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NANNY OF EARTH-295

Real Name: Nanny

Identity/Class: Extratemporal (Earth-295) terrestrial robot

Occupation: Nanny, protector of Charles Lehnsherr, servant of Magneto

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Bishop (Lucas Bishop), Charles Lehnsherr, X-Men (Banshee/Sean Cassidy, Blink/Clarice Ferguson, Dazzler/Alison Blaire, Exodus/Bennett du Paris, Iceman/Bobby Drake, Magneto/Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, Morph/Kevin Sydney, Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, Rogue/Anna Marie, Sabretooth/Victor Creed, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Sunfire/Shiro Yoshida, Wild Child/Kyle Gibney, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff), X-Ternals (Gambit/Remy LeBeau, Guido Carosella, Jubilee/Jubilation Lee, Lila Cheney, Sunspot/Roberto Da Costa),

Enemies: Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur), Guido Carosella, Infinites (Vanisher and unidentified others)

Known Relatives: Magneto (creator)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The Xavier estate, the Dead Zone (formerly known as Westchester, New York), Earth-295

First Appearance: X-Men: Alpha#1 (January, 1995)

Powers/Abilities: Originally created by Magneto to take care of his infant son Charles, the interactive, heuristic robot Nanny was programmed with a wide variety of child rearing and nurturing algorithms. She was equipped with sensor arrays that kept her apprised of any potential threats, as well as a hook-up to the X-Men's security systems which immediately alerted her of possible perimeter breaches. Over time, Nanny's capabilities were upgraded to meet whatever the situation demanded of her, although protecting Charles remained her primary directive. In her final version, Nanny could instantly shift her entire form into dense omnium coils that wrapped around Charles, creating an impenetrable cocoon. Her defense systems also included at least ten high energy plasma cannons mounted on her back that were deployable within microseconds. Her torso was outfitted with a nigh impenetrable see-through shell she could place her young charge in for safekeeping. Nanny was programmed with a chipper, somewhat syrupy sweet, mothering personality that some of the X-Men found rather grating.

Height: 5'5" (by approximation)
Weight: 350 lbs (by approximation)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Red

History:

(X-Men: Alpha#1 - BTS) - After the birth of their son Charles, Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr) and Rogue (Anna Marie) decided they needed to keep the child safe while they and the other X-Men continued to oppose the rule of Apocalypse. Magneto constructed Nanny, a robotic caregiver who saw to Charles' every need.

(X-Men: Alpha#1) - After returning from a recent mission to Seattle where the X-Men picked up the timelost man known as Bishop (Lucas Bishop), Rogue went to see her son. Watching from a distance how Nanny told the small boy a bedtime story, her presence was soon picked up by the robot who for the briefest of moments thought Rogue was a possible intruder. After confirming her identity, Nanny happily presented Charles to his mother, while Rogue admitted to the robotic servant that she felt Nanny was a better mother than she could ever hope to be. Nanny then looked on as Magneto appeared to help Rogue tuck in their son.

(Astonishing X-Men I#1 - BTS) - Following Bishop's reveal that the current reality they were living in was a mistake caused by the accidental death of Charles Xavier 20 years earlier, Magneto started preparations to set this straight. Figuring the fight against Apocalypse needed to continue, he planned to have the team aid the Human High Council's planned evacuation of humans from North America using carrier Sentinels. To help the X-Men train for their assignment, Nanny received several upgrades. While she was being worked on, the care for Charles was left to Blink (Clarice Ferguson) who delivered the boy to Rogue.

(Amazing X-Men I#1 - BTS) - Nanny monitored the X-Men's training sessions against a Sentinel created by Dazzler (Alison Blaire) using her hard light powers. The objective was to quickly inject an override virus into the robot's terminal casing, forcing the machines to recognize the X-Men as allies. However, after repeated attempts, the X-Men were still a few tenths of a second too slow. Taking a break, Dazzler lit a cigarette much to Nanny's chagrin. While Nanny continued to help prepare the team for their upcoming mission, the mentally addled Bishop held Charles. She then looked on as Exodus (Bennett du Paris) used his newly discovered powers of teleportation to transport the team to Maine.

(Astonishing X-Men I#3) - Nanny was tending to Charles' needs at the Xavier Estate while Magneto and Bishop were arguing about the philosophy of Magnus' mission. All of a sudden, her sensors picked up a security perimeter breach (Apocalypse and his Infinites moving in on the mansion). Immediately switching to Defcon: Armageddon, the robotic nursemaid turned her omnium body into a series of coils that encased her charge in an impenetrable cocoon that dropped through the floor to the sewers below. Magneto and Bishop decided they'd best prepare for the coming of Apocalypse.

(Amazing X-Men I#3) - While Magneto and Bishop engaged the army of Infinites outside the mansion, Nanny had entered the network of sewer tunnels underneath the estate, figuring she could keep Charles Lehnsherr safe there. Unaware of the danger, the boy was kept in a see-through shell inside Nanny's body as she wheeled across the tunnels. Acting on orders from Apocalypse, the teleporting Infinite Vanisher appeared before her with guns drawn, ordering Nanny to hand over the child. However, within a fraction of a second Nanny's defensive systems activated and the Vanisher found himself outgunned and outmatched.




(Gambit & the X-Ternals I#4 - BTS) - After dealing with the Vanisher, Nanny and Charles continued their way through the tunnels when they encountered X-Ternals members Jubilee (Jubilation Lee) and Strong Guy (Guido Carosella). Unbeknownst to everyone, Guido had been pressed into Apocalypse's service and took this encounter to show his true colors. He smashed Nanny to pieces and planned to hand En Sabah Nur both Magneto's son and the M'Kraan Crystal shard the X-Ternals had just collected from Shi'ar space. However, Jubilee managed to escape with both the child and the crystal.

(Gambit & the X-Ternals I#4) - While searching for Nanny and Charles, the X-Men Exodus and Dazzler found Nanny's wrecked form in the sewers.

Comments: Created by Scott Lobdell & Mark Waid (writers), Roger Cruz & Steve Epting (pencils), Tim Townsend & Dan Panosian (inks), based on a character originally created by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (pencils).

I used to think Nanny was created exclusively for the Age of Apocalypse (since Dutch X-Men issues started around Uncanny X-Men I#125). Imagine my surprise when I picked up the first Essential X-Men omnibus back in 1997 and discovered her 616 counterpart predated her by at least a decade and a half.

I've always had a soft spot for Nanny, the notion of a caring, slightly overbearing robot who treats everybody around her like a child has some wonderful comedic possibilities. Having her pack an arsenal of plasma weaponry is an interesting twist to this mechanized Mary Poppins wannabe. And using the design of Magneto's helmet as the basis for her hairstyle is just inspired. Still, as protective and caring Nanny was when it comes to Charles, one wonders why she happily handed him over to Bishop, a complete stranger who by all accounts was more than a little mentally unstable.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Nanny should not be confused with


images: (without ads)
Amazing X-Men I#3, p12, pan5 (main image)
X-Men Alpha p28, pan2 (tells a bedtime story)
Amazing X-Men I#1, p8, pan1 (oesn't like smoking)
Astonishing X-Men I#3, p17, pan3&4 (becomes a cocoon)
Gambit & the X-Ternals I#4, p1, pan4 (destroyed)


Appearances:
X-Men: Alpha#1 (January, 1995) - Scott Lobdell & Mark Waid (writers), Roger Cruz & Steve Epting (pencils), Tim Townsend & Dan Panosian (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Astonishing X-Men I#1 (March, 1995) Scott Lobdell (writer), Joe Madureira (pencils), Dan Green & Tim Townsend (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Amazing X-Men I#1 (March, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Matt Ryan (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Astonishing X-Men I#3 (May, 1995) - Scott Lobdell & Jeph Loeb (writers), Joe Madureira (pencils), Tim Townsend & Al Milgrom (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Amazing X-Men I#3 (May, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Matt Ryan (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Gambit & the X-Ternals#4 (June, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Bob Harras (editor)



First Posted: 01/09/2014
Last updated: 01/08/2014

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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