Shinobi Shaw
Shinobi Shaw in X-Men v2 #29 Andy Kubert and Matt Ryan, Art
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Factor #67 (June 1991)
Created by	Chris Claremont
In-story information
Alter ego	Shinobi Shaw
Species	Human Mutant
Team affiliations	Shaw Industries Hellfire Club Upstarts
Notable aliases	Black King
Abilities	Density control

Shinobi Shaw, also known as a Black King of the Hellfire Club, is a fictional character in the Universe of Marvel Comics. He is a comic book supervillain, a foe of the X-Men and their affiliated teams. His first appearance was in X-Factor #67 (June 1991).

Fictional character biography [edit]

Shinobi is thought to be the son of Sebastian Shaw, the leader of the Hellfire Club. Shinobi himself has been somewhat uncertain about this as his powers are more like those of the former Black Bishop of the Club, Harry Leland.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Shaw was a member of the Upstarts, a group made up of Siena Blaze, Graydon Creed, Fabian Cortez, Trevor Fitzroy and probationary members Andreas and Andrea Strucker (of Fenris). They were manipulated by the Gamemaster and originally Selene, but the group quickly turned against her. The group participated in an elaborate game, wherein they would hunt and kill assigned targets for points. During one of these games, the Upstarts targeted the surviving members of the New Mutants and the Hellions, but were defeated by the combined forces of X-Force and the New Warriors.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Shaw once attempted to kill his father, and initially believed himself successful.^{[volume & issue needed]} Shaw was briefly able to take control of the Hellfire Club, assuming the mantle of Black King.^{[volume & issue needed]} Enjoying the luxury of the position, he was attended by many beautiful scantily clad female and male servants. Eager to return the Inner Circle to its former glory, Shaw approached Elizabeth Braddock and Warren Worthington, attempting to convince them to become a part of the Inner Circle. Both X-Men refused, however.^{[volume & issue needed]} He also tried to enlist Storm as a member, but she also refused.^[1]

Later, Sebastian Shaw resurfaced alive and well and was able to take control of the Hellfire Club from his son. Shinobi then worked with Spiral and Mindmeld as they experimented on Karma's siblings. However, his personal assassin Clear-Cut betrayed Shinobi and aided X-Force in defeating him.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Shinobi was confirmed as being one of a handful of mutants who retained their powers following M-Day.^[2] Sometime after M-Day, Shinobi was killed by his father, and then resurrected by Selene. He is then sent with Harry Leland to kill his father and Donald Pierce.^[3] His ultimate fate is uncertain as it is unknown if he was among the mutants teleported to Genosha by Blink to serve as a sacrifice to Selene or if he was among the mutants that managed to escape Utopia.

Powers and abilities [edit]

Shinobi is a mutant who can alter his body's density from diamond-hard to intangible. He usually uses it as a means of escape, but he can also use the intangibility to reach into an opponent's heart and induce a heart attack (this has no visible adverse effects on Shaw himself.) Although he does not demonstrate it well, Shinobi Shaw considers himself a criminal mastermind of the highest calibre.

Other Versions [edit]

Ultimate Marvel [edit]

Shinobi Shaw appeared in the Ultimate X-Men title, as Emma Frost's boyfriend. He is a member of the Academy of Tomorrow, in addition to the Hellfire Club. One of his operatives, Gerald Levine, is currently spying on the Xavier Institute and Marvel Girl, under his orders. When visiting the school Shinobi and Gerald attacked Jean in an attempt to capture the Phoenix God. This failed, as the Phoenix fought back, and both Shinobi & Gerald were taken into police custody. Later, it is revealed that Emma's also a member of the Hellfire Club in secret.^[4]

Later in the Ultimate Comics: Ultimates, Tony Stark and Jarvis are seen leaving a party for Shaw in Toyko to respond to an emergency by Nick Fury.^[5]

Bibliography [edit]

• X-Force v1, #32-33 by Fabian Nicieza

• New Warriors v1, #45-46 by Fabian Nicieza

• X-Men vol. 2, #29 by Fabian Nicieza

Footnotes [edit]

External links [edit]

• Shinobi Shaw at the Marvel Universe wiki
• Shinobi Shaw at the Comic Book DB
• Marvel Directory: Shinobi Shaw