Infectia

Superherobox|

caption=
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Infectia
real_name=Josephine
species=Human Mutant
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut= X-Factor (1st series) #28 (May 1988)
creators=Louise Simonson
Walt Simonson
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=
aliases=
powers=Ability to induce mutations in other beings|

Infectia (Josephine) is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.

Publication history

Infectia first appeared in "X-Factor" (1st series) #28 (May 1988), and was created by Louise Simonson and Walt Simonson.

The character subsequently appears in "X-Factor" #29-31 (June-August 1988), and #55 (June 1990), and she died of the Legacy Virus in "X-Men" #27 (December 1993).

Infectia received an entry in the "Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89" #4.

Fictional character biography

Infectia was a mutant with the ability to perceive the molecular structure of living beings and induce mutations in them by altering their genetic makeup. She typically manifested her power by kissing her intended target. When used on baseline humans, this power caused them to become deformed monsters with superhuman strength and a fanatical loyalty to Infectia, who called them her "Anti-Bodies". Unfortunately these mutations were unstable, and the Anti-Bodies would spontaneously combust after a short time.

She was a skilled geneticist having picked up her skills from her father who was also a well known scientist who'd made a lot of money from his research. Her mother appears to have died when Infectia was young and her father died whilst Infectia was in high school, leaving her his house and all his money. Infectia dropped out of school and started studying her powers. She started flirting with humans that wanted superpowers, (normally meeting them in bars). Infectia gave them super strength, by turning them into Anti-bodies, in return, they had to do something for her.

She originally appears as an adversary of X-Factor. Infectia wishes to take control of X-Factor's sentient headquarters Ship. She first gathers together some of her Anti-bodies and sent them to fight X-Factor. Jean Grey kills the three minions. She then decides to seduce and control Iceman with her powers, but she didn't know exactly what would happen as she'd never tried her powers on another mutant. Beast foiled her plan when he intercepts a kiss intended for Iceman. The kiss left Beast comatose, and when he recovers he regains his intelligence (which Apocalypse had caused to fade) and his blue furry form as an effect of Infectia's powers. Other kisses meant for Iceman are foiled by a juinor group of mutants, the X-Terminators, who were also living aboard Ship. Ship himself tries to help out but is limited as he is vulnerable to Infectia's powers. She is ultimately defeated off-Ship.

She later makes amends with Beast while dying from the Legacy Virus. Beast cares for Infectia in her final days. ["X-Men" #27 (December 1993)]

Powers and abilities

Can psionically scan and visualize the molecular structures of living things, including her own, and then rearrange their physical forms with a touch in any way she can imagine.

References

External links

* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/i/infectia.htm Infectia at MarvelDirectory.com]
*http://www.uncannyxmen.net/