Shard (character)
Comics character
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shard Bishop is a mutant fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Shard was created by Scott Lobdell and John Romita Jr., and first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #314 (July 1994). She is a mutant with the ability to manipulate light into energy blasts.
(First full appearance) Uncanny X-Men #314 (July 1994)
John Romita Jr. (artist)
| Shard Bishop | |
|---|---|
Shard as depicted in X-Factor #147 (July 1998). Art by Mike S. Miller. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (Illusion) Uncanny X-Men Annual #17 (December 1993) (First full appearance) Uncanny X-Men #314 (July 1994) |
| Created by | Scott Lobdell (writer) John Romita Jr. (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human mutant, later holographic |
| Team affiliations | Xavier Security Enforcers X-Factor |
| Partnerships | Chronomancer |
| Notable aliases | Askante |
| Abilities | Energy blasts, intangibility (holographic Shard only) |
Shard is the younger sister of the X-Man Bishop, hailing from a future where mutants are hunted or put into concentration camps. She is initially a member of the X.S.E., before joining the present day X-Factor as a hologram.
Shard appears in X-Men: The Animated Series, voiced by Sandi Ross.
Publication history
Created by Scott Lobdell and John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #314 (July 1994). Shard was killed off in the series XSE (1997). Shard will be reintroduced in the 2026 series Bishop, where she is transported to the present day shortly before her death.[1][2]
Fictional character biography
Shard is a Lieutenant in Xavier's Security Enforcers (X.S.E.) with her older brother Lucas Bishop in the 2080s. Shard was born and raised in a mutant concentration camp, in which mutants were branded over their right eyes with the letter "M" for recognition.[3] In Uncanny X-Men Annual #17, Shard is stated as having the mutant ability of "transubbing ambient light into concussive force".[volume and issue needed]
Shard becomes the youngest X.S.E. graduate a year after Bishop attains the position. She serves under Bishop as a member of the Omega Squad (which included Bishop and his officers, Randall and Malcolm), until her promotion.[3]
Together in the X.S.E., Shard and Bishop are responsible for apprehending criminal mutants. During a battle, Shard is partially infected with a vampire-like affliction originating from the present-day mutant Emplate.[1] Bishop takes Shard to the New York Stark/Fujikawa building to save her life by transmitting her essence into a holographic matrix. Shard's physical body dies, while her essence survives in the matrix.[4][3]
Bishop eventually travels to the present day to track down Trevor Fitzroy, one of his time's most wanted criminals and Shard's ex-lover. Shard is recreated as a computer construct and joins the government-sponsored team X-Factor.[3]
After X-Factor disbands, Shard is transported into an alternate future. There, she is killed a second time while saving Bishop from Trevor Fitzroy.[5][3]
Powers and abilities
Shard is able to absorb ambient light particles and use it to perform various light-based attacks. While she was a photon-based life form, she could also become intangible.
Reception
In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Shard 75th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[6]
In other media
- Shard appears in X-Men: The Animated Series, voiced by Sandi Ross.[citation needed]
- Shard appears in X-Men '97, voiced by Kimberly Woods.[7]
- Shard appears as an unlockable playable character in X-Men: Mojo World.[citation needed]