BANSHEE: Page 3 of 5

Publication Date: 1st Sep 2017
Image Work: Gremlin.
Biography

BIOGRAPHY - Page 3

In a time of need, when the Morlocks had been decimated by the Marauders, Storm and Wolverine sent the survivors of the massacre to be stationed at Muir Island, along with newer members of the X-Men, for their own safety. While the rookie X-Men were staying there, Banshee taught them a little bit about battle skills and teamwork. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #217]

Eventually, Moira began to act rather strangely and a concerned Banshee contacted Cyclops, for Professor Xavier was no longer on Earth at the time. As they soon found out, Moira was summoned by a recreated Master Mold, who hypnotized her and forced her into creating the Retribution Virus, an illness designed to kill mutants. Sean was one of the first affected mutants and he was taken into Master Mold’s base for further studying. Eventually, though, Cyclops, the Morlock leader Callisto and Moira managed to get in there. Freed from Master Mold’s influence, Moira was able to design a cure for her own creation, though it kicked Banshee’s systems into overdrive. As a result, his power returned, at least for the time being. [Marvel Comics Presents (1st series) #17-24]

Soon afterwards, Moira and Sean received a distress call from Polaris, who at the time had lost her magnetic powers and was aboard a sinking freighter. Though unsure whether the woman could be trusted, as she had been possessed by a villain for months, Banshee flew out on the sea and rescued her from drowning, but the crew of the ship were beyond help. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #253]

Shortly thereafter, Muir Island came under attack by the Reavers, led by the mutant-hating Donald Pierce, one of them even shooting Sean straight in the heart. If not for Amanda Sefton’s magical capabilities, he would have died right there. Instead, she teleported him to the infirmary station of Muir Island in time for the Morlock healer to do his thing. Not only did he heal the chest wound, but also his healing touch fully restored Banshee’s throat back to the way it was before he lost his voice. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #254]

With the help of Forge and Freedom Force, the Muir Islanders survived the Reavers’ attack, though there were casualties on both sides. After the fighting was over, Sean asked Forge to stay and help design a new security system for the island. Also, having learned from Lorna Dane that the X-Men (who at the time were believed to have died in Dallas) were still alive, Banshee decided to search for them and asked Forge to come along. Much to his growing concern, Moira once more acted strangely, her dressing rather sharp and making harsh decisions. When Forge and Sean wanted to board a charter plane to Cairo, Egypt, only to change their plan in the last instant, they learned that, apparently, Moira had set them up, for the plane was shot out of the sky and Moira was the only person who knew they’d be aboard it. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #255, 257-260]

Sean and Forge went to the remains of Xavier’s mansion in Westchester, from where they tried to figure out the mystery behind Moira, yet an unexpected visit from Jean Grey and an attack by the Morlocks under Masque’s leadership forced them into action. Eventually, Masque captured both Banshee and Jean and cruelly disfigured them. While Jean had her arms turned into tentacles, Banshee had his mouth and, therefore, the source of his power erased. Fortunately, Forge had recorded both their genetic codes and could restore them to their regular selves. During the adventure, they also ran into Colossus, who, at the time, had no memory of his time as an X-Men and had set up himself a new life as an artist in Soho. Together with X-Factor, Banshee and Forge decided to leave the lad alone and let him enjoy his new fame. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #261-264]

Several days later, Banshee and Forge found Storm returning to the ruins in Westchester, along with her new companion, Gambit, and, within a short time during the X-Tinction Agenda, a crisis involving all X-Teams and the island nation Genosha, they were reunited with several other X-Men as well. [Uncanny X-Men Annual #14, X-Tinction Agenda]

Afterwards, these X-Men decided to stay together as a team, Banshee being a part of it. When he called Moira on Muir Island via a holographic com-link, Sean found that she was still as drastically changed from when he had last seen her.

Not that he had much time to worry, as the X-Men were summoned into the Shi’ar Empire to help Professor Xavier and his lover, Lilandra.Once their space adventure was over, Sean told the Professor of his concerns regarding Moira and, from the X-Men’s collective memories, he correctly diagnosed that she had fallen under the influence of the Shadow King, just like all inhabitants of Muir Island; Banshee’s daughter Siryn among them too. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #273-277]

Back on Earth, it took the combined might of X-Factor and the X-Men to take on the villain. During the conflict, Banshee was forced to fight both of his loved ones and, still under the evil telepath’s thrall, they had some pretty harsh words for Sean, reminding him of his past failures. Eventually, though, the Shadow King was defeated. With Muir Island pretty much devastated, Sean and Moira helped with the reconstruction of the mansion and the X-teams (the original five X-Men having decided to return to the fold), while Theresa found a new home among X-Force. [Muir Island Saga]

Moira, however, soon had another traumatic experience, when it came to light that she had tampered with Magneto’s DNA years ago and she refused any help from Sean or Xavier. Devastated about what she had done and fearing that she could not live with her guilt, Moira left for places unknown. Sean decided to quit the X-Men and went looking for her. [X-Men (2nd series) #1-5]

After a while, though, when he learned that she was doing fine without him, Sean was unsure where they stood with each other and opted for some vacation time on the Canary Islands. After a few months, when Banshee returned to the X-Men, Moira had already returned to the mansion to help Xavier with his research for the Legacy Virus. The couple made up with each other and decided to resume their relationship but it was tentative, as both found themselves kept busy with their different priorities. [X-Men (2nd series) #24]