Skin (Marvel Comics)
| Skin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Uncanny X-Men #317 (October 1994) |
| Created by | Scott Lobdell (writer) Joe Madureira (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Angelo Espinosa |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | Generation X |
| Abilities | Six feet of extra, malleable skin which can be stretched or reshaped at will |
Skin (Angelo Espinosa) is a fictional character (a human mutant) appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #317 (October 1994).
Fictional character biography
[edit]Angelo Espinosa is a former gang member from the east Los Angeles area who faked his own death for numerous reasons; to make sure that his friend Tores was not blamed for murder, to hide his newly manifested mutation from his family, and to leave that part of his life behind. Skin is one of four young mutants (including M, Husk, and Blink) abducted by the Phalanx, a techno-organic alien species who intended to uncover the secret behind their inability to assimilate mutants into their collective. Through their combined efforts and those of Banshee, Emma Frost, Sabretooth, Synch, and Jubilee, the four manage to escape their confines. However, Blink sacrifices herself by using her powers to destroy the Phalanx who had captured them.[1][2]
Afterwards, Skin accepts an invitation to enroll in the Massachusetts Academy, a school for mutants owned by Emma Frost. As a member of Generation X, Skin is joined by Synch, Jubilee, Husk, and M (and later by Chamber, Penance, and Mondo). During his stay at the Massachusetts Academy, Skin becomes close friends with Chamber because neither can pass for normal humans in public, and playfully flirts with Husk, Jubilee (whom he nicknamed Jubecita), and M. Skin is also hunted by a mutant-killing vigilante known as the X-Cutioner, who believes him to be responsible for the death of Angelo Espinosa. The X-Cutioner did not know that Skin is Angelo. Skin succeeds in defeating the vigilante, but keeps his identity secret.[3]
During Operation: Zero Tolerance, Skin and his teammates are transported to his hometown by Glorian.[4] While searching for Skin's cousin Gil, they are captured by Skin's ex-girlfriend Tores, a gang leader who wants to kill him for making her believe he was dead. However, Prime Sentinels attack both Generation X and her gang, forcing them into a reluctant temporary truce. Skin and Tores act as bait to lead the Sentinels into an ambush, and Gil completes the trap by starting a huge explosion, allowing Generation X to escape.[5]
After the Academy closes due to the machinations of Adrienne Frost, Skin returns to Los Angeles with Jubilee in tow.[6] Some time later, Skin, Jubilee, Magma, Bedlam, and several other mutants are found crucified by the Church of Humanity, an anti-mutant organization. Archangel uses his healing blood to resurrect Jubilee and Magma, but Bedlam and Skin do not survive.[7]
In Necrosha, Skin is resurrected via the Transmode Virus to serve as part of Selene's army of deceased mutants. Under the control of Selene and Eli Bard, he takes part in attacking the mutant nation of Utopia.[8]
Years later, Skin is resurrected on Krakoa through the Five. His resurrection is pushed forward on the schedule because his former teammate Synch is needed to act as a backup for the Five, who believe that the two will help each other re-adjust.[9][10] Skin is seen arm in arm with Synch and standing next to Broo at a party following the first meeting of the Quiet Council of Krakoa.[11] He is later approached by Madison Jeffries manifesting himself through the land, who explains to him that he was thrown in the Pit of Exile for trying to create a place for Danger to live, which is deemed a violation of rule three by the Council.[12] He later tells Blob about this, unsure if it really happened. Blob assures him he has seen enough weird things to believe his story and remarks there will going to be a power-vacuum soon and that "it's good to have a brotherhood".[13]
Powers and abilities
[edit]Skin possesses approximately six feet of extra skin, which he is capable of stretching, deforming, wrapping, expanding, and compressing at will.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] At one point, Skin learns to manipulate the melanin in his epidermis to appear normal. However, this causes him to have migraines and he soon gives up on the idea of being normal.[18][20]
Other versions
[edit]An alternate universe variant of Skin from Earth-295 appears in "Age of Apocalypse". This version is a protégé of Colossus and Shadowcat who is later killed by the Core's guards.[21]
In other media
[edit]Skin appears in Generation X, portrayed by Agustin Rodriguez.[15] This version possesses full elasticity akin to Mister Fantastic, though using the ability causes him great pain.
References
[edit]- ^ Uncanny X-Men #317 (October 1994)
- ^ X-Men (vol. 2) #37 (October 1994)
- ^ Generation X #17 (July 1996)
- ^ Generation X #28 (June 1997)
- ^ Generation X #29–31 (August - October 1997)
- ^ X-Men Unlimited #34 (June 2002)
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #423 (July 2003)
- ^ X-Force (vol. 3) #22 (February 2010)
- ^ Webber, Tim (October 3, 2019). "House of X Quietly Revives Two Fan-Favorite X-Men". CBR. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
As the X-Men celebrate the founding of Krakoa in House of X #6, Skin and Synch, two long-dead members of Generation X, could be seen alive and laughing with their teammates.
- ^ X-Men (vol. 5) #5 (March 2020)
- ^ House of X #6 (December 2019)
- ^ Sabretooth (vol. 4) #3 (June 2022)
- ^ Sabretooth (vol. 4) #4 (July 2022)
- ^ Generation X #1 (November 1994)
- ^ a b Fink, Richard (March 28, 2024). "10 Weirdest X-Men You'll Likely Never See in Live Action". MovieWeb. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
Angelo Espinosa possesses six feet of extra skin, which he can use to extend, wrap, and expand as both defensive and offensive weapons...Skin technically was adapted already in the television pilot Generation X from 1996 and played by Augustin Rodriguez, and has powers closer to Mr. Fantastic than his comic book version.
- ^ Iacobucci, Jordan (May 20, 2023). "10 Worst Superpowers In Marvel Comics". CBR. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
Angelo Espinosa is a mutant who eventually adopts the abundantly creepy codename Skin after joining the Phalanx. Making his debut in 1994, Skin eventually joins the X-Men, using his ability to create six feet of reshapeable skin to aid his new compatriots in their various battles against the world's supervillains. Although Skin's abilities aren't totally useless, they are far grosser than they are helpful.
- ^ Young, Kai (February 29, 2024). "10 X-Men Characters Who Would Never Work In The MCU". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
[Angelo] Espinosa's mutation gifts him six extra feet of malleable skin that can be stretched and reshaped at will, but this looks remarkably similar to the elastic abilities of Mister Fantastic.
- ^ a b Neely, Austin (September 12, 2023). "15 Grossest Superpowers in Marvel History". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
Angelo Espinosa is another mutant whose gifts are less than aesthetically pleasing. Skin's "gift" comes in the form of more than six feet of loose, elastic skin dangling from his body that he can stretch, wrap, deform, expand, and compress. In time, Skin has learned how (through intense focus) to bring his epidermis to a "normal" tightness, as otherwise the loose flaps make him resemble a "melted candle."
- ^ Kennedy, Cole (June 5, 2022). "The 10 Worst Powers In The Marvel Universe". CBR. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
Skin has approximately six extra feet of skin on his body that he can manipulate in various ways. At first glance, his powers are extremely similar to Mr. Fantastic's. However, Reed Richards can stretch every element of his body, bones and muscles included, making him far more powerful and durable. Skin can stretch and expand his skin, but he's still as vulnerable as a normal human.
- ^ a b Wilson, John (August 11, 2019). "10 Marvel Comic Characters With Disgusting Powers". CBR. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
Angelo can stretch, expand, and pull this skin to perform any number of feats as long as it doesn't compromise his normal skeletal structure underneath. He can also reshape his face but he can't change the pigment of his skin. It also requires a great deal of concentration. The thought of being enveloped in the folds of someone's extra skin brings up a lot of touch issues, not to mention hygiene ones. Also, Angelo looks like a melted candle most of the time if he fails to concentrate.
- ^ Generation Next #4 (June 1995)