Polaris

Real Name
Lorna Dane (legal name since adoption, given name unrevealed) 

Occupation
Adventurer, former U.S. government operative, former graduate student in geophysics 
 
Citizenship 
U.S.A. (presumed)

Place of Birth Unrevealed

Known Relatives
Magnus (Magneto, father), Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver, half-brother), Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch, half-sister), Zala Dane (Zaladane, supposed sister, deceased), unidentified aunt & uncle (adoptive parents)

Group Affiliation
X-Factor Investigations; formerly Starjammers, X-Men, Acolytes, Genoshan Cabinet, Twelve, X-Factor, Marauders, Defenders

Education 
Masters degree in geophysics, some doctoral research completed 

Height 
5'7"

Weight 
115 lbs.
 
Eyes 
Dark green
 
Hair 
Light green
 
Powers 
Polaris is a mutant with the ability to manipulate magnetism. Although she has the potential to exercise all of the powers that Magneto has, as yet she has only used powers involving the manipulation of magnetic, electrical, and gravitic fields. Moreover, she cannot summon as great an amount of energy as Magneto can. The exact limits on the amount weight that she can magnetically lift at present have not been measured, but they are considerably below those of Magneto. Since she has preferred not to use her powers in combat situations, she has not worked nearly as hard to develop them as Magneto has. As with Magneto, it is unknown whether Polaris's powers are purely psionic or whether they derive from her physically. Polaris has been observed levitating metallic objects and creating force fields in which she can suspend persons or objects in the air and in which she can protect them from attacks from outside the fields. She can also overload or short-circuit electrical systems. By concentrating, Polaris can perceive the world around herself solely as patterns of magnetic and electrical energy. She can perceive the natural magnetic auras surrounding living beings, as well. For a time, Polaris possessed superhuman strength and durability, as well as the ability to temporarily increase her height and mass by drawing on negative energy around her.

Abilities
Lorna possesses expertise in geophysics.

Other Info 
Lorna Dane was orphaned only weeks after her birth when her parents supposedly died in a plane crash. She was adopted by the Danes, a couple who claimed to be her aunt and uncle. Lorna was born with green hair, which she always kept dyed brown so that she would not be seen as "different." Lorna's foster parents hid the truth about her parents, fearing it would cause her more stress and trauma.

One day, Samuel "Starr" Saxon constructed an android duplicate of Magneto, and a small army of androids with strange powers called the Demi-Men. Saxon's second-in-command, Mesmero, and  his androids captured Lorna and subjected her to a "mutant energy stimulator" device, which altered her genetic structure so as to allow her to exercise her latent powers. Lorna and Magneto were convinced that they were father and daughter, due to the similar natures of their powers. However, it was Iceman of the X-Men who provided evidence that convinced Lorna that her true parents had died in a plane crash years earlier. After this, Lorna turned against Magneto (who she found out was just an android duplicate) and helped the X-Men in defeating the villains. Afterward, Lorna joined up with the X-Men. (To learn about the above highlighted characters and/or teams, just click on their names. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit worn by others on Mesmero's bio page.)

While at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Lorna was tutored by Professor Charles Xavier in the use of her powers. For a while, Lorna became romantically inclined towards her teammate Iceman; however, she eventually fell in love with another teammate: Havok. While with the X-Men, Lorna helped repel an invasion by the alien Z'Nox. Also, when the team met Ka-Zar in the Savage Land, this is when Lorna made her first code name of "Magnetrix," but she quickly decided that was a bad idea. This did not keep Havok from continuing to use that name as a way to annoy and flirt with her though. Then when Lorna first encountered the real Magneto in the Savage Land, she was surprised that he did not know who she was. It was later when the X-Men fought the island Krakoa, it appeared that Lorna displayed for the first time her major power potential as she disrupted the Earth's magnetic field, flinging Krakoa into deep space. After this battle, both Lorna and Havok decided to abandon their lives as costumed adventurers, and decided to pursue their mutal interest in geophysics, attending graduate school in Nevada. (To learn about the above highlighted places, characters, and/or race, just click on their names.)

Later on, Lorna and Havok were kidnapped by Davan Shakari of the Shi'ar, also known as Erik the Red. It was actually he who gave Lorna the codename "Polaris." Shakari subjected both of them to a powerful forms of mind control and turned the two against the X-Men, and even had the attempt to assassinate Professor X. Fortunately, Polaris and Havok were defeated by the X-Men and eventually Professor X was able to free them from Shakari's control. (To learn about the character and/or race above, just click on their highlighted names.)

Afterwards, Polaris and Havok settled in New Mexico and completed their advanced degrees. Occasionally the two would reluctantly assist their old team; however, they led a happy civilian life for a number of years.

One day, the pair’s idyllic lifestyle was interrupted when they found themselves hunted by the team of superhuman assassins known as the Marauders. Polaris was possessed by the psionic entity known as Malice, who forced Lorna to attack Havok and the X-Men as the Marauders' leader. Malice later discovered that she and Lorna were permanently bonded due to interference from their individual energy matrices. Eventually, Malice's hold on Lorna weakened and she was able to contact the X-Men for help. However, they arrived too late to save Lorna from being kidnapped by Zaladane, a priestess of Savage Land's Sun People. Zaladane claimed to be Lorna's sister, and used a device to transfer Lorna's powers to herself, purging Lorna of Malice's presence in the process. Strangely, as a result, Lorna developed alternate powers, including superhuman strength and nigh-invulnerability, and also grew considerably in height and mass. (Just click on the highlighted names above to learn about the team and/or characters. Also, Polaris in her Malice form is shown as the first picture posted above.)

Having nowhere else to go, Lorna headed for the mutant research station on Muir Island off the coast of Scotland. On her way there, she discovered that her new mutation also affected those around her, amplifying negative emotions such as anger and hate. Once arriving to Muir Island, Moira MacTaggert examined Lorna and was at a loss to explain Lorna's new mutation; however, she did confirm that the only way Zaladane could have taken her powers away was if she were a biological sibling. Lorna's new powers drew the attention of the psionic being known as the Shadow King, who used Lorna as a gateway to allow him access to Earth from the astral plane. Lorna was freed of his influence with the help of X-Factor and the X-Men. After they defeated the Shadow King, Lorna's magnetic powers returned. (To learn about the above highlighted place, characters, and/or team, just click on their names.)

Afterward, Polaris was recruited into a newly formed X-Factor team by Val Cooper. It was here that Polaris was reunited with Havok. The two tried to maintain their relationship; however, they broke up and reconciled multiple times. Polaris became a mainstay of the team, and also became the government's secret weapon against a possible attack by Magneto. (To learn about Val Cooper, just click on her name above. Also, Polaris in her X-Factor outfit is shown in the third picture posted above.)

Later, X-Factor was forced by the government to employ the renowned mutant criminals Mystique and Sabretooth. As a result, Lorna began to question her place on the team, and her fears were eventually justified after Sabretooth broke free and ran amok. In addition, she saw Havok be seemingly killed in the explosion of a faulty time machine constructed by the mutant from the future, Greystone. Lorna left X-Factor to grieve and the group disbanded.  (To learn about the above highlighted characters, just click on their names. Note: Beware of the revealing outfits worn by Mystique on her bio page..)

Months later, Lorna encountered the Nightcrawler in a church. She confided in him that she was sure Havok was still alive and that she felt as if she were being followed. Indeed, a group Skrulls, who were working with Apocalypse, had been following her, and they broke into her apartment to retrieve the headgear from Alex’s original costume. Lorna also learned that she was one of the Twelve (a team of mutants destined to usher in a new golden age for mutant kind). Alongside the X-Men, she travelled to Egypt to battle Apocalypse. During the encounter though, Magneto--another member of the Twelve--found that he could use Polaris to tap into the Earth's magnetic field and was able to command it with incredible force. (To learn about the above highlighted characters, race, and/or team just click on their names.)

After Apocalypse was defeated, Polaris left with Magneto to the island nation of Genosha in order to supply him with power, help maintain his rule, and to learn more about the nature of her powers from Magneto. Then when Magneto launched a full-scale assault on Carrion Cove, the last city opposing his rule, Polaris decided to attempt to stop him; however, she was defeated and left the country only to later return covertly to help others oppose Magneto's tyrannical rule. After Wolverine nearly crippled Magneto, Polaris stayed to help him recover and maintain order. At this time, Lorna began running genetic tests on Magneto and herself, while investigating the plane crash that killed her parents. She was surprised to find out that all the metal on her parents' plane had been magnetized and that she was Magneto's genetic daughter. (To learn about the above highlighted characters, just click on their names.)

Later on, Polaris returned to the Xavier Institute where she learned that Havok had been discovered alive, but comatose. When he awoke, Polaris surprised everyone when she asked Havok to marry her. Alex accepted, and then the two of them left the Mansion to reconnect as they planned their wedding. Unfortunately, on their wedding day, Havok left Polaris at the altar. This drove Lorna insane, manufacturing a Magneto helmet out of flatware, and she attempted to kill Havok, but was stopped by Alex's teammate the Juggernaut. She was returned to the X-Mansion under restraints and agreed to let Professor X into her mind to unravel the cause of her recent personality shift. (To learn about the Juggernaut, click on his highlighted name above.)

Following the events of "M-Day," Lorna was among the world's mutants who had lost their powers. Though she attempted to keep her depowered state a secret from her teammates, eventually the truth was revealed and she left the team. (To learn about the above highlighted event, just click on its name.)

Soon afterwards, Apocalypse had Polaris captured and he transformed her into his new Horseman "Pestilence." She appeared to have been given the ability to ingest and synthesize new plagues, controlling the virulence and particular genetic markers. Pestilence was a critical part of Apocalypse's plan, which was to infect all humanity with a deadly disease and only offer a cure to 10% of them, to bring the numbers of humans and mutants back into balance. When the X-Men crashed Apocalypse's plans, he moved things forward and ordered Pestilence to leave the fight to spread her plague. However, Iceman knocked her out before she could escape. Upon realizing her identity, the X-Men took her into custody after Havok gave her emergency CPR. Polaris was brought back to the X-Mansion for treatment, where it appeared that Beast and Emma Frost were able to clean out all the diseases, and reverse Apocalypse's brainwashing.  (To learn about the above highlighted characters, just click on their names. Also, Polaris as Apocolypse's Horsman, Pestilence, is shown in the fourth picture posted above. Note: Beware of the really revealing outfits on Emma Frost's bio page.)

Much later, Polaris, Havok, and Marvel Girl (Rachel Summers) joined the ranks of the Starjammers. to end Vulcan's rule as Emperor of the Shi'ar Empire. However, a new arrival, the Scy'ar Tal added new pressure. The Starjammers and Vulcan's forces temporarily united to deal with the impending threat, one so great it managed to destroy an entire planet in Shi'ar space. However, after the battle, Vulcan them and flung Havok into a star. Unbeknownst to Vulcan, Havok's ability allowed him to absorb some of the star, giving him a massive temporary power boost. Meanwhile, Polaris led the rest of the Starjammers, first against the Scy'ar Tal, and then against the Shi'ar Warbirds ten-times the size of the Starjammers. When they lost contact with Havok, Polaris unleashed and began destroying whole Shi'ar Warbirds. Vulcan sent his entire Imperial Guard for Polaris and the Starjammers and even though they put up a fight, the numbers overpowered Polaris and the two remaining Starjammers, Raza and Ch'od. Polaris and the others were tortured in a prison under water on an oceanous planet. However, Havok was able to liberate his teammates from captivity. After this, Polaris once again joined the Starjammers on their mission to rescue Lilandra. They promptly commandeered a Shi'ar Ironclad which they then used to join the main Shi'ar fleet until their cover was blown when they rescued Rocket Raccoon and his Guardians of the Galaxy. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the different characters, race, and/or teams.)

More recently, Polaris joined X-Factor Investigations. Due to the death of their leader, Polaris and Havok agreed to take over the leadership of the team. At one point, Polaris was building a shrine to commemorate the death of her parents, when she handed an old photo of them to Longshot. Touching the photo gave Longshot a vision of what happened to them. Polaris tried to force him to tell her and eventually forced Monet to use her telepathic abilities and show her what Longshot saw. In the vision, Polaris saw her father taking her mother up in an airplane and confronting her with the fact that he knew Lorna wasn't his daughter. The argument became heated and it woke Lorna from her sleep. Lorna begged her parents to stop fighting, but after being yelled at by her parents, her powers manifested and in a tantrum she released a magnetic pulse that tore the plane apart and killed her parents. The release of such a magnetic pulse drew Magneto to her. He declared that she wasn't ready for a life with him yet and that she needed to grow up in a normal environment. Magneto asked his associate, Mastermind, to use his illusionary powers to wipe the memory of the event from Lorna's mind until she was ready to join Magneto. After being shown the vision, and now knowing that she had killed her parents, Polaris became very unstable; however, over time she has learned to cope with what happened. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about the team and/or characters. Also, Polaris in her latest green outfit is shown in the fifth picture posted above. Note: Beware of the revealing outfits worn by some on Monet and Mastermind's bio pages.)

To learn a little bit more about Polaris, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Polaris.

In the film X2, "Dane, Lorna" appears on a list on William Stryker's computer files. (Her name is listed on the top of the list on the second picture posted above.)