Adam X the X-Treme

Adam Neramani is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Tony Daniel, the character first appeared in X-Force Annual #2. Adam Neramani is a half-alien half-mutant. As part of an effort to diversify the genes of the royal Shi'ar bloodline, he was genetically engineered using the DNA of Emperor D'Ken and Katherine Summers, making him the half-brother of Scott Summers. He is known under the codenames Adam-X and X-Treme. Neramani is also called Adam X the X-Treme.

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Publication history

Concept and creation

In 1993, Fabian Nicieza introduced Adam Neramani as a grunge-inspired character who was part mutant, part Shi'ar, and whose origin contained hints that he might be the half-brother of Cyclops and Havok. However, this storyline was left unresolved when Nicieza departed from the X-Men series in 1995. Nicieza later confirmed that he intended Neramani to be the half-brother of Cyclops and Havok:
It was later revealed that, after the Shi'ar recognized the potential of the Summers bloodline, they engineered another child by combining the DNA of Emperor D'Ken and Katherine Summers. This child, Adam Neramani, was developed in an artificial womb but grew up unaware of his true lineage. His journey eventually led him to Earth, where his mutant ability to ignite blood first manifested.

Publication history

Adam Neramani debuted in X-Force Annual #2, created by Fabian Nicieza and Tony Daniel. He appeared in the 2020 X-Factor series, and in the 2021 X-Men Legends series.

Fictional character biography

Finding himself on Earth and unaware of his own past, Adam-X began working for industrialist Martin Strong helping bring mutants to a Strong Industries plant where he would seemingly give them shelter. In exchange, Strong promises to help Adam-X regain his identity. During this time, Adam-X develops a close friendship with fellow mutant Michelle Balters, also known as Neurotap. Unbeknown to Adam-X, Strong Industries was, in actuality, funded by Project Wideawake to develop a means to exterminate the "X" gene that makes mutants. Discovering the truth, Balters flees from Strong Industries and Adam-X is sent to bring her back in.
X-Force had already begun investigating Strong's activities when they cross paths with Balters. X-Force attempted to preserve Balters' freedom but they were momentarily incapacitated by Adam-X's mutant ability. Balters is able to escape with X-Force and provide him with information about Strong.
Although initially meeting as adversaries, Adam-X and X-Force eventually join to combat Martin Strong, once they discover that he is a mutant himself. Adam-X and Shatterstar, in particular, discover a mutual affinity due to their alien mutant status and love of battle. X-Force membership is offered to Adam-X but he declines, choosing instead to find his past and find who he is.
For unknown reasons, Mister Sinister, under the pseudonym of Mr. Milbury, hires Arcade to "test" Adam-X. At the same time, Major Domo hires Arcade to get rid of Shatterstar. Arcade decides to meet the demands of both employers by capturing the two and pit them against one another in Murderworld. After yet again battling one another briefly, Adam-X and Shatterstar join forces and work their way through Murderworld and defeat Arcade.
While traveling in the Canadian Yukon wilderness, Adam-X witnesses Phillip Summers' plane crash. Adam-X is able to rescue Summers before his plane explodes. Adam-X uses his mutant power to "heat" Summers' blood and keep him warm until he finally manages to carry him to a hospital. They are greeted by Summers' grandson, Cyclops and Cyclops' wife, Jean Grey. The two X-Men thank Adam-X for his efforts and, using Jean's telepathy, Adam-X is able to share some of his memories with Phillip, showing him the ships he flew while with the Shi'ar.
Adam-X meets Captain Marvel, and the two encounter Shi'ar agent Davan Shakari. Shakari reveals that Adam-X is the human/Shi'ar hybrid son of Emperor D'Ken. Adam-X kills Shakari.

Dark Reign

Years later, Adam-X finally returns in San Francisco, sitting drunk in a bar with other mutants. He is angry that humans are trying to prevent new mutant births and he participates in a riot. Adam is later arrested by Emma Frost and her Dark X-Men. They are taken into custody by the Dark X-Men. Later he and the other prisoners are freed by the X-Force and teleported to the island of Utopia.

S.W.O.R.D.

Adam-X is one of the many aliens arrested under orders from Henry Peter Gyrich, who had orchestrated a coup with the alien-monitoring agency S.W.O.R.D. He is imprisoned with many other earth-dwelling aliens, such as Beta Ray Bill and Ultra Girl. All the aliens are released by Abigail Brand, the former leader of S.W.O.R.D. Adam-X assists in driving off an alien invasion and is allowed his freedom. Brand, now in control again, clarifies she owes each of them a one-time favor.

Fear Itself

Among the over 50 plans Cyclops utilized to try to stop Juggernaut, Adam X was used to ignite Juggernaut's blood. The result was "worse than ineffective" as Juggernaut remained unstoppable, and for 15 minutes, burned anything he touched.

Summers family

The anthology title X-Men Legends reveals that Adam is genetically related to the Summers family, as genetic information from Katherine Summers was used in his creation.

Powers and abilities

Adam Neramani is a Shi'ar-mutant hybrid. He possesses superhuman strength, speed, sight, and stamina, abilities that are typical of the Shi'ar race. Due to his mutant heritage, he can ignite oxygenated blood, causing intense, immobilizing pain, and he can spread this effect across multiple targets simultaneously. He took down an entire group of soldiers led by Erik the Red with his powers.

Reception

George Marston of Newsarama said that Adam Neramani perfectly embodies '90s superhero clichés, evident just by looking at him. He found that the character goes beyond the typical trends of the era, even calling himself "X-Treme" in a time when adding an "X" to anything made it a hit. Marston also stated that Neramani's powers, like his blood being acid that can catch fire, and his exaggerated look push the '90s comic book style to its extreme, make him stand out as a symbol of the era, pushing the boundaries of superhero tropes.