Whilce Portacio Returns To Bishop For X-Men Legends

Previously said as being created by Whilce Portacio and John Byrne for Uncanny X-Men #282, and printed in 1991, Bishop was a time-travelling mutant from the longer term with a mission. And whereas he has been portrayed as a black character, he was initially meant by Portacio to be Filipino in origin. Portacio said that he was particularly impressed by pool/snooker/billiards participant Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes when he was creating the character. When requested to create somebody who might go up towards Wolverine, he picked an individual who might characterize Wolverine’s behaviour, tendencies and habits – or ugali. “Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes would go up against these big American guys and give them this look. That’s who Bishop was. He was born with the skills and the DNA to fight and survive. In the daytime he would fight off Sentinels, save other mutants, and then he would go underground at the end of the day and ask ‘Saan ba yung next party? Saan ba yung handa?’ (Where’s the party at now? When’s it ready?)” As for altering its racial id, Portacio said that X-Men editor and present DC EIC, Bob Harras, requested Portacio if Bishop may very well be black, as there have been so many African-American children sending in X-Men fan mail, and Harras needed a hero who might additionally encourage these younger readers.”Understanding as a minority, I couldn’t say no. I was already operating in the mood of being Pinoy, diba? Learning about our ugali. And that’s another part of it. Pagbigyan, diba? (give it up, right?) there’s always another time.”

Well, 2023 is one other time. And Whilce Portacio is returning to Bishop in X-Men Legends in January 2023, co-written with Brian Haberlin and into to disclose “new insights into Bishop’s original mission… The story will finally reveal the genesis of Bishop’s fateful time travel mission that pulled him from the future and into the X-Men’s present! Presaging Bishop’s first appearance in the classic Uncanny X-Men #282, the arc will shed new light on Bishop’s original motivations and the intense guilt he feels over his fallen teammates as well as provide surprising depth to the dystopian world he left behind.” Portacio additionally needs to credit score another person behind the creation of Bishop, artist Karl Altstaetter. 

Porrtacio writes “At heart, I love the genre of science fiction. Specifically, the world building aspect of science. So, when Karl and I created Lucas Bishop, we built in our heads, a world for Omega Squad to exist in. In the original incarnation, we didn’t have much time to show any of that. Here in these two issues, Brian and I are able to give the audience a beginning glimpse of some of the detail of the world that Bishop left behind. We give flavor to the micro ecosystem that is The Pool, its inmates, their families, the X.S.E., and most importantly, Bishop and his character and personality. I’ve always seen Bishop as much, much more than X-Men muscle. He has always been, to me, a man perfectly born to conquer a harsh world. Yet he hides within himself a heart more suited for a kinder existence…which gives him purpose in that harsh world.”

On Sale 1/24
X-MEN LEGENDS #5
Written by WHILCE PORTACIO & BRIAN HABERLIN
Art and Cover by WHILCE PORTACIO
Bishop, Malcolm, and Randall, the elite Omega Squad, have found a darkish reality concerning the X.S.E. After a mission goes sideways, how far will they be prepared to go to make this proper? To the previous — and past! Bishop will take advantage of stunning determination in X-MEN LEGENDS historical past that can redefine what you thought you knew about mutantkind’s future and the rationale behind Bishop’s collision with the X-Men!

On Sale 2/8
X-MEN LEGENDS #6
Written by WHILCE PORTACIO & BRIAN HABERLIN
Art and Cover by WHILCE PORTACIO