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Skids (character)
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Skids (Sally Blevins) is a mutant character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Louise Simonson and Jackson Guice, the character debuted in X-Factor #7 (May 1986). Skids has a personal frictionless forcefield which she can project onto herself and other objects.
Skids was initially a ward of X-Factor, progressing to the X-Terminators and New Mutants. She would then join the villainous groups, Mutant Liberation Front and Acolytes, before defecting back to heroics with X-Corporation and S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Publication history
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Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jackson Guice, Skids first appeared in X-Factor #7 (August 1986),[1] first as one of the sewer-dwelling Morlocks and then as a young ward of X-Factor. She remained as a supporting character through X-Factor #33, but during the events of Inferno, she formed the X-Terminators along with peers Boom-Boom, Rusty Collins, and Rictor, as well as younger mutant children Artie Maddicks, Leech, and Wiz Kid, in X-Terminators #1-4 (1988). After Inferno, Skids (along with the older three X-Terminators) joined the remaining members of the New Mutants in The New Mutants #76, but leaves the title as a regular after joining the Mutant Liberation Front with Rusty in New Mutants #87 (1990). Skids would then leave regular publication but appear semi-regularly as an antagonist to the X-Men and X-Force, originally with the MLF in X-Men (vol. 2) #13-15 (1992) and X-Force #24 (1993), but later with the Acolytes: X-Men (vol. 2) #25 (1993), Cable #10-11 (1994); The Uncanny X-Men #315 (1994), and X-Men (vol. 2) #42-44 (1995). Subsequently, Skids left the Acolytes and appeared infrequently in publication, only in isolated stories: as a college student trying to rebuild her life in X-Force #78-80, 85 (1998–99), as a member of the X-Corporation in X-Treme X-Men #42-46 (2004), as one of The 198 in X-Men (vol. 2) #183-184 (2006), as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent infiltrating the Morlocks in The Uncanny X-Men #487-491 (2007). Skids later appears with S.H.I.E.L.D. in Tales of Suspense #101-104 (2018).
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Fictional character biography
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 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2009) |
Morlocks
Little has been revealed of Sally Blevins' past. As a teenager, when she was abused by her stepfather, her mother Matilda was fatally injured in the altercation, and her stepfather fled when her mutant power subsequently manifested to protect her.[2] Sally ends up a runaway and comes to live with the Morlocks, a group of homeless mutants. Most Morlocks voluntarily (or, in some cases, involuntarily) assume inhuman appearances at the hands of Masque, a Morlock who can shape the bodies of others. Sally's force field protects her from Masque's power, allowing her to maintain her normal appearance, leading to resentment from some Morlocks.[2] At one point, Skids encounters Rusty Collins while he is being pursued by Freedom Force and a mob of mutant-hating humans. Rusty had accidentally injured a woman with his pyrokinetic powers and was wanted by the United States government. Skids and Rusty escape, but are confronted by Freedom Force at Central Park.[3] The two are saved by the arrival of X-Factor. After a brief skirmish, Freedom Force retreats and Skids and Rusty are left in X-Factor's hands.[4]
X-Factor, X-Terminators, and New Mutants
Skids and Rusty are one of several trainees under X-Factor's mentorship, with the group eventually forming the X-Terminators. The X-Terminators team up with the New Mutants to help rescue mutant babies from the demon N'astirh, who was using them to help keep open a portal to Limbo.[5][6] Following the battle, Skids joins the New Mutants, along with Rusty, Rictor, and Boom Boom.[7]
Rusty and Skids are confronted by Freedom Force at the Statue of Liberty. Despite their efforts, the two are captured and the New Mutants are unable to rescue them due to being busy.[8] Rusty and Skids escape prison, but Rusty is injured by Blob and they are recaptured.[9][10] While recovering in the hospital, Rusty and Skids are contacted by members of the Mutant Liberation Front. With soldiers opening fire on them, they feel they have no other choice than to join them.[7]
Mutant Liberation Front
Shortly thereafter, Rusty and Skids are brainwashed by Stryfe into following him blindly. Due to this, Rusty and Skids have no qualms with attacking former teammate Cannonball.[volume & issue needed] The two are kidnapped by the Friends of Humanity, but are rescued by X-Force. X-Force is confronted by Exodus, who invites Cannonball and Sunspot to Avalon, a "safe haven" for mutants. Cannonball refuses to go unless all former New Mutants present (Boom Boom, Rictor, Rusty and Skids) were also invited. While Exodus complained that Rusty and Skids are "damaged" due to their brainwashing, he finally acquiesces.[11]
Avalon
Upon arriving in Avalon, the mutants are taken to Magneto, who undoes the brainwashing done to Rusty and Skids. When X-Force arrive to save their friends, Rusty and Skids decide to stay with Magneto and join his Acolytes, feeling that they owe him.[11]
Shortly afterward, the body of Holocaust is discovered floating in space near Avalon and brought on board. Rusty is assigned to guard Holocaust's body, but is killed after he suddenly reawakens.[12] Holocaust destroys Avalon, leaving Skids stranded on a piece of debris and struggling to maintain her force field. Skids is rescued by Jean Grey and taken to the X-Men's mansion for medical attention.[13]
College
Skids begins attending college, where she studies biological sciences. At this time, X-Force is attacked by Reignfire, leader of the Mutant Liberation Front. During the encounter, Skids' force field disrupts the teleportation abilities of MLF member Locus, causing both of them to be caught in a trans-spatial backlash which transport them to Latveria.[14][15] Skids and Locus are captured by Pandemonia, a sorceress who seeks to recruit mutants into her army. The two defeat her with the assistance of X-Force and the young sorceress Jennifer Kale.[16]
X-Corporation
Despite her decision to remove herself from mutant-related activity and superheroism, Skids us nonetheless eventually recruited by former New Mutant teammate Sunspot, now a leader of the Los Angeles branch of the X-Corporation (a worldwide network supporting mutant causes). This faction assists the X-Treme X-Men after Elias Bogan takes mental possession of some of their members.[17] Shortly afterwards, X-Corp founder Charles Xavier has the network disbanded for its members' safety.[volume & issue needed]
M-Day and Apocalypse
When the Scarlet Witch uses her powers to negate the abilities of most mutants (an event subsequently referred to as M-Day), Skids is among the few mutants who retain their powers. Skids seeks refuge on Xavier's estate, sharing a tent with Magma and Outlaw. During this time, Apocalypse attacks the estate with his Horsemen. She eventually leaves the camp and is not seen for some time.[volume & issue needed]
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Skids becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is assigned to pose as an operative of Masque's splinter group of Morlocks, who attempt to carry out the designs of the late Morlock precognitive Qwerty. Simultaneously, she is assigned to infiltrate Masque's Morlock rivals, a more pacifistic sect that is equally devoted to Qwerty and her book of prophecies. In both roles, Skids feigns equal devotion to Qwerty's prophecies.[volume & issue needed]
Skids partakes Masque's plan to disfigure humans by bombing a subway train with a gene-altering chemical weapon. Her deep cover prevents her from interfering when Masque goes on to deform them with his powers. She also does nothing to stop Masque and his cohort Bliss when they abduct and torture Leech, her former friend from X-Factor. The X-Men Storm, Warpath, Hepzibah and ex-Morlock Caliban go after Masque in the tunnels, and find Skids unconscious after she is caught in the crossfire of an attempted raid on Masque's crew by other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. While Caliban defends Skids, Storm questions her loyalty due to her complicated history with the X-Men. When a S.H.I.E.L.D. Sentinel attacks the X-Men, thinking them to be loyal to Masque, Skids recovers and takes charge of the investigation. She then fills the X-Men in on her assignment and Qwerty's prophecies.[volume & issue needed] After the X-Men defeat Masque, Skids leaves with Qwerty's book.[volume & issue needed]
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Powers and abilities
Sally Blevins is a mutant who possesses a protective field around her body that provides nearly total protection from all attacks except those of insufficient force, like gas. Her force field disperses energy assaults, reflects kinetic impact off itself, and negates friction, making her impossible to grab. Skids can move at high speeds by "skating" the surface of her force field across other surfaces.
Originally, Sally was unable to turn off her force field but learned with practice. By concentrating, she can extend her force field to protect others in her immediate area, at least up to 30 cubic feet (0.85 m3).
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
An alternate universe version of Skids appears in Age of Apocalypse (2005). This version is a former prisoner of Apocalypse who founded a new version of the Morlocks with other escaped mutants. Due to experiments she was put through while imprisoned, Skids' powers have evolved, allowing her to shield several people at once.[18]
What If
An alternate universe version of Skids appears in What if (vol. 2) #85. In this reality, Xavier and Magneto set their differences aside peacefully, and Avalon is left undisturbed. Rusty Collins and Skids have a son named Sean, who Beast discovers to be the next step in human evolution, capable of choosing and altering his mutation at maturity. The warring factions of the Acolytes work together to attack Rusty and Skids, resulting in Sean's death. With Sean dead, Rusty and Skids turn on the Acolytes and return to Earth. It is then revealed that Sean had been a normal mutant and that Magneto had faked the test results, aware that his Acolytes needed a common enemy to unite against.[volume & issue needed]
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In other media
Skids makes a non-speaking appearance in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "No Mutant is an Island" as a mutant recruited by the Purple Man.[19]
References
External links
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