Neophyte (comics)


Simon Hall is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #300. Hall belongs to the subspecies of humans called mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities. He is a supervillain known under the codename Neophyte and is affiliated with the Acolytes.

Publication history

Simon Hall debuted in Uncanny X-Men #300, created by Scott Lobdell and John Romita Jr.

Fictional character biography

Neophyte is a Swiss mutant with the ability to phase his body and others, allowing complete intangibility and high-speed transport through inanimate matter. Discovered by Joanna Cargill, Unuscione, and Milan in an abandoned church in Switzerland, he accepted their invitation to join the Acolytes. The youngest member of the group, he does not accompany the other Acolytes into battle and is assigned tasks of little importance.
Neophyte later discovers that Fabian Cortez, a member of the Acolytes, has apparently killed the group's leader, Magneto. Neophyte is banished from the Acolytes' headquarters and rescued by a human woman, which confuses him as he did not believe humans would help mutants. The Acolytes kill the woman, causing Neophyte to reconsider his loyalty to them. Neophyte helps the X-Men battle the Acolytes and is offered sanctuary, but refuses.
Neophyte is later captured and put on trial by the Acolytes, who view him as a traitor. Colossus defends Neophyte in his case and convinces Exodus to return Neophyte to Earth.

Powers and abilities

Neophyte possesses the mutant ability to phase himself and at least two others through solid matter. He can also use this power to travel quickly across vast distances, presumably by remaining stationary while the Earth rotates beneath him.

Other versions

An alternate universe version of Neophyte from Earth-11326 appears in Age of X: Communiques #1.