SAMHAIN

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human mutant (Latverian)

Occupation: Terrorist

Group Membership: The Zefiro Romani tribe (Beltane, Imbolc, Lughnasa, others) (see comments)

Affiliations: Beltane, Imbolc, Lughnasa, an unidentified group of armed agents

Enemies: Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom), Latverian Embassy employees, X-Factor (Val Cooper, Havok/Alex Summers, Multiple Man/Jamie Madrox, Polaris/Lorna Dane, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, Strong Guy/Guido Carosella, Wolfsbane/Rahne Sinclair)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York City, New York, USA;
    formerly Latveria

First Appearance: X-Men Legends I#5 (September, 2021)

Powers/Abilities: Samhain is capable of project mystic green fire from his body. While he usually focuses this ability into blasts from his hands, he has been shown to expel the fire from his chest and the fire usually trails from his eyes when he uses his powers.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'1")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Green (glowing when using powers)
Hair: Black with a green streak

History:
(X-Men Legends I#6 (fb) - BTS) - The man later known as Samhain had recessive mutant genes and he was rounded up by Doctor Doom alongside three other latent mutants of the Zefiro Romani tribe in Latveria. All four were then experimented on until their recessive mutant genes were made dominant and they were transformed into superhumans. Angry at their situation and frustrated that if such a situation had occurred in any other country, the United States would be upset, the four superhumans escaped Latveria with the help of one of their powers.

(X-Men Legends I#5 (fb) - BTS) - The foursome took the names Samhain, Beltane, Imbolc and Lughnasa from the four witches' sabbaths.

(X-Men Legends I#5 (fb)) - On Christmas Eve, December 24, the mutant Samhain and his allies attacked the Latverian Embassy and when the secretary asked how she could help them, Samhain proclaimed that she could be an example before killing her. His ally Beltane questioned whether killing was necessary but Samhain insisted the one fatality up front would serve as a lesson to anyone else who sought to stand in their way. The group was soon assaulted by a Doombot and while Imbolc generated a shield to protect them, Samhain destroyed the Doombot with another energy blast. Samhain then ordered Lughnasa to round up all of the Embassy employees and secure the door before ordering Beltane to accompany him to address the captive employees. Samhain soon publicly released a video announcing their goal of transforming Latveria into a Democracy and asking the United States to assist in overthrowing Latverian ruler Doctor Doom. In the video, Samhain gave the USA a twenty-four hour ultimatum to decide, noting that if they refused, Samhain and allies would start killing those in the Latverian Embassy. J. Jonah Jameson quickly got on television and hailed Samhain and his allies as heroes willing to stand up to the premier villain of the world, further suggesting they be given medals. As public favor turned towards Samhain and his allies, the United Nations contacted the Avengers for help and when they claimed to be battling a Skrull invasion, the mission was passed over to the Fantastic Four, given their enmity with Doctor Doom, but the Fantastic Four equally passed the mission. Eventually, the mission came to the mutant team X-Factor and while Havok was speaking with Quicksilver on a special part of the mission against Samhain and his allies, the eager Strong Guy and Multiple Man tried to storm the Latverian Embassy, only to be embarrassingly halted by one of Imbolc's shields.

    Strong Guy and Multiple Man eventually broke their way into the Embassy through sheer numbers and Samhain immediately hit Strong Guy with a blast of fire-like energy. Absorbing Samhain's blasts, Strong Guy had Multiple Man get out of the Embassy as he released the absorbed kinetic energy. Outside the Embassy, Havok scolded Strong Guy and Multiple Man for going in without a plan but Multiple Man assured Havok that they were just a distraction while Wolfsbane infiltrated the Embassy to scope out Samhain and his allies. Incapacitated by a projection of her worst fears by Beltane, Wolfsbane was captured and Samhain gloated that they now had leverage against X-Factor, announcing that if the mutant team attacked them, one of their own would be the next fatality.

(X-Men Legends I#6 (fb)) - After tying Wolfsbane to a large wooden X, Samhain taunted X-Factor with their captive. Havok attempted to negotiate but Samhain responded by firing a blast of mystic fire mere inches on the ground in front of Havok. Havok managed to talk Samhain's allies into lowering the shield around the Latverian Embassy and when a police officer fired on Imbolc, forcing her to raise the shield back up to protect herself, Havok angrily destroyed the police car, convincing Samhain and his allies that he could be trusted with his word. Havok was then allowed to enter the Latverian Embassy and he met with Samhain and his allies. Confirming that they were Latverian mutants, Havok was informed that Samhain and his allies were all latent mutants that had escaped experimentation by Doctor Doom. While Havok was speaking with Samhain, Lughnasa and Imbolc, Polaris helped free Wolfsbane from Beltane and Wolfsbane soon burst into the room. Samhain immediately fired a mystic blast at the mutant lycanthrope but she dodged, instead hitting a shield generated by Imbolc. When Havok shattered Imbolc's shield, Samhain led his allies into another room and down a flight of stairs in an attempt to escape. As they ran, Lughnasa asked Samhain what their next step would be and Samhain announced plans to blow up the Embassy. Imbolc held Samhain back, expressed concern that he intended to go through with his plan to kill the Embassy employees and noting that if they continued down that path, they were no better than Doctor Doom. Insisting that they had to show the world they were serious, Samhain rushed to the main foyer, only to find all of his armed agents downed by Doctor Doom himself, who had been brought there by X-Factor's Quicksilver.

    Figuring they had encountered another Doombot, Samhain fired a blast of mystic energy at Doom, who repelled the blast with a wave of his hand. Samhain poured on the mystic flames but Doom managed to turn the mystic fire back onto Samhain, downing him. Doom then turned his attention towards Samhain's allies but Havok held off Doom until Imbolc could gather up the unconscious Samhain and the others. Beltane was taken to the hospital under guard due to injuries suffered at the hands of Wolfsbane and Samhain later came to visit Beltane, finding Wolfsbane praying by Beltane's bed. Samhain ordered Wolfsbane to leave and she did so, leaving Samhain and his allies to Doctor Doom.

(X-Men Legends I#5 - BTS) - Val Cooper testified at a Senate hearing to explain the situation at the Latverian Embassy involving Samhain and his allies. Cooper related the initial attack on the Embassy before Havok was called to testify, followed by Quicksilver.

(X-Men Legends I#6 - BTS) - Havok and Quicksilver continued their testimony relating the situation with Samhain and his allies at the Latverian Embassy to the Senate.

Comments: Created by Peter David and Todd Nauck.

    The exact Romani tribe that Samhain and his allies belonged to was never identified in X-Men Legends I#5-6 but Samhain mentioned being a part of the same tribe as Victor von Doom so that would be the Zefiro...

    Samhain and his three allies were interesting characters though, given that this story takes place around the time of the 1991-1992 X-Factor stories written by Peter David and that we've never seen Samhain or his allies again, it seems like a good chance that Doctor Doom might've killed all four of them for their actions at the Embassy (and likely due to their escape from him in the first place). Then again, all we see is Doom going into Beltane's hospital room and a flash of green fire. It's possible they managed to escape Doom again and they've been in hiding for quite some time now...

This profile was finished on 08/11/2025, but saved for the late Peter David's birthday!

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Samhain should be distinguished from:

Beltane

Beltane, like Samhain, was a Latverian Romani who had latent mutant genes until she was experimented on by Doctor Doom to unlock her mutant potential. Beltane's newfound mutant powers proved more than even Doom could have accounted for and she used her powers to help Samhain and her allies Imbolc and Lughnasa escape Latveria. Accompanying Samhain to New York's Latverian Embassy, Beltane helped Samhain take over the Embassy and hold those inside it hostage. When X-Factor's Wolfsbane attempted to infiltrate the Embassy, Beltane used her powers to incapacitate Wolfsbane and she later guarded the captive Wolfsbane as X-Factor attempted to rescue their teammate. When Polaris attempted a direct rescue, Beltane used her powers on Polaris, prompting Wolfsbane to break free of her bounds and transform into her full wolf-state, savagely attacking Beltane to the point where Polaris had to pull Wolfsbane off of her. Left seriously injured, Havok arranged for Imbolc to gather up Beltane and her allies and they got Beltane to a nearby hospital. Wolfsbane later visited the still-seriously wounded Beltane at the hospital and when Samhain and the others saw Wolfsbane there, they ordered her to leave. Wolfsbane did so but left Beltane and her allies in the hands of Doctor Doom.

Beltane possessed the mutant ability to generate illusory images of a victim's worst fears. These often appeared in the form of a zombie-like version of someone close to the victim who had passed away.

--X-Men Legends I#5 (fb) (#6,
Imbolc

Imbolc, like Samhain, was a Latverian Romani who had latent mutant genes that were unlocked by experimentation from Doctor Doom. With the help of her allies Beltane, Samhain and Lughnasa, Imbolc escaped Latveria and traveled to America, where she aided Samhain in holding the Latverian Embassy hostage as a way of trying to acquire the USA's aid in overthrowing Doctor Doom. Unlike her teammates, Imbolc actively tried not to hurt others and questioned Samhain's willingness to kill the Embassy hostages. Despite this, she still aided Samhain by keeping a shield around the Embassy and when Havok attempted to negotiate with the four Romani, Imbolc was talked into lowering her shield. A police officer attempted to shoot her as soon as the field was dropped, forcing Imbolc to raise back up, but when Havok attacked the police who shot, Samhain was convinced of Havok's words and he was allowed to enter the Embassy. During Havok's discussion with Samhain, Wolfsbane freed herself and attacked them, forcing Imbolc, Samhain and Lughnasa to flee to the Embassy's main foyer, where Quicksilver had brought Doctor Doom to confront them. Doom quickly downed Samhain and Imbolc tried to fight Doom herself but Havok held off Doom long enough for Imbolc to gather her allies and get the seriously injured Beltane to a hospital. Later, Imbolc was still with Samhain and Lughnasa at the hospital when they came across Wolfsbane visiting Beltane. Samhain ordered Wolfsbane to leave and she did, leaving Imbolc and her allies in the hands of Doctor Doom.

Imbolc had the ability to project red-colored energy shields.

--X-Men Legends I#5 (fb) (#6,
Lughnasa

Like Samhain, Lughnasa was a Latverian Romani with latent mutant genes that were unlocked via experimentation at the hands of Doctor Doom. Once his powers were unlocked as well as those of three other members of his Romani tribe, Samhain, Beltane, and Imbolc, Lughnasa escaped Latveria with the help of his newfound allies and they traveled to New York's Latverian Embassy, where Lughnasa aided in holding the Embassy hostage in hopes of gaining the USA's aid in overthrowing Doctor Doom. During the hostage situation, Lughnasa was instrumental in locking down the doors and windows with his powers. X-Factor's Havok was eventually allowed to enter the Embassy and he met with Samhain, Imbolc and Lughnasa until Wolfsbane burst into the room and attacked, forcing the trio to flee to the Embassy's main foyer, where Quicksilver had brought Doctor Doom to confront them. Doom downed Samhain but Havok held off Doom long enough for Imbolc to gather her allies and get the seriously injured Beltane to a hospital. Lughnasa later joined a recovered Samhain and Imbolc in visiting Beltane's hospital room, where they found Wolfsbane visiting. Samhain ordered Wolfsbane and she did, leaving all four in the hands of Doctor Doom.

Lughnasa was capable of generating solid objects out of energy, a power he used only to generate barriers and locks to barricade doors and windows.

--X-Men Legends I#5 (fb) (#6,
images: (without ads)
X-Men Legends I#5, p2, pan5 (Samhain using his powers alongside his gang - main image & Imbolc image)
X-Men Legends I#6, p6, pan5 (Samhain, headshot)
X-Men Legends I#6, p7, pan6 (Beltane)
X-Men Legends I#6, p12, pan1 (Lughnasa)

Appearances:
X-Men Legends I#5 (September, 2021) - Peter David (writer), Todd Nauck (art), Mark Basso (editor)
X-Men Legends I#6 (October, 2021) - Peter David (writer), Todd Nauck (art), Mark Basso (editor)

First posted: 09/23/2025
Last updated: 08/11/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters