Synch first appeared in a cameo in X-Men (Vol. 2) #36 (September 1994) before making his full debut in Generation X #1 (November 1994). He was created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Chris Bachalo. His creation was part of a major Marvel initiative to expand the X-Men line in the mid-1990s. Following the massive success of the “Phalanx Covenant” crossover, Marvel launched Generation X as a new flagship title focusing on the next generation of mutants. This team was deliberately designed to be distinct from the militaristic x-force and the studious new_mutants. They were positioned as slackers, rebels, and outcasts learning to use their powers under the unconventional tutelage of banshee and the reformed emma_frost. Everett Thomas was conceived as the moral and emotional anchor of this new team. In a cast of characters defined by physical oddities (Chamber), abrasive personalities (M), and secrets (Husk), Synch was the relatable “everyman.” His calm demeanor and immense empathy made him an instant reader-favorite and the perfect point-of-view character for the new series. His powers, which relied on proximity to others, inherently reinforced the book's central theme of teamwork and codependence. His eventual death in Generation X #70 was a shocking and controversial move that ended the series' initial era and left a lasting impact on fans for years.
Everett Thomas was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, into a loving and supportive family. He was a well-adjusted, popular, and good-natured teenager before his mutant powers manifested. His life changed forever during the “Phalanx Covenant” event, a storyline where a techno-organic alien race, the phalanx, attempted to assimilate all of mutantkind. The Phalanx targeted young, unactivated mutants to study and absorb them. Everett was one of these targets. When the Phalanx attacked a group of young mutants, Everett's powers flared to life for the first time. A multicolored bio-energetic aura appeared around him as he instinctively synchronized with the powers of the other young mutants present, including Paige Guthrie (husk), Monet St. Croix (m), and Angelo Espinosa (skin). This sudden manifestation allowed him to fight back and survive long enough for help to arrive. He was rescued by a makeshift team of X-Men that included Banshee, Emma Frost, jubilee, and sabretooth (who was, at the time, a reluctant prisoner of the X-Men). Everett played a crucial role in the rescue, using his newfound abilities to replicate Sabretooth's tracking skills to locate other captured mutants and Jubilee's pyrotechnics to fight the Phalanx drones. After the Phalanx threat was neutralized, Everett, along with the other rescued teens, was offered a place at the newly re-opened Massachusetts Academy. Now operating as a new Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, the institution was run by co-headmasters Sean Cassidy (Banshee) and Emma Frost. Recognizing the importance of learning to control his powers and wanting to use them for good, Everett accepted. He adopted the codename “Synch” and became a founding member of the new mutant team, Generation X. His journey was not one of angst or tragedy, but of a good person stepping up to a heroic calling.
As of the current timeline, Synch (Everett Thomas) has not been introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999). There has been no mention of his character or the Generation X team in any MCU film or Disney+ series. However, the introduction of mutants into the MCU, beginning with Kamala Khan's genetic revelation in Ms. Marvel and the appearance of Professor X from Earth-838 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, opens the door for his eventual debut. Should Synch be adapted for the MCU, his origin would likely be tied to the broader emergence of mutants on Earth. He could be portrayed as a young person struggling to understand his powers in a world newly aware of the “mutant phenomenon.” His power set is visually dynamic and cinematically versatile, making him a strong candidate for inclusion in a future MCU X-Men project. An adaptation would likely focus on the core tenets of his character: empathy, teamwork, and the visual spectacle of his multi-colored power aura. His origin could be tied to a specific inciting incident, similar to the Phalanx Covenant, that forces a group of young, disparate mutants to come together, with Everett serving as the catalyst who allows them to combine their abilities to survive. This would preserve the thematic core of his comic book introduction while fitting him into the ongoing narrative of the MCU.
Synch's powers have undergone one of the most significant evolutions of any mutant in recent history, elevating him from a mid-tier power mimic to an undisputed Omega-level threat.
Everett has always been defined by his profound empathy and maturity. In his early days with Generation X, he was the responsible one, often mediating disputes and providing a shoulder to lean on. He was kind, dependable, and possessed a quiet confidence. His death and subsequent resurrection, coupled with the subjective centuries he spent fighting for survival in The Vault, have fundamentally changed him. While he retains his core empathy, he is now far more seasoned, weary, and pragmatic. He carries the weight of a thousand lifetimes of experience, which can sometimes isolate him from his peers. This has also given him a new level of confidence and assertiveness. He is no longer just the dependable teammate; he is a strategic leader and one of the most powerful X-Men, fully aware of his capabilities and willing to use them to their fullest extent to protect his people. He has also developed a more cynical and somber side, haunted by the memories of countless deaths and rebirths within The Vault.
As Synch does not exist in the MCU, this analysis will focus on his most prominent adaptation: the X-Men '97 animated series.
In the episode “Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 1,” Synch appears as a member of a group of young mutants analogous to Generation X, led by Jubilee. His powers are depicted consistently with his early comic book appearances.
His personality in this brief appearance is also true to the source material: he is shown as a brave, competent, and team-oriented hero, fighting to protect innocent people from the Prime Sentinels.
This entire series serves as Synch's foundational story. The plot follows Everett and his teammates as they navigate adolescence, romance, and the dangers of being a young mutant. Key moments in this run include his initial recruitment during the “Phalanx Covenant,” his budding romance with Jubilee, and his numerous battles against Emplate. Throughout the series, Synch consistently acts as the team's moral compass. The narrative establishes his heroism, his kindness, and his willingness to put others before himself, which makes his eventual fate all the more tragic.
The culmination of his original arc and one of the most impactful deaths of the era. To take revenge on Emma Frost, her sister Adrienne plants multiple bombs throughout the school, targeting the new human students. With time running out, Everett finds a bomb in the student union. Knowing his teammates can't get all the human students clear in time, he uses his powers to synchronize with the mutant Banshee's sonic scream, hoping to create a sonic shield to contain the explosion. However, he realizes he can't replicate the power without Banshee nearby. In a final act of heroism, he grabs the bomb and attempts to fly it clear, but it detonates, killing him instantly. His sacrifice saved everyone but ended his life for nearly two decades of real-world publication time.
This is the storyline that redefined Synch for the modern era. After being resurrected by The Five on Krakoa, Synch, along with Darwin and Wolverine (Laura Kinney), is sent on a reconnaissance mission into The Children of the Vault's home, where time flows much faster. A mission that was supposed to last a few months in Earth-time becomes an eternal war for survival spanning centuries from their perspective. They live, fight, die, and are resurrected by Darwin's powers countless times, all while their minds and skills grow. Synch's powers evolve to their Omega-level state here, as he learns to permanently store powers. He and Laura fall deeply in love over their shared lifetimes of trauma. He eventually escapes, but only after experiencing over 500 years of brutal conflict, emerging a fundamentally changed and far more powerful man.
Following his escape from The Vault, Synch's newfound power and experience make him a prime candidate for the new X-Men team. He is voted onto the team during the first Hellfire Gala. This series showcases his new status as a major hero in the Marvel Universe. He becomes a frontline member, capable of going toe-to-toe with the universe's heaviest hitters. He combines powers with cosmic-level beings, develops his romantic relationship with Jean Grey, and serves as Cyclops's right-hand man. This run cements his transformation from the “nice kid” of Generation X to one of the most capable and important mutants alive.
In this harsh reality ruled by Apocalypse, a younger Everett Thomas was a member of Generation Next, a trainee team of X-Men led by Colossus and Shadowcat. Like his 616 counterpart, he was a key team player. He demonstrated his power by synching with his teammates to infiltrate the Sugar Man's Seattle Core. Tragically, the entire team, including Synch, was killed during the mission when Colossus was forced to abandon them to save his sister, Illyana Rasputin. Synch was brutally slain by the Sugar Man's creations.
Synch makes his animated debut in the revival series, X-Men '97. He is shown as a young mutant living at the X-Mansion and is part of a group of trainees under Jubilee's mentorship, clearly intended as an homage to Generation X. He is seen fighting alongside other young mutants like Sunspot and is depicted using his powers to mimic theirs during the Prime Sentinel attack on the mansion. This version represents a classic, heroic take on the character, introducing him to a new generation of fans.
Synch had a very minor, unnamed background appearance in the Ultimate Universe. He was shown as one of the mutants held captive in Camp Angel, a concentration camp run by William Stryker's anti-mutant forces. He was later freed by Iceman and his team of X-Men. His role in this universe was negligible, serving only as a background character.