WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Marauders #14 by Gerry Duggan, Benjamin Percy, Stefano Caselli, Edgar Delgado, & VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.

The evening before the X of Swords tournament, a parlay dinner finds the sword bearers of Krakoa and Arakko meeting for the first time. As the original Horsemen of Apocalypse size up the competition, Death notices that Storm does not fear any of them. Storm invites Death to dance with her and as they twirl through mermaid filled waters, he says her companions have tasted death before but not her. Storm corrects him, letting him know that they have danced many times before.

Storm joined the X-Men team in Giant-Size X-Men #1 published in 1975. Written by Len Wein with art by Dave Cockrum and Glynis Oliver Wein, the issue shows Charles Xavier recruiting the powerful mutant woman who is worshiped as a goddess for her mutant ability to control the weather. It isn't until later issues, throughout the years, that Storm's tragic backstory is revealed.

As a child, a plane crashed into Storm's home. It killed both of her parents and trapped her in the rubble. With her parents gone, she began living on the streets, stealing in order to survive, and facing many near-death experiences. One such instance is when she is attacked by a man that she ends up killing in self-defense.

Related: Storm: X of Swords Highlights the X-Men Leader's Forgotten Skills

Feeling the need to get out of the dangerous city and find her ancestral home, Storm heads out on her own, nearly dying while traversing the Sahara. During her trials in the desert, her mutant powers are triggered, helping her survive until she reaches the safety of the Serengeti Plains.

Since she has been a member of the X-Men, Storm has been close to death several times. After being infected with a Brood embryo, she attempted suicide to kill the destructive alien growing inside of her. Storm called down stellar energy into herself, ending the life of the Brood but leaving her adrift in space and dying until she was rescued and healed.

Not long after surviving the Brood, Storm's mortality was once again tested. William Stryker, a recurring X-Men villain, staged a car accident that seemingly killed Storm, Charles Xavier, and Cyclops. Holding them captive, Stryker used powerful drugs and brainwashing techniques in an attempt to force Xavier to kill Storm and Cyclops. Xavier severely damaged his X-Men almost enough to kill them, but his students were able to recover.

Storm's life has been riddled with deadly trials and tribulations, but she has always managed to stay one step ahead. From almost dying many times to losing her powers for a time, Storm's will to rise has pulled her out of dangerous depths many times. She is a force to be reckoned with.

Related: X-Men: Marvel's Most Savage Mutants Are Scared of One Villain

It is not surprising that in X of Swords: Stasis #1 Saturnyne gives Storm the prophetic tarot card of Death. The card shows Storm, in place of the usual Death imagery, riding a horse that leads an army. The tarot card does not represent physical death but a metamorphosis and change.

While literally dancing with Death, Storm reiterates that she has done the figurative dance with him her entire life. Storm tells Death that she has learned how to sway his powers. As she says this, Storm takes the lead of their dance, dipping him. As Storm ends the dance, she makes it clear that this is as close as she will allow Death to get to her. The choice and power lie in Storm's hands and she will prevail as the victor.

Next: X of Swords: Apocalypse's 'Scarab' Blade Is Powerful, Deadly and SUPER Emo