Micromax


Micromax is a fictional character, a mutant superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

Micromax was created by Alan Davis and first appeared in Excalibur #44.
In January 2022, Marvel Comics ran a voting contest where voters could pick between one of ten characters to join the X-Men: Micromax, Gorgon, Gentle, Armor, Penance, Avalanche, Bling!, Firestar, Siryn, and Surge. In July 2022, Micromax appeared in a digital comic released as a companion to the second Hellfire Gala. This comic revealed that the election had also been held in-universe, with Micromax losing the vote.

Fictional character biography

Prior to the discovery of his mutant abilities, Scott Wright was a disk jockey. With the discovery of his powers he became a special British government operative for M.I.6, a secret British national security unit, under the name Micromax.
He is first seen mistaking Rachel Summers for a burglar, and mistakenly trying to arrest her for robbery. He is later backup for a disastrous mission with his superior officer Brigadier Theobold Blott, several psychics and a team of F.I.6 'Mediators'. They are assigned to track down the perpetrator of the previous thefts and initially erroneously accuse Nightcrawler of sabotage. After this mishap, they are overpowered by a servant of Necrom, a powerful sorcerer. They later encounter Necrom himself, and Micromax is the only one to survive the mission, due to his shrinking abilities. He unsuccessfully attempts to kill Necrom. Necrom comes away with the impression Micromax has little viable life force. Micromax is later mind-controlled by Brain Drain in an attempt to assassinate the British Prime Minister, but this is thwarted by Aurora. Micromax later helps Excalibur members Kylun and Feron battle Necrom, using his powers to grow to a massive size and crush him.
Micromax participates in battling the threat from the politician Orpington Smythe. Smythe is using manipulation, torture, and murder in an attempt to control all the governmental agencies that deal with super-powered happenings. Micromax is captured by the R.C.X. and is subjected to medical tests at the Cloud Nine facility. Excalibur and a mutiny from within Smythe's own ranks eventually end Smythe's threat.
After a few missions with Excalibur, he resigns from the F.I.6 to join the Brand Corporation in New Jersey. He returns to his super-hero identity from time to time, and even helps the Avengers face the invasion of Kang the Conqueror.
He becomes involved in a battle with X-Force and the surviving original X-Men over the '198', a group of mutants who retained their powers after the Decimation and are being detained in the X-Mansion. At the request of the British government, Micromax joins the Office of National Emergency, a policing force against unruly mutants. This team is fronted by Bishop with the support of Sabra. During the fight he is stabbed in the chest by Shatterstar, and the 198 escape. He receives medical attention and survives the attack.
Micromax has also been shown to be working with a group of vigilantes, called the Vanguard.

Powers and abilities

Micromax has the ability to increase, decrease, or redistribute his body mass, allowing for dramatic size and shape changes. He can shrink to roughly half an inch or grow to 65 feet in height. In everyday life, he uses these powers to become taller, robust, and give himself a full head of hair rather than his short, pot-bellied, but balding appearance. Micromax is a skilled unarmed combatant and had been trained by the F.I.6.

Reception

In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Micromax 80th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.

Other versions

House of M

An alternate universe version of Micromax from Earth-58163 appears in House of M: Masters of Evil #4 as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Red Guard.

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe version of Micromax from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel imprint.