S'ym (Earth-616)

S'ym
Name	S'ym
Aliases	Nicknames: Grape Ape, Grimace Other Aliases: Duke Bleys
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	Limbo
Relatives	Children: Despair (daughter)
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	7′5″ (2.26 m)
Weight	1500 lbs (680.39 kg)
Eyes	Irises: Red
Hair	Grey
Skin	Purple
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Demon
Living Status	Alive; formerly deceased
Reality	Earth-616
Place of Birth	Limbo
Cause of Death	Killed by the Guardian (revived by Mary Jane Watson)
Personal Information
Identity	No Dual
Citizenship	Limbo
Base of Operations	Limbo
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Chris Claremont, Brent Anderson
First	Uncanny X-Men #160 (May, 1982)
First	Uncanny X-Men #160 (May, 1982)

History

Origin

S'ym, a formidable Demon from Limbo, is one of the realm's most notorious entities alongside N'astirh. Once a loyal servant of the ancient sorcerer Belasco, who wielded dark magic in service of the Elder Gods, S'ym played a significant role in Limbo's power struggles. During his time there, he crossed paths with Maire O'Connell, Belasco's first immortal disciple.

X-Men of Earth-8280

When the X-Men of Earth-8280 became trapped there, S'ym and his demons tormented them for decades, eventually killing Colossus and leaving Wolverine's Adamantium skeleton to rot in Belasco's throne room. S'ym frequently punished Earth-8280's Illyana Rasputin for imagined offenses but never killed her, keeping her in a constant state of fear. During one such incident, he was attacked by the ambitious demon N'astirh, leading to a brutal battle that left both injured but alive.

Years later, when Earth-616's Illyana and Cat (Kitty Pryde) from Earth-8280 fled Belasco, they accidentally teleported into S'ym's domain. He introduced himself to Illyana, proudly displaying her deceased brother's corpse before attempting to capture her. Cat intervened, injuring S'ym and allowing them to escape. S'ym later observed Belasco manipulating Illyana into forging the first bloodstone. As she began her training in dark magic, he remained a constant presence, once punishing her so severely that she vowed never to be vulnerable again. When she later explored Limbo's past, Belasco sent S'ym to retrieve her. This time, Illyana fought back, stunning him with a flare spell and banishing him via a teleportation circle. S'ym returned during Illyana’s final confrontation with Belasco but was swiftly defeated by her Soulsword. He remained unconscious as she overthrew Belasco and took control of Limbo.

Meeting the X-Men of Earth-616

When Earth-616's X-Men arrived in Limbo, Belasco summoned S'ym to deal with them. The demon casually snapped off one of Earth-8280 Wolverine’s Adamantium claws and used it as a toothpick before engaging Wolverine. Though he overpowered him and wounded Colossus, the X-Men managed to escape thanks to Storm’s magic. S'ym led Belasco's forces in pursuit, but even his strength could not penetrate Storm's protective barrier. Traumatized by her time in Limbo, Illyana accidentally reprogrammed the Danger Room during a training session, displaying a simulation of Belasco in his throne room with Nightcrawler and S'ym. Kitty quickly shut down the simulation before it could fully unfold.

New Mutants

Acting on seemingly imagined orders from Belasco, S'ym began searching for Illyana to return her to Limbo. He tracked her to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters but chose to wait for the right moment. While Illyana and the New Mutants were out with their dance teacher, S'ym confronted Professor X, knocking him unconscious. He waited for Illyana’s return. When she arrived, she summoned the New Mutants, along with Stevie Hunter and her car, using Limbo's teleport circles. S'ym easily overpowered most of the team but faltered when Danielle Moonstar manifested his deepest fear: Belasco and the Darkchild. Terrified, S'ym fled, only to be buried in lava by Magma. After breaking free, he chased Stevie and Illyana, but Illyana ultimately used her Soulsword to defeat him, asserting her rule over Limbo. S'ym offered to serve her in exchange for his life, and Illyana sent him back to Limbo, erasing Stevie's memory of the event. S'ym encountered Illyana and Danielle in Limbo, treating Illyana as the true ruler of the realm. He ensured her safety but was eventually sent away when Illyana grew tired of his boorish behavior. S'ym helped Illyana extract information from one of the Arena’s henchmen, intimidating him into revealing what they needed to know. Illyana then left S'ym in charge of the man while she and Sam Guthrie returned to Earth.

After failing to defeat their mind-controlled former teammate Karma, Illyana escaped to Limbo with Dani Moonstar. She summoned S'ym and other demons to aid in rescuing their friends, but due to Limbo’s unstable time shifts, they arrived too late—Karma had already forced the New Mutants to massacre the villa's guards and demons. Realising they were being framed, Illyana and Dani retreated, and S'ym returned to Limbo. To help defeat Karma, Illyana took Warlock to Limbo, entrusting him to S'ym. The demon showed Warlock the decayed corpse of Earth-8280's Colossus, terrifying him. Panicked, Warlock knocked out S'ym and sought out Illyana, misinterpreting her actions and believing she was as evil as Karma. While Illyana calmed Warlock, S'ym remained unconscious. Warlock infected and absorbed several minor demons in his panic, frustrating Illyana.

The Enchantress

Illyana summoned S'ym to guard the captured the Enchantress in Limbo. She forbade physical harm but allowed S'ym free reign otherwise. Seeking revenge on Empath for tormenting their friends, the New Mutants had Illyana teleport him to Limbo, where S'ym's presence terrified him before he was sent off to the next stage of punishment. After Illyana teleported the team to Limbo while fleeing Magus, S'ym sent demons to retrieve her for a restoration ritual. When Sunspot tried to interfere, S'ym stopped him, explaining that the demons were reviving Illyana. She praised S'ym and his forces for their work. Magus, tracking Illyana to Limbo, offered S'ym the power to overthrow her. S'ym accepted, becoming techno-organic and spreading the infection among Limbo’s demons, leading a rebellion.

When Illyana returned, S'ym attacked with his Techno-Organic horde. Now immune to her Soulsword, he forced her to purge her own infection, triggering the manifestation of her eldritch armour. She channelled all her magic into the Soulsword, temporarily banishing S'ym. However, when she later retrieved the sword with Professor X, Binary, and Lilandra, S'ym returned. Though Illyana cut him in half, his techno-organic nature prevented true defeat, allowing him to continue his takeover. Illyana returned to battle S'ym again, momentarily purging Limbo of his influence. However, he survived by disguising himself as a flower. Later, when she returned with Magneto, he easily imprisoned S'ym and offered to destroy him. Illyana refused, vowing to defeat S'ym on her own terms.

S'ym learned that Magik had returned to Limbo with Maire O'Connell, seeking a spell to restore her humanity. He breached their wards just as Illyana began the ritual, recognising Maire from centuries past before fatally wounding her. Enraged, Magik blasted him out of the tower. With his power growing, S'ym reshaped Limbo in his own image. When a grieving Illyana teleported the Ani-Mator and a Right soldier there, she acknowledged how twisted the realm had become before leaving the soldier to be consumed by demons. S'ym's forces later transformed him into a techno-organic entity. After seeing Forge seemingly sacrifice the X-Men, Illyana sought revenge. She retrieved her Soulsword—Limbo's key stabiliser—despite her teammates' protests. Seizing the moment, S'ym expanded his influence, mocking her hypocrisy for condemning Forge while unknowingly aiding his own greater plan.

Illyana eventually returned the Soulsword to Limbo. Meanwhile, S'ym conspired with the demon N'astirh to open a portal between Limbo and Earth. He tasked N'astirh with stealing 13 babies for a dark ritual. Though more powerful than S'ym and immune to his techno-organic infection, N'astirh played along, seeing it as a means to further his own schemes. Following S'ym's orders, N'astirh recruited the mutant-hating vigilante Bogeyman to help capture the infants. Though he kidnapped two, Power Pack and the New Mutants stopped him. Enraged by his actions, Magik condemned him to Limbo, where he was corrupted by S'ym's forces. S'ym built a techno-organic mountain to rival Illyana's, aiming for absolute rule. Meanwhile, her unstable magic weakened Limbo's barriers, allowing minor demons like Baba Yaga to invade Earth. Illyana returned to Limbo, finding S'ym's mountain nearly overtaking hers. As he anticipated, she prepared a necromantic spell to revive Colossus, hoping to counter him. Instead, Colossus arrived via Gateway. Unbothered, S'ym mocked them both, his power now nearly equal to Illyana's. Colossus tackled S'ym, sending them both plummeting from the tower. Believing S'ym defeated, Illyana left to deal with Baba Yaga, leaving S'ym's right-hand soldier to assume control. However, S'ym regenerated, crushed his underling, and remained confident that Limbo would soon be his.

Goblin Queen

S'ym sought to manipulate the emotionally vulnerable Madelyne Pryor, infiltrating her dreams via the dimension known as Dreamtime. Disguised as a kind stranger, he subtly encouraged her to embrace her true nature and take control of her fate rather than remaining a victim. He tricked her into admitting her desire for revenge against Scott Summers, binding her to him by tasting her blood—thus beginning her transformation into the Goblin Queen. As she lay unconscious, S'ym mocked the illusion of dreams as harmless fantasies, calling them alternate realities where choices carried real consequences. Meanwhile, Illyana continued using Limbo as a waypoint for teleporting the New Mutants. Observing the realm's worsening state, the team noted its reflection of Illyana's internal darkness. From the shadows, S'ym taunted her, offering to take over if she felt unfit to rule. In defiance, Magik blasted his ever-present cigar before departing with her team. S'ym later informed N'astirh of his acquisition of Madelyne, urging him to contact her and exploit her longing to reunite with her son, Nathan Summers. N'astirh first attempted to reach her via the mysterious techno-complex beneath the X-Men's base in Australia base but found her absent.

Return to Limbo

Shortly after, Illyana teleported the New Mutants and their ally Gosamyr to Limbo while fleeing the alien Spyder. To their horror, S'ym and his techno-organic horde were waiting. With a sinister grin, S'ym ordered his forces to attack. Trapped in Limbo by N'astirh's magic, the New Mutants were forced to fight S'ym and his horde. The demon mocked Illyana, taunting her over her corruption and the growing darkness within her soul. When Magik tried to destroy him, S'ym shrugged off her attacks and proved his dominance by seizing the Soulsword. Wasting no time, he attempted to decapitate her, but her eldritch armor manifested protective spikes. Unable to finish her, he ordered his demons to slaughter the New Mutants instead. In desperation, Illyana teleported the team to Belasco's old throne room. Meanwhile, N'astirh contacted S'ym, chiding him for letting Illyana escape and reminding him that his own magic kept her from Earth. He then revealed her location, prompting S'ym to attack again only for Illyana to teleport away once more. However, N'astirh intercepted them, capturing her teammates. He then revealed his past conflict with S'ym and declared his love for Illyana, offering a deal: her friends' safety in exchange for embracing her dark heritage and reclaiming the Soulsword. Desperate, Illyana agreed. Determined, she overpowered S'ym and reclaimed her blade but the sword's dark energy overwhelmed her, completing her transformation into the demonic Darkchilde. Summoning a stepping disc, she intended to return to Earth with her team, but N'astirh's manipulations turned the portal into a massive gateway over Times Square, unleashing Limbo's demons upon New York City. Gloating, N'astirh revealed how he had tricked her into dooming Earth. As the Inferno raged, S'ym sent his demons and Right soldiers into New York, where they clashed with the X-Men and the Marauders. Meanwhile, N'astirh, believing S'ym a mere pawn, assured his allies that once the conflict ended, S'ym would be trapped in Limbo while they ruled Earth. Undeterred, S'ym arrived on Earth, interfering in N'astirh’s plans for Illyana. Their rivalry erupted into battle in Times Square, where a techno-magical computer, powered by a pentagram of 13 infants, sustained the connection between Limbo and Earth.

N'astirh's magic proved ineffective against S'ym, but the demon used his thrall, Taki, to turn the computer's spells against his rival. In response, S'ym infected N'astirh with the transmode virus exactly what N’astirh desired. Embracing his new techno-organic form, N'astirh seized control of the spell-computer. However, Taki’s sabotage triggered explosions, disrupting the pentagram and severing the portal to Limbo, trapping many demons on Earth. S'ym, undeterred, rallied the stranded demons, declaring that Earth would be their new dominion. From the shadows, he watched as Illyana, now fully armored in eldritch steel, stood alone, overwhelmed by her transformation. As the Inferno escalated, S'ym ambushed Illyana, attempting to reclaim the Soulsword and force her to embrace her Darkchilde heritage. He easily survived her attacks, his techno-organic virus making him nearly invulnerable. Meanwhile, his minions captured Colossus, using him to torment both siblings. Pushed to her limit and disgusted by her own form, Illyana fled to Limbo with the New Mutants. There, she reversed N'astirh’s magic, banishing all of Limbo’s demons including S'ym from Earth.

Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom invaded Limbo, seeking to harness its Promethium. He seized the Soulsword, intending to stab Limbo's heart and transform its demons into promethium. However, Darkoth, immune to Doom's control, opposed him. Though Doom destroyed Limbo's heart, he was forced to flee to Earth. With Doom gone, S'ym tried to claim the Soulsword but was confronted by Darkoth. In their final battle, Darkoth absorbed S'ym, though the demon vowed he would return.

Inferno Event

S'ym devised a plan to spark a new Inferno event by re-opening the portal between Limbo and Earth. He sought to achieve this by manipulating the Nexus of All Realities near Citrusville. Upon learning of his former servant's scheme, Belasco decided to stop him and recruited Cable, the son of the Goblin Queen, to thwart S'ym's plan. Belasco also enlisted the help of the demon D'Spayre, who eagerly sought revenge on Cable, particularly after learning that Lee Forrester, his former victim, was accompanying him. D'Spayre manipulated Lee and Cable as they traversed the Florida marshlands, using freak weather events to herd them toward his trap. Though Cable and Lee resisted D'Spayre's efforts, they eventually came face to face with Belasco, who chose to intervene personally. Belasco used his magics to force Cable and Lee to cooperate, S'ym arrived, intent on taking down his former master. Unaffected by Belasco’s magic bolts—due to not being in Limbo and no longer being under Belasco's control S'ym easily tossed Belasco aside once he realized Cable was the Goblin Queen’s son. S'ym then focused on Cable and Lee, taunting Cable about his mother's legacy, calling her an "empty vessel," and casting doubt on Cable's heritage. In frustration, Lee attacked, but was quickly swatted aside by S'ym. This gave Cable enough time to telekinetically launch a wooden spike at the demon. Belasco was aware of Cable’s unique nature—being both the Goblin Queen's son and host to the technovirus and how these qualities made him toxic to S'ym. As predicted, when Cable's projectile struck him, S'ym crumbled to dust. Belasco then mysteriously appeared, claiming that the combination of Cable's attack and the stick had been just the right solution. He restored the Nexus of All Realities to normal and closed the portal to Limbo that S'ym had opened.

Unforgiven

S'ym returned to Limbo as Belasco's primary servant and enforcer. S'ym confronted Nightcrawler and Margali Szardos when they entered Limbo to rescue Amanda Sefton from Belasco. S'ym saw through Margali’s magical disguise, which made her appear as her daughter to ensure Kurt’s cooperation. Despite Margali’s attempts to repel him, S'ym was undeterred but faced repeated setbacks as the more experienced mage countered his attacks.

Archenemy

S'ym was secretly contacted by the all-powerful Archenemy, who promised him control over Limbo in exchange for his allegiance. To manipulate events from within, S'ym assumed the guise of the two-headed Duke Bleys, earning the trust of Amanda Sefton as one of her closest advisors. Under this false identity, he subtly influenced her decisions, guiding her toward uniting the fragmented splinter realms of the netherworld unknowingly paving the way for his master to seize them all at once. While visiting Limbo to offer Magik his counsel, Nightcrawler uncovered Bleys' deception. With his ruse exposed, S'ym revealed his true form just as Archenemy launched a full-scale assault on Limbo. Magik, unwilling to waste time battling S'ym, swiftly banished him with a simple spell. She then turned her focus to summoning powerful entities such as Mephisto, Dormammu, and Umar, enlisting their aid to defend the netherworld from Archenemy’'s invasion.

Quest for Magik

In the absence of Amanda Sefton, Belasco returned to Limbo and reclaimed his throne. Once again, S'ym pledged his loyalty, serving as Belasco’s enforcer. Upon learning of Illyana's resurrection triggered by the brief House of M reality—Belasco became determined to find her. Using his magic, he tracked down individuals who had recently come into contact with her, ultimately abducting several of Xavier's new students and imprisoning them in Limbo. S'ym stood beside Belasco as he interrogated the captive mutants, including Prodigy. He remained passive as Belasco tore out Prodigy’s heart. The brutal act spurred the students to break free. S'ym offered to kill them, but Belasco restrained him, preferring to deal with them personally if necessary. They watched as Elixir miraculously restored Prodigy’s heart. When X-23 attacked Belasco, he effortlessly reduced her to a pile of bones, then resumed his interrogation, demanding to know Illyana’s whereabouts. Meanwhile, S'ym ensured that other prisoners, including Mercury, remained contained. Belasco's relentless efforts to extract information led to an ambush by Illyana and the freed New X-Men. As the battle raged, Mercury and Rockslide unleashed Limbo-infused attacks, prompting Belasco to finally unleash S'ym and the other demons. Despite their resistance, Illyana ultimately overpowered them and reclaimed Limbo. With the New X-Men safely returned home, S'ym questioned what came next. Illyana’s answer was simple she would reclaim her soul.

Infernus

S'ym eagerly joined Illyana and her demonic forces in searching Limbo for her missing Soulsword and Bloodstone Amulet, both crucial to restoring her soul. However, their search proved fruitless, as neither artifact was found in Limbo they were in the possession of Witchfire, the daughter of Belasco, who chose to confront Magik herself. With Illyana absent from Limbo, S'ym was caught off guard when Witchfire arrived. Wielding formidable magic, she swiftly overpowered and gravely wounded him. As a display of her strength, she chained S'ym in Belasco's former throne room, turning him into a living trophy. When Illyana returned, she found him there, but before he could warn her, Witchfire ambushed her. S'ym remained helpless as Witchfire used the Bloodstone Choker to dominate Illyana. He was also unable to assist when the X-Men arrived to battle Belasco’s demonic brood. Still weakened from his injuries, S'ym played no role in the final battle between Illyana and Witchfire. Ultimately, Magik reclaimed her throne as Limbo's ruler but chose to return to the Xavier Institute to reunite with her brother, Colossus.

Hellbound

S'ym and N'astirh saw an opportunity to seize Limbo when Illyana became stranded there after losing control of her magic. They devised a plan to take power. When the X-Men; Gambit, Pixie, Northstar, Dazzler, and Cannonball entered Limbo to find Illyana, S'ym ordered his demons to attack. Amid the battle, S'ym and N'astirh pursued Pixie, knowing she could sense Illyana due to the bloodstone forged from her stolen soul fragment. They caught up with Pixie and Loa, with S'ym easily overpowering Pixie. Taunting her insecurities, he claimed he had seen future versions of her, each darker due to her missing soul piece. Before he could continue, Loa used her powers to incapacitate him, though N'astirh still tried to sway Pixie. Meanwhile, Gambit still influenced by Apocalypse’s conditioning fell to Limbo’s corruption. Seeing it as the ultimate survival test, he declared himself ruler, gathered demonic followers, and controlled two fellow X-Men. He confronted S'ym, defeating him with ease. To assert dominance, he hurled S'ym's unconscious body at N'astirh, cementing his rule.

Mary Jane & Black Cat

S'ym decided to take a chance of ruling Limbo himself after Madelyne Pryor returned to Earth. A new Soulsword was held captive at a place called the Screaming Tower. Belasco enrolled the aid of Mary Jane Watson and the Black Cat to retrieve the sword so he could return as Limbo's ruler. S'ym encounted and rescued Mary Jane and Black Cat at the tower and the three decided a truce to find the sword. S'ym was immediately honest to both Earth girls about betraying them when they find the sword, which they appreciated. During the search and a battle with the Soulsword's guardian, S'ym was killed. Mary Jane used her new, mysterious jackpot powers to restore S'ym back to life. In return, S'ym revealed that the Soulsword would be bound to whomever found it, something Belasco never told the two Earth girls. The three find the sword and make their way back to Belasco, where they trick and overthrow him. S'ym is revealed to be the new owner of the Soulsword and Limbo's new ruler. He enslaves Belasco as his minion and as a thank you sends Mary Jane and Black Cat back home to Earth.

Attributes

Power Grid

Powers

• Superhuman Strength: S'ym possesses great superhuman strength and can lift over 90 tons. He is stronger than Colossus and easily snapped off one of Wolverine's claws.
• Superhuman Durability: S'ym is nearly invulnerable and can resist magma and even adamantium blades. Illyana Rasputin's Soulsword was one of the few weapons that could kill him, before having been infected by the techno-organic virus. During the Inferno storyline Illyana tried killing S'ym with her Soulsword but it proved ineffective against his new circuitry body.
• Regenerative Healing Factor: S'ym, now a techno-organic being himself, can repair himself and reform from a single molecule, should he be destroyed.
• Infection: Also due to his techno-organic state, S'ym can also infect other objects and feed off its life energies, and/or turn them into techno-organic beings as well.
• Shapeshifting: The techno-organic virus allows S'ym to change his appearance, grow in size and mimic the function of any machine.
• Energy Absorption: S'ym can drain the energy of other techno-organic beings as long as their will is weaker than his.

Trivia

• S'ym's name and appearance are a reference to Dave Sim's creator-owned character Cerebus the Aardvark. (Sim had previously introduced a character parodying S'ym's creator Chris Claremont in Cerebus #23.) Like Cerebus, S'ym refers to himself in the third person while speaking.

See Also

• 63 appearance(s) of S'ym (Earth-616)
• 7 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of S'ym (Earth-616)
• 7 minor appearance(s) of S'ym (Earth-616)
• 11 mention(s) of S'ym (Earth-616)
• 4 mention(s) in handbook(s) of S'ym (Earth-616)
• 26 image(s) of S'ym (Earth-616)
• 4 quotation(s) by or about S'ym (Earth-616)
• 1 victim(s) killed by S'ym (Earth-616)