History Characters / XMenExternals

[[Characters/XMenTheOriginalTeam The Original Team]] | [[Characters/XMen60sMembers '60s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen70sMembers '70s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen80sMembers '80s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen90sMembers '90s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen2000sMembers 2000's Members]] | [[Characters/XMen2010sMembers 2010's Members]] | [[Characters/XMen2020sMembers 2020's Members]]\\

[[Characters/XMenOtherTeams Other Teams]] | [[Characters/ExcaliburMarvelComics Excalibur]] | Characters/GenerationX | Characters/NewMutants | Characters/NewXMenAcademyX | Characters/XFactor | Characters/XForce\\

[[Characters/XMenOtherTeams Other Teams]] | [[Characters/CaptainBritainAndMI13 Excalibur]] | Characters/GenerationX | Characters/NewMutants | Characters/NewXMenAcademyX | Characters/XFactor | Characters/XForce\\

[[Characters/XMenTheOriginalTeam The Original Team]] | [[Characters/XMen60sMembers '60s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen70sMembers '70s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen80sMembers '80s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen90sMembers '90s Members]] | [[Characters/XMen2000sMembers 2000's Members]] | [[Characters/XMen2010sMembers 2010's Members]]\\

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenArakko Arakko]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | '''Externals''' | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]] | [[Characters/XMenMutantLiberationFront MLF]] | [[Characters/XMenOrchis Orchis]]\\

[[Characters/XMenRecurringCharacters Recurring Characters]] | [[Characters/XMenMinorCharacters Minor Characters]] | {{Characters/NYX}} | [[{{Characters/Cable}} Cable's supporting cast]] | [[{{Characters/Wolverine}} Wolverine's supporting cast]] | [[Characters/{{X23}} X-23's supporting cast]]-]]]]]

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenArakko Arakko]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | '''Externals''' | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]] | [[Characters/XMenOrchis Orchis]]\\

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenArakko Arakko]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | '''Externals''' | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]]\\

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenArakko Arakko]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | '''Externals''' | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]]\\

* PurpleEyes: A MarkOfTheSupernatural in his case, specifically his mutant precognition ability.

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenArakko Arrako]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | '''Externals''' | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]]\\

-->''"For some of us, ascendant, death was just the beginning..."''

-->''"Forever vying for political and monetary control over the destiny of this planet. Each of us aware that to truly gain such complete control requires mastery over time itself. For what sense is there in gaining power over your own destiny?"''

!!!'''Debut:''' ''Gambit #1'' (December, 1993)

-->''"Gideon was right... This is External business."''

-->''"You are not obsolete. You are useful. We have a community to feed, and you are the fuel."''

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | '''Externals''' | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]]\\

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | Externals | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]]\\

Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryAToI | Characters/XMenRoguesGalleryJToR | Characters/XMenRoguesGallerySToZ | [[Characters/XMenAcolytes Acolytes]] | [[Characters/XMenBrotherhoodOfMutants Brotherhood of Mutants]] | [[Characters/XMenClanAkkaba Clan Akkaba]] | [[Characters/XMenExternals Externals]] | [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub Hellfire Club]] | [[Characters/XMenMarauders Marauders]]\\

[[Characters/XMenRecurringCharacters Recurring Characters]] | [[Characters/XMenMinorCharacters Minor Characters]] | {{Characters/NYX}} | [[{{Characters/Cable}} Cable's supporting cast]] | [[{{Characters/Wolverine}} Wolverine's supporting cast]] | [[Characters/{{X23}} X-23 supporting cast]]-]]]]]

* OpportunisticBastard: He takes advantage of a hostage scheme orchestrated by the Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy to turn public opinion against X-Force in general and Cable in particular.

-> '''Debut:''' ''New Mutants'' #98 (1991)

-> '''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (1992)

-> '''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (1992)

-> '''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (1992)

-> '''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (1992)

-> '''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #12 (1992)

->'''Debut:''' ''Gambit #1'' (December, 1993)

->'''Debut:''' ''New Mutants'' #9 (1983)

!!ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}

->'''Debut:''' ''X-Factor'' #6 (1986)

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/candra_earth_616_from_gambit_vol_3_14.jpg]]

-->''"Which would you prefer, to be crushed underfoot by En Sabah Nur's booted heel, or to live in paradise, owned body and soul, by Candra of the Floating Spires?"''

Although one of the more prominent Externals, Candra often has little association with her fellow High Lords. She became the patron of the Thieves and Assassins Guilds of Earth, offering them her blessings and power in exchange for tribute. This often leads her into conflict with Gambit of the X-Men, whose leadership of the Thieves Guild of New Orleans often interferes with her plans.

Eldest of the Externals, Selene is an [[OurVampiresAreDifferent energy vampire]] mutant born over 17,000 years ago during the Hyborian Age. Like Apocalypse, she is more aptly described as an associate of the group rather than a full-time member, allying herself with them when it serves her ends but otherwise acting independently of the High Lords. She was even responsible for killing most of them off in the so-called "Great External Purge", a massacre it took the Externals decades to return from.\\

* RoguesGalleryTransplant: In her last (as of 2017) appearance Candra was imported as a villain for ''ComicBook/ScarletSpider2012''. Not only had she never interacted with the new Scarlet Spider Kaine, neither she nor any other External every interacted with ''anyone'' from Spidey's corner of the Marvel Universe (unless you count that time Gideon captured the ComicBook/NewWarriors). However, Kaine's series established as having bad blood with the Assassin's Guild who were working on resurrecting her--she was effectively a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere to him while he was trying to kill Belladonna.

* RoguesGalleryTransplant: In her last (as of 2017) appearance Candra was imported as a villain for ''ComicBook/ScarletSpider2012''. Not only had she never interacted with the new Scarlet Spider Kaine, neither she nor any other External every interacted with ''anyone'' from Spidey's corner of the Marvel Universe (unless you count that time Gideon captured the ComicBook/NewWarriors). However, Kaine's series established as having bad blood with the Assassin's Guild who were working on resurrecting her--she was effectively a GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere to him while he was trying to kill Belladonna.

* RoguesGalleryTransplant: In her last (as of 2017) appearance Candra was imported as a villain for ''ComicBook/ScarletSpider2012'', turning her into this as not only had she never interacted with the new Scarlet Spider Kaine, neither she nor any other External every interacted with ''anyone'' from Spidey's corner of the Marvel Universe (unless you count that time Gideon captured the ComicBook/NewWarriors).

[[quoteright:286:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/83975_190673_gideon.jpg]]

A CorruptCorporateExecutive in the vein of Sebastian Shaw, Gideon is the most active representative of the High Lords, manipulating world events through his highly influential and wealthy public identity. A PowerCopying mutant, he became a prominent foe of the ComicBook/NewMutants and X-Force through his efforts to induct the Brazilian mutant Sunspot, whom he believed to be the newest External, into the High Lords. He has also been a recurring foe to Night Thrasher of the ComicBook/NewWarriors, and an ally of convenience to ComicBook/NickFury. None of this was enough to save him when Selene came calling, but as an External it was not his fate to stay dead forever...

** Another irony to the character is that he supposedly represents [[HeroicWillpower Fortitude]], yet has given up on life and only wants to die.

* TookALevelInBadass: It took 20 years for the guy to get an issue where he actually did anything, but when he finally did use his mutant powers in a fight, they were strong enough to make Apocalypse himself call for aid.

* ElderlyImmortal: His first death did not occur until he was already older, thus locking his age in there.

* ScaledUp: Can transform into a dragon.

* ArchEnemy: To Gambit, having repeatedly fought him for control and influence over the Thieves and Assassins Guilds.

* MindOverMatter: Her mutant ability (which can function as a HealingFactor), though Apocalypse and Selene also boast telekinetic powers.

[[folder:Apocalypse]]
!!ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7075438_rco001_1568811166.jpg]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Selene]]
!!Selene Gallio / The Black Queen
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/972876_selene.jpg]]
See her entry on [[Characters/XMenHellfireClub the Hellfire Club]] page.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Candra]]
!!Candra / Red Death
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/candra_earth_616_from_gambit_vol_3_14.jpg]]

->'''Debut:''' ''Gambit #1'' (December, 1993)

Although one of the more prominent Externals, Candra often has little association with her fellow High Lords. She became the patron of the Thieves and Assassins Guilds of Earth, offering them her blessings and power in exchange for tribute. This often leads her into conflict with Gambit of the X-Men, whose leadership of the Thieves Guild of New Orleans often interferes with her plans.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Her outfits usually leave her cleavage quite exposed.
* ArchEnemy: To Gambit, having repeatedly fought him for control and influence over the Thieves and Assassins Guilds.
* BlondesAreEvil: She's blonde and is quite manipulative and willing to kill others.
* CameBackWrong: Her latest resurrection left her in the body of a teenager, a form she was very unhappy with. She tried to orchestrate a HumanSacrifice of either Rogue or Belladonna to fix herself, but playing mind games with Gambit led to it being stopped.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Her name was also spelled as 'Kandra' early on. Clearly the success of Franchise/MortalKombat had an influence on early '90s Marvel's character naming conventions.
* LadyInRed: In life she favored this look. After her last resurrection she graduated to RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver, although she eventually returned to red.
* LifeDrinker: She displayed this tendency in ''ComicBook/ScarletSpider'', using it to a power a HealingFactor strong enough to deal with repeated murder attempts from Kaine and Logan.
* LonersAreFreaks: She has always been among the more solitary members of the Externals, often ignoring what the rest of her fellows are doing in favor of her own schemes and interests. In a stark deviation from almost every other character with an X-gene, Candra did '''not''' sign up with the fledgling mutant nation of Krakoa in ''House of X'', opting instead to return to New Orleans and reconsolidate her power over the Assassins' and Thieves Guilds.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Her bones and lifeforce were drained by Apocalypse to create the External Gate on Krakoa, which prevents her from ever resurrecting again. She nearly avoided this fate thanks to hiding her heartstone in Otherworld's Starlight Citadel, but Gambit found it and threw it through the Krakoan portal to her bones in order to finally be rid of her]].
* TheMagnificent: Candra likes to refer to herself as 'Candra of the Floating Spires'. Since her 2013 resurrection, she has taken a new and more badass title: the [[RedBaron Red Death]].
* TheManBehindTheMan: Well, Woman Behind: Candra is this for the Thieves Guild and Assassins Guild of New Orleans.
* MindOverMatter: Her mutant ability (which can function as a HealingFactor), though Apocalypse and Selene also boast telekinetic powers.
* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: As of 2013 Candra is now an "immortal death-powered telekinetic zombie".
* RoguesGalleryTransplant: In her last (as of 2017) appearance Candra was imported as a villain for ''ComicBook/ScarletSpider2012'', turning her into this as not only had she never interacted with the new Scarlet Spider Kaine, neither she nor any other External every interacted with ''anyone'' from Spidey's corner of the Marvel Universe (unless you count that time Gideon captured the ComicBook/NewWarriors).
* SignatureHeadgear: Her headpiece is the most consistent part of her outfit.
* SmugSnake: She is one of these in the ComicBook/{{Gambit}} miniseries, manipulating Clan [=LeBeau=] out of a ''very'' mistaken belief that she is capable of outmaneuvering both her fellow Externals and Apocalypse himself.
* SoulJar: At one point Candra stored the totality of her essence in a 'heart stone' which granted her true, perfect immortality. It was believed that the destruction of the stone was the only way to kill her, and indeed she vanished for a long time after Cyclops ultimately pulled it off, but eventually returned in 2013's ''ComicBook/ScarletSpider''.
* StartOfDarkness: While her origins are unknown, she was a whole lot less bloodthirsty when a [[TimeTravel time-traveling]] Gambit met her in the 1890s. Then she got subjected to EvilerThanThou by Mr. Sinister.
* StatuesqueStunner: She's 5'9"/175cm tall, making her barely shorter than Selene.
* SuperEmpowering: She is known to the New Orleans guilds as 'the Benefactress' because of her habit of granting boons to their members in exchange for oaths of service; the 'power and the life' to the Assassins and Thieves guilds respectively.
* TookALevelInBadass: In 2013 it was revealed that even destroying her heartstone can't kill her, suggesting it might be truly impossible to permanently kill her. [[spoiler:At least until her heartstone was reunited with her bones and used by Apocalypse to create and power the External Gate to Otherworld, using all of her power in the process]].
* WeaksauceWeakness: During a battle between Candra, Wolverine, and Scarlet Spider, Scarlet Spider used his powers to make a spider land on her face, which caused her to freak out.
* TheWorfEffect: She is subjected to this in the 2017 ''Cable'' run, being the first External killed off by [[spoiler:Gideon]] to emphasize how dangerously capable the temporal assassin hunting them is.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gideon]]
!!Gideon
[[quoteright:286:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/83975_190673_gideon.jpg]]
!!!'''Nationality:''' Spanish
!!!'''Species:''' Human mutant
-> '''Debut:''' ''New Mutants'' #98 (1991)
\\\
A crew member aboard the ''Pinta'' during Christopher Columbus' expedition which found the Americas, Gideon established there and amassed money and influence before founding Ophrah Industries during the 20th century to exert his influence. He became a prominent foe of the New Mutants and X-Force as he sought to induct the New Mutant Sunspot, whom he believed to be an External, into the High Lords.
----
* AdamAndOrEve: These are the names of Gideon's two android assistants and protectors. Adam was, as far as he know, always a machine, while Eve was originally a human before digitizing herself (or being digitized somehow) into an android being.
* ArchEnemy: To Sunspot, who Gideon manipulated and tormented to mold into another High Lord after coming to believe he was a new External.

* DittoFighter: Gideon is this to any mutant he fights, due to his PowerCopying ability.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Before the Externals were officially revealed, a 1992 trading card listed Gideon's group affiliation as "The Profit$".

* EvilIsBigger: At 6'8, Gideon is positively ''gigantic''.

--> '''Gideon''': Adam, take a memo -- "Dear Sebastian, for the money I am paying, I would prefer if you would make these tin darlings a little ''quieter''. Ever yours, Gideon."* ManipulativeBastard: He is this in spades. He has Sunspot's father killed so he can take the boy under his own wing, and later uses his corporate tycoon cover identity to turn public opinion against X-Force.

* PowerCopying: His mutant ability, "wild generic template", allows him to copy the abilities of any mutants within a certain range, as well as decidedly non-mutant power sources such as MechaMooks. It's a DiscardAndDraw kind of power, though, with Gideon only able to copy one power at a time.

* OffWithHisHead: A Gideon who travelled back in time from 3,000 years in the future to steal the other External's powers was decapitated via a PortalCut by Blink.

One of the youngest Externals, his powers did not activate until 1896, although he had already been identified by his fellow Externals and joined the High Lords several years prior.

* YouWillBeSpared: [[spoiler:Apocalypse tells him he won't kill him since he needs a fourth External to complete the ritual.]]

A precognitive External, Burke suffered many deaths and lost all his loved ones before joining the group. After being killed by Selene he left his rich and influential lifestyle him in favor of a quiet life in Tonasket, Washington.

Another of the eldest Externals, Nocodemus' origins are shrouded in mystery, although he claims to be as old as the Swiss mountains which he resides in.

Born Garbha-Hsien, he is one of the oldest Eternals, having already been old when the "continents shook". Once the ruler of a kingdom in the mountains of Mongolia before an encounter with Apocalypse humbled him, Saul left his kingdom to learn more of the wider world. His exact mutant power is unclear, as his mastery of magic has had him display many abilities.

* BoisterousWeakling: He can send ordinary people running for cover but no one with powers has any trouble with him. Gideon easily beats him after absorbing his powers (even though Crule has centuries more experience in battle), the X-Force team contains him without too much trouble, Selene kills him with a casual gesture, [[spoiler:and Rictor later

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/candra_earth_616_from_mr_and_mrs_x_vol_1_11_001.png]]

!!!'''Debut:''' ''Gambit #1'' (December, 1993)

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/candra_xmen.jpg]]

!!!'''Debut:''' ''New Mutants'' #98 (February, 1991)

A crew member aboard the ''Pinta'' during Christopher Columbus' expedition which found the Americas, Gideon established there and amassed money and influence before founding Ophrah Industries during the 20th century to exert his influence. He became a prominent foe of the New Mutants and X-Force as he sought to induct Sam Guthrie, whom he believed to be an External, into the High Lords.

!!!'''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (May, 1992)

!!!'''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (May, 1992)

!!!'''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (May, 1992)

!!!'''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (May, 1992)

!!!'''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #12 (July, 1992)

* AxCrazy: Crule is the oldest of the Externals and also [[InsaneEqualsViolent by far the least sane]]. During World War II he joined up with the Nazis to happily operate gas chambers in concentration camps.
* BloodKnight: Crule apparently has this encoded in his DNA. When Gideon absorbs his mutant powers, he becomes hyper-aggressive and beats Sunspot nearly to death for no real reason. When he shakes it off, he sounds almost ''embarrassed'' with himself.

* ObviouslyEvil: The fact that he wears human skulls on his belt is a pretty significant indictor of his moral stance.
* PurpleIsPowerful: His whole body is colored like a bruise, and indeed he's very powerful -- just so long as [[GlassCannon he's the one dishing it out]].

[[folder:Saul]]
!!Saul / Garbha-Hsien
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/saul_xmen.png]]
!!!'''Nationality:''' Chinese

-->''"Forever vying for political and monetary control over the destiny of this planet. Each of us aware that to truly gain such complete control requires mastery over time itself. For what sense is there in gaining power over your own destiny?"''

Born Garbha-Hsien, he is one of the oldest Eternals, having already been old when the "continents shook". Once the ruler of a kingdom in the mountains of Mongolia before an encounter with Apocalypse humbled him, Saul left his kingdom to learn more of the wider world. His exact mutant power is unclear, as his mastery of magic has had him display many abilities.

* ElderlyImmortal: His first death did not occur until he was already older, thus locking his age in there.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:His bones and lifeforce were drained by Apocalypse to create the External Gate on Krakoa, which prevents him from ever resurrecting again]].
* OutlivingOnesOffspring: He had at least twelve children during his time as a ruler in Mongolia and constructed grand tombs for each of them after they passed.
* ScaledUp: Can transform into a dragon.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: He can transform into a dragon, presumably via magic rather than his mutant abilities.
* YellowPeril: He has a distinctly Fu Manchu look, giving him the appearance of a poor man's Mandarin.

[[folder:Nicodemus]]
!!Nicodemus
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nicodemus_xmen.jpg]]

Another of the eldest Externals, Nocodemus' origins are shrouded in mystery, although he claims to be as old as the Swiss mountains which he resides in.

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:His bones and lifeforce were drained by Apocalypse to create the External Gate on Krakoa, which prevents him from ever resurrecting again]].
* PlayingWithFire: His mutant ability allows him to generate energy flares of 'unstable pyroplasma' that carry incredible explosive force upon impact.
* PowerIncontinence: While dying of the Legacy virus he lost control of his powers, exploding and incinerating himself and the doctors and nurses who were caring for him.

[[folder:Absalom]]
!!Absalom
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/absalom_xmen.jpg]]
!!!'''Nationality:''' American

One of the youngest Externals, his powers did not activate until 1896, although he had already been identified by his fellow Externals and joined the High Lords several years prior.

* AintTooProudToBeg: [[spoiler:Begs for his life from Apocalypse after being trounced by an empowered Rictor. Apocalypse grants him mercy as he already had four External's bodies with which to power the External Gate]].
* BadWithTheBone: His mutant ability is this, and he was essentially the proto-Marrow. He is able to both grow and shoot from his body spikes that are several feet long.
* BigBadWannabe: He'd ''like'' to be a more competent and effective person but his impulsive personality prevents him from acquiring the influence and respect that his contemporary Gideon manages to gain.
* BodyHorror: When infected with the Legacy virus, his bone growth was prone to flaring wildly out of his control.
* DeathSeeker: Became one of these in the 2017 ''Cable'' series, throwing in with Gideon in exchange from a promise to end his life. Ironically, during his original appearances Absalom was very much ''afraid'' of death, having a VillainousBreakdown in response to being infected with the mutant-killing Legacy virus. [[spoiler:When he reappears in ''[[ComicBook/Excalibur2019'' he has gotten past this and actually begs for his life]].
* StartOfDarkness: He was an outlaw in TheWildWest who was hanged after dishonorably shooting the legendary gunslinger Caleb Hammer in the back.
* TragicVillain: Fittingly for the External who represents despair, his history is a long series of failures, with each one making him vow to surpass himself and become a better man, only for him to backslide into the same self-defeating attitudes and behaviors.
* VillainInAWhiteSuit: In the early years of his ascension he favored this style of fashion, as seen in the page picture.
* WildHair: He sports a flowing blonde mane that's more than a little reminiscent of [[{{Characters/Wolverine}} Tyler Dayspring's]].
* YouWillBeSpared: [[spoiler:Apocalypse tells him he won't kill him since he needs a fourth External to complete the ritual.]]

[[folder:Burke]]
!!Burke
[[quoteright:123:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/253430_126894_burke.gif]]

A External who can see the future, Burke left his influential and rich lifestyle behind after being killed by Selene and lived a quiet life in Tonasket, Washington.

* AffablyEvil: His response to a visit from X-Force in the pages of 2017's ''Cable'' is to offer the heroes tea. And biscuits.
* BornAgainImmortality: When last seen (as of 2020) he had resurrected yet again, as a baby born to a couple in Maple Ridge, Canafda.
* BurnTheWitch: He has been killed many times over the years, one method of which was when he was burned at the stake in the 17th century.
* DeathSeeker: He became one of these and welcomed Gideon's attempt to take his power and end his life permanently, though he is much more casual and laid back about it than the high-strung Absalom.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: He dreams of the future, with one of his visions indicating that a new External, suspected to be Cannonball, had been born. The 2017 Cable run upgrades it to CombatClairvoyance.
* HarmlessVillain: Out of all the Externals, he's easily the most benign.
* {{Irony}}: [[spoiler:The External who most wanted to die is now one of their few surviving members]].
** Another irony to the character is that he supposedly represents [[HeroicWillpower Fortitude]], yet has given up on life and only wants to die.
* LastNameBasis: Burke is a rather normal name, implying it's his actual last name.
* NonActionGuy: He has a passive mutation and no combat ability, thus he usually stands on the sidelines when the superhero brawls break out.
* OffWithHisHead: Among the deaths he mentions is being guillotined during the 18th century.
* PunchClockVillain: He works with the other Externals because of their shared immortality, but he's not an inherently bad person.
* PurpleEyes: A MarkOfTheSupernatural in his case, specifically his mutant precognition ability.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: He tells Cable that he is simply sick of dying painfully and being reborn all the time and that he wants to reunite with all of the loved ones he has outlived.

* DeathSeeker: He has become one of these in the 2017 ''Cable'' series, throwing in with Gideon in exchange from a promise to end his life. Ironically, during his original appearances Absalom was very much ''afraid'' of death, having a VillainousBreakdown in response to being infected with the mutant-killing Legacy virus. [[spoiler:When he reappears in ''[[ComicBook/Excalibur2019'' he has gotten past this and actually begs for his life]].

[[folder:Crule]]
!!Crule
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crule_xmen.jpg]]

!!!'''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #12 (July, 1992)

A External who has lived since the mid-Hyborian Age. By far the most violent and openly malevolent of the Externals, even when compared with Selene, but is thankfully not clever enough to scheme on his own and typically serves as muscle for his fellow High Lords or other villains.

[[folder:Burke]]
!!Burke
[[quoteright:123:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/253430_126894_burke.gif]]
!!!'''Species:''' Human mutant
!!!'''Debut:''' ''X-Force'' #10 (May, 1992)

A External who can see the future, Burke left his influential and rich lifestyle behind after being killed by Selene and lived a quiet life in Tonasket, Washington.
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* AffablyEvil: His response to a visit from X-Force in the pages of 2017's ''Cable'' is to offer the heroes tea. And biscuits.
* DeathSeeker: He became one of these and welcomed Gideon's attempt to take his power and end his life permanently, though he is much more casual and laid back about it than the high-strung Absalom.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: He dreams of the future, with one of his visions indicating that a new External, suspected to be Cannonball, had been born. The 2017 Cable run upgrades it to CombatClairvoyance.
* LastNameBasis: Burke is a rather normal name, implying it's his actual last name.
* OffWithHisHead: Among the deaths he mentions is being guillotined during the 18th century.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: He tells Cable that he is simply sick of dying painfully and being reborn all the time and that he wants to reunite with all of the loved ones he has outlived.
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!!Absalome