Paradigm (comics)
Encyclopedia
Paradigm is a fictional mutant
character in the Marvel Comics
Universe, created for their comic book series X-Force
. His first appearance was in X-Force #87.
race known as the Phalanx
, governments began scrambling to find a way to utilize it to their advantage. One such attempt was conducted by the Chinese
government on a young mutant boy who had technokinesis—the manipulation of and communication with technological matter. The government scientists purposefully implanted the young boy with the Techno-Organic Virus
to see what would happen and the T-O virus had an interesting reaction with the young boy. Both the boy and the part of the Phalanx became transformed into a new being calling himself Paradigm, who not only had the Phalanx's penchant for shapeshifting
but was able to control the minds of people that he covered with his techno-matter. He was able to somehow escape from the facility and found himself allied with the man calling himself King Bedlam
.
Years later, he resurfaced as part of a group calling themselves the New Hellions, who were led by King Bedlam. They hoped to ransom
the United States government for a fortune by threatening to unleash the Armageddon Man, who was in suspended animation
. A member of X-Force
—Jesse
—had been searching for his long-lost brother and found him to be King Bedlam after years of searching, and was almost convinced into joining his cause. However, as the events began to unfold it became clear that King Bedlam would crush anyone, even family, who got in his way. He even devised a clever plan of switching the mind of Domino
with one of his operatives in order to keep X-Force from discovering the devious nature of his plan. Once it was underway, King Bedlam had Paradigm cover the members of X-Force (sans Jesse) in his techno-matter to have them be mindless automaton
s that would finish the final stages of his plan of reawakening the Armaggedon Man. However, Jesse—with the ability to scramble electronic devices much in the same way his brother scrambled minds—disrupted Paradigm and freed his teammates. Together with the help of Magma
the team was able to avert disaster. Paradigm told the team that he was going to go adventuring in an attempt to further evolve himself.
Paradigm is seen once again in the pages of Astonishing X-Men, or more accurately, his head is. Somewhere along the way, he was found by a mysterious villain called Kaga that killed him and took Paradigm's head to be used as computer interface system for a Brood ship. Cyclops later destroys his head out of respect for the dead. Paradigm was part of Kaga's long-term plan to destroy the X-Men out of sheer jealousy.
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
character in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
Universe, created for their comic book series X-Force
X-Force
X-Force is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero team, one of several spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise. Conceived by writer/illustrator Rob Liefeld, the team was formed in New Mutants, vol. 1 #100 and soon afterwards was featured in its own series.The group was a new incarnation of the 1980s...
. His first appearance was in X-Force #87.
Fictional character biography
Ever since the earth learned of the existence of the techno-organic extraterrestrialExtraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
race known as the Phalanx
Phalanx (comics)
The Phalanx are a fictional cybernetic species in the Marvel Comics universe. They have come in conflict with the X-Men and related groups on several occasions. They form a hive mind, linking each member by a telepathy-like system....
, governments began scrambling to find a way to utilize it to their advantage. One such attempt was conducted by the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
government on a young mutant boy who had technokinesis—the manipulation of and communication with technological matter. The government scientists purposefully implanted the young boy with the Techno-Organic Virus
Techno-organic virus
A techno-organic virus is a fictional virus in the Marvel Comics universe. The virus transforms organic material into techno-organic material. Techno-organic material resembles both machinery and living tissue...
to see what would happen and the T-O virus had an interesting reaction with the young boy. Both the boy and the part of the Phalanx became transformed into a new being calling himself Paradigm, who not only had the Phalanx's penchant for shapeshifting
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
but was able to control the minds of people that he covered with his techno-matter. He was able to somehow escape from the facility and found himself allied with the man calling himself King Bedlam
King Bedlam
King Bedlam is a fictional mutant character in the Marvel Comics Universe, created for their comic book series X-Force...
.
Years later, he resurfaced as part of a group calling themselves the New Hellions, who were led by King Bedlam. They hoped to ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
the United States government for a fortune by threatening to unleash the Armageddon Man, who was in suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
. A member of X-Force
X-Force
X-Force is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero team, one of several spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise. Conceived by writer/illustrator Rob Liefeld, the team was formed in New Mutants, vol. 1 #100 and soon afterwards was featured in its own series.The group was a new incarnation of the 1980s...
—Jesse
Bedlam (comics)
Bedlam is a fictional character, a mutant superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He originally possessed the mutant ability to create and project a bio-EM field. This has the effect of temporarily disabling any similarly powered technology in the vicinity. He can also utilize his power to scan...
—had been searching for his long-lost brother and found him to be King Bedlam after years of searching, and was almost convinced into joining his cause. However, as the events began to unfold it became clear that King Bedlam would crush anyone, even family, who got in his way. He even devised a clever plan of switching the mind of Domino
Domino (comics)
Domino is a Marvel Comics character, best known as a member of the X-Men offshoot X-Force. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld, she first fully appeared in X-Force, vol...
with one of his operatives in order to keep X-Force from discovering the devious nature of his plan. Once it was underway, King Bedlam had Paradigm cover the members of X-Force (sans Jesse) in his techno-matter to have them be mindless automaton
Automaton
An automaton is a self-operating machine. The word is sometimes used to describe a robot, more specifically an autonomous robot. An alternative spelling, now obsolete, is automation.-Etymology:...
s that would finish the final stages of his plan of reawakening the Armaggedon Man. However, Jesse—with the ability to scramble electronic devices much in the same way his brother scrambled minds—disrupted Paradigm and freed his teammates. Together with the help of Magma
Magma (comics)
Magma is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics series New Mutants, also associated with various X-Men-related comics. She was created by author Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod, and debuted in New Mutants #8...
the team was able to avert disaster. Paradigm told the team that he was going to go adventuring in an attempt to further evolve himself.
Paradigm is seen once again in the pages of Astonishing X-Men, or more accurately, his head is. Somewhere along the way, he was found by a mysterious villain called Kaga that killed him and took Paradigm's head to be used as computer interface system for a Brood ship. Cyclops later destroys his head out of respect for the dead. Paradigm was part of Kaga's long-term plan to destroy the X-Men out of sheer jealousy.