Longshot

Template:Superherobox Longshot is a Marvel Comics superhero, best known as a member of the X-Men. Created by Art Adams and Ann Nocenti, he first appeared in Longshot #1 (September, 1985).

Biography

Longshot is one of the few X-Men who are not mutants. He is actually an artificial humanoid who originated in the dimension known as "Mojoworld" or the "Mojoverse". Longshot was one of many slaves created by genetic engineers in the employ of Mojoworld's masters, the grossly obese, virtually immobile Spineless Ones, who were ruled by the media-obsessed delusional maniac named Mojo. The Spineless Ones based Longshot's human-like design upon creatures of their own nightmares, which had actually been inspired by humans at some point in the past. The head geneticist, Arize, gave Longshot and several other creations, such as the ram-headed Quark, free will, a conscience, and "good luck" powers.

Longshot rebelled against the slavemasters, and fled to Earth. A number of Mojo's servants, led by the hound-like Gog and Magog, pursued him, but in the process both Longshot and Magog received temporary amnesia. While recovering, Longshot befriended the human stuntwoman named Ricochet Rita. He also adopted the docile Magog, who he renamed "Pup", but the two fought and then fled from one another when Magog's memories and violent nature returned. Finally, Mojo and his assistant, the six-armed sword-wielding assassin named Spiral, followed Longshot to Earth. Longshot, Quark, Rita, and Doctor Strange sent Mojo and his minions back to the Mojoverse, but Ricochet Rita was dragged along with them. It would later be revealed that Rita had been displaced into the past, where she would be transformed into Spiral.

Longshot later joined the X-Men cast in the late 1980s. He was in a relationship with fellow X-Men member, Dazzler, and they may or may not be married. For a short time, they lived in Mojoworld, leading a rebellion first against Mojo and his temporary successor, "Mojo II: The Sequel". The pair also cared for the X-Babies, a group of Mojo-manufactured child clones of the X-Men. Dazzler was revealed to be pregnant with Longshot's child at one point, but this has not since been mentioned; the child may have been born and never seen by the readers, although evidence suggests that Dazzler may have had a miscarriage. Both Longshot and Dazzler have since returned to Earth separately from one another, suggesting that their relationship has come to an end.

Powers

Longshot has only three fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand. He has a star shaped scar on one of his eyes from being branded. He was genetically engineered and possibly augmented by magical means to have certain superhuman abilities. One of these is his ability to affect probability fields through psionic means in order to give himself "good luck" in his activities. This ability is tied into the positive aspects of his personality: should he attempt to use his powers for a selfish or evil act, or should he give up hope, his powers will fail to function.

Longshot can also telepathically "read" the recent memories of a person by making physical contact with him or her. Moreover, Longshot can read "psychic imprints" that people leave on objects that they have handled. Longshot has hollow, bird-like bones, but musculature like a humans. Hence, he is capable of superhuman agility. Longshot carries cleaver-like blades which he hurls with inhuman accuracy.

Ultimate Longshot

Like many Marvel characters, Longshot has been reinvented for the Ultimate Marvel universe. Ultimate Longshot first appeared in Ultimate X-Men #54, written by Brian K. Vaughan. In the Ultimate Universe, Longshot is a teenager accused of murdering a Genoshan politician. Genosha is rabidly anti-mutant, and Longshot is put on a reality show on an island where he is hunted by humans who try to kill him to win the game (much like Stephen King's The Running Man.). The show is run by Mojo, who in this universe is a morbidly obese, albino, human.

The X-Men journey to the island Longshot is on, assuming he is innocent and was framed. It is later discovered that he is guilty; he had stumbled upon his girlfriend Spiral with the politician and killed him in a fit of rage. The X-Men, not knowing this, help him escape from the island. It is only after he is gone do they discover the truth.

Longshot's powers in the Ultimate universe appear to be the same as they are in the regular one.fr:Longshot