Basilisk (comics)

Basilisk
Basilisk (Basil Elks) Art by Ron Wilson
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	(Supervillain) Marvel Team-Up #16 (Dec 1973) (Mutant) New X-Men #135 (Dec 2002) (Mutate) Morbius, the Living Vampire #5 (Jan. 1993)
Created by	(Supervillain) Len Wein Gil Kane (Mutant) Grant Morrison Frank Quitely
In-story information
Alter ego	(Supervillain) Basil Elks (Mutant) Mike Columbus (Mutate) Wayne Gifford
Team affiliations	(Mutant): Xavier Institute student body Brotherhood of Mutants
Abilities	(Supervillain): Enhanced strength, stamina and reflexes Energy projection Temperature and molecular manipulation Volcano generation (Mutant): Paralyzing light pulse projection (Mutate): Superhuman strength and agility Paralyzing stare

The Basilisk is the name of three fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

The first is a supervillain who debuts in Marvel Team-Up #16 (Dec. 1973). The second is a mutant who first appears in New X-Men #135 (Dec. 2002). The third is a lizard-like villain who first appears in Morbius, the Living Vampire #5 (Jan. 1993). Basilisk is also the codename used by an alternate reality version of the X-Man Cyclops in the Age of X crossover.

The Basilisk first appeared in a story line in Marvel Team-Up #16-17 (Dec. 1973 - Jan. 1974), and was created by Len Wein and Gil Kane. Basil Elks is a petty thief who breaks into a museum to steal what he believes is an ordinary emerald - but is in fact an alien Kree artifact called the Alpha Stone. Elks, however, miscalculates the security guards rounds and is caught and fired upon when he reaches for a weapon. The guard’s bullet accidentally hits and shatters the gem, causing an explosion that transforms Elks into a humanoid reptilian - his skin becomes green and scaly and his eyes are now large and red. Elks then flash-freezes the guard in place, and realizing that he now has superhuman abilities, decides to become a supervillain and calls himself the Basilisk. The character returned shortly thereafter in Marvel Team-Up #47 and Marvel Two-in-One #17 (both July 1976).

The character reappeared in the crossover storyline involving the Scourge of the Underworld, a vigilante who assassinated numerous minor supervillains. Seeking retaliation against superhero the Thing, the character tunneled his way to the headquarters of the Fantastic Four, which was undergoing construction, but was murdered by the Scourge of the Underworld.