Purifiers (comics)

The Purifiers / Stryker Crusade
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Marvel Graphic Novel #5: X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (1982)
Created by	Chris Claremont Brent Anderson
In-story information
Type of organization	Terrorist
Leader(s)	Reverend William Stryker (founder) Matthew Risman (successor) Bastion Jason Stryker (successor)
Agent(s)	Nimrod Rictor (Mole for the X-Men) Reverend Craig

The Purifiers, also known as the Stryker Crusade, are a fictional paramilitary/terrorist organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are usually depicted as enemies of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Brent Anderson, they first appeared in the 1982 graphic novel X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.

A force of Christian fundamentalists led by the ruthless Reverend William Stryker, the Purifiers see themselves in a holy war against mutants, believing them to be the children of the Devil and thus worthy of extermination. The Purifiers made only sporadic appearances since their first appearance, but returned to prominence in the 2000s, when they became prominent antagonists in the series New X-Men and X-Force, and played a major role in the 2007 - 2008 crossover storyline X-Men: Messiah Complex.

In the 1982 graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills, the Purifiers are first seen aiding their vicious leader Rev. William Stryker in his plans to annihilate the mutant race. The Purifiers work to fulfill many of Stryker's goals, abducting Professor X and several of the X-Men, killing mutant children, and defending Stryker's church against the X-Men and Magneto. Eventually, one of the guards, horrified that Stryker would attempt to kill the young mutant Kitty Pryde, shoots the secular fraud of a "pastor" and ends his genocidal plans. With Stryker arrested and sent to prison, the Purifiers disband in his absence.

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