Over the course of his childhood, Kevin grew up resentful of Moira, but especially of his father who he dubbed "the one-I-hate".

(Uncanny X-Men I#104 - BTS) - During a confrontation against the X-Men on Muir Island, Magneto walked off in triumph, inadvertently setting in motion a chain of events that caused "Mutant X" to break free from his cell.

(Uncanny X-Men I#127 - BTS) - After spreading a trail of death and destruction and killing one of Jamie Madrox's clones, Proteus took over ferry boat captain Angus MacWhirter's body which allowed him to get off Muir Island and move to Edinburgh to look for his dad. Realizing Kevin was after his father, Moira MacTaggert set off for Joe's residence in Edinburgh.

(Uncanny X-Men I#127) - Moira pushed herself and her jeep to the limit in order to cover the distance between Muir and Edinburgh in record time. MacTaggert's butler Wallis showed her in, after which she was confronted with Joe who was more than a little surprised to see his estranged wife. He tried to charm her, in an attempt to figure out what prompted her sudden visit. When he coldly stated a divorce was out of the question because he still found being married to a Nobel Prize winner useful politically, Moira plainly told him he left her pregnant and that she suspected their son was coming to kill him.

   Enraged at the news she kept his heir from him for over twenty years, MacTaggert moved to hit Moira who pulled a gun on him. Cursing her out, Joe sent her off, assuring that her conscience was clear for telling him. Moments later, just as Joe was trying to reach the local police in order to either get some protection or have his wife arrested, Proteus showed up and claimed Joe's form.

   Proteus, in his new body, confronted his mother who was shocked to find that her son seemed different: his voice and manner were like Joe's. Proteus explained that by absorbing his father, he realized how much they were alike. Proteus reveled in MacTaggert's passion and raw strength, claiming his form would last him a long time.

(Uncanny X-Men I#128 - BTS) - After the X-Men fought Proteus in the streets of Edinburgh, the reality warping mutant was forced to use his powers in such a degree he finally burned out Joe MacTaggert's body. Forced to abandon his father's form, he tried to take over one of the X-Men but was finally dispersed when Colossus used his organic steel frame to disrupt Kevin's energy matrix.

(Classic X-Men I#36/2 - BTS) - Despite the fact very little of their physical forms remained after their confrontation with the X-Men, father and son MacTaggert were buried next to each other in an Edinburgh graveyard.

(Classic X-Men I#36/2) - Accompanied by her lover Banshee (Sean Cassidy), an upset Moira MacTaggert visited Kevin and Joe's graves. Home on Muir Island, she figured that while Kevin's mind and body might be dead, his energy form was still around. By cloning her son's body, Moira theorized the energy would help recreate her son, this time free from the emotional impact that being conceived via rape had caused him. In the end, Banshee convinced her to let the idea go.

(Uncanny X-Men Annual I#15 - BTS) - Joe's Proteus-possessed form was called up by Moira MacTaggert when she informed X-Force, the New Warriors and her Islanders of the threat Proteus might form if villains Harness and Piecemeal succeeded in their scheme to collect Proteus' energies.

(Exiles I#71 - BTS) - A Proteus-possessed Joe MacTaggert briefly appeared on the Panoptichron's screens when Exiles member Heather Hudson called up an overview of how the history of the Proteus of Earth-616 should have unfolded if not for the Scarlet Witch causing the reality altering event known as the "House of M".

(X-Men: Legacy I#211 (fb) ) - Charles Xavier, tortured by vivid, guilt fueled nightmares, dreamed up his twin sister Cassandra Nova who took him on a dream journey across his less than stellar decisions and achievements. In the dream, Xavier subconsciously compared the way he had treated his own son Legion (David Haller) to the way Joseph MacTaggert dealt with Proteus. 

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciller), Terry Austin (inker).

Proteus mentioned that Joe's body lasted longer than others. This might have been due to MacTaggert's exceptional strong will or fine physical shape. Another explanation could be that his genetic makeup was more compatible with his son's (after all, half of it was his).

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Joe MacTaggert has no known connections to:

• Any other Joe or MacTaggert characters
  

Wallis

Wallis was a butler assigned to take care of British Parliant Member Joseph "Joe" MacTaggert's household. The balding servant was courteous and polite, granting Moira MacTaggert access when she came to see her husband to warn him about the imminent threat of his son Proteus. Not wanting to discuss this rather delicate matter in public, Moira requested to talk to Joe alone, who immediately dismissed his man servant, adressing him by his nickname "Wallie".