LAUREL SMITH
Real Name: Laurel Smith
Identity/Class: Human mutant
Occupation: Presumably a farmer of some sort
Group Membership: Underground network supporting the X-Men
Affiliations: Cyclops (Scott Summers), Jean Grey, Rogue (Anna Marie), Storm (Ororo Munroe), Wolverine (James Howlett, aka Logan)
X-Men in general
Enemies: None specifically identified;
by assisting the X-Men against Belasco's efforts, she could be considered indirectly an enemy of Belasco, the N'Garai, Helen Purvis, Carla Spelvin
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A farm near Natchez, Mississippi
First Appearance: X-Men: Soul Killer (1999)
Powers/Abilities: Laurel possesses low-grade pyrokinetic abilities, producing flames no larger or hotter than those of an ordinary match.
Height: Unrevealed (she was described as petite, which I think would place her between 5' and 5'6", but that's just a guestimate)
Weight: Unrevealed (see above)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Unrevealed
Note:
Laurel was never pictured. She was described as "a petite middle-aged
woman with a wide, humorous mouth and brown, wrinkled, sun-damaged skin.
History:
(X-Men: Soul Killer
chapter 6 (fb) - BTS) - Laurel's mutant pyrokinetic power -- though
very limited -- caused her no end of trouble until Professor Charles
Xavier taught her to control it.
In appreciation, Laurel joined the underground network of well-wishers who supported the X-Men in a variety of ways.
(X-Men: Soul Killer chapter 6 (fb) - BTS) - When the X-Men Rogue (Anna Marie) and Storm (Ororo Munroe) traveled to Natchez, Mississippi to investigate a mysterious and severe thunderstorm, Laurel allowed them to use her farm as a makeshift airfield on which they landed their Blackbird jet before they continued on under their own powers of flight.
(X-Men: Soul Killer chapter 6 (fb) - BTS) - Laurel had Italian food for lunch.
(X-Men: Soul Killer chapter 6 (fb) - BTS) - After Rogue and Storm vanished, Cyclops (Scott Summers), Jean Grey, and Wolverine (James Howlett, aka Logan) traveled to Mississippi to investigate the disappearances, and Laurel allowed them to land their Cessna Citation X on her farm.
(X-Men: Soul Killer chapter 6) - Bundled in a blue poncho, Laurel trudged through mud and puddles to greet her new arrivals. She apologetically told them she had not heard from Rogue or Storm, then watched as they searched the Blackbird, finding no evidence of intruders or conflict.
When Wolverine asked her aid in getting a car to conserve their energy as they headed into town, Laurel swiftly handed them the key to her Chevrolet Blazer, asking only that they not let it get blown up by a death ray or anything. Wolverine agreed and promised afterwards to treat her to the best Italian food in Natchez. Smiling, she asked how he knew she liked Italian, and he tapped his nose, telling her he knew what she had for lunch.
The X-Men then headed into town.
Comments: Created by Richard Lee Byers and Leonard Manco.
I thought I remembered the X-Men seeing Laurel Smith again at the end of the story, but I went through the book page by page again while writing this profile and came up with bupkis. She's in pg. 70-74 of the story as far as I can tell.
The Blazer also appeared in chapter 8 - Cyclops tuned-up a portable
mini-Cerebro in it, after which they drove to the abandoned Nostalgia
Carriage Tours barn to confront Rogue.
And, in Chapter 11, they rested and ate some rations while seated on its hood and trunk.
I don't recall seeing the Blazer get leveled, so presumably they gave
it back to Laurel after Belasco and Dracula's defeats.
Laurel's status following M-Day and the varous regenerations and degenerations of mutantkind is unrevealed.
The following notes are placeholders to remind me make and/or update entries on the following characters
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Laurel Smith should be distinguished from:
images: (without ads)
None
Appearances:
X-Men: Soul Killer (1999) - Richard Lee Byers (writer), Leonard Manco (art), Keith R.A. Candido (editor)
First Posted: 05/23/2017
Last updated: 05/24/2017
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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