Storm Teams Up with the X-Men’s Most Overlooked Hero & It’s Epic!

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In issue #7 of “Storm,” penned by Murewa Ayodele and Lucciano Vecchio, we find ourselves immersed in another exceptional chapter of the standalone title “From the Ashes.” Ayodele skillfully elevates Storm to new heights, bestowing upon her the power of Eternity, a move that aims to safeguard the universe from an impending, universe-consuming danger. This narrative perfectly encapsulates the heroic journey that Storm embodies; given her pivotal role as the X-Men’s foremost leader, she rightfully takes her place among Marvel’s esteemed superheroes.

In this issue, Storm faces off against an enigmatic adversary, but fortunately, she doesn’t stand alone. Maggott, one of the most underestimated X-Men, reappears in the series, marking another brilliant move by Ayodele.

Ayodele has accomplished more than merely resurrecting Maggot; he’s significantly enhanced his abilities, elevating him to the elite class of Omega-level mutants. It’s noteworthy that even Storm, who controls the weather, is an Omega-class mutant. However, Maggott’s powers are distinctively different from Storm’s, and the recent upgrade has left fans, who have been following him since his introduction in the mid ’90s, over two decades ago, pleasantly surprised.

Maggot Was a Strange Addition to the X-Men

During an intriguing period in the X-Men’s history, a new character named Maggott made his debut. This was around issue #345 of Uncanny X-Men, marking the start of another enigmatic X-Man. This method was a common practice in the ’90s for creating popular X-Men characters, as it had been effective with Wolverine in the ’70s and ’80s, and Gambit and Bishop in the early ’90s. The formula was straightforward: introduce an appealing, visually striking character who would capture reader interest due to their appearance, then capitalize on this interest as more details about the character were revealed.

However, unlike Wolverine, Gambit, and Bishop, Maggott didn’t quite resonate with readers in the same way — he was a large, blue figure with unusual worm-like creatures. By 1997, when the character was first introduced, the X-Men readership had been experiencing declining interest, particularly under writer Scott Lobdell who held a significant role in the X-Men titles for quite some time by then. Maggott lacked the appeal that earlier mystery box characters possessed. Nevertheless, this doesn’t diminish the fact that the character was actually quite fascinating, as he possessed unique qualities and characteristics.

Initially, Maggott was believed to be Australian, with Lobdell using Aussie slang frequently. However, following Lobdell’s exit from X-books, Joe Kelly reimagined Maggott as South African. It was later unveiled that his trailing maggots, which ate everything and followed him everywhere, were actually part of his digestive system. He would release them to gain energy, which he did by consuming anything they ate. Upon their return, he gained superhuman strength and durability. It was also disclosed that Magneto discovered and nursed him back to health when his powers first manifested. Although this concept was intriguing, the X-Men comics of 1997 were drastically different from what they had been just a year prior, and Maggott was eventually removed from the team during a roster reduction. Since then, he’s moved around the Marvel Universe’s mutant sphere, experiencing death and resurrection, even making appearances during the Krakoa Era. These events ultimately led to his current role as Storm’s trusted assistant.

Maggott Is Ready for His Close-Up

Maggott’s brief moment in the X-Men limelight left a lot to be desired, and that’s being kind about it. After his debut, the character was significantly altered, and despite appearing prominently in various stories during X-Men (Vol. 2), he disappeared by issue #80. This was when writers Chris Claremont and Steve Seagle were compelled to reduce the X-Men roster due to manageability concerns. Along with Cecilia Reyes, another new mutant introduced around the same time, Maggott was written out and his potential for stardom vanished with him. Since then, he’s been relegated to the D-list.

Fervent supporters of Maggott are elated by his recent return, as they’ve always admired him for his distinctive abilities and compelling South African background. In the series Storm, fans are now witnessing the full potential of this character that was once sketched by legendary ’90s X-Men artist Joe Madureira. The power boost only serves to make him a more formidable hero than ever before, fulfilling what readers have longed for since his introduction decades ago. Here’s hoping that Maggott’s role in Storm will eventually elevate him to the pinnacle of mutant fame, a position he should have held 28 years back.

Storm #7 is on sale now.

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2025-04-12 17:11