Michael Pointer (character)

Michael Pointer is a fictional character code-named Omega, a mutant appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Omega
Michael Pointer as depicted in Marvel Comics Presents (vol. 2) #4 (January 2008). Art by Mike Choi.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	New Avengers #16 (April 2006)
Created by	Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Steve McNiven (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Michael Pointer
Species	Human mutant
Team affiliations	Omega Flight Dark X-Men X-Men Jean Grey School for Higher Learning
Notable aliases	Omega Weapon Omega The Collective Guardian
Abilities	Mutant energy absorption and manipulation Flight

Publication history

He first appeared in New Avengers #16 (April 2006) as the Collective before becoming a member of the Omega Flight team.^[1]

Fictional character biography

Michael Pointer is a mail carrier in North Pole, Alaska who possesses the mutant ability to absorb the energy, abilities, and personalities of other mutants. He inadvertently becomes the focal point of the mutant energy displaced after the Decimation event, which contained the disembodied mind of Xorn, amongst others. After absorbing the energy, Pointer became the being known as the Collective. With his body possessed by Xorn's consciousness, Pointer rampages across North America and Canada, killing the original members of Alpha Flight and over 2,000 others.^[2][3]

Traveling to Genosha, the Collective transfers itself to Magneto. However, after Sentry, Ms. Marvel, and Iron Man dispose of the Collective, it is revealed that some of the Collective‘s residual energies are still in Pointer's body, and after the "Civil War" event, he is forced to use these energies to join Omega Flight to atone for his actions as the Collective.^[4] As a member of Omega Flight, Pointer wears a suit designed by Reed Richards to regulate his powers and briefly assumes the Guardian mantle.^[5][6]

Under the code name of Weapon Omega, Pointer appears in the miniseries Marvel Comics Presents (2007) project, in which Omega Flight captures villains and empowers Pointer with their energy.^[7]

Weapon Omega is recruited to join Emma Frost's "Dark X-Men" to atone for his actions as the Collective.^[8] Norman Osborn attempts to use a device created by Dark Beast to siphon powers from mutants and place them into Pointer. Pointer becomes addicted to the device, with the power transfer affecting his mind.^[9] In response, Mimic places Pointer in a medically induced coma until be can be cured.^[10]

Pointer resurfaces in X-Men: Legacy, where ForgetMeNot attempts to have him remove his powers. However, Pointer convinces ForgetMeNot to hold on to his powers as he and Mimic fly off.^[11]

Powers and abilities

Michael Pointer is a mutant with the ability to absorb the energy, personalities, and abilities of other mutants. He must be near the mutant, but does not need touch.