The Phoenix Force[1] is a powerful cosmic entity capable of manipulating matter and energy in the universe. In 1992 it arrived on Earth and quickly possessed Jean Grey whom it chose as its host. It sent Jean into a downwards spiral, making her erratic, unstable and violent which resulted in the death of Mystique. It was sought by the D'Bari, one of the victims of the cosmic force, in order to resurrect their race. To that end they manipulated Jean.
A part of its power was stolen by the aliens who used it in an attempt to gain the rest, this was foiled by the mutant. She eventually fully embraced the cosmic powers and used it to destroy the D'Bari and kill their leader, Vuk. With nothing left for her on Earth Jean instead became god-like and merged with the entity. The Phoenix Force then departed into the cosmos and Jean Grey left the Earth behind.
History[]
Background[]
The Phoenix Force destroying the home world of the D'Bari
- "Because it's the spark that gave life to the universe and the flame that consumed my world."
- ―Vuk
X-Men: Dark Phoenix[]
The Phoenix Force was said to have been the spark that gave life to the universe. It was also capable of great destruction, as evidenced by the fact that it destroyed the home planet of the D'Bari Empire. The surviving D'Bari followed the Phoenix Force as it traveled across the universe, hoping to harness its power to resurrect their race. However, the Phoenix Force destroyed everything that it came into contact with. It was drawn to the power of Jean Grey, a mutant from the planet Earth.
Revised Timeline[]
Manifestation in Cairo[]
Jean's abilities manifested as a flaming phoenix
in 1983 during the battle with Apocalypse and his Horseman in Cairo, Jean let go of her innate fears regarding her own abilities and unleashed them upon the all-powerful mutant, disintegrating him. Unbeknownst to everyone her powers manifested themselves in a fiery shaped aura that closely resembled the Phoenix Force.
Merging with Jean Grey[]
In 1992, the Phoenix Force arrived in close proximity to Earth, where its energy caused damage to the space shuttle Endeavour. The X-Men were dispatched to rescue the crew of Endeavour before the Phoenix Force hit the shuttle. Although they were able to successfully save all the astronauts on board, Jean Grey was left behind when the Phoenix Force finally reached Endeavour. Instead of destroying her like everything else it came into contact with, the Phoenix Force chose her as a vessel and enter Jean's body before setting off an explosion that obliterated the space shuttle entirely. Jean survived and floated in the vacuum of space before Nightcrawler teleported to her and brought her to safety aboard the X-Jet. Unbeknownst to everyone, the D'Bari had witnessed Jean's miraculous encounter with the Phoenix Force.[2]
The Phoenix Force attacking the Space Shuttle
Manifesting within Jean[]
As the Phoenix Force grew inside of Jean it unlocked her suppressed childhood trauma, which caused both her psychic powers and mental health to be become unstable. She became more violent, emotional, and quick to anger and lashing out. Despite Jean's attempts to control this new dangerous power these efforts failed as The Phoenix Force would grow stronger to the point that cracks of energy began to appear on Jean's skin. As the X-Men and The Brotherhood of Mutants tracked Jean down, with one side wanting to help her and the other to kill her, the D'Bari managed to manipulate a confused and scared Jean to come with them. When both the X-Men and Brotherhood tracked Jean down a fight ensued on the streets of New York which ended with Jean finally being able to overcome the Phoenix corruption thanks the Charles's help. When the D'Bari leader Vuk attempted to drain the power from Jean at her behest, Professor X and Cyclops managed to interrupt it when they realized that this would kill Jean in the process.
When the Mutant Control Unit arrived to take all the mutants into custody Vuk now having a fraction of the Phoenix Force within her led an assault in the prison train holding Jean and the others. As both the X-Men and Brotherhood of Mutants banded together to defeat the aliens until Jean finally gained almost full control of the Phoenix and managed to kill all the D’Bari, including Vuk, before choosing to roam space not wanting to return to Earth until she mastered the Phoenix Force fully.
Jean and the Phoenix merged as one
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Life Creation - The Phoenix Force can create life by transmuting matter at will. It can transform dust into water and water into life as shown in a vision to Jean.
- Possession - The Phoenix Force has the ability to possess the mind and body of those who it chooses can handle its power. This power comes with the instability that the Phoenix creates in its host. When possessed the host displays glowing eyes when in darkened environments.
Jean fully possessed by the Phoenix Force
- Power Augmentation - The Force is able to enhance the powers and abilities of its hosts in ways they can neither comprehend or contain. While possessed by the Force, Jean Grey's abilities allowed her to both easily disintegrate matter and break the psychic walls that Professor X, the greatest telepath in Earth until then, has built in her mind.
- Telekinesis - Jean's natural abilities such as Telekinesis were greatly enhanced. She proved capable of overwhelming Magneto when the latter tried to stop her from destroying a US Army helicopter. She was able to lift up an armoured train effortlessly before smashing it to the ground.
- Flight - The Force granted Jean the ability to fly at great speeds, able to travel between Red Hook and Genosha within a short span of time. She is even capable of space travel when using her Phoenix powers.
- Vacuum Immunity - Using the powers of the Phoenix, Jean was able to survive in the vacuum of space.
- Energy Manipulation - The Phoenix Force has the ability to manipulate energy. This power was displayed when Vuk had a fragment of the Force inside her and was able to contain and redirect Storm's lightnings with her own hands as well as Cyclops' optic beams. Jean with the Phoenix Force was also able to redirect Storm's lightning with no effort.
- Regeneration - The Phoenix Force grants its hosts regenerative capabilities. When first absorbed by Jean it regenerated her body from the explosion created by the Endeavour. Vuk with a mere fraction of the force was capable of surviving hundreds of bullets at once. It allowed its host a degree of invulnerability as seen when Jean was stabbed by a D'Bari and instantly recovered moments later.
- Mental Shield - Jean's mind could not be read by Xavier or anyone else while the Phoenix Force was inside her. It had ripped away the mental barriers that had been in place previously.
- Destructive Composition - The Phoenix Force is composed by such a powerful fire-like energy, that almost everything it comes into contact with is destroyed. When manifesting within Jean it destroys and reforms her surroundings at will. Jean was able to manipulate this energy into killing Vuk during the final fight against the D'Bari
Known Vessels[]
Trivia[]
- The Phoenix Force was never given a name at any point during X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
- In the original trilogy, Jean wasn't possessed by the Phoenix Force. She was a class five mutant whose limitless power was isolated from her conscious mind through psychic barriers put in place by Professor X. As a result, Jean's subconscious developed a dual personality that called itself "the Phoenix". After the events of X2: X-Men United, the Phoenix emerged at the same time the X-Men discovered that Jean was still alive. She was one of the primary antagonists of X-Men: The Last Stand, but met her demise when Jean was able to take back control of her body long enough for Wolverine to fatally stab her with his claws.
- Whenever Phoenix used her powers in X-Men: The Last Stand, her eyes would noticeably darken and black veins would protrude from her face. However, for reasons unknown, Jean briefly manifested the fiery aspect of the Phoenix Force in X2: X-Men United.
- Jean manifested a fiery energy that took on the shape of a Phoenix in X-Men: Apocalypse. Simon Kinberg admitted that he did not take it into account when he wrote X-Men: Dark Phoenix, as he believed that the Phoenix Force should be depicted as something "otherwordly". The fiery energy in X-Men: Apocalypse was a visual way of showing Jean letting go of the fears surrounding her innate power.[3]
- The Phoenix Force was originally going to be "flamy", but was revamped in post-production to look more "cosmic".[4] Early promotional photos of X-Men: Dark Phoenix[5] and the teaser trailer featured this fiery version of Phoenix.
References[]
- ↑ Dark Phoenix trailer: Director Simon Kinberg talks Mystique death
- ↑ X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019). Simon Kinberg (director) & Simon Kinberg (writer). 20th Century Fox.
- ↑ Dark Phoenix's Simon Kinberg on Emotional X-Men, Dark Knight
- ↑ Dark Phoenix will bring the X-Men saga to an epic close
- ↑ X-Men: Dark Phoenix heats up EW's First Look Issue
External Links[]
- Phoenix Force on the Marvel Wiki
- Phoenix Force on Wikipedia
