There have been several different heroes and villains to emerge in the world of the X-Men of Marvel Comics. From the more well-known heroes like Wolverine and Jean Grey to the villains like Magneto and Apocalypse, there have been so many characters to emerge from this corner of the Marvel Universe that they could form their own universe all together.
One character that is a fan favorite who has a long history with the X-Men has to be Jubilee. A young mutant who snuck her way into the X-Men’s lives and became an important member, here are ten things to know about her.
10 Forced Into Orphanage
The first thing to know about Jubilee is that she was born to two wealthy Chinese Immigrants. Both of her parents raised her in Beverley Hills, California, and she was an extremely talented gymnast. Believed to be so talented that she could be an Olympic competitor, she never got the chance to prove it as she was hit by tragedy.
Both of her parents had their lives taken by hitmen. Forced into an orphanage, Jubilee ran away and hid in the Hollywood Mall, stealing food to survive. It was here that her mutant abilities to project “fireworks” first made themselves known.
9 Destroys Part Of The Mandarin’s Castle
After being rescued by four X-Men, she sneaks her way onto their base in the Outback and begins hiding there, scavenging for food and clothes as she has no clue if the X-Men will accept her. One night she witnesses Wolverine being captured and tortured by the Reavers.
Unable to leave him behind, she rescues him and starts nursing him back to health before the Reavers find them. They escape to Madripoor but soon are forced to battle the Mandarin and the Hand after being captured. She uses her powers to blow up part of the Mandarin’s castle, allowing her, Wolverine and Psylocke to escape.
8 Becomes Wolverine’s Sidekick
One huge aspect of Jubilee’s career with the X-Men is her close relationship with Wolverine. She joined Wolverine on several missions before becoming an official X-Men member, traveling the world and watching his back. Eventually, she becomes known as Wolverine’s sidekick, as she has developed a father/daughter type of relationship with the iconic mutant hero.
With Logan, she meets Black Widow, rescues New Mutants trapped on Genosha, travels to the Shi’ar Empire and battles the Warskrulls, and even finds herself as one of the X-Men captured and taken control of by the Shadow King, Professor Xavier’s longtime foe.
7 Abandoned By Wolverine
For years Jubilee becomes a member of the X-Men, often becoming the deciding factor in their victories when battling foes while serving on the X-Men Blue team. Fighting foes like the Shi’ar, Skrulls, Brood, Omega Red and more, she uses her powers to hold off the foes and give the heroes time to complete their mission.
However, after an accidental fall through time allowed Jubilee to witness her parent’s passing, identifying their killers for the first time, she is talked out of getting revenge by Wolverine. Soon after, Wolverine leaves the X-Men, telling her not to leave the team and that she can’t come with him, making her feel abandoned.
6 Joins Generation X
After Logan left the team, Jubilee left as well, joining a new team of mutants known as Generation X. Led and taught by both Banshee and Emma Frost, Jubilee was one of several mutants who joined the team, including M, Husk, and Mondo. The teen mutants are taught by Emma and Banshee not only academics but combat and field skills as well.
The team tests their control over their abilities while facing foes like Omega Red, Juggernaut, and Emplate. Jubilee, having experience with the X-Men, often is the deciding factor in their victories, using her experience to find solutions to stop their foes.
5 Suffered Many Big Losses
Jubilee had a rough time in the years to come. After a failed attempt to become an actress, Jubilee reluctantly joins Banshee’s militaristic X-Corp team, alongside former teammates Husk and M. After this, however, she was one of several mutants captured and crucified on the front lawn of the X-Mansion.
She and most of the others survived thanks to Angel’s healing blood, but her longtime friend Skin did not. After this loss and failing to immerse herself into the Uncanny X-Men, Jubilee discovered a long lost Aunt Hope who took her in. However, eventually, her Aunt was revealed to be a former assassin, and her former employer seemingly took her life.
4 Becomes A New Warrior
After the events of House of M and M-Day, Jubilee is one of several mutants who lost their abilities. After a brief time running a halfway house for mutants who lost their powers, she is kidnapped by Omega Red, where she is badly injured while in Berlin as a hostage. Logan rescues her alongside SHIELD, and she gets medical treatment.
Shortly after this Jubilee reappears as Wondra, the first member of the newest iteration of the New Warriors. A serious member of the team, she uses the Wizard’s Gauntlets to give her super strength and help her fight crime.
3 Becomes A Vampire
One of the biggest turning points in Jubilee’s life is when she becomes a vampire. It is during the event Curse of the Mutants, when a depowered Jubilee, having left the New Warriors, is having lunch with Pixie when an attack infects her and several others with vampiric blood.
Revealed to be transforming into a vampire, soon Jubilee hears the call of her new master, and cannot help herself from escaping the X-Men and giving herself to Xarus, the son of Dracula and the new leader of the vampires. Serving him, she infects Wolverine before Xarus is defeated, and she is held by the X-Men to help her adjust to life as a vampire.
2 Becomes Friends With X-23
After her transformation, she is taken by Wolverine to go with him to Paris, at the suggestion of longtime X-Men ally Gambit. There she meets X-23, and tensions between the two are at an all-time high. Both have a father/daughter relationship with Logan, leading Logan to examine how he treats each of them differently.
Soon Jubilee and X-23 bond, with X-23 teaching Jubilee how to control her bloodlust while Jubilee helps X-23 learn to be a “normal girl”. Jubilee later joins the Forgiven, a group of vampires who learned to move beyond their need for blood and becomes a student.
1 Becomes Adoptive Mother
In the age of Marvel NOW!, Jubilee returned to the X-Men with a surprise of her own, a baby named Shogo who was infected by the Arkea virus. Later it is revealed that Sentinel X is a future version of Shogo, revealing his importance not only to Jubilee but to the X-Men overall.
The two bond after the passing of a future version of Jubilee, and soon Storm confirms Jubilee’s paperwork went through, making her Shogo’s official adoptive mother. Balancing heroic life, vampirism, and her life as a mother, Jubilee worked to create a whole new life for herself.