Back in 1991 the time-traveling mutant Lucas Bishop made his debut in the pages of Uncanny X-Men #282. Created by Whilce Portacio and John Byrne along with Portacio’s longtime friend, artist Karl Altstaetter, energy-absorbing mutant soldier has time hopped in the last few decades, but more often than not he sticks around in the present era as a member of the X-Men. Bishop gets the spotlight in an upcoming arc of X-Men Legends #5-6 written and drawn by Portacio himself along with prolific comics writer Brian Haberlin.

X-Men Legends #5

Here’s how Marvel describes the arc:

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. This incredible and moving two-parter is only the latest X-Men epic in X-MEN LEGENDS, the series that sees X-Men’s greatest creators return with all-new, in-continuity tales set during their original iconic runs!

Bishop, Malcolm, and Randall, the elite Omega Squad, have discovered a dark truth about the X.S.E. After a mission goes sideways, how far will they be willing to go to make this right? To the past — and beyond! Bishop will make the most shocking decision in X-MEN LEGENDS history that will redefine what you thought you knew about mutantkind’s future and the reason behind Bishop’s collision with the X-Men!

Portacio explained what it’s like to revisit his fan-favorite X-Men creation:

“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.”

Haberlin voiced his excitement at finally collaborating with his friend on a Marvel project:

“Whilce and I have been longtime collaborators, and both worked for Marvel individually, but never together! It’s an honor he thought of me to work with him on defining more of Bishop’s history; a legendary comic artist and a legendary X-Men? How could I say no??”

Look for X-Men Legends #5 to arrive in stores and digitally on January 24th, 2023 and issue #6 to arrive on February 8th, 2023.

Bishop X-Men Whilce Portacio