The Reavers are a supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri, they first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #229 (May 1988). The Reavers are a group of criminal cyborgs dedicated to the destruction of the X-Men and Wolverine in particular. They are assembled under the leadership of Donald Pierce and consist of three survivors from a larger group of Australian cyborgs who formed the original Reavers, along with other cyborgs.
The Reavers appeared in the 2017 film Logan, with their leader Donald Pierce portrayed by Boyd Holbrook.
Contents
Publication history
The Reavers first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #229 (May 1988) and were created by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri.
Fictional group history
Looters
The original Reavers operate out of an underground complex beneath the fictional ghost town of Cooterman's Creek in Central Australia. They act as a commando-style team of thieves, coercing the mutant Gateway to assist them in robberies. Informed of the Reavers' existence by Roma, the X-Men defeat the Reavers in battle and expel them from their base, which they take for their own use.
Donald Pierce's Reavers
The Reavers are reassembled under the leadership of Donald Pierce, who reorganizes the team as an assassination squadron to undertake para-military style commando operations, dedicated to taking vengeance on the X-Men and eliminating mutants.
While the X-Men are away from their Australian base, the Reavers retake the base and wait for the team to come back. However, on their return, the Reavers only manage to capture Wolverine. Wolverine escapes the Reavers with the aid of Jubilee. The Reavers attack the Muir Island mutant research center, theorizing that it is Wolverine's most likely destination. During the assault on Muir Island, Skullbuster is rendered inoperative by sniper fire from Forge.
Pierce creates an android named Elsie-Dee and a robotic clone of Wolverine named Albert to kill Wolverine, which fails when Elsie-Dee rebels against her programming.
Upstarts and humans
As part of the Upstarts' game, Trevor Fitzroy dispatches Sentinels to the Reavers' Australian hideout to kill Pierce and anyone else they find there. In the ensuing battle, only Pierce, Lady Deathstrike and Cylla Markham (the second Skullbuster) escape the massacre. Pierce puts together a new group of Reavers, composed of young anti-mutant humans. Reavers member Joshua Foley leaves the group after learning that he is a mutant.
Messiah Complex
The Reavers appear in the "Messiah Complex" storyline under the leadership of Lady Deathstrike. Deployed as an elite commando unit designed to eliminate organized mutant resistance, the Reavers confront Cable in Alberta, Canada before being attacked by the new X-Force. In the ensuing battle, Deathstrike is killed by Wolverine's strike team. Pierce and the Reavers are imprisoned under the supervision of General Callahan, who uses them as a personal scavenger crew in exchange for the Reavers receiving augmentations.
Known members
First Team
Bonebreaker
Skullbuster
Pretty Boy
Various unnamed members (deceased or reincarnated)
Second Team
Donald Pierce (leader)
Lady Deathstrike
Wade Cole (deceased)
Angelo Macon (deceased)
Murray Reese (deceased)
Bonebreaker
Skullbuster
Skullbuster (Cylla Markham)
Pretty Boy
Third Team
Donald Pierce (leader)
Joshua Foley (quit)
Duncan
Various unnamed members
Fourth Team
Lady Deathstrike (leader)
Various unnamed members (all presumed deceased)
Fifth Team
Donald Pierce (leader)
Pretty Boy
Skullbuster (Cylla Markham)
Bonebreaker
Lady Deathstrike (defected)
In other media
Television
The Reavers appear in the X-Men: The Animated Series two-part episode "Out of the Past", consisting of Lady Deathstrike, Bonebreaker, Pretty Boy, Murray Reese, Skullbuster, and Wade Cole.
The Reavers appear in Wolverine and the X-Men, with vocal effects provided by Charlie Adler in the episode "X-Calibre" and Steve Blum in "Hunting Grounds". This version of the group serves Mojo and consists of Spiral, Murray Reese, Wade Cole, Angelo Macon, and series-original character Ricochet, among other unidentified members.
Film
The Reavers appear in Logan, consisting of Donald Pierce, Bonebreaker, Pretty Boy, Angelo Macon, Danny Rhodes, and Mohawk. This version of the group is Alkali-Transigen's enhanced security force.
Video games
The Reavers appear in X-Men as Magneto's soldiers.
The Reavers appear in The Punisher, with Bonebreaker as a stage boss and several Pretty Boy cyborgs appearing in different stages.
The Reavers appear in Strider Hiryu's ending in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
The Reavers appear in Marvel Heroes, with Lady Deathstrike and Bonebreaker as prominent members.
The Reavers will appear in Marvel's Wolverine. This version of the group is a mercenary outfit employed by Bolivar Trask.