Vanisher

Lore & Background

Born in Milton, Massachusetts, Vanisher is a mutant and professional criminal with the ability to teleport to any place imaginable. He commits a series of spectacular crimes, including building a large criminal organization, stealing confidential defense plans, and attempting to extort millions of dollars from the U.S. government. With support from a large group of non-mutant followers, he goes to the front lawn of the White House to await his payment. Professor X and the X-Men intervene when Xavier induces amnesia upon Vanisher. Vanisher, unable to teleport away, is taken into police custody while the X-Men defeat his mob.

Vanisher regains his memory and joins Factor Three, a subversive organization of mutants who seek world domination. Factor Three attempts to start World War III between the United States and the Soviet Union. After learning that their leader, Mutant Master, is an alien who intends to conquer Earth, the members of Factor Three work with the X-Men to defeat him. Vanisher disappears for a period, but comes out of hiding to fight the Champions with the Brotherhood of Mutants. He is defeated by the Champions and is trapped in mid-teleportation by Darkstar. Half of Vanisher's body is stranded in another dimension, with the other half in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he is found by the X-Men. After returning to Earth, Vanisher organizes a group of young mutant thieves, known as the Fallen Angels. Eventually, the Fallen Angels disband and Vanisher is left to his own devices.

Vanisher later joins a second incarnation of the Enforcers, called the New Enforcers. Along with Eel and Blitz, Vanisher becomes involved in a clash between A.I.M. and Hydra. He is one of the few mutants who retain their superhuman powers after M-Day. He is hired to steal a vial of the Legacy Virus from one of Mister Sinister's labs, which is also sought by X-Force. In a confrontation with X-Force, Vanisher is injured and given a terminal brain tumor by Elixir to secure his cooperation in retrieving the virus. Vanisher is later forcibly inducted into the ranks of X-Force for use as transport and extraction.

Reader's Guide

Vanisher's significance lies in his long history as a recurring antagonist and occasional reluctant ally within the X-Men mythos. His teleportation ability makes him a versatile threat, capable of committing spectacular crimes and evading capture. His involvement with groups such as Factor Three, the Brotherhood of Mutants, the Fallen Angels, and the New Enforcers illustrates his adaptability and willingness to align with various factions. His forced service with X-Force and subsequent missions, including the Messiah War and Necrosha, highlight his role as a tool for other characters. Vanisher's appearances across different eras—from the Silver Age to the Krakoan Age—demonstrate his enduring presence in Marvel Comics. His cameo in the live-action film Deadpool 2, portrayed by Brad Pitt, brought him to a wider audience, though that version possesses invisibility rather than teleportation. Vanisher's legacy is that of a minor but persistent figure whose powers and criminal career have repeatedly drawn him into major conflicts.

Did You Know?

• Vanisher was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appearing in The X-Men #2 (November 1963).
• Brad Pitt portrays Vanisher in a cameo in the live-action film Deadpool 2.
• Vanisher's powers once interacted with those of Nightcrawler, sending them both into alternate dimensions.
• He can fluently speak Portuguese.