BERNARD THE POET
Real Name: Bernard (last name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human mutant
Occupation: Poet
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Angel (Warren Worthington), Beast (Henry McCoy), Vera Cantor, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), Professor X, Candy Southern, Zelda
Enemies: None
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: New York City, New York
First Appearance: X-Men I#7 (September, 1964)
Powers/Abilities: A mutant with latent powers, Bernard's ability to alter the perceptions of others with his words was triggered by the presence of other mutants. It is unknown if Bernard retained his powers after the events of M-Day. Bernard is also a talented poet, with a penchant for beatnik style lyrics and performances.
History:
(X-Men I#7) - Bernard performed at the Coffee A-Go-Go in a brilliant Zen poetry reading of a housewife's shopping list. When Hank McCoy (the Beast) bared his large feet, the crowd clamored that Bernard would write a poem about them.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#21) - Bernard performed at the Coffee A-Go-Go, reciting his poetry stating "There they were, a generation... lost, alone, overwhelmed... thirsting for a wake-up call, without even a toothbrush..."
(X-Men I#14) - Bernard recited, "Like it's square to be hip, I mean dig the scene, a nap isn't a nip" for patrons at the coffee shop.
(X-Men I#31) - After a performance in which he compared life to a yo-yo, Bernard intruded on a date Zelda, a waitress at the shop, was on with Bobby Drake (Iceman). He flirted with her, but really only wanted her espresso, and sat at her table. When her drink became frozen inexplicably, he excused himself.
(X-Men I#32) - Bernard recited a birthday poem at the coffee shop at Bobby Drake's birthday party. "A birthday's like a comely lass, from shadowed night she does appear. Yet, all the while, you know, alas -she'll only see you once a year!" This was only the first of thirteen stanzas. At the finish of his poem, his applause was interrupted by the attack of a motorcycle gang named Satan's Saints. The teenagers at the party were able to thwart the gang through a series of antics.
(Marvel Holiday Special 1994 (fb) ) - Bernard recited "It's a satellite moon... it's a plagiarized tune... that duck on the lake's a decoy... there's a sodium glare... in the purified air..." for the patrons of the coffee shop.
(X-Men/Clan Destine#1 - BTS) - Archangel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Jean Grey set out to town for a one-night comeback of Bernard. Cannonball asked to come with them, but they advised him to remain at the school.
(Uncanny X-Men: Winter's End#1) - Bernard performed poetry for the X-Men, who gathered at the Coffee A Go-Go for Iceman's birthday party.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Chic Stone.
Bernard was described by Professor X as a neo-mutant, his powers latent and only triggered by the vicinity of other mutants.
The X-Men First Class series that spanned three volumes from 2006 until 2009 depicted new adventures of the original X-Men, loosely placing it within the 616 universe. Sadly, Marvel editorial's current policy is that the First Class series were not in Reality-616.
(X-Men: First Class Special#1 (fb) - BTS) - Bernard published a CD called "Bringing it hard with Bernard."
(X-Men: First Class Special#1) - Bernard performed for the crowd at the Coffee A-Go-Go, including Angel (Warren Worthington), Beast (Henry McCoy), Cyclops, Iceman, and Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), after being introduced by Zelda. He gave off a bizarre list of poetic lyrics, his words washing over the young mutants and suddenly seemingly transforming them into bizarre versions of themselves. The patrons went running for it as Professor X explained he'd only altered their perceptions. Professor X mentally altered the memories of the crowd and Zelda so that they would forget these events. Xavier then convinced Bernard to not perform any more, but to instead keep his poetry on paper.
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Bernard the Poet
has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
X-Men: First Class Special#1/2, p11, pan5 (main)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#21, p5, pan5 (2nd)
Appearances:
X-Men I#7 (September, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (penciler), Chic Stone (inker)
X-Men I#14 (November, 1965) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby, Jay Gavin (pencilers), Vince Colletta (inker)
X-Men I#31-32 (April-May, 1967) - Roy Thomas (writer), Werner Roth (penciler), John Tartaglione (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Marvel Holiday Special 1994 - Kurt Busiek (writer), James Fry (penciler), Neil Volkes (editor)
X-Men/Clan Destine#1 (October, 1996) - Alan Davis (writer/penciler), Mark Farmer (inker), Bob Harras (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#7 (May, 1997) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Pat Olliffe (penciler), Al Williamson (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
X-Men: First Class Special#1/2 (July, 2007) - Jeff Parker (writer), Nick Dragotta (penciler), Mike Allred (inker), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Uncanny X-Men: Winter's End#1 (May, 2019) - Sina Grace (writer), Nathan Buckman (artist), Darren Shan (editor)
First Posted: 02/21/2008
Last updated: 03/21/2019
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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