| Xi'an | |
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Cover to X-Men 2099 # 22 featuring Xi'an joining the Theatre of Pain Art by Ron Lim |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | X-Men 2099 #1 (October, 1993) |
| Created by | John Francis Moore Ron Lim |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Xi'an Chi Xan |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | X-Men 2099 Lawless Theatre of Pain |
| Notable aliases | Desert Ghost, Controller X[1] |
| Abilities |
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Xi'an (Xi'an Chi Xan) is a fictional character created by Marvel Comics for their Marvel 2099 imprint. In the title X-Men 2099, he was the founder, leader, and enemy of the team of X-Men who was always haunted by his past.
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Xi'an Chi Xan spent his youth in an unlawful group called the Lawless, where he was known as the Desert Ghost, until he found a more enlightened path. Wanting to bring peace to the earth for his mutant brethren he collected a group of mutants around him and formed X-Men 2099. This was not too popular though, as in the first issue there is an assassination attempt on his life. However, he is saved by the new recruit Skullfire, and the team quickly rushes off.
The team almost immediately runs into trouble when Xi'an is accused of murdering casino mogul Noah Synge. The team hurries to clear his name, but in the course of things Xi'an gets injured. Instead of dying his body creates a cocoon around him which, when he emerges, has fully healed him. Not only that, but Xi'an discovers that he has a new ability: the power to heal. However, he is unable to heal one of his fallen teammates, Serpentina, who has already died of her injuries.
The team rushes off once again when there are rumors of a sighting of the original X-Man Archangel. They discover a hidden base where Xi'an's old mentor Master Zhao has created his own group of X-Men, calling them his "Chosen". He saw that Xi'an's strategies were inept and offered to join the two teams with himself as leader. In the battle that ensues, Zhao uses his mental powers to bring Xi'an inside of his mind. The battle seemed lost until Xi'an's "bad self" shows up and offers to help: he will help in the fight for use of the body. Xi'an, seeing no other way out, accepts his bad side.
This leads only to trouble, as his moods and mannerisms begin to change. Soon after he wants to disband the team, and Skullfire steps up as leader. Cerebra suspected that something was amiss, but did not truly know until Xi'an and the Theatre of Pain almost killed her when they blew up the base.
Xi'an went to the Theatre of Pain and went through the induction ceremony—a reoccurrence of the memories which brought him the most pain—and passed with flying colors. The final test was to bury him alive. While buried his good side appeared to him and offered to help him escape. Xi'an responded that he would rather die than to take help from his good side. With the goodness in him finally quelched, Xi'an took on his new role as Controller X. The leader of the Theatre, Brimstone Love, was delighted to have Xi'an in the fold until he started to vie for control of the group. The X-Men came to try to save their leader and it was newcomer, and former Theatre of Pain member, La Lunatica who ended up saving him. During the battle the two touched and, with Luna's psychoactive powers, it triggered the resurgence of his good self and purged the evil from him. Cured, but ashamed of what he had done, Xi'an took a leave of absence from the team.
Later, when Cerebra was training X-Nation 2099, she asked for her friend's aid in mentoring the young students, but Xi'an still vehemently was against being a part of any team for fear of his actions.
Xi'an seemingly sends the mechanically-talented mutant Billy Zedd to assist Doctor Doom in his return to power.
Xi'an has mutated hands: one that allows him to disintegrate matter upon contact and another that heals injuries and sicknesses.
It was also discovered after his body sustains massive injury it forms a healing cocoon around himself.
Xi'an is also a master of the majority of the eastern martial arts, particularly Drunken Boxing.