DAZZLER
Earth-295

Real Name: Alison Blaire

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-295) human mutant, citizen of the United States

Occupation: Freedom fighter; formerly popstar

Group Membership: X-Men (Beak/Barnell Bohusk, Banshee/Sean Cassidy, Blink/Clarice Ferguson, Exodus/Bennett du Paris, Iceman/Bobby Drake, Magneto/Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, Morph/Kevin Sydney, Nightcrawler/Kurt Darkhölme, Psylocke, Rogue/Anna Marie Lensherr, Sabretooth/Victor Creed, Silver Samurai/Kenuicho Harada, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Sunfire/Shiro Yoshida, Wildchild/Kyle Gibney, Wolfsbane/Rahne Sinclair, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, X-23/Kirika Yashida, Xorn/Paige Guthrie)

Affiliations: Irene Adler, Bishop (Lucas Bishop), Colossus (Peter Rasputin), Charles Lensherr, Morlocks (Annalee, Feral, Leech, Marrow, unnamed others), Nanny, Illyana Rasputin, Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde), X-ternals (Gambit/Remy LeBeau, Jubilee/Jubilation Lee, Lila Cheney)

Enemies: Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur), Brotherhood of Chaos (Arclight, Copycat/Vanessa Carlysle, Madison Jeffries, Spyne, Yeti), the Guthries (Amazon/Elizabeth Guthrie, Cannonball/Sam Guthrie, Icarus/Josh Guthrie), the Madri, Sinister Six (Cloak/Ty Johnson, Dagger/Tandy Bowen, Phoenix/Jean Grey, Sauron/Karl Lykos, Sonique/Terry Rourke), Vanisher (Telford Porter).

Known Relatives: Carter Blaire (father, assumed deceased), mother (deceased) see comments

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The Xavier Institute, Washington D.C;
                                  formerly the Xavier Estate, Dead Zone (once known as Westchester, New York);
                                  formerly Gardendale, Long Island

First Appearance: Amazing X-Men I#1 (March, 1995)

Powers/Abilities: Dazzler's mutant powers allow her to manipulate sound into light. She can absorb all (ambient) sound around her to achieve a variety of effects. From providing basic illumination to blinding enemies with stroboscopic pulses to hypnotizing targets with a targeted light show. Shifting to the infrared spectrum, Dazzler can unleash intense heat. She can fire focused beams of (laser) light through her eyes and fingers. Through intense focus, she can generate lifelike 'hard-light' projections as massive as a Sentinel. Dazzler can release all her stored sonic energy in huge blast of light that temporarily stuns and blinds everyone around her, leaving her dazed and drained as well. She possesses the normal human strength of a woman of her age, height, and build who engages in intensive regular exercise. Dazzler is a talented singer and performer. She has a history of smoking.

Height: 5'9"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Yellow

History:

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Age of Apocalypse I#1) - Born and raised in Gardendale Long Island, Alison Blaire enjoyed celebrity as a teen pop star, using her mutant light powers to dazzle the audience. Apocalypse's assault on the United States brought her music career to a premature end.

(Amazing X-Men I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Joining Magneto's X-Men during Apocalypse's rise to power, Dazzler heard stories of fallen teammates like Wanda Lensherr who was venerated among the mutants for having died to make sure others could live in a better world.

(Amazing X-Men I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Dazzler fell in love with her fellow X-Man Exodus.

(Amazing X-Men I#1) - Aware the Human High Council was sending its Sentinel fleet to Maine to help the remaining humans escape Apocalypse's culling, Magneto set aside a squad of X-Men to aid the effort. He had them train against a Sentinel created by Dazzler using her hard-light powers. The objective was for Exodus to expose the robot's mainframe so Quicksilver could quickly insert a disc with an override virus that would force the robots to recognize the X-Men as allies. Dazzler watched from the sidelines, timing the team's efforts and finding they still came up a few tenths of a second short. Taking a break, Dazzler lit a cigarette much to Exodus's chagrin, since it made her breath smell like garbage. After their training session, Magneto explained the importance of their mission and assured Dazzler that despite the incredible odds against them, the day was far from lost. Because the team's one shuttle was already in use, Magneto had Exodus instantly transport his teammates to Maine.

(Amazing X-Men I#1 - BTS) - The X-Men's arrival was noticed by the Madri and the Brotherhood of Chaos.

(Amazing X-Men I#1) - The X-Men approached a group of human refugees who had set up camp, waiting for the Sentinel evacuation fleet. The team discreetly blended in with Dazzler using her powers to heat up a pot of coffee. When the Sentinels arrived, Dazzler successfully distracted the mutant hunting robots with hard-light projections of Weapon X and Jean Grey until she could blast one of them to give Exodus and the others an opening to insert the reprogramming disc. However, the Brotherhood's technopath Madison Jeffries had covertly scrambled the data so only his team was marked safe from Sentinel persecution.

(Amazing X-Men I#2) - During the fight with the Brotherhood, the shapeshifting Vanessa distracted the X-Men by turning into their long dead teammate Wanda Lensherr. Seeing his sister confused Quicksilver so much, he was about to get stabbed but Dazzler melted the knife with a targeted laserblast, threatening to burn the metamorph if she didn't stop her impersonation. Furious at seeing his teammate threatened, Madison Jeffries ordered a nearby Sentinel to blast Dazzler. Exodus was getting ready to actively damage the robots, even though they were vitally needed for the rescue effort. He was spared the choice by Storm who whipped up a massive electromagnetic storm that collectively froze up the Sentinel mainframes. Exodus and Dazzler were then tasked to reprogram the Sentinels, undoing Jeffries' damage.

(Amazing X-Men I#2 - BTS) - Quicksilver and Storm chased down the Madri that had accompanied the Brotherhood. Once inside the Madri aircraft, they met Apocalypse's new Horseman Abyss who used his psionic scream to hurt the human refugees. Quicksilver managed to use his superspeed to turn Abyss' powers against him, temporarily defeating him. By the time the X-Men reassembled, Dazzler and Exodus had restored the Sentinels and the evacuation was well underway.

(Amazing X-Men I#3) - The X-Men returned home using the captured Madri aircraft, only to discover Apocalypse's forces had recently attacked their headquarters. With Magneto, his son Charles, the robotic Nanny and their houseguest Bishop missing, the X-Men got some answers when Iceman came across the Infinite Vanisher who had been injured chasing Nanny and Charles in the tunnels under their base. Quicksilver ordered Dazzler and Exodus into the tunnels to go look for Charles and Nanny.

(Amazing X-Men I#3 - BTS) - When Quicksilver learned Bishop had been taken to the Madri's central temple in Quebec, he knew there was no time to waste. Not able to wait for Dazzler and Exodus to return, he ordered the team to leave without them in order to save Bishop.

(Gambit & the X-Ternals I#4) - While searching for Nanny and Charles, Dazzler and Exodus came across Nanny's wrecked form in the sewers. Pressing on, they didn't locate Charles (who had been taken to Apocalypse by the traitor Guido), but they did rescue Gambit, Jubilee and Lila Cheney. Together, they returned to the Xavier estate.

(Amazing X-Men I#4) - Dazzler and the others emerged from the sewers to meet up with Rogue's band of X-Men. She and Exodus had to restrain the furious Rogue when she learned Gambit had allowed Guido to take her son. Moments later, they were joined by the returning  Colossus and Shadowcat who had brought Illyana Rasputin, then Nightcrawler teleported in with the recruited seer Destiny and Quicksilver's team arrived with the newly rescued Bishop. With all their forces in one place, the X-Men prepared to take the fight to Apocalypse himself.

(X-Men: Omega I#1 - BTS) - Dazzler participated in the assault on Apocalypse's New York citadel, which ultimately led to the liberation of Magneto who managed to kill Apocalypse.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Age of Apocalypse I#1) - Months after the defeat of Apocalypse, Dazzler saw off  Exodus who was sent on a secret mission by Magneto with Wild Child, Iceman and Morph. Though they failed to return, Blaire kept hoping her lover was still alive.

(X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#2) - Dazzler accompanied Magneto and the X-Men down to the tunnels underneath New York City to offer the Morlocks amnesty. However, after years of serving as lab animals for Apocalypse, they were wary of authority figures. Their leader Marrow attacked the team's envoy Silver Samurai and the crazed Feral slashed open Xorn. Even Magneto was hit by a psychic attack from Annalee. The X-Men were unable to effectively fight back because of the power dampening Morlock Leech, but after he was knocked out the team beat a hasty retreat to take care of their wounded.

(X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#3) - Dazzler joined the team sent out to stop the Guthries (Amazon, Cannonball and Icarus) from destroying Washington D.C. When conventional tactics failed to down their fierce enemies, Nightcrawler quickly teleported Dazzler up to the massive Amazon, leaving her open to be blinded. Kurt then bamfed alongside Amazon's body with X-23, cutting their opponent until she was so hurt Silver Samurai caused her to topple. The Guthries beat a hasty retreat, but when Dazzler and the others returned to the Institute, they found the place ransacked with young Charles Lensherr in chains to greet hem. Much to everyone's surprise, their downed teammate Xorn revealed herself to be Paige Guthrie, a former student furious at being left to die in the Portland Core in the final days of Apocalypse's reign. Now out for revenge, she reconnected with the other members of the Guthrie family who arrived at the Institute for a final showdown.

(X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#4) - Dazzler watched as Storm kept the Guthries talking long enough for their new recruit Psylocke to save Charles. Moments later, Magneto returned home and made short work of the Guthries with a little help from Rogue who wanted to pay Paige back personally for having taken Charles. With their dying breath, the Guthries revealed a secret deal Magneto made with Mr. Sinister. During the final battle with Apocalypse, it wasn't Eric who stopped the bombs from falling on New York, it was Jean Grey... And now Sinister has her.

(X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#5) - Dazzler quietly listened to Magneto's explanation of his complicated relationship with Sinister and the way he had purposefully maintained the lie that he saved the Eastern seaboard singlehandedly. When he finished his story, Dazzler backed her leader's decisions, though Wolverine was mostly furious. His lies meant Jean was now in the hands of a mad man. After Logan calmed down, he picked up a scent off Paige Guthrie that gave him a clue about Sinister's location. Since Guthrie reeked of the stench of New York and the harbor, the team correctly deduced Sinister and Jean were on Liberty Island. Locating Sinister's underground lair, Dazzler and the others were confronted by the former Horseman, the Sinister Six and the newly revived Jean Grey.

(X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#6) - During the fight against Sinister and his Sinister Six, Dazzler was unable to use her light to subdue Cloak. She was swallowed up in his darkness and put out of commission for most of the fight that saw Sauron kill Quicksilver before Weapon X was able to connect with Jean Grey and get her to reject Sinister's mind games. Jean killed Sinister with help from Magneto who in the aftermath turned himself into the authorities for having lied to the public about his role in the end of Apocalypse's reign. Magneto left Jean to lead the X-Men in his stead, with Dazzler by her side.

Comments: Created by Fabian Nicieza, Andy Kubert, Matt Ryan.

Considering Earth-295's divergence point from Earth-616 is the death of Charles Xavier, this technically means that Earth-295's Dazzler had the same upbringing and family as the one we're most familiar with. However, since this has not (yet) been confirmed on panel, it's not included in the profile.

Unlike her 616-counterpart, Dazzler's light beams were rainbow-colored. While that adds a splash of color to an otherwise grim world, it also seems a subtle nod to the way Magneto taught Alison to use her powers. Dazzler is basically a living prism: it takes conscious effort on her part to not have the light she generates refract into its constituent colors (in other words, the rainbow). Earth-616's Dazzler had the luxury of growing up in a world without war. She was free to hone her powers to make her light as aesthetically pleasing as possible. On Earth-295, Magneto had his X-Men place an emphasis on raw strength and combat. He pushed all his recruits past their limits, like Iceman and Sunfire. Same with Dazzler who exhibited several unique abilities. And when you're fighting for survival, you don't have make it look pretty.

There is no reason given for the costume Dazzler wore post Age of Apocalypse. It looks remarkably like a cross between Emma Frost's old outfit and the design Bachalo would eventually come up with for the Shi'ar Death Commando member Hypernova. It's a good thing she can use her light powers to generate heat, I'd be cold in that get up.

Profile by Norvo

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dazzler should not be confused with

• Dazzler of Earth-616, her best known counterpart--Uncanny X-Men I#130
• or any other "Dazzler" characters, sorry Uncle Burt!
  

images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Age of Apocalypse I#1, p14, pan1 (main image)
Amazing X-Men I#1, p6, pan1 (smokes)
Amazing X-Men I#2, p5, pan5 (fires laserblast)
Gambit and the X-Ternals I#4, p18, pan4 (rescuing Gambit)
X-Men Age of Apocalypse I#2, p2, pan1 (post AoA white look)
X-Men Age of Apocalypse I#6 p12, pan5 (fighting Cloak)

Appearances:
Amazing X-Men I#1 (March, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Matt Ryan (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Amazing X-Men I#2 (April, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Matt Ryan (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Amazing X-Men I#3 (May, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Matt Ryan (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Amazing X-Men I#4 (June, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Andy Kubert (pencils), Matt Ryan (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
Gambit & The X-Ternals I#4 (June, 1995) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#2 (May, 2005) - Akira Yoshida (writer), Chris Bachalo (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#3 (May, 2005) - Akira Yoshida (writer), Chris Bachalo (pencils), Mark Irwin et al (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#4 (May, 2005) - Akira Yoshida (writer), Chris Bachalo (pencils), Mark Irwin et al (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#5 (May, 2005) - Akira Yoshida (writer), Chris Bachalo (pencils), Mark Irwin et al (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
X-Men: Age of Apocalypse I#6 (June, 2005) - Akira Yoshida (writer), Chris Bachalo (pencils), Mark Irwin et al (inks), Mike Marts (editor)

First Posted: 03/10/2022
Last Updated: 03/10/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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