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DENNIS HOGAN

Real Name: Dennis Hogan

Identity/Class: Human mutant

Occupation: Unrevealed

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: X-Men (Archangel/Warren Worthington III, Lucas Bishop, Jean Grey, Psylocke/Betsy Braddock, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Wolverine/James "Logan" Howlett, Professor X/Charles Xavier)

Enemies: Den-Joe bar lynch mob (Amy, Arthur, Chevy, Lance and Manny)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Freak" (called by the mob)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
                                  formerly Salem Center, New York;
                                  formerly the United States West Coast

First Appearance:  X-Men Prime#1 (July, 1995)

Powers/Abilities: Dennis Hogan was a mutant who, when agitated, would turn into a green scaled reptile with claws. He could control his transformation most of the time, by actively focussing on remaining calm which would halt and reverse the process. As a reptile man, Hogan appeared to have limited intellect and even a separate personality.

Height: 6'2" (by approximation)
Weight: 170 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Blue (human), yellow (reptile form)
Hair: Blonde (human) black (reptile form)

Dennis contains powers

History:

(X-Men Prime#1 (fb) - BTS) - Due to the growing anti-mutant hysteria, West Coast native Dennis Hogan no longer felt safe. Learning of the existence of the mysterious X-Men and figuring they might be able to cure him, he was determined to find them. Hogan reasoned that the exclusive Xavier Institute in Salem Center might be connected to the mutants and went on a two day, cross country trip to reach the small New York town.

(X-Men Prime#1) - Dennis arrived in Yonkers, New York where he went to the train station to catch a ride to Salem Center. However, because he hadn't eaten in days he decided to grab a quick bite at Den-Joe, the local bar, even though he was so exhausted it was hard for him to control his mutation. Inside, he ordered some soup and gently brushed off the waitress' advances figuring he had no right getting involved with a human until he was cured (see comments). At the same time, he overheard Trish Tilby on television, reporting that the Legacy virus was now able to infect and kill humans as well. All the while, Dennis desperately tried to keep calm to hold his morphing in check. He quickly finished his soup and left the bar, which caught the attention of his fellow Den-Joe patrons Amy, Arthur, Chevy, Lance and Manny. They figured that someone who was in such a hurry must have something to hide and maybe was a "mutie" as well.

Beaten to death by mob (X-Men Prime#1 - BTS) - Dennis soon sensed he was being chased and ran for three miles along the tracks to escape his pursuers. His plight was telepathically picked up by Charles Xavier who asked Storm to fly him to Hogan.

Dying (X-Men Prime#1) - Arthur, Chevy and the others caught up with Hogan a few feet before he reached Salem Center. Fearful and exhausted, soaking wet because he ran through a thunderstorm, Dennis shifted into his reptilian form which was all his assailants needed to attack. Dennis was hit upside the head with a baseball bat and dropped to the ground while the angry mob mercilessly pummeled him. En route, Xavier sensed Dennis' distress and sent his astral self ahead to make sure Hogan wasn't alone during his final moments. He was left for dead in the woods outside Salem Center by the gang who figured they'd done the world a favor. Moments later, the X-Men arrived with Xavier's body. In his dying moments, cradled in Xavier's arms, Dennis was relieved to see the X-Men, because he knew he'd be safe. He then perished away quietly, while Xavier reminded his students that if nothing else, this proved they had to continue to fight for a better world or they would all share Dennis' fate (see comments).

Comments: Created by Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza (writers), Bryan Hitch et al (pencils), Mark Farmer et al (inks).

Some have suggested Hogan was suffering from the Legacy virus, because he sought out the X-Men in hopes of "a cure". Though not unthinkable, it's not been confirmed on panel. Dennis might have been talking about curing his mutant condition or even stabilizing his transformations. 

The fact that Charles was in Dennis' mind and shared the horror of being beaten to death by an angry mob was later listed among the reasons Xavier eventually turned into Onslaught. While it sounds plausible enough, following that logic the beating Xavier himself suffered back in Uncanny X-Men I#193 should count as well.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dennis Hogan should not be confused with


images: (without ads)
X-Men Prime I#1, p26, pan5 (main image)
X-Men Prime I#1, p13, pans5&6 (fighting against morphing)
X-Men Prime I#1, p28, pan5 (killed)
X-Men Prime I#1, p48, pan1 (dying)


Appearances:
X-Men Prime#1 (July, 1995) - Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza (writers), Bryan Hitch et al (pencils), Mark Farmer et al (inks), Bob Harras (editor)


First Posted: 07/13/2015
Last updated: 07/08/2015

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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