Forge created the Neutralizer while he was designing weapons for the U.S. government, so it fell into the hands of H.P. Gyrich, a special agent and Avengers liason, who hated all super-powered beings. Gyrich took the Neutralizer with him on a manhunt for the former terrorist Rogue, who had at that point already left her terrorist comrades in the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants II and joined the X-Men. Rogue, who had just run away from the X-Men following an interpersonal conflict, was followed by Storm, who ended up taking the Neutralizer shot meant for her teammate. Forge also created a Neutralizer space platform that he later had to sabotage when Gyrich tried to use it to wipe out all super-powers on Earth.

Forge's Neutralizer

Months later, Forge finally created an anti-Neutralizer that restored Storm's powers when used in conjunction with magic. He then destroyed almost all of the Neutralizers and the related documents, but at least one remained in the custody of Angel's Worthington Enterprises. Years later, Wolverine and Sabretooth, minds and bodies switched by the mutant Hoo, fought over this very weapon. However, at this point, the Neutralizer was an egg-shaped construct, not a hand-held weapon.

More recently, Mystique shot Wolfsbane with a gun-style Neutralizer during her assault on Muir Island. Where she got one is unknown, but it's likely that she took it from Forge's Aerie while she was undergoing "treatment" there.