Beak (comics)
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Beak (Barnell Bohusk) is the name of a fictional character associated with the New X-Men and its spinoff the Exiles. Beak first appeared in New X-Men volume 1 #117 and was created by Grant Morrison and Ethan van Sciver.
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[edit] Character biography
Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Beak started developing his powers at puberty. His body changed into that of a humanoid-bird form, with a beaked face, bulbous eyes, wing-like arms that give him the ability to fly (albeit clumsily), talons on his hands and feet, and double-jointed knees. He also possesses heightened agility, and he may possess heightened senses and a lighter skeletal structure like the avian X-Man formerly known as the Angel. Feeling disgusted and ashamed because of his appearance, Beak ran away from home and went into hiding. He tells Beast off-panel in New X-Men #117 that his nickname originated from other teenagers in Rotterdam, who would find him hiding behind beer barrels.
[edit] Xavier Institute For Higher Learning
After the Xavier Institute For Higher Learning publicly revealed that the school was a training ground and sanctuary for mutants, Beak traveled to the United States and enrolled there. There, the Beast helped him with his powers. Tragically, the fledgling relationship between Beast and Beak never got a chance to fully develop because of the evil tamperings of Cassandra Nova. While in the body of Professor X, Cassandra Nova took control over the Beak's mind, leaving him just enough sentient thought to realize what he was doing but not have any control over his actions. She then ordered him to beat Beast almost to death with his prize titanium baseball bat. However, he survived and after Cassandra Nova was defeated Beak was transferred to the "Special Class" that was taught by Xorn. At the institute Beak fell in love with another classmate, Angel Salvadore (not to be confused with Angel). Though Angel originally started the relationship on a bet, she later fell in love with him too. They ended up having sex, and Angel became pregnant. Fearing that the X-Men would kick them out, and what their babies would be like (due to their drastically different mutant physiologies; Angel's mutation is fly-related) they didn't know what to do. Luckily, the X-Men weren't angry with them and the babies turned out fine (Angel laid six eggs which hatched healthy babies). Angel and Beak were given a small house next to the mansion to raise their family. Once again, Beak's trust in those around him would be shaken when Xorn revealed himself to be Magneto (originally intended to be Magneto and later retconned by Marvel. It has been subsequently written into the storylines that this may have been caused by the Scarlet Witch). He had Beak join his Brotherhood of Mutants along with the rest of the Special Class. Beak had looked up to Xorn and was happy at first, but when the "Xorneto" started marching humans into crematoriums, Beak rebelled and nearly lost his life as a result. Later, he was the first to strike in the X-Men's last ditch assault on the Brotherhood. He attacked Magneto with a metal baseball bat and was taken out of action early on.
[edit] Exiles
After helping Cyclops depose Xorneto, Beak became "unhinged" from time and was forced to join the reality hopping group known as the Exiles. This has caused him to be separated from Angel, who now thinks he left her. The person who gives the Exiles their missions, the Timebroker, says Beak is destined in the future to save the lives of everyone he knows. Beak saved the lives of everyone in the Marvel multiverse by coming up with the strategy to beat the seemingly invincible evil version of Hyperion. He was then sent home, but he returned during the House of M and was present when the second change wave (House of M #7) hit. As a result of the effects of the House of M event, Beak, his wife Angel and their children (except for Tito, which is also the name of Beak's future grandson) have lost their powers and thus, their "hideous" appearance and are now finally able to live happily.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Beak's abilities had probably not fully developed when he lost his mutancy. However, it is known that he had hollow bones, enhanced agility, and that his entire body was covered in feathers. He had demonstrated a limited ability to glide, but had not mastered controlled flight. His endurance appeared to be enhanced as he has fallen several stories and dusted himself off and went about his business as if nothing happened. A fall from such a height would have reduced an ordinary human to an unrecognizable pulp.
Beak's greatest real power lies in his character. Beak is a man of exceptionally high honor, integrity, and personal bravery. This makes it easy for Beak to form alliances with many powerful and influential characters as they can recognize these virtues and see Beak for his true value, even if Beak, and many of the X-Men, cannot. It was this reason that Beak was allowed to become an X-Men member so easily, when he seemed under-qualified in most regards. It should be noted that his grasp of the English language is somewhat limited.
[edit] Here Comes Tomorrow
- Main article: Tito Jerome Bohusk
At the end of Morrison's run on New X-Men, Beak's grandson, Tito Bohusk Jr. (the child of his son Tito Bohusk), was shown as a member of the X-Men in the Here Comes Tomorrow future timeline. He was shown to carry his grandfather's titanium bat.
[edit] Trivia
There are certain similarities between Beak and the character of Julian "Bean" Delphiki in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game Series. In addition to having similar nicknames, both are from Rotterdam. Both of them are physically deformed (Bean was the result of a genetic experiment that caused him to grow very slowly at first, but not stop, so he eventually becomes a giant). Both are, to a certain extent, superhuman (Bean's genetic experimentation causes him to have phenomenal intelligence). Both nicknames are given to them by other kids due their appearance (Bean was named for the fact that he wasn't "worth a Bean").
Whether this similarity is intentional is unknown.
[edit] Bibliography
- Exiles #46-59, 62-71
- Generation M #4
- New X-Men vol. 2 #117-119, 125-126, 131, 135-138, 140-141, 146, 147-150
