Jonathan Chambers, a mutant best selling author and eccentric theoretical geneticist. Also known as Empyrean, he hoped to alleviate mutant suffering in the world. Jonathan's life took a tragic turn at thirteen when his father died in a fatal car crash. Determined to understand mutants, he penned the acclaimed book "Fatal Attractions: Mutants & Men."
Later, he established a refuge on a secluded island, leveraging his powers to ease the pain of mutants afflicted with the Legacy Virus. Chambers' sanctuary attracted attention from allies like the X-Men and adversaries like the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. As Empyrean, he revealed his unique power to absorb and control people's emotions. However, darker intentions emerged as he manipulated time to spread the Legacy Virus, leading to conflicts with both the X-Men and the Brotherhood. In a bid to spread the Legacy Virus, Chambers' manipulation of time led to him being trapped in the past.
History
Early Life[]
At thirteen, Jonathan was thrust into tragedy when his father, Tim Chambers, died in a fatal car crash. Determined to shed light on the enigmatic world of mutants, Jonathan wrote a book the illuminating tome, "Fatal Attractions: Mutants & Men," in later years. This literary endeavor propelled him into the limelight, as he embarked on a whirlwind tour of television talk shows. However, his journey took a startling turn during an appearance on The Geraldo Rivera Show, where he found himself on the receiving end of an unexpected attack. Undeterred, Chambers leveraged the proceeds from his book to acquire a secluded island enclave in Florida's Big Pine Key. Here, he enlisted the expertise of esteemed scientists Dr. Josef Kleinbaumm and Dr. Nancy Alter to conduct research in relative isolation. [1]
Reader's of his work[]
On a journey to meet with Gabrielle Haller in New York City, Adrian Eiskalt found himself engrossed in Chambers' book. While on a airplane, Eiskalt's attention was abruptly drawn to a fellow passenger, whom he mistook for the infamous Magneto. Swiftly reaching for a poisoned needle-pen, but stopped when he realised his mistake.[2]
Empyrean[]
Chambers was later confronted by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants on his island. Disarming tensions, he clarified that their presence was welcome as friends, not foes, citing their shared history with Pyro, a former member of their ranks. However, harmony proved short-lived. When the Blob's behavior soured, Chambers issued a stark warning, met with defiance. Unleashing a potent energy blast, he inflicted upon the Blob a visceral empathy for the world's pain, revealing his unique power and his altruistic mission: to create a sanctuary for the suffering.
Soon after, the X-Men trio of Cyclops, Rogue, and the Beast arrived, prompting further scrutiny. Doubt shadowed their interaction, especially regarding Chambers' connections to the Brotherhood. As tensions escalated and a clash between the X-Men and the Brotherhood loomed, Chambers intervened with a display of his extraordinary powers, quelling the conflict by inducing a shared sense of agony. Revealing himself as the Mutant Empyrean, he admitted to his hidden agenda, acknowledging his exploitation of mutant suffering for profit. This sparked a heated debate over the ethics of his actions, with Empyrean defending his belief in offering solace amidst pain. The situation intensified with the arrival of government agents led by Henry Gyrich, accusing Empyrean of coercion. In the aftermath, Empyrean reaffirmed his island's status as a sanctuary for mutants, extending an invitation to Revanche, who chose a different path. As the X-Men departed, Empyrean faced a sobering realization to align his actions with his professed ideals. Their parting words served as a poignant reminder for him to uphold the principles advocated in his writings.[1]
Time Gliders[]
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As tensions escalated as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants plotted within Chambers' residence. Their surveillance unearthed the Beast's creation: a Time Glider with purported capabilities to combat the dreaded Legacy Virus. However, Empyrean harbored darker intentions, seeking to manipulate time to propagate the virus and expand the death toll. He tricked the Brotherhood and orchestrated the theft of the Time Glider to further his nefarious scheme. In a nocturnal raid on Xavier Mansion, Commando breached the school, engaging in a brief fight with Cyclops before stealing with the Time Glider.[3]
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The X-Men, hot on the trail of Commando, converged upon Chambers' island, dividing their efforts. Amidst clashes with the Brotherhood, Wolverine found himself locked in combat with the Blob, while Chambers and Commando tried to activate the Time Glider. The Beast toiled tirelessly on a replacement device to counter the stolen one.[4] The Beast's tireless efforts bore fruit as he completed the second Time Glider. Meanwhile, Empyrean and Commando successfully harnessed the stolen device's power, poised to execute their plan.[5] As chaos erupted as the X-Men clashed with the Brotherhood. Amidst the chaos, the Beast intervened, confronting Commando and Empyrean to thwart their scheme. Yet, as victory seemed within reach, Chambers activated the Time Glider, vanishing into the tides of time. Transported to the prehistoric era, Empyrean faced imminent peril, cornered by a fearsome Tyrannosaurus. As the dust settled, the Beast enacted a daring retrieval plan, summoning the Time Glider back to the present, leaving Chambers stranded amidst the primeval wilderness, on the brink of a perilous encounter with prehistoric creature.[6]
Black Womb[]
It was disclosed that he returned to the present but became insignificant after the cure for the Legacy Virus. Cable and Nate uncovered the whereabouts of a Parvenu Industries laboratory belonging to the mutant Jonathan Chambers. They swiftly located Chambers, barely clinging to life and being exploited as a power source, only for Cable to be ambushed and Nate to be taken captive. Their assailant was revealed to be Amanda Müeller, also known as the Black Womb.[7] Following the defeat of her clone adversaries, she managed to escape, while Cable and Nate liberated Chambers from the device. With his final breath, Chambers destroyed the genetic code contained within.[8]Attributes
Powers
Emotion Absorption: Empyrean possessed a unique mutant ability enabling him to absorb the collective agony and painful emotions emitted by individuals on the brink of death across the globe. Through this absorption, he could harness and channel this intense energy, projecting it outward in potent energy blasts. These blasts inflicted upon their targets the very agony and suffering that Empyrean had absorbed, effectively causing those affected to experience the same torment felt by the dying individuals from whom the energy originated.
Furthermore, Empyrean's power allowed him to not only mirror the pain but also to amplify it, intensifying the sensations experienced by his targets. This ability made him a formidable force in both offensive and defensive situations, as he could incapacitate adversaries by subjecting them to overwhelming levels of anguish.
In addition to his offensive capabilities, Empyrean's empathic nature granted him a deep understanding of the suffering endured by others, driving his altruistic motives to create a haven for those in pain.See Also
- 8 appearance(s) of Jonathan Chambers (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Jonathan Chambers (Earth-616)
- 8 image(s) of Jonathan Chambers (Earth-616)