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LIGHTNING ROD

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human (Genosha) mutant (depowered)

Occupation: Former terrorist

Group Membership: Unus' gang (Caiman, Glamour, Hub, Shocker/Randall Darby, Toad, Toad-In-Waiting, Unus the Untouchable/Gunther Bain)

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Chimère, "Excalibur" (Book/Annika, Broadband, Callisto, Freakshow/Kevin, Shola Inkosi, Magneto/Max Eisenhardt, Omega Sentinel/Karima Shapandar, Professor X/Charles Xavier, Wicked), Genoshan Magistrates

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
                                  formerly Genosha 

First Appearance: Excalibur III#1 (July, 2004)

Powers/Abilities: Lightning Rod was a mutant who could generate electrical current, releasing it as blasts from his hands. He was apparently immune to his own electricity, though he did wear an insulated costume.

Height: 5'7" (by approximation)
Weight: 140 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Unrevealed (wears goggles)
Hair: Bald (blue skin)

Using powers!

History:

(Excalibur III#1 (fb) - BTS) - Through unrevealed ways, the mutant known only as Lightning Rod came to live on Genosha, possibly some time after Cassandra Nova's Sentinels devastated the island. He joined up with Unus the Untouchable who felt he was the uncrowned ruler of the decimated mutant population (see comments).

(Excalibur III#1) - From his headquarters inside the head of the abandoned giant Sentinels left on Genosha, Unus spotted Charles Xavier's arrival on the island. Acting on rumors the coffin he had brought contained the body of Magneto, Unus rallied Lightning Rod and the others to go teach "baldy" who really owns the island. Unus led Lightning Rod and the gang against Xavier and his new allies Freakshow and Wicked. However, Xavier had telepathically taken control of him and his fellow teammates, leaving them paralyzed while Freakshow turned into a giant monster and swallowed Unus. Xavier and his companions continued on their way.

(Excalibur III#2) - With Unus still missing, Lightning Rod and the others returned to their headquarters. They were joined by fellow members Toad, Hub and Toad-In-Waiting who were convinced Unus would survive this ordeal though Hub wondered if they should take him back as their leader. Some time later, after Unus proved indigestible and was vomited out by Freakshow, Lightning Rod and the others attacked their leader whose forcefield withstood all their blows, proving he still had what it takes to lead them. Unus swore vengeance on Xavier and his allies.

(Excalibur III#3 - BTS) – One of Lightning Rod's fellow gang members, Hack, left with the teleporting mutant Hub to free two superhumans (Shola Inkosi and Karima Shapandar) kept in stasis by the Genoshan Magistrates. When the island’s former peace-keeping force realized what they'd done, they mounted a full scale attack to get their property back.

Fighting Magistrates (Excalibur III#4) - Believing the battalion of Magistrates attacking Genosha were trying to regain control of the island, Unus led Lightning Rod and the others against them. Lightning Rod used his electrical powers to shortcircuit a number of Magistrate armors, though in the end the paramilitary force inevitably gained the upperhand. The day was saved by the arrival of Shola Inkosi and the Prime Sentinel Karima Shapandar who took out all the Magistrates. Xavier took the soldiers prisoner, which didn't sit well with Unus who took Lightning Rod and his other troops to confront Charles in his beachside headquarters. Unus demanded that the professor handed his prisoners to him, claiming there was no law on the island. Xavier, flanked by Magneto, Callisto, Karima and his young allies, told off Unus and made him turn away.

(Excalibur III#5) - Plagued by nightmares of the Sentinels' carnage on Genosha, the mildly telepathic combat telekinetic Shola Inkosi went on a midnight run. In the end, he was so overwhelmed by the images of death and destruction he involuntarily picked up that he released a massive telekinetic blast at the giant Sentinels that still stood like skyscrapers on the island. The blast rocked the construction, waking Lightning Rod and the others who briefly believed they were under attack.

(Excalibur III#8) - Eager to start rebuilding Genosha, Xavier realized he needed the help of Unus and his gang. Early one morning, he had Shola fly up to their Sentinel statue headquarters to rouse Unus, Lightning Rod and the others. They watched as Xavier's forces started to clear out the ruined buildings to make room for new houses and farmland. Xavier officially asked Unus and his followers to join them, but they laughed in his face. When Xavier left, they agreed to wait around for Charles to do all the work before they took it all away from him.

(House of M#8 - BTS) - Lightning Rod was one of the victims of the Scarlet Witch's reality altering spell that reduced the millions of gene active mutants to less than 200 worldwide.

(New Avengers I#17 - BTS) - Lightning Rod's mutant energies became part of the Collective.

(New Avengers I#18 - BTS) - SHIELD analyzed the Collective's multiple energy signatures and traced them back to Lightning Rod and 50+ other former mutants who had all lost their powers on M-Day.

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont (writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Greg Adams (inks).

Lightning Rod was never named on panel, Excalibur artist Aaron Lopresti confirmed his codename during an interview. It would be a bit of a stretch if his first name actually turned out to be Rod.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Lightning Rod should not be confused with

images: (without ads)
Excalibur III#1, p13, pan6 (main image)
Excalibur III#2, p22, pan4 (tries to hit Unus)
Excalibur III#4, p7, pans5&6 (fighting Magistrates)

Appearances:
Excalibur III#1 (July, 2004) - Chris Claremont (writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Greg Adams (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
Excalibur III#2 (August, 2004) - Chris Claremont (writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Greg Adams (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
Excalibur III#4 (October, 2004) - Chris Claremont (writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Greg Adams (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
Excalibur III#5 (November, 2004) - Chris Claremont (writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Greg Adams (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
Excalibur III#8 (February, 2005) - Chris Claremont (writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Greg Adams (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
House of M#8 (December, 2005) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Oliver Coipel (pencils), John Dell, Scott Hanna & Tim Townsend (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
New Avengers I#17 (May, 2006) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (pencils), Joe Pimentel (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
New Avengers I#18 (June, 2006) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (pencils), Joe Pimentel (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First Posted: 07/09/2015
Last Updated: 07/05/2015

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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