Cerebra's Files

Maverick II


Real Name: Christopher Bradley
Affiliation: Gene Nation II
Previous Affiliations: "Underground" Movement, New Warriors
Aliases: Brian Johnson
Status: Deceased (Weapon Zero)
Relatives: "Frank" (father), "Rose" (mother) "Jennifer" (sister)
Alternate-X Versions: None
Codename Etymology: Pronounced măv'ər-ĭk [From Samuel Maverick, negligent cattle owner]; An unbranded calf. Common usage: a rebellious person, especially a loner who opposes established rules.
Powers & History: Chris was an ordinary teenager until the day he started absorbing electricity from his surroundings into his body, causing his hands to spark. He was then contacted by the X-Men, who taught Chris how to control his powers, so that he could live a normal life. Unfortunately, they also discovered that Chris was infected with the Legacy Virus. During the Onslaught crisis, the X-Men lost touch with Chris, and he became very depressed and angry at them. Then, when his house was burned by mutant-haters, Chris rejected Iceman's offer of assistance, and instead went off with Maverick, who was able to relocate the Bradleys and who, because of his own infection with Legacy, understood Chris better than the X-Men. Maverick set Chris and his family up under assumed names in Florida, and Chris kept in touch with the costumed fighter. However, when Maverick's virus went into remission, much of his connection to Chris was lost. Chris, feeling that he couldn't sit by and let others try to make his world better, decided to go to New York and become a costumed hero. He ended up joining the re-forming New Warriors, and moved in with his girlfriend.

Soon afterwards, Wolverine brought Chris the news that Maverick had died, and Chris vowed vengeance. He contacted Cable and got the freedom fighter to outfit and train him, and "Bolt" became the new Maverick. As part of Cable's Underground movement, Maverick II was instrumental in the failed assault on the Weapon X Program. Afterwards, when Marrow converted the Underground into a new Gene Nation, Maverick II attempted to destroy the movement, but was captured and forced into joining it. He intended to use his position to stop Gene Nation's attacks, specifically one they had planned at Grand Central Station. Unfortunately, Maverick II was tracked by Weapon Zero, who was the original Maverick, and Zero, not knowing Maverick II's identity, fatally shot him when it appeared that Mav II was reaching for a weapon. Mav II then failed to stop the Gene Nation attack as he intended, and explained his identity to Weapon Zero. Only after Chris died did Zero reveal his own ironic identity.
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