Sebastian Shaw (Marvel)
Sebastian Shaw is a male comic supervillain that features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
For forty years, Jacob Shaw had worked for Mister Sinister with him being tasked with searching for bearers of the X-Gene with him being unaware that he had it within his DNA as well. Around this time, he learnt of Essex's creation of the Cronus Machine that allowed him to survive within a select number of host bodies. Upon seeing a danger to his own son, Jacob Shaw secretly stole some of Sinister's research notes and built a machine to protect his child Sebastian Shaw from the Cronus Machine's effects in the future. (X-Men: Legacy v1 #213) Jacob Shaw was a member of the London chapter of the Hellfire Club and lived as a miner by the time he died. (X-Men: Legacy v1 #211)
He later devoted his time to his studies where he was shown to had been remarkable in his studies to the point that after his graduation many groups sought his young talent. Shaw came to be an expert in many fields such as economics and technology with him working in a number of struggling corporations who utilised his abilities to prosper where they were happy to pay him large sums for his aid. By age 30, he had earned his first million and by 40 he had gained his first billion. In this time, he came to be involved with Lourdes Chantel who was his lover. Sebastian had developed his wealth and power leading to him being invited into the ranks of the Hellfire Club where his fellow initiates included Warren Worthington, Junior, Howard Stark and John Braddock. (X-Men: Hellfire Club v1 #4)
Shaw later hatched on a scheme to add to his own wealth by challenging the elusive and mysterious Club member known as Elias Bogan where he participated in a game against his minion Oliver Ryland. If Shaw won, then Bogan's fortune would go to him but if Sebastian lost than his White Queen Emma Frost would pass to Elias as the prize. Unknown to Bogan, Sebastian decided to cheat in the game with the assistance of his aide Tessa with him winning as a result. Elias honoured the terms of the wager but sought retribution against Tessa for her part in the event. (X-Treme X-Men v1 #41)
At some point, he had a son who was named Shinobi Shaw. (X-Factor v1 #67)
He later sided with Emma Frost as she sought to use the Mothervine to provide Secondary Mutations to increase the Mutant population on the planet. (X-Men: Blue v1 #23)
House of X
He then began to secretly divert Krakoan pharmaceuticals that were meant for parts of Africa and instead give them to clients in the United States for a profit with this being overseen by Batroc the Leaper. This was discovered by Emma Frost who sent Captain Katherine Pryde and her team of Marauders to shutdown the operation. Furthermore, Shaw's own attempts at securing a position within the Hellfire Trading Company for his choice of Red Queen was stopped by Frost who instead had Kitty Pryde take the position. (Marauders v1 #2)
After the contest of swords was over, Kate Pryde and Emma Frost made their move against Sebastian Shaw for his part in the Kitty's death. They depowered him and had Lockheed rip out his eye whereupon they infected him with a Verendi poison that crippled Shaw leaving him in a wheelchair. Despite his state, he attended the meetings of the Quiet Council though did not reveal the nature of the internal conflict occurring within the Spring Court. (Marauders v1 #16)
Overview
Personality and attributes
He was born poor but all his life he sought out power and stature with him struggling to become rich. (X-Factor v1 #67)
Powers and abilities
Through the Mothervine, he was given a Secondary Mutation allowing him to drew kinetic energy from the air to empower himself. (X-Men: Blue v1 #23)
His companies were not solely a means for capital gain but were a legitimate front employed for his world-wide covert Mutant operations. (X-Factor v1 #67)
Notes
- Sebastian Shaw was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne where he made his first appearance in Uncanny X-Men v1 #129 (January, 1980).
- Shaw's creators John Byrne and Chris Claremont based on the character's appearance and last name on British-born actor Robert Shaw.
Alternate Versions
- In House of M v1 (2005), an alternate reality created by the Scarlet Witch saw Mutants led by Magneto ruling Earth as the House of Magnus with humans being second-class citizens. This reality saw Sebastian Shaw as the Executive Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. that served the House of Magnus.
- In House of M v2 (2015), a version of Sebastian Shaw based on the reality of House of M survived on the Battleworld. He was once again the Executive Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and served the House of Magnus.
In other media
Television
- In Wolverine and the X-Men, Sebastian Shaw appeared as an antagonist in the animated series where he appeared in the episode "Shades of Grey" where he was voiced by actor Graham McTavish.
Films
- In X-Men: First Class, Sebastian Shaw appeared as an antagonist in the live-action movie where he was portrayed by actor Kevin Bacon. He was a Mutant with the power to absorb energy to augment his own body and restore his youth. During World War II, he operated under the alias of Dr. Klaus Schmidt where he worked for the Nazi forces and had been involved in experimenting on Mutants. He discovered the young Erik Lensherr and had his mother killed in front of him in an effort to unlock his Mutant power of magnetism. Shaw managed to escape captivity and with his Mutant power managed to maintain his youth over the next decades. He later established a secret society name the Hellfire Society that sought to start the next world war and taking over the planet.
Video games
- In X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, Sebastian Shaw appeared in the setting of the video game where he was voiced by actor Alan Shearman.
- In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Sebastian Shaw was referenced in the setting of the video game adaptation to the live-action film. He was shown as being the owner Symstemized Cybernetics Lab that was responsible for manufacturing for Project Wideawake under Bolivar Trask. Senator Robert Kelly was mentioned as one of the backers of the company by Raven Darkholme.
- In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Sebastian Shaw appeared as a boss antagonist in the Facebook video game.
Appearances
- Uncanny X-Men v1: (1980)
- X-Factor v1:
- X-Men: Hellfire Club v1:
- X-Men: Legacy v1:
- X-Men: Blue v1:
- Marauders v1:
External Links
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