Throughout the X-Men mythos, one mysterious mutant has managed to simultaneously stay under the radar, and become a fan favorite at the same time. This mutant, of course, is Bishop, a time-traveling ambiguous anti-hero from a nightmarish future who is transported back in time to prevent a catastrophe from ever occurring.
Along the way, Bishop has both helped, and harmed the future timeline he tried so hard to avert. His alertness and knowledge about future events is countered by his often reckless and impulsive decision-making, flipping him from hero to villain, and back again. There's a lot that only hardcore fans know about this character, beyond just his penchant for time-skipping.
10 His First Name Was Kept Secret For Years
Fans referred to Bishop by that singular title, ever since his debut appearance in Uncanny X-Men #282 in 1991. It was simple and easy to remember, and fans thought nothing of it for years. It wasn't until a full decade later that they realized Bishop actually had a first name, which was finally revealed.
Aside from a variety of aliases including Red Bishop, Archbishop, Major, and Sergeant, he also went by his first name, Lucas. Perhaps the events of his traumatic upbringing forced him to keep his first name a secret in order to detach himself from others and keep them at arms-length, or perhaps the writers were simply looking for a way to expand his character.
9 He Can Absorb All Forms Of Energy At Once
Bishop is a mutant with the ability to absorb energy and redirect it back at his opponent with equal or greater force. This is a huge benefit when it comes to facing down many of the Marvel universe's most powerful beings, including those with cosmic abilities. However, most fans don't realize how far this power goes.
In addition to more obvious forms of energy, Bishop can also draw in psychic and psionic energies, as well as light and sonic energy. If it has any sort of properties related to energy, Bishop can harness it to his advantage. This makes him one of the most unique X-Men in the team's roster, as well as one of the most powerful.
8 He Cannot Regulate His Powers
Bishop's ability to absorb energy is a nifty trick, but it does have some drawbacks. First, it's always active, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean that he's not in control of his own abilities. This has both drawbacks and benefits, such as always being on guard against psionic or telepathic attacks.
However, he cannot create energy that isn't already there. Bishop is an absorber, and his body cannot generate energy out of nothingness. In an environment devoid of any energy to syphon, Bishop is relegated to his other abilities, such as his healing factor, stamina, speed, and strength. Not a bad tradeoff, but it does mean he's robbed of his trump card.
7 He Has Weaknesses Both Great And Small
It's true that Bishop's energy absorption abilities make him immensely powerful, but it does require some forethought on his part to make sure he doesn't take it too far. For instance, it is possible for him to absorb too much energy, to his own detriment, which means a concentrated and sustained blast of energy could be negative.
Second, Bishop has the ability to use absorbed energy to boost his own physical stats, including his defense. If he fails or forgets to do this, he could find himself susceptible to attacks and damage that would kill a normal human being, so he needs to be consciously aware of how to use his powers as he fights.
6 He Got His Facial Brand In A Relocation Camp
Bishop's parents were born in Australia, but relocated to North America, where they were left vulnerable to the Sentinel onslaught in the distant future. Both he and his sister Shard were born in a mutant relocation/concentration camp where the inmates were branded with a particular "M" symbol on their faces.
This was used largely for easier identification, but it was also a means to humiliate mutant-kind and relegate them to second-class citizens, much like the Third Reich did to Jewish people and other prisoners during World War II. It went on to become one of his defining characteristics, and one he seemed to wear boldly and proudly.
5 He Knows Exactly When & Where He Is
One of Bishop's lesser-known, but far more interesting facts is that he can determine the exact time and place he is, at any given time. This is not a manifestation of a mutant power per se, but rather a learned technique garnered through experience with time travel.
It could be argued that heightened mental senses play a part in this power, but that has never been firmly established. It is, however, a handy ability to have, especially for someone in Bishop's line of work, who routinely skips from future to past, and back again.
4 His Weapons Are Tied To His Powers
In the future, Xavier's Security Enforcers are armed with specialized weapons known as XSE Guns, which are capable of firing energy and plasma blasts. This is a major step up from the kinetic power of a traditional firearm or rifle. While potent on their own, Bishop can amplify their power with his own abilities.
By absorbing energy during combat, Bishop can transfer that power to his XSE Gun to amplify its destructive output. This allows him to hang in a firefight longer while giving him an enhanced tactical edge against much more powerful opponents with stronger abilities. It may seem odd for him to carry a weapon at all, given his abilities, but it's one more ace up his sleeve.
3 He Pursued A Traitor, Only To Become One
The biggest motivating factor in Bishop's life at the time of his arrival on present-day Earth was the pursuit of a traitor who was responsible for the downfall of the X-Men. This was hinted at in a garbled message sent by Jean Grey, which Bishop discovered and became determined to stop.
At first, he believed Gambit was the traitor, and there was enough corroborating evidence to give the theory some credibility. In the end, the true traitor was a part of Charles Xavier himself, which made up the ultra-powerful being known as Onslaught. Bishop used his powers to save the X-Men from certain doom at the hands of this traitor, only to become one later on when he attempted to slay the young female mutant known as Hope. It wouldn't be the last time.
2 He Knew More Than He Let On
Bishop grew up in a horrifying dystopian future, and when given the chance to change it for the better, he didn't think twice. Unfortunately, the mission turned into a twisted obsession by which Bishop believed the ends justified the means; any means at all.
He knew a lot more about the present, and how it related to the future than he let on. The events of M-Day, the Shadow King's plans, and a host of other incidents were known to Bishop beforehand, but he saw fit to lie, misdirect and manipulate his comrades on a whim, if he believed it suited his purposes.
1 He Embraced Authoritarianism During Civil War
For a guy who grew up in a dystopian nightmare future, Bishop didn't seem to have much trouble opting in when it came to totalitarian government overreach. During the events of Civil War, an attempt was made to register the world's superheroes in order to keep them in check and under the thumb of the ruling government body.
The X-Men were exempt on a technicality, but that didn't stop Bishop from keeping close tabs on any who decided to give Captain America's side a helping hand. It was a shocking display of outright betrayal, and a willingness to embrace the very thing he had fought so hard to prevent.