And how long has it been since we have eaten well-- on the bones and blood of the free people of a free land? Too long, I say... For they offend me. They have always offended me. 
- —Famine[src]
History
Origins[]
Famine was one of four children born to Apocalypse and Genesis, the mutant leaders of Okkara. The four grew up to become the first iteration of their father's Horsemen. They were raised in Okkara,[1] although they did briefly leave Okkara to fight the Brood in 2620 BC, Egypt, alongside the Brotherhood of the Shield's founder, Imhotep.[6][7]
When their homeland of Okkara was attacked by Annihilation and its hordes of Amenthi daemons, Famine and the rest of his people fought to defend their sacred land. Eventually, it became clear that the mutants could not win. Okkara was split into two halves, and it was decided that the entire mutant society would be sealed away into the alien world of Amenth, to buy Apocalypse time to prepare mutantkind for the daemons' inevitable return.[8]
Arakko[]
On the half of Okkara that would eventually become known as Arakko, the mutants created a series of towers to protect them against the daemons. Famine, his siblings and the other mutants fought for millennia in an endless war, as generations of mutants lived and died within the safety of the towers.[9]
Eventually, Famine's mother, Genesis, accepted a duel against Annihilation, for the fate of their two peoples. Genesis won, but it proved a hollow victory, as without a host, the daemonic children of Annihilation would go on an uncontrollable rampage, dooming the Arakki, leaving Genesis with the choice to merge with the entity and fall under its control, or stand idly by as her home was destroyed. When the desperate Arakkii opened a portal to Dryador, Genesis merged with Annihilation, hoping to control it, only to fall under its sway. She led the armies of Amenth to the conquest of Arakko. The mutants were subjugated, and Famine and his siblings were now forced to lead the armies of their lifelong enemies.[9]
X of Swords[]
With Arakko subjugated, Annihilation prepared for the invasion of Earth. Famine's nephew Summoner would be sent with a piece of Arakko to Earth in order to manipulate his grandfather into opening a portal to allow the Amenthi forces to reach Earth, while Famine and the Horsemen would lead the armies of Amenth to the conquest of Dryador.[3]
After the fall of Dryador, the Horsemen laid siege to the Starlight Citadel, the very nexus of Otherworld. During the siege, they were reunited with their father, who had been led there by Summoner, together with a squadron of Krakoan mutants. They ambushed him, mortally wounding him before he was extracted by the Krakoans. As the Horsemen and their armies battled the Krakoans, Opal Luna Saturnyne, Omniversal Majestrix and ruler of Otherworld, interrupted the conflict. She managed to produce a truce between the combatants, and offered to host a tournament to settle the matter; the Horsemen and their armies would depart, but return in a few days time to fight the champions of Otherworld; the mutants of Krakoa, for the right to cross Otherworld into Earth. Saturnyne produced a prophecy, bidding each side to produce ten specific sword-bearers wielding specific swords.[3]
The Horsemen set about finding the swords and their wielders. Famine and Death recruited the White Sword to their cause and retrieved Death's prophesized sword the Black Bone of Amduat.[10] While their siblings took part in the tournament as sword-bearers, Famine and Pestilence assumed the seat of Dryador in the parliament of Otherworld, claiming it in the name of Arakko by right of conquest.[10]
Krakoa would go on to win the tournament, but Annihilation refused to concede and ordered her invading armies to seize the path to Krakoa by force.[11] Famine and his sister Pestilence took part in the battle, but the Swordbearers of Krakoa were soon joined by the Green Priestesses, the X-Men, the Captain Britain Corps, and the Vescora, allowing them to turn the tide against the Amenthi hordes. The war ended when Apocalypse briefly merged with Annihilation and conceded the tournament on its behalf. As part of Saturnyne's terms, Arakko and Krakoa exchanged hostages in good faith, with Apocalypse trading places with the island itself, re-uniting him with his wife and children and freeing the mutant island to reunite with its lost half.[12]
Famine returned to Amenth with his parents and siblings (with the exception of Death, who remained in Sevalith). Together with Pestilence, he continued to act as regent of Dryador and attended diplomatic meetings at the Starlight Citadel.[13]Attributes
Powers
Famine is an Omega-level mutant[14] with the following powers:
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- Hydrokinesis: Famine is apparently able to shape water to his will,[10] using it as a sharp weapon against enemies,[3] or creating a huge tidal wave shaped in his image.[14] Famine could also pulled the water from the bodies of his victims withering their bodies and killing them.[15]
- Advanced Longevity: Given that the First Horsemen had fought alongside Imhotep in 2620 BC,[6][7] Famine and his siblings are over 4600 years old.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Notes
- While Apocalypse and his original Horsemen were recruited by Imhotep,[7][6] it is not clear if they also joined Imhotep's Brotherhood of the Shield/Spear.[16]
Trivia
- According to Apocalypse, Famine was the best Horseman of Famine he ever had, while his successors were poor underwhelming replacers.[17]
- Famine and Pestilence's genders were briefly confused.[citation needed]
See Also
- 19 appearance(s) of Famine (First Horsemen) (Earth-616)
- 8 minor appearance(s) of Famine (First Horsemen) (Earth-616)
- 4 mention(s) of Famine (First Horsemen) (Earth-616)
- 30 image(s) of Famine (First Horsemen) (Earth-616)
- 2 quotation(s) by or about Famine (First Horsemen) (Earth-616)
- 1 victim(s) killed by Famine (First Horsemen) (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 X-Men: Before The Fall - Heralds of Apocalypse #1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 X-Men (Vol. 5) #12
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 X of Swords: Creation #1
- ↑ X-Men (Vol. 5) #13
- ↑ Hellions #5
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Moon Knight: City of the Dead #1
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
- ↑ Powers of X #4
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 X-Men (Vol. 5) #14
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 X of Swords: Stasis #1
- ↑ X-Men (Vol. 5) #15
- ↑ X of Swords: Destruction #1
- ↑ Excalibur (Vol. 4) #22
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #16
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #15
- ↑ X of Swords Handbook #1
- ↑ Marvel Comics #1000