boyajian@akov68.DEC (Jerry Boyajian) (05/24/84)
> ...and I inferred that he HAD tested the gun. But possibly only on himself. > Hutch > I thought maybe Forge was covering himself when he claimed he was a mutant. > I.E. he's *not* a mutant, but didn't want Raven Darkholme know that he now > knows she's a mutant. > Carl (Crigney) > Forge's gun is effective against MUTANTS, not against other types of > superheroes/supervillains. > Richard Brown Some relevant quotes from X-MEN #184: Forge: "This gun should, theoretically, neutralize the power of any super-being -- mutant or otherwise. In essence, they'd become normal people." Val: "Excellent! Has it been tested?" Forge: "No. I'm still not sure whether the effect is temporary or permanent... <ellipsis mine> As you can imagine, this really isn't the sort of thing that can be tested on live subjects. There's a lot more work to be done, I'm afraid, before the prototype can be released. On the other hand, the scanner's ready to go. It'll tell you who is or isn't basline human, and whether they're mutant or alien...<e.m.> Hmnh! As a matter of fact, it reveals that one of us in this room -- is a mutant!" Raven: "What!?! Does he mean *me*?! Who else?!!...<e.m.>" <thoughts> Forge: "My apolgies, ladies -- no need for alarm, this was just a joke. The mu- tant, you see, is *me*. ... "Whatever's happened to Raven's sense of humor? If looks could kill, my troubles'd be over. I really spooked her -- I wonder why? She got some- thing to hide?" <thoughts> (pages 5-6) So, you see, Forge's gun *hadn't* been tested, and it supposedly works on non- mutant super-beings as well (this still doesn't mean it'll work on Dr. Doom, Dr. Strange, Dr. Octopus, Dr. Detroit, Dr. Demento, etc.). And it's possible that Forge has since figured out that Raven is a mutant, but he certainly didn't know it when he played his "joke", so it couldn't have been a cover. --- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC Maynard, MA) UUCP: {decvax|ihnp4|allegra|ucbvax|...}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-akov68!boyajian ARPA: boyajian%akov68.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA