Acolytes (comics)

Acolytes
From left to right:Tempo, Random, Carmella Unuscione, Frenzy, Exodus. The newest incarnation of the Acolytes. Art by Humberto Ramos
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Men vol. 2 #1 (1991)
Created by	Chris Claremont Jim Lee
In-story information
Base(s)	Genosha Avalon Mount Saint Francis, France Asteroid M Muir Island
Member(s)	Former members: Barnacle Chrome Colossus Anne-Marie Cortez Fabian Cortez Decay Delgado Exodus Firefist Frenzy Gargouille Javitz Joseph Kamal Katu Eric Kleinstock Harlan Kleinstock Sven Kleinstock Magneto Mellencamp Milan Neophyte Omega Sentinel Orator Polaris Projector Rakkus Random REM-RAM Scanner Senyaka Skids Spoor Static Tempo Unuscione Vindaloo Voght Winters

The Acolytes is a team of comic book mutant supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The Acolytes followed the principles of the mutant Magneto, particularly the mutant right of superiority over normal humans. Some members of the Acolytes even worshipped him with a religious fervor and regarded him as the “mutant messiah.” The Acolytes first appeared in X-Men vol. 2 #1 (October 1991) and were created by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee.

Fictional group history

The Acolytes were first a group of desperate mutants on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers, originally led by Fabian Cortez. Magneto housed them on his space station, Asteroid M, giving the mutants refuge. Due to events arranged and manipulated by Fabian Cortez, the first group of Acolytes perished. Cortez used their deaths and the assumed death of Magneto as martyrdom to further his cause against normal humanity.^[1]

Cortez formed and led a second group of Acolytes whose first mission was to attack a school for the handicapped, Our Mother of the Sacred Heart, to find a child who would one day become a powerful mutant. The X-Men interfered with their attack and the Acolytes retreated. Afterwards, the Acolytes kidnapped Moira MacTaggert. Fabian Cortez’s reason was to ascertain whether Magneto was alive. Moira was rescued by the X-Men.^[2] The Acolytes’ next attack was on a hospital. Four members of the Acolytes were involved in killing several dying, hospitalized humans. Next, the team attempted an aborted attack on a military base. They were opposed by X-Factor and their mercenary ally Random. The attack on the base actually proved beneficial because it was a way for Fabian to attempt to coerce Quicksilver, the son of Magneto, to join his cause.^[3] Meanwhile, Magneto returned to hatch his plan of revenge. Magneto recruited Exodus, in order to reclaim the Acolytes in his name.^[4]

Fall of Avalon

After the events of Fatal Attractions and the Age of Apocalypse, the Acolytes found a cocoon drifting in space. They brought it aboard and awoke Holocaust. Holocaust went on a rampage, killing several members of the Acolytes; Javitz, Rusty Collins and Milan. In his duel with Exodus, the Acolytes’ new space station, Avalon, was destroyed.^[5] Jean Grey and Cyclops were teleported there by Voght to help the remaining Acolytes. Skids was rescued by Jean Grey, while former X-Man Colossus put a comatose Magneto into a lifepod and sent him to Earth. Meanwhile Cyclops crash-landed with some of the 'hardcore' Acolytes and ended up in the Australian Outback, it was his ingenuity and knowledge and the assistance of Scanner that kept them alive.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Genosha

Some time passed before the Acolytes reformed. When Magneto was granted control of Genosha, he reconstituted the Acolytes, with new and old, surviving members. He used the Acolytes as a force to help him gain control over the war-torn island. After the civil war, the Acolytes and Genosha prospered, but the prosperity did not last. After the Eve of Destruction storyline, the Acolytes were not prepared for the worst. Genosha was attacked by a “wild Sentinel” programmed by Cassandra Nova. Genosha was destroyed along with millions of its mutant population. Most of the Acolytes remained unaccounted for, with only Exodus, Voght, Senyaka, Cargill and Unuscione known to be alive at the time. Later more Acolytes showed up to be alive as well.^{[volume & issue needed]}

After M-Day

Later it was revealed Scanner is still alive but de-powered after the events of M-Day.^{[volume & issue needed]}

The Acolytes resurfaced after the events of Decimation, consisting of returning members Exodus and Cargill, Random who aided them in a mission before, and former Mutant Liberation Front member Tempo. They planned to use S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Helicarrier to find the locations of latent mutants, but discovered the mutant gene had been wiped out making the remaining mutants an endangered species. After a battle with the X-Men, the Acolytes fled and sought out a way to replenish the mutant population. Exodus, Cargill, Tempo, Unuscione, and Random were confirmed to be members of the newest incarnation of the team,^[6] as well as Senyaka, still in his Acolytes uniform, who took on Deadpool on the island of Providence while the Marauders Gambit and Sunfire attacked Cable. It has been revealed that the Acolytes were being used by Sinister to obtain Destiny's Diaries and kill Blindfold.^[7]

Messiah Complex

As the Marauders, the X-Men and the Purifiers race to find the first mutant baby born since M-Day, the X-Men seek out former Acolytes Projector, Neophyte, Gargouille and Vindaloo to try and interrogate information to Exodus' whereabouts as they believe that he and Sinister reached the child first.^[8] Afterwards, they track down Amelia Voght for the same purpose where they finally receive the information they were looking for.^[9]

X-Men: Legacy

The Acolytes, finally joined by Amelia Voght, were last seen in X-Men: Legacy, where Exodus attempts to revive Professor X after being shot by Bishop. He manages to repair the physical part of Xavier's brain, but not give it the spark it needs to fully reactivate. For help, Exodus turned to his former leader, Magneto, even though he was disgusted the former great leader was now a lowly human. Erik, along with Karima Shapandar, managed to get a reaction going in Xavier's brain to get him to awaken, though minus much of his memories. However, before they could leave, Frenzy, disgusted that her team was even helping Xavier to begin with, let her emotions boil over and attacked, attempting to kill Xavier, but was subdued when Magneto fired a laser into her eye. Exodus came upon this scene, and became infuriated that one of his mutants was harmed by a human, and aimed to kill his former leader, but not before Xavier challenged him to a fight on the psychic plane. Xavier won, and he, Erik, and Karima left the Acolyte hideout and went their separate ways.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Recently, Xavier returned to New Avalon and convinced Exodus to disband the group and find a new way to help mutantkind. While Exodus decided to embark on a personal pilgrimage to this effect, Amelia Voght, Random, and Karima decide to relocate to San Francisco (possibly to join the X-Men). Tempo was still undecided on her course of action, but was considering joining them while Joanna Cargill and Carmella Unuscione had not made any decision one way or the other. However, Cargil was later seen in San Francisco in the midst of anti-mutant rioting incited by Simon Trask^[10][11]

Members

Character	Real Name	Joined In	Notes
Original Incarnation
Magneto	Max Eisenhardt	X-Men (vol. 2) #2	He founded the team and lead the team. Depowered following the effects of M-Day. Powers restored by the High Evolutionary in Uncanny X-Men #507. He is the father of Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Polaris. Currently a member of the X-Men and working alongside the High Evolutionary to reverse the effects of M-Day.
Anne-Marie Cortez	Anne-Marie Cortez	X-Men (vol. 2) #2	She is the sister of Fabian Cortez. She died in the crash-landing Asteroid M.
Fabian Cortez	Fabian Cortez	X-Men (vol. 2) #2	He was later killed by Exodus in Avengers #369, but revealed to be alive only to be killed by Magneto in Magneto: Dark Seduction #4. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha. He is the brother of Anne-Marie Cortez.
Chrome	Allen Marc Yuricic	X-Men (vol. 2) #2	Died in the crash-landing Asteroid M.
Marco Delgado	Marco Delgado	X-Men (vol. 2) #2	Died in the crash-landing Asteroid M. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Winters	Nance Winters	X-Men (vol. 2) #2	Was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent at the time of joining the Acolytes. Only joined because she was be brainwashed by Anne-Marie Cortez. Her current whereabouts are unknown, although it is presumed she died in the crash-landing of Asteroid M.
Second Incarnation
Scanner	Sarah Ryall	Avengers #357	Formerly known as Screener. Has served in many Acolytes Incarnation, was thought to be dead after Cassandra Nova's attack on Genosha, but revealed alive. One of the many mutants to be depowered after M-Day.
Frenzy	Joanna Cargill	Uncanny X-Men #298	Formerly known as Frenzy. Formerly a member of the Alliance of Evil and the X-Men (under Jean Grey's mind control). Murdered Sharon Friedlander during her first mission. Mind-controlled by Jean Grey into briefly serving on a temporary team of X-Men in order to stop Magneto from conquering the world. Recently moved to San Francisco to seek refuge with the X-Men following the disbanding of the Acolytes.
Unuscione	Carmella Unuscione	Uncanny X-Men #298	Believed to be the daughter of Unus the Untouchable. Was thought to be dead after Cassandra Nova's attack on Genosha, but revealed alive and powered after M-Day.
Kleinstock Brothers	Harlan, Sven, and Eric Kleinstock	Uncanny X-Men #298	Destroyed the facility where Sharon Friedlander was working during their first mission. Following that, Tom Corsi shot and killed Eric Kleinstock. After Avalon's destruction, they turned themselves in to the authorities. Later rejoined. It is unknown if they were on Genosha during Cassandra Nova's attack, or if they retained their powerd after M-Day.
Isaac Javitz	Isaac Javitz	Uncanny X-Men #298	Killed during Holocaust's attack on Avalon.
Neophyte	Simon Hall	Uncanny X-Men #300	Survived execution at the hands of his own Acolytes but was banished from the group, rejoined sometime after the return of Magneto and survived Holocaust's attack on Avalon. He also was revealed to have survived Cassandra Nova's attack on Genosha and even managed to retain his powers after M-Day.
Francisco Milan	Francisco Milan	Uncanny X-Men #300	Killed during Holocaust's attacks on Avalon.
Amelia Voght	Amelia Voght	Uncanny X-Men #300	Thought to have been killed during Cassandra Nova's Genosha attack, but revealed alive and continued working as a nurse until she rejoined just before Messiah Complex storyline. She is the former lover of Professor X, but left him after his decision to start the X-Men. Recently moved to San Francisco to seek refuge with the X-Men following the disbanding of the Acolytes.
Suvik Senyaka	Suvik Senyaka	Uncanny X-Men #300	Formerly known as Sanyaka. Crushed by Magneto with his own coils, but later recuperated. Revealed to be one of Selene's followers in the Necrosha event.
Spoor	Andrew Hamish Graves	Uncanny X-Men #300	Former prisoner of Muir Island. Killed during Cassandra Nova's attacks on Genosha. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Katu Kath	Katu Kath	Uncanny X-Men #300	Sacrificed himself to Omega Red and survived. Killed during Cassandra Nova's Genosha attack. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Seamus Mellencamp	Seamus Mellencamp	Uncanny X-Men #300	Killed by Multiple Man, but later revealed alive. Was killed during Cassandra Nova's Genosha attack. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Exodus	Bennet du Paris/Paris Bennett	X-Factor #92	Former leader of the team and former second-in-command to Magneto. Former leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants. He was recently convinced by Professor X to disband the Acolytes in X-Men: Legacy #225. Current whereabouts is unknown.
Russell Collins	Russell Collins	X-Force #25	Former ward of X-Factor. Killed during Holocaust's attack on Avalon. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Skids	Sally Blevins	X-Force #25	Former ward of X-Factor. Left the team following Rusty's death. Current agent of S.H.I.E.L.D..
Colossus	Piotr Nicoleivitch Rasputin	Uncanny X-Men #304	Joined after the death of his sister, Illyana Rasputin. Left after Avalon's destruction. Later rejoined the X-Men and died of the Legacy Virus in Uncanny X-Men #390. Later revived and is now an active member of the X-Men.
Rakkus	David Anthony Rice	Avengers #380	Presumed either deceased or depowered.
Third Incarnation
Orator	Victor Ludwig	Magneto #1	Presumed depowered.
Kamal el Alaqui	Kamal el Alaqui	Magneto #2	Confirmed alive, but presumed depowered.
Decay	Jacob Lashinski	Quicksilver #9	Died after his own powers backfired in a battle against the High Evolutionary.
Gargouille	Lavinia LeBlanc	Quicksilver #9	Confirmed to have retained her powers following M-Day. Current whereabouts is unknown.
Joseph	Joseph	Quicksilver #9	Died in X-Men (vol. 2) #87 after losing physical cohesion while communing with the electromagnetic spectrum.
Projector	Zachary Williams	Quicksilver #9	Confirmed alive and to have retained his powers after M-Day. Current whereabouts is unknown.
Fourth Incarnation
REM-RAM	Marcus Andrews	X-Men: The Magneto War	Killed during Cassandra Nova's assault on Genosha. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Static	Gianna Carina Esperanza	X-Men: The Magneto War	Killed during Cassandra Nova's attack on Genosha. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Barnacle	Mortimer Everett	X-Men: The Magneto War	Killed during Cassandra Nova's attack on Genosha. Resurrected via the transmode virus during Necrosha.
Vindaloo	Venkat Katregadda	Uncanny X-Men #366	Confirmed to be alive and to have retained his powers following M-Day. Current whereabouts is unknown.
Fifth Incarnation
Random	Marshall Evan Stone III	X-Men (vol. 2) Annual 2007	Former member of the Brotherhood of Mutants. Following the disbanding of the Acolytes, he left with Amelia Voght, Omega Sentinel, Frenxy and Tempo to seek refuge in San Francisco alongside the X-Men.
Tempo	Heather Tucker	X-Men (vol. 2) Annual 2007	Former member of the Mutant Liberation Front. Following the disbanding of the Acolytes, she left with Amelia Voght, Omega Sentinel, Frenzy, and Random to seek refuge in San Francisco alongside the X-Men.
Associates
Wolverine	James Howlett/Logan	X-Men (vol. 2) #3	Brainwashed into joining and fighting the X-Men. Came to his senses and fought off the Acolytes. Current member of The New Avengers, X-Men, and X-Force.
Cyclops	Scott Summers	X-Men (vol. 2) #3	Brainwashed into joining and fighting the X-Men. Came to his senses and fought off the Acolytes. Current member and leader of the X-Men.
Gambit	Remy LeBeau	X-Men (vol. 2) #3	Brainwashed into joining and fighting the X-Men. Came to his senses and fought off the Acolytes. Currently appearing in X-Men: Legacy alongside Rogue and Danger.
Beast	Dr. Hank McCoy	X-Men (vol. 2) #3	Brainwashed into joining and fighting the X-Men. Came to his senses and fought off the Acolytes. Currently a member of the X-Men.
Rogue	Unknown	X-Men (vol. 2) #3	Brainwashed into joined and fighting the X-Men. Came to her senses and fought off the Acolytes. Currently appearing in X-Men: Legacy alongside Gambit and Danger.
Psylocke	Elizabeth Braddock	X-Men (vol. 2) #3	Brainwashed into joining and fighting the X-Men. Came to her senses and fought off the Acolytes. Currently a member of the X-Men after returning to the mainstream time line from the Exiles.
Polaris	Lorna Dane	X-Men (vol. 2) #98	Declined becoming a full-fledged member. Aided Magneto in ruling over Genosha since she found out he is her father. Became mentally unstable following Cassandra Nova's attack on Genosha. Current member of the Starjammers.
Quicksilver	Pietro Maximoff	Unknown	Aided Magneto in his ruling over Genosha. Depowered after M-Day, but regained his powers in X-Factor. Current member of the Avengers.
Pyro	St. John Allerdyce	Quicksilver #6	Associate member under Exodus when he attacked Wundagore Mountain. Died of the Legacy Virus.
Feral	Maria Callasantos	Quicksilver #6	Associate member when under Exodus when he attacked Wundagore Mountain. Depowered after M-Day and later killed by Sabretooth. Resurrected via the Transmode virus during Necrosha.
Avalanche	Dominic Szilard Petros	Quicksilver #6	Associate member under Exodus when he attacked Wundagore Mountain. Current whereabouts is unknown.
Omega Red	Arkady Russovich	Quicksilver #6	Associate member under Exodus when he attacked Wundagore Mountain. Current whereabouts is unknown.
Fenris	Andrea & Andreas Von Strucker	Quicksilver #8	Associate member under Exodus when he attacked Wundagore Mountain. Killed by Baron Zemo.
Omega Sentinel	Karima Shapandar	X-Men: Legacy #208	Was aiding Exodus in keeping Xavier alive. Xavier defeated Exodus and left Magneto and Karima behind. Following Xavier's absence, Magneto left and she remained with the Acolytes. Professor X later returned and she turned on Exodus. Currently seeking refuge in San Francisco with Tempo, Amelia Voght, and Random alongside the X-Men.

Other versions

Marvel Zombies

In Marvel Zombies, the Marvel superheroes (The Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Hulk, Daredevil, and the others superheroes) have been infected by an unknown virus and turned into flesh eating zombies and kill most of the humans population for their food. The Acolytes (The Acolytes shown are Fabian Cortez, Joanna Cargill, Scanner, Lisa Hendricks, Reynolds, Burns and several unnamed members) and a surviving X-Men member Forge are among the few survivors hiding in the third Asteroid M. Magneto (who appears to be the only mutant left uninfected on Earth) helps Reed Richards from the Ultimate Universe and the other three civillain survivors escape using Reed’s machine. Magneto gives his life in damaging the machine.

The Acolytes offer to rescue Magneto via shuttle. Upon returning to Earth the Acolytes could not find Magneto (he had been eaten), but discover a still-living Black Panther and zombie Wasp “head”. Cortez recognizes that the Black Panther is a human and alive. The Acolyte Burns moves to attack and Black Panther kills him with Wasp's head. Cortez brokers a truce, stating Burns paid for his foolishness with his life.

Panther moves in with the Acolytes, all knowing the value of teamwork. Wasp comes with, against the Acolytes' protests. Back on Asteroid M, Forge constructs new limbs for Panther and a body for the Wasp. Lisa Hendricks and Panther develop romantic feelings for each other.

The story skips five years later when the Acolyte groups find no humans or zombies on Earth. In the sequel, "Marvel Zombies 2", the surviving zombies, having eaten most of the universe, come back to Earth thirty five years later to find the dimensional machine. It is under Forge's control. The survivors and descendents of the Acolytes have split into two factions, disputing Panther's leadership. Reynolds remains on Panther's side, having formed an emotional attachment to Wasp. Panther is killed by an Acolytle assassin and revived by Wasp. The returning zombies fight the Acolyte group and themselves. Casualties arise on both sides. A peace is brokered when all the surviving zombies realize they do not crave human flesh anymore. Despite this, Cortez's son, now aiming for leadership of the last of the humans, reveals he had been in control of the dimensional machine via sabotage. He sends the last of the zombies to another dimension and kills Forge to cover this up.

In the prequel, it is revealed that Magneto and Fabian Cortez made a deal with an unknown entity to bring the virus to earth.

Ultimate X-Men

In Ultimate X-Men, the Acolytes are a fanatical paramilitary offshoot of the Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy, which branched off following Magneto’s first defeat in opposition to the relatively pacifist leadership of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

In other media

Television

• The Acolytes appear in the two-part X-Men episode “Sanctuary”. The team as presented consists of Fabian Cortez, Amelia Voght, Marco Delgado, Chrome, Carmela Unuscione, Joanna Cargill, and Byron Calley. The Acolytes aid Magneto in the liberation of the Genoshan mutant slaves from the hands of the Genoshan Magistrates. After Magneto is betrayed by Cortez and believed to have been killed by the X-Men, the Acolytes pledge their loyalty to Cortez. After Cortez' plot was exposed, the Acolytes turn on him. Francisco Milan is shown in a video screen as one of the scientists that helped Magneto build Asteroid M. Suvik Senyaka makes a cameo appearance in the episode “Secrets No Longer Buried,” as one of the residents of the mutant-dominated community of Skull Mesa.

• In the X-Men: Evolution animated series, the Acolytes are the second team of Magneto after he left The Brotherhood. Besides him, the Acolytes are made up of Gambit, Pyro, Colossus (whom Magneto blackmailed into joining him), Sabretooth, and Mastermind. The team first appeared in the two-part episode "Day of Reckoning" where they fight the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants (who were gathered together by Mystique disguised as Professor X). In "The Stuff of Villains," Magneto sends Gambit to offer the Brotherhood a spot on Magneto's team if they spring Quicksilver from a military transport. The Brotherhood was successful in the mission, but Gambit told them that Quicksilver will lead them and make sure they prove themselves to Magneto. In "The Toad, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," Mastermind was recruited by Magneto to rewrite Scarlet Witch's memories. In "Dark Horizon," Magneto and his Acolytes work with the X-Men to prevent the release of Apocalypse. In "Impact," the Acolytes search the ruins of Egypt for any means to stop Apocalypse. As of "Cajun Spice" (following the apparent death of Magneto in "Impact"), the Acolytes have disbanded when Pyro mentioned to Wolverine (who was looking for Gambit after he kidnapped Rogue) that Colossus bailed and went back to Russia, and Sabretooth is on the open road somewhere. Pyro also tells Wolverine that he does not know Gambit's location.

• In Wolverine and the X-Men, the Acolytes once again serve Magneto on Genosha. They are seen to be a much larger team than seen in the former shows almost doubling in size as its membership includes Blink, Juggernaut, the Kleinstock Triplets, Polaris, Pyro, Mellencamp, Mercury, Mystique, Senyaka, Scarlet Witch, and Scanner. The Acolytes (with the exception of Juggernaut, Mystique, Polaris, the Kleinstocks, and Scanner) first appear in "Greetings from Genosha" where they welcome the ship that Nightcrawler and the other mutants are on. When Nightcrawler discovers the underground cells, he is attacked by Magneto and the Acolytes. In "Battle Lines," Magneto sends the Acolytes to various MRD Facilities to break out the imprisoned mutants. In "Foresight" Pt. 3, the Acolytes were present when Scarlet Witch and Polaris had Blink remove Magneto and Quicksilver from Genosha.

Video games

• In Magneto’s ending in X-Men vs. Street Fighter, he has killed M. Bison, the leader of Shadaloo. After seeing the demise of their leader, Sagat, Vega, and Balrog volunteered to become new members of the Acolytes. Magneto allows them to join despite the fact they are not mutants (they are superhuman in their own right). This ending is non-canon.
• The Acolytes also appear after a player has defeated Magneto in the game X-Men: Children of the Atom.
• The Acolytes appear in the video game X-Men Legends. Though no actual Acolyte members are shown, Acolyte Warrior Elites and Acolyte Adept Elites serve as the foot soldiers of the Brotherhood of Mutants.

References

1. ^ X-Men vol. 2 #1-3
2. ^ Uncanny X-Men #298-300
3. ^ X-Factor vol. 1 #92
4. ^ X-Force vol. 1 #25
5. ^ "X-Men" vol. 2 #42 (July 1995)
6. ^ X-Men vol. 2 #201
7. ^ X-Men vol. 2 #202
8. ^ Uncanny X-Men #492
9. ^ X-Factor (vol. 3) #25
10. ^ X-Men: Legacy #225
11. ^ Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men: Utopia #1

External links

• Acolytes at Marvel.com
• ACOLYTES—An in-depth profile of the team and various incarnations, at UXN.