Lifeguard (comics)

Template:Infobox comics character Lifeguard (Heather Cameron) is a character, a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Salvador Larroca, the character first appeared in X-Treme X-Men #6 (December 2001).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> She is primarily associated with the X-Men.

Lifeguard is a mutant, gaining whatever superhuman abilities are needed in a life-threatening situation. She and her brother Slipstream were briefly members of the segment of X-Men featured in the series X-Treme X-Men.

Fictional character biography

X-Treme X-Men

Heather and Davis Cameron are a lifeguard and a surfer, respectively, living in Surfers Paradise in Australia. Unbeknownst to them, their father is an underworld crime lord known as Viceroy, and upon his death they are attacked. Together with Storm and Neal Shaara (the new Thunderbird), they manage to defeat their attackers. Heather discovers she is a mutant with the power to manifest whatever is necessary to save the life of someone in danger around her, including her own. Her power enables her to manifest wings, golden armor, the ability to breathe underwater, and many other less noticeable adaptations. Heather soon joins the splinter team of X-Men and forms a romance with Thunderbird.<ref name="X-Treme X-Men #9 March 2002">Template:Cite comic</ref>

During a mission to infiltrate the ship of the intergalactic warlord Khan, Heather's appearance changes to resemble the alien Shi'ar race. Jean Grey theorizes that Heather is descended from the royal Shi'ar based on the appearance of her feather crest and facial markings.<ref name="X-Treme X-Men #10 April 2002">Template:Cite comic</ref> Her brother, unable to see past her new, alien appearance, leaves the team. Lifeguard and Thunderbird travel in search of him.<ref name="X-Treme X-Men #19 December 2002">Template:Cite comic</ref>

The Xavier Institute

Months later, Lifeguard and Thunderbird return to the X-Men, having been unsuccessful in locating Slipstream. Together with Thunderbird, she joined the X-Corporation. Several weeks later, the X-Corporation is targeted in a synchronized attack after the catastrophic events of M-Day, leading Cyclops to call for the disbanding of all offices.Template:Volume needed

Heather is one of a handful of mutants to have retained her powers in the wake of House of M. Still involved with Thunderbird, she is not active in any X-Men roster, though the 198 Files verified her location as residing at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning.

Utopia

Heather later resurfaces after the events of "Schism" as a member of Cyclops' street team with Boom Boom and Dazzler in San Francisco and Utopia.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

Krakoa

Heather appears in a groupshot of the Green Lagoon on Krakoa. She appears to be talking to Jamie Madrox and has developed a mermaid-like tail to dip in the water.<ref> Template:Cite comic</ref>

After Krakoa leaves Earth to reside in the White Hot Room, Heather returns to civilian life. However, she loses control of her emotions and powers in response to bigoted anti-mutant comments. Her friend Ugly John convinces Heather to embrace her powers, so she leaves for the ocean and transforms into a small living island.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

Powers and abilities

Heather's mutant power allows her body to sense and react to any threat by transforming or manifesting a power to deal with the situation (similar to that of the X-Men's Darwin).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In all of her appearances, she has only been shown to use this ability while defending herself along with others.<ref name="X-Treme X-Men #9 March 2002" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> It is unknown if she is able to use this ability for her own protection. She has a moderate level of control over this power and has sometimes been able to trigger it at will, although she has not displayed any control over the transformations or powers she manifests.<ref name=":0" /> Heather has mostly manifested physical changes such as extra arms, armored skin, wings, and a mermaid tail. In her first appearance, she also demonstrated hydrokinesis.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite comic </ref> The full extent of Lifeguard's abilities have yet to be revealed.<ref name=":1" />

After her Shi'ar abilities manifest, Heather permanently gains golden skin, wings, and claws.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In addition to her superhuman powers, Heather is a trained lifeguard and skilled swimmer.<ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Lifeguard from Earth-41001 appears in X-Men: The End as a protector of Aliyah Bishop in the Shi'ar Imperium.<ref>Template:Cite comic</ref>

Reception

Critical reception

Lukas Shayo of Screen Rant stated, "A mutant with the power to save lives, the aptly named Lifeguard can develop any ability necessary to save any life, be it her own or another's. If that means turning into metal, growing wings, or shapeshifting, Lifeguard will develop that power and subsequently save a life. As what essentially amounts to a stronger version of Darwin, Lifeguard doesn't really get the reputation she deserves. No mutant can ever surpass her ability to save lives, as their mutations are often tailored to other specific niches. With no upper limit to determine how she can shift, Lifeguard deserves her place among the Omega-levels."<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Accolades

• In 2015, Entertainment Weekly ranked Lifeguard 84th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• In 2016 Screen Rant ranked Lifeguard 7th in their "X-Men: 16 Mutants Who Just Disappeared From The Comics" list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 2017, Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked Lifeguard 8th in their "15 Superheroes Marvel Wants You To Forget" list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 2018, CBR ranked Lifeguard 1st in their "20 Weirdest Mutants To Ever Be X-Men" list.<ref name=":1" />
• In 2020, Scary Mommy included Lifeguard in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 2020, CBR ranked Lifeguard 3rd in their "X-Treme X-Men's 10 Most Powerful Members" list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In 2021, Screen Rant included Lifeguard in their "Marvel's Most Powerful X-Men Members That Time Forgot" list.<ref name=":0" />
• In 2022, Screen Rant included Lifeguard in their "X-Men: Synch & 9 Other Mutants Who Could Become Omega Level" list.<ref name=":2" />

External links

• Template:Marvelwiki
• Template:Marveldatabase
• UncannyXmen.net Character Profile on Lifeguard