beast suggests Maggott transfer to the junior team Generation X, but his tenure there lasts only one issue.^[10]

Maggott later appears as an inmate at Neverland, a concentration camp run by Weapon X where he is executed.^[11] One of his slugs, which he gave to two children after foreseeing his death, is seen in a container in Mister Sinister's laboratory.^[12]

In the "Necrosha" event, Maggott is resurrected via the Transmode Virus to serve as part of Selene's army of deceased mutants. Under the control of Selene and Eli Bard, he takes part in the assault on the mutant nation of Utopia.^[13] Maggott remains alive after Selene and Bard are defeated.^[14]

Maggott briefly appears during the X-Men Disassembled storyline battling Nate Grey.^[15] He later becomes a citizen of Krakoa and a member of the Morlocks during the Krakoan Age.^[16][17]

After the end of the Krakoan Age, Maggott returns to the Morlocks.^[18] During the "X-Manhunt" storyline, Maggott is among the X-Men members who attempt to apprehend Charles Xavier after he escapes prison, but he is wounded by Juggernaut, who rips off his right arm. Storm infuses Maggott with the power of Eegun, which empowers him, restores his arm, and transforms him into an Omega-level mutant.^[19][20]

Powers and abilities

Maggott's digestive system consists of a hollow cavity that houses two slugs called Eany and Meany. They share a telepathic link with him and can temporarily emerge from his body to digest solid matter, giving him superhuman strength and durability. Maggott possesses a form of psychometry that enables him to view the recent past and future by reading psychic imprints from the environment.

Reception

In 2014, Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly ranked Maggott 100th in his "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list, coming in last place. Franich criticized Maggott's "absolutely ridiculous" powers, stating that they "wouldn't be useful ever for anyone".^[21]

Other versions

Age of X

An alternate universe version of Maggott from Earth-11326 appears in Age of X: Universe #1. This version is a prisoner of Camp Gorge before being killed by Iron Man.^[22]

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe version of Maggott from Earth-1610 makes a cameo appearance in Ultimate X-Men #47 as one of several mutants killed by Mister Sinister.^[23]

Battleworld X-Tinction Agenda

An alternate universe version of Maggott from Earth-24201 appears in X-Tinction Agenda.^[24]

Age of X-Man

An alternate universe version of Maggott who became a disciple of Apocalypse appears in Age of X-Man.^[25][26]

In other media

Maggott makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men '97 episode "To Me, My X-Men".^[27][28][29]