Random (comics)

Random
Random Paul Ryan, artist
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Factor, vol. 1 #88 (Mar. 1993)
Created by	Peter David & Joe Quesada
In-story information
Alter ego	Marshall Evan Stone III
Species	Human Mutant
Team affiliations	Acolytes Brotherhood of Mutants Dark Descendants Strikeforce X-Factor
Notable aliases	Alex
Abilities	Body composed of a form of protoplasm which he can reconstruct at will to change his size and shape, alter to counteract any mutant force that is directed at him (within a certain perimeter), and shoot as bio-matter projectiles.

Random (Marshall Evan Stone III) is a fictional character and antihero created by writer Peter David for the Marvel Comics series X-Factor. He started out as a thorn in the side of X-Factor, but he later became a reluctant ally of theirs. The mystery of his life has yet to be completely revealed.

Random's complete origin is unclear. It appears that he was created from a mass of protoplasm by Dark Beast, making Random the continuation of an experiment that Dark Beast began while Sinister's lead scientist in the Age of Apocalypse reality. It is also possible that Random was born normally and then captured and experimented on by Dark Beast. Following Dark Beast's experimentation, the young Random is given the name of Alex, and he uses this name while serving as McCoy's helper in the sewers beneath New York City when he worked with the Morlocks.

"Alex" eventually escapes, shifting his appearance to that of a muscle-bound man and creating the identity of bounty hunter Random. It is unknown if the name Marshall Evan Stone III is his real name or just a name he created for his new Random persona. According to the memories of Charlie Ronalds, a person with Random's powers killed Charlie's parents when Charlie was very young, though Random has never been confirmed as the killer.

In his first encounter with the government-sponsored X-Factor team, Random is called in (presumably by the government) to bring back a group of Genoshan renegades called the X-Patriots, who refuse to leave a hospital where one of their comrades is being treated. Random and X-Factor clash and, wanting to end the fight quickly, team leader Havok buys out Random's contract.

Because of his success as a bounty hunter, Random is contracted to go after X-Factor member Polaris. During their battle, Random tells her that the same government that employs her hired him to kill her. Polaris doesn't believe him, but he assures her that there are mutant haters in the government. After a brief scuffle, Polaris leaves, later confessing to Havok that she felt Random was holding back during the fight, as if he wanted her to win.