Forearm (comics)

Forearm
Forearm as depicted in S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #5 (April 2021). Art by Valerio Schiti (penciler/inker) and Marte Garcia (colorist).
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe New Mutants #86 (Feb. 1990)
Created byLouise Simonson
Rob Liefeld
In-story information
Full nameMichael McCain
SpeciesHuman mutant
Team affiliationsMutant Liberation Front
S.W.O.R.D.
Krakoan Dark Riders
Notable aliasesMichael McBride
AbilitiesTwo additional arms
Superhuman strength, stamina and physical resistance

Forearm (Michael McCain) is a fictional mutant villain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. As a member of the Mutant Liberation Front, Forearm has always been a mainstay on the terrorist group's roster, even staying through leader changes and incarceration.

Publication history

Forearm first made a minor cameo appearance as a member of the Mutant Liberation Front in The New Mutants #86 (February 1990). He first fully appeared in the following issue, The New Mutants #87.

Fictional character biography

Forearm is a founding member of the Mutant Liberation Front (MLF), a mutant terrorist organization. One of the group's first missions under the leadership of Stryfe is to liberate incarcerated New Mutants members Rusty Collins and Skids, who join the MLF out of confusion and are kept in the group via neural implants that influence their minds.

Forearm and the MLF approach Mister Sinister and propose a trade, taking the captive Cyclops and Jean Grey in exchange for Sinister taking the Legacy Virus from Stryfe. The MLF are later defeated by the X-Men and taken into custody.

Following the events of "X-Cutioner's Song", Reignfire forms a new incarnation of the MLF which consists of Forearm, Reaper, Wildside, Tempo, and new members Locus and Danielle Moonstar. Forearm forms a close friendship with Moonstar, but eventually discovers that she was an undercover agent working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Feeling betrayed, Forearm leaves the MLF.

During the Krakoan Age, Forearm joins the Security Team of S.W.O.R.D. and Magik's Dark Riders.

Powers and abilities

Forearm has an additional pair of arms that extend from beneath his primary arms, giving him four in total. He also possesses increased strength, resistance to injury, and stamina.

Other versions

An alternate universe version of Forearm appears in X-Men '92: House of XCII. This version was killed in the X of Swords tournament, with his subsequent resurrection inadvertently giving him six arms. This version of Forearm was conceptualized by writer Steve Foxe, who considered calling his resurrected self "Sixarms". After a discussion with Steve Orlando, Foxe changed the nickname to "Morearms".

In other media

Forearm makes non-speaking appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series. This version is an inhabitant of Skull Mesa and member of Magneto's army.

Reception

Forearm has been noted as an underwhelming villain.

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Joe (October 17, 2012). "Retro Review: X-Force #1 by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza". Inside Pulse. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Walker, Gary (October 19, 2020). "X-Men: What Happened to Forearm, Marvel's Handiest Mutant Villain?". CBR. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  3. ↑ Jones, Clave (November 8, 2017). "90s X-Men Characters that We'd Like to Forget". Nerds on Earth. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ Wee, Lim Choon (February 1, 1993). Avengers against super-villains. New Straits Times. p. 30.
  5. ↑ Hassan, Chris (September 19, 2022). "X-Men Monday #172 – Steve Foxe Reflects on 'X-Men '92: House of XCII'". AIPT. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ Casey, Dan (July 19, 2017). "The 8 Best Worst X-MEN Villains of All Time". Nerdist. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2026.