Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Vanisher ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity:** **Vanisher (Telford Porter) is a powerful mutant teleporter and career criminal who has served as one of the [[x-men|X-Men's]] earliest adversaries, a mercenary for hire, and a reluctant, self-serving member of [[x-force|Wolverine's X-Force]].** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** Originally a classic Silver Age villain, Vanisher represents the non-ideological mutant threat—one driven by greed rather than mutant supremacy. He is a fixture of the super-criminal underworld and later evolved into a crucial, if untrustworthy, asset for mutant black-ops teams. * **Primary Impact:** As one of the first villains the original X-Men faced, he established that mutant powers could present challenges beyond pure combat, requiring intellect and strategy to overcome. His eventual coercion into X-Force provided a long-running narrative on themes of redemption, coercion, and survival, showcasing a villain forced to fight for the greater good. * **Key Incarnations:** In the primary [[earth_616|Earth-616]] comics, he is the mutant Telford Porter with the ability to teleport via the [[darkforce_dimension|Darkforce Dimension]]. In the Fox //X-Men// film series ([[deadpool_2|Deadpool 2]]), he is a completely different character, an invisible human whose identity is a running gag, made famous by a shocking celebrity cameo. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== Vanisher made his debut in **//X-Men// #2** in November 1963, making him one of the very first antagonists in the X-Men's rogues' gallery, second only to [[magneto|Magneto]]. He was co-created by the legendary duo of writer **Stan Lee** and artist **Jack Kirby**, the architects of the Marvel Universe. In the nascent days of the Silver Age, Lee and Kirby were rapidly building out the world of their new mutant heroes. After establishing the ideological threat of Magneto in the first issue, Vanisher was introduced to present a different kind of problem. He wasn't a mutant revolutionary; he was a brilliant, arrogant super-thief who used his incredible powers for personal enrichment. This helped to broaden the scope of threats the X-Men would face, grounding them in more traditional superhero conflicts while still exploring the ramifications of mutant abilities. Vanisher's power of teleportation, depicted with a distinctive puff of smoke, was visually dynamic under Kirby's pencil and posed a logistical nightmare for the young team, forcing them and their mentor, [[professor_x|Professor X]], to think beyond fisticuffs. His swift and ignominious defeat via psychic amnesia also served as an early, and somewhat chilling, demonstration of the sheer power Charles Xavier wielded. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== The origin of the Vanisher differs dramatically between the comic books and his brief, memorable appearance on film. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === Little is known about the early life of **Telford Porter**. He emerged on the world stage as an adult, a fully-formed criminal mastermind with complete control over his innate mutant ability to teleport. Arrogant and theatrical, he dubbed himself "The Vanisher" and quickly established a reputation as the world's greatest thief. His first major caper, as detailed in his debut, involved infiltrating a high-security American military installation and stealing the nation's top-secret defense plans. He effortlessly bypassed every guard and security measure, announcing his crime to the world and demanding a ten-million-dollar ransom from the U.S. government. When the military attempted to corner him on the White House lawn, he teleported away with contemptuous ease, leaving the authorities helpless. This brazen act brought him to the attention of Professor Charles Xavier and his newly-formed X-Men. The team confronted Vanisher at his secluded compound, but they were no match for him. He easily dodged [[cyclops|Cyclops']] optic blasts, teleported out of [[angel|Angel's]] grasp, and evaded the physical attacks of [[beast|Beast]] and [[iceman|Iceman]]. He trapped the entire team, save for Xavier, and prepared to eliminate them. However, he had not accounted for the Professor's immense telepathic power. From miles away, Xavier launched a focused psychic assault that overwhelmed Vanisher's mind. Rather than simply defeating him, Xavier chose a more permanent solution: he completely erased Vanisher's memory, including his own name and knowledge of his mutant powers. The once-feared super-criminal was left a confused amnesiac and was taken into custody. Eventually, the mental blocks Xavier had put in place eroded, and Telford Porter regained his memories and powers. He returned to his life of crime, frequently clashing with various heroes over the years, including [[spider-man|Spider-Man]], the Champions, and subsequent incarnations of the X-Men. His origin story remains a classic example of a "villain of the week" from the Silver Age who managed to endure, becoming a recurring and recognizable part of the Marvel criminal underworld. === Fox X-Men Universe (as seen in Deadpool 2) === The Vanisher's cinematic appearance in the 2018 film //[[deadpool_2|Deadpool 2]]// is a radical and purely comedic adaptation, existing within the continuity of the Fox-produced X-Men films.((This universe is now considered part of the larger MCU multiverse following the events of //Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness// and //Deadpool & Wolverine//, but it was created as a separate continuity.)) In the film, [[deadpool|Deadpool]] and his friend [[weasel|Weasel]] hold auditions to form a super-team they call **X-Force**, intended to be a more proactive and lethal alternative to the X-Men. One of the applicants is The Vanisher. During the recruitment montage, his presence is indicated only by a completed application form floating on a chair. Weasel explains that Vanisher's power is invisibility. He is accepted onto the team despite no one ever seeing or hearing from him. During the team's first and only mission, the members of X-Force perform a high-altitude parachute jump into a convoy to rescue the young mutant Russell Collins. The mission immediately goes disastrously wrong due to high winds. One by one, the team members are killed in gruesome, comical ways. The Vanisher is blown off course and drifts into a set of power lines. As he is electrocuted, his invisibility fails for a brief moment, revealing him to be an ordinary middle-aged man played in a surprise cameo by actor **Brad Pitt**. He then dies, his film appearance lasting less than two seconds of screen time. This version has no stated backstory, no connection to mutantkind (his powers are never explained), and no personality beyond the joke of his invisibility. The adaptation serves as a meta-commentary on superhero tropes and a perfectly executed celebrity gag, bearing no resemblance to the established comic book character beyond the name and the concept of elusiveness. ===== Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality ===== === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === Telford Porter is an **Omega-level mutant**,((While never officially designated "Omega-level" by the standards of the Krakoan era, the sheer range and potential of his power places him in the highest tier of teleporters.)) possessing one of the most powerful and versatile forms of teleportation on Earth. ==== Mutant Powers ==== * **Darkforce Teleportation:** Vanisher's primary ability is to psionically transport himself, his clothing, and a certain amount of additional mass from one point to another virtually instantaneously. He does this by shunting himself and his cargo through the **Darkforce Dimension**, a volatile and largely uninhabited realm of pure, shadowy energy. He enters at one point, traverses the Darkforce Dimension, and exits at his desired location. * **Manifestation:** His arrival and departure are typically accompanied by a soft "bamf" sound and a cloud of black smoke or shadow, which is residual energy from the Darkforce Dimension. * **Range:** Initially, his range was believed to be limited to line-of-sight or familiar locations. However, over the years, he has demonstrated the ability to teleport across continents and even from Earth to a distant alien planet, though such long-distance jumps cause him immense physical strain and disorientation. * **Capacity:** He can teleport at least several other people along with him, making him an ideal transport and extraction specialist. The upper limits of his mass-carrying capacity are not precisely known. * **Tactical Use:** He can teleport in rapid succession, making him an incredibly difficult target to hit in a fight. He can also selectively teleport parts of objects, once threatening to teleport a person's heart out of their chest. ==== Abilities and Skills ==== * **Master Thief:** Vanisher is a brilliant and experienced thief, skilled in stealth, infiltration, and planning complex heists. * **Cunning Strategist:** While not a frontline combatant, he is a clever tactician, preferring to outwit his opponents rather than engage them directly. He is an expert at planning escape routes and ambushes. * **Moderate Hand-to-Hand Combatant:** He generally avoids physical confrontation at all costs, but he possesses basic combat skills sufficient to handle ordinary thugs if his powers are somehow neutralized. ==== Weaknesses ==== * **Mental State:** His teleportation ability is tied to his conscious thought. If he is dazed, disoriented, or rendered unconscious, he cannot teleport. This makes him highly vulnerable to telepathic attacks or sonic assaults that disrupt his concentration. * **Darkforce Corruption:** Prolonged exposure to the Darkforce Dimension can be dangerous. Other Darkforce-wielding characters have been corrupted by its influence, and it remains a potential vulnerability for Vanisher. * **Physical Frailty:** Compared to most superhumans, Vanisher is a normal human in terms of strength and durability. He is highly susceptible to physical injury if he can be caught off-guard. ==== Personality ==== Vanisher's personality is defined by his core traits: arrogance, cowardice, and an all-encompassing sense of self-preservation. He is exceptionally greedy and motivated almost entirely by personal gain. He holds most people, hero and villain alike, in contempt, believing himself to be intellectually superior. In a fight, his first instinct is always to flee. He has no sense of loyalty and will betray anyone to save his own skin or make a profit. During his time with X-Force, this was tempered by a pragmatic, cynical survivalism. He complained constantly but performed his duties efficiently, knowing that his life depended on it. He is a survivor, not a fighter. === Fox X-Men Universe (as seen in Deadpool 2) === ==== Powers ==== * **Invisibility:** The cinematic Vanisher's only known power is true, perfect invisibility. He is completely unseen and unheard, leaving no discernible trace of his presence until the moment of his death. It is unknown if this power is mutant, technological, or mystical in origin. ==== Abilities and Skills ==== * **Unknown:** He is presumably skilled enough to fill out a job application. ==== Personality ==== * **Unknown:** He is never seen or heard speaking. His character is a complete blank slate, which is the central element of the joke. ==== Comparative Analysis ==== The chasm between the two versions is immense. The comic version is a fully-realized character with a specific, well-defined power set (teleportation), a long history, and a distinct, unlikable personality. He is a mutant whose powers are an expression of his desire to escape and evade responsibility. The film version is a simple sight gag. The creators swapped his complex teleportation for the more visually straightforward (or, rather, visually absent) power of invisibility to create a joke about building a team with a member who might not even exist. The film version is an adaptation in name only, using the brand recognition for a comedic punchline. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== Vanisher is not a character who makes friends; he makes temporary, mutually beneficial arrangements. His "alliances" are almost always born of necessity or greed. * **X-Force (Wolverine's Black Ops Team):** This was Vanisher's longest and most significant affiliation. He was forcibly recruited by [[wolverine|Wolverine]] after the team discovered he was dying from a brain tumor. They used the threat of withholding treatment from their healer, [[elixir|Elixir]], to ensure his cooperation. Vanisher served as the team's primary extraction specialist, his teleportation being essential for their covert missions. His relationship with the team was purely transactional and deeply antagonistic. He constantly complained, threatened to quit, and expressed his fear and hatred for his teammates, yet he always performed his job flawlessly when his own life was on the line. * **The Fallen Angels:** In his earlier years, Vanisher was a member of this eclectic group of mutant thieves and runaways. The team included characters like [[sunspot|Sunspot]], [[boom-boom|Boom-Boom]], and [[multiple_man|Multiple Man]]. This was one of the few times he was part of a group that wasn't strictly a criminal enterprise or a coerced black-ops squad, though his motivations remained entirely self-serving. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== * **The Original X-Men:** As his first major foes, the founding members of the X-Men ([[cyclops|Cyclops]], [[marvel_girl|Jean Grey]], [[beast|Beast]], [[angel|Angel]], and [[iceman|Iceman]]) represent his most classic conflict. They were the first to defeat him, and their mentor, [[professor_x|Professor X]], dealt him his most humiliating loss. While he has faced many heroes, his dynamic with the original X-Men established his place in the Marvel Universe. * **Wolverine:** While not a traditional arch-nemesis, Wolverine became Vanisher's personal boogeyman during their time on X-Force. Logan was his handler, the one who kept him in line through intimidation and direct threats. Vanisher was terrified of Wolverine, who had no patience for his cowardice and greed. This relationship defined Vanisher's character for a new generation of readers, highlighting his pathetic yet strangely resilient nature. ==== Affiliations ==== Over his long criminal career, Vanisher has been a member of numerous teams, almost always as a means to an end. * **[[x-force|X-Force]]** (Wolverine's incarnation) * **Factor Three** * **The Enforcers** * **The Fallen Angels** * **Brotherhood of Evil Mutants** (various short-lived versions) * **Femizons** (under [[superia|Superia]]) ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines ===== === The Uncanny X-Men #2: "No One Can Stop the Vanisher!" === This is the quintessential Vanisher story. It establishes his entire modus operandi: a bold, large-scale theft, a public challenge to authority, and a complete overestimation of his own abilities against the full scope of the super-powered community. The story is most notable for its conclusion. The X-Men's inability to physically stop him forces Professor X to intervene directly with his telepathy. The decision to solve the problem with a complete mind-wipe is a stark reminder of the ethical lines Xavier was willing to cross, even in the earliest days of the X-Men. === X-Force (Volume 3): "Angels and Demons" === This 2008 storyline by Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost reinvented Vanisher for the modern era. After years as a minor, recurring villain, he is thrust into the spotlight when Wolverine's new X-Force hunts him down. They need a teleporter for their wetwork missions, and Vanisher is the best there is. The story reveals he has a terminal brain tumor, which the team's healer, Elixir, can manipulate. By offering to hold the tumor at bay (and threatening to make it worse), they blackmail him into service. This arc transforms him from a generic thief into a tragicomic figure: a coward trapped in the most dangerous team on Earth, complaining every step of the way but proving to be an invaluable asset. === Second Coming === During this massive 2010 crossover, Vanisher played a critical, if reluctant, role. The mutant race was on the brink of extinction, and all of their hopes rested on protecting [[hope_summers|Hope Summers]], the first mutant born since M-Day. As X-Force's teleporter, Vanisher was responsible for moving soldiers across the battlefield and, most importantly, for teleporting Hope and key team members out of inescapable situations. Despite his terror in the face of Nimrod Sentinels and overwhelming odds, he performed his duties. This storyline showed that, while still a self-serving coward, he could be counted on when his own survival was directly linked to the success of the mission. === Age of X-Man: The Marvelous X-Men === The final chapter for the prime Vanisher occurred in the prelude to the //Age of X-Man// event. When the powerful mutant [[x-man|Nate Grey]] decides to create a new "utopian" world, he dispatches his Horsemen of Salvation to remove those who might resist. Vanisher, in the middle of a bank heist, is confronted by this reality's version of [[blob|The Blob]]. Deeming Vanisher a "thief" and therefore an imperfection not worthy of his new world, the Horseman uses his power to completely disintegrate Telford Porter. It was an abrupt and ignominious end for one of Marvel's oldest mutant villains. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== === Age of Apocalypse (Earth-295) === In this dark, alternate timeline where [[apocalypse|Apocalypse]] rules North America, Telford Porter was one of the many mutants captured for experimentation by the [[dark_beast|Dark Beast]]. The horrific torture he endured left him mentally shattered and his teleportation powers dangerously unstable. He was part of a group of escaped prisoners known as the "Seattle Core." A terrified and broken man, he was eventually found by Magneto's X-Men and, seeing his suffering, [[quicksilver|Quicksilver]] was ordered to put him out of his misery. === Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) === The Vanisher of the Ultimate Universe was a more grounded and sinister figure. He was an underground operative in the mutant smuggling trade, associated with the [[mojo|Mojo]] of his reality. This version was less of a theatrical super-villain and more of a gritty black marketeer. He was eventually captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. after an encounter with the [[ultimate_x-men|Ultimate X-Men]]. === X-Men: The Animated Series === Vanisher appeared in a season 2 episode titled "Whatever It Takes." His portrayal was largely faithful to his early comic book appearances. He was depicted as an arrogant thief who captured the interest of the Shadow King. This version helped introduce him to a generation of fans who may not have been familiar with the Silver Age comics. ===== See Also ===== * [[x-men]] * [[x-force]] * [[teleportation]] * [[darkforce_dimension]] * [[wolverine]] * [[professor_x]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((First appearance: //X-Men// #2 (November 1963).)) ((Creators: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.)) ((Vanisher's real name, Telford Porter, is a pun on the word "teleporter." This naming convention was common during the Silver Age of comics.)) ((His teleportation power is explained as traveling through the Darkforce Dimension. This is the same power source used by the hero [[cloak|Cloak]], though Vanisher seems to have much finer control and is not as susceptible to its corrupting influence. This differs from other prominent mutant teleporters like [[nightcrawler|Nightcrawler]] (Brimstone Dimension) and [[magik|Magik]] (Limbo).)) ((The cameo by Brad Pitt as the Vanisher in //Deadpool 2// reportedly came about because Pitt's children were fans of the first film. He agreed to do the role for scale pay (the minimum wage for a SAG actor) and a cup of coffee delivered to him by the film's star, Ryan Reynolds.)) ((Vanisher's defeat by amnesia at the hands of Professor X is often cited by fans and comic historians as one of the earliest signs of Xavier's willingness to use his immense psychic powers in ethically questionable ways to achieve his goals.)) ((In his final appearance before his death, Vanisher was shown to be teaching a class on thievery at the Hellfire Club's academy for young, villainous mutants.))