Press Gang (comics)

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Press Gang

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Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Uncanny X-Men #235 (October 1988)
Created by Chris Claremont
In story information
Type of organization Enforcers
Base(s) Genosha
Agent(s) Hawkshaw
Punchout
Pipeline
Wipeout

The Press Gang are a group of fictional characters in the Marvel Comics universe, who first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #235 (October 1988), and were created by Chris Claremont.

The Press Gang are a group of mutant enforcers for the regime of Genosha, a fictional country in the Marvel Universe where mutants are enslaved by law, and many are genetically altered by the Genegineer into Genoshan Mutates devoid of free will in order to serve Genosha's economic needs. The Press Gang are sent out to retrieve mutants who attempt to defect to other nations, as this action is not recognized by Genoshan law.

The Press Gang, apparently a branch of the Genoshan police force called the Magistrates, consists of three field operatives and one support operative. In Uncanny X-Men #270, Havok describes them as mutants working voluntarily for the government, rather than Mutates.

[edit] Members

  • Hawkshaw: The field leader of the Press Gang, he is able to track and locate not only mutants, but any living thing at great range[1]. Named after an old slang term for a detective, Hawkshaw.
  • Punchout: Punchout is the team's muscle. She has superhuman strength and durability on a par with Colossus in his armored state.
  • Pipeline: The Press Gang's transport. Pipeline's power is a unique form of teleportation, in which he can transform matter into information, transmit it through telephone or computer lines, and then reconstitute it once more. In most of his appearances, he has been shown to transport both people and equipment while travelling from Genosha, while only retrieving living persons when returning to Genosha, leaving weapons and vehicles, and even clothing, behind. According to Magneto: Dark Seduction #1, his real name is Cormick Grimshaw[2].
  • Wipeout: Wipeout is able to selectively neutralize and restore the powers of other superhumans. In X-Factor # 60, Wipeout describes his ability as not being limited to mutants, and he is able (albeit temporarily) to disrupt the functions of the quasi-living alien Ship which X-Factor was using as their headquarters at the time. An elderly man, Wipeout usually remains on Genosha and waits for Pipeline to send mutants to him, although he is seen in the field on occasion (such as the aforementioned X-Factor #60).

[edit] External links