(X-Men Prime#1 (fb) - BTS) - Due to the growing anti-mutant hysteria, West Coast native Dennis Hogan no longer felt safe. Learning of the existence of the mysterious X-Men and figuring they might be able to cure him, he was determined to find them. Hogan reasoned that the exclusive Xavier Institute in Salem Center might be connected to the mutants and went on a two day, cross country trip to reach the small New York town.
(X-Men Prime#1) - Dennis arrived in Yonkers, New York where he went to the train station to catch a ride to Salem Center. However, because he hadn't eaten in days he decided to grab a quick bite at Den-Joe, the local bar, even though he was so exhausted it was hard for him to control his mutation. Inside, he ordered some soup and gently brushed off the waitress' advances figuring he had no right getting involved with a human until he was cured (see comments). At the same time, he overheard Trish Tilby on television, reporting that the Legacy virus was now able to infect and kill humans as well. All the while, Dennis desperately tried to keep calm to hold his morphing in check. He quickly finished his soup and left the bar, which caught the attention of his fellow Den-Joe patrons Amy, Arthur, Chevy, Lance and Manny. They figured that someone who was in such a hurry must have something to hide and maybe was a "mutie" as well.
(X-Men Prime#1 - BTS) - Dennis soon sensed he was being chased and
ran for three miles along the tracks to escape his pursuers. His
plight was telepathically picked up by Charles Xavier who asked Storm
to fly him to Hogan.
(X-Men Prime#1) - Arthur, Chevy and the others caught up with Hogan
a few feet before he reached Salem Center. Fearful and exhausted,
soaking wet because he ran through a thunderstorm, Dennis shifted into
his reptilian form which was all his assailants needed to attack.
Dennis was hit upside the head with a baseball bat and dropped to the
ground while the angry mob mercilessly pummeled him. En route, Xavier
sensed Dennis' distress and sent his astral self ahead to make sure
Hogan wasn't alone during his final moments. He was left for dead in
the woods outside Salem Center by the gang who figured they'd done the
world a favor. Moments later, the X-Men arrived with Xavier's body. In
his dying moments, cradled in Xavier's arms, Dennis was relieved to
see the X-Men, because he knew he'd be safe. He then perished away
quietly, while Xavier reminded his students that if nothing else, this
proved they had to continue to fight for a better world or they would
all share Dennis' fate (see
comments).