Flashback Friday: Polaris the Magnet for Trouble

Jan 28, 2022

Polaris, aka Lorna Dane, may have questions about her parentage, but one thing is certain: she can control magnetism. The Marvel superhero was introduced in X-Men #49, created by Arnold Drake, Don Heck, Werner Roth, and Jim Steranko. Polaris met the X-Men when she was still a student. She was pulled to San Francisco when Mesmero used his psyche-generator to find mutants in North America who had latent powers. When she got there Iceman found her and broke her free from the trance by causing her to fall on a patch of ice. She went with him to meet the rest of the X-Men and soon learned of her latent mutant powers. Mesmero and his android Demi-Men captured her and took her to their desert base, causing the X-Men to go after her, but when they tried to save her they discovered that Magneto was the leader of the group. More than that, he claimed to be Lorna’s father.

Even though the X-Men warned her that Magneto is evil she still couldn’t bring herself to fight him. Iceman got back from meeting her foster parents who claimed that her birth parents died in a plane crash years ago. This caused Lorna to turn on Magneto, though it is revealed later that she was the cause of that crash and Magneto had the Mastermind erase her memories. What she didn’t know was that the Magneto claiming to be her father was an android.

After being captured by Sentinels and saved by the X-Men, she joined their team and began living at Xavier’s mansion. Though Iceman had feelings for her, she did not return them, instead falling in love with her teammate Havok. She helped Havok and the X-Men fight the alien Z’Nox when they tried to invade Earth. Then the pair left the X-Men and moved to the Diablo Mountain Range in California to follow their shared interest in studying geophysics. Later Polaris and Havok fought the Hulk then worked with the old and new X-Men to fight the mutant island Krakoa. This gave Lorna the chance to fully use her powers, disrupting the Earth’s magnetic field, sending Krakoa deep into space. She and Havok then joined Moira MacTaggert at her genetic research lab on Muir Island.

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This article originally appeared in Gemstone Publishing’s e-newsletter Scoop.

X-FACTOR BY PETER DAVID OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 STROMAN CVR

MARVEL COMICS

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(W) Peter David, More (A) More (A/CA) Larry Stroman

Peter David's first, transformative X-FACTOR run in one volume! Havok, Polaris, Quicksilver, Multiple Man, Wolfsbane and Strong Guy are the all-new, all-different X-Factor! Sanctioned by the U.S. government to protect humans from mutants - and vice versa - they take on threats including Mister Sinister and his Nasty Boys, the Mutant Liberation Front, and...the Incredible Hulk?! But their most challenging encounter is on the couch of super hero psychiatrist Doc Samson! Whether it's battling the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in the shadow of Genosha or clashing with X-Force during the X-Cutioner's Song saga, this unlikely band of heroes has team chemistry like nothing you've ever seen - and a unique style of humor that makes this series a true classic! Collecting X-FACTOR (1986) #55, #70-92 and ANNUAL #7-8; INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #390-392; and material from X-FACTOR ANNUAL #5-6 and NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL #6.

Rated T

In Shops: Aug 11, 2021

SRP: $100.00

MARVEL PREVIEWS Page #83

X-FACTOR EPIC COLLECTION TP ALL-NEW ALL-DIFFERENT X-FACTOR

MARVEL COMICS

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(W) Peter David, Fabian Nicieza (A) Jim Fern, More (A/CA) Larry Stroman

A new team is forged! Cyclops and company have rejoined the X-Men - and now Havok takes charge, leading a new government-sanctioned mutant squad! His recruits include Polaris, Wolfsbane, Quicksilver, Strong Guy and Multiple Man - but will the real Jamie Madrox please stand up? The new X-Factor must deal with murder mysteries, identity crises, smear campaigns and more - but Mr. Sinister and his Nasty Boys might be too much for them! The Incredible Hulk awaits in a foreign land, and the Mutant Liberation Front and Brotherhood of Evil Mutants heat things up at home, as the new X-Factor deals with diplomacy, deception and death while protecting Homo sapiens from their genetically challenged brethren...and vice versa! X-perience Peter David's hilarious mutant masterpiece from the beginning! Collecting X-FACTOR (1986) #71-83 and ANNUAL #7 and INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) #390-392.
Rated T

In Shops: Nov 28, 2018

SRP: $39.99

MARVEL PREVIEWS Page #126

ALL NEW X-FACTOR TP VOL 01 NOT BRAND X

MARVEL COMICS

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(W) Peter David (A) Carmine Di Giandomenico (CA) Jared K. Fletcher

X-Factor is back - like never before! Serval Industries - one of the world's most trusted names in electronics, and a leader in cutting-edge internet and weapons technology - has just unveiled their newest contribution to society: the All-New X-Factor! Led by the mutant mistress of magnetism, Polaris, the team uses its corporate backing for the betterment of society. But with her half-brother Quicksilver, notorious thief Gambit and more by her side, can Polaris trust that her corporate masters really have good intentions? Especially when X-Factor is meant to help people, but one of their own holds a dark secret? (Hint: it's Gambit.) Be there as the team learns the sinister truth behind Techno Inc., takes on former friends Danger and Warlock, and more! Experience the All-New X-Factor - brought to you by Serval Industries! Collecting ALL-NEW X-FACTOR #1-6.

In Shops: Jun 18, 2014

SRP: $17.99

MARVEL PREVIEWS Page #94

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Amanda Sheriff is Gemstone Publishing’s Associate Editor, serving as the writer/editor of the e-newsletter, Scoop. She is the author of The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Movie Posters, The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Concert Posters, and The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Horror, and co-author of The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles and The Overstreet Price Guide to Batman.