external

In the great X-Men mythos that has grown up over the years, one of the weakest of all storylines appeared toward the end of the New Mutants comic created by one of the weakest of all comic writers, Rob Liefeld. In the already fragmented mutant community, another group was introduced: the Externals.

The Externals were a group of super-powered mutants who had existed for years and had not only their own special super-powers, but also were gifted with immortality. They were bound together as a loose confederation and used their powers and longevity to manipulate history, as a sort of mutant Illuminati.

The members of the Externals were from different periods of history and included a whole range of personalities and abilities. The group included:

• Gideon
• Selene
• Saul
• Nicodemus
• Burke
• Absolam
• Crule

The actual External was discovered to be Sam Guthrie, known as Cannonball. He seemingly came back to life after being disemboweled by the villain Sauron.

In a long-overdue bit of housecleaning, Marvel got rid of the majority of the Externals by having one of their number, Selene, slay the others by draining their lifeforces in an attempt to gain power for herself. Only Selene and Cannonball remain alive.

The problem with the whole External storyline is that the premise of the X-Men comics is that these heroes are mutants, the next step in man's evolution. If you are to believe this, then you also have to believe that mutants are a recent development, not a group of people that have been lurking in the shadows for hundreds and thousands of years.

Ex*ter"nal (?), a. [L. externus, fr. exter, exterus, on the outside, outward. See Exterior.]

1.

Outward; exterior; relating to the outside, as of a body; being without; acting from without; -- opposed to internal; as, the external form or surface of a body.

Of all external things, . . . She [Fancy] forms imaginations, aery shapes. Milton.

2.

Outside of or separate from ourselves; Metaph. separate from the perceiving mind.

3.

Outwardly perceptible; visible; physical or corporeal, as distinguished from mental or moral.

Her virtues graced with external gifts. Shak.

4.

Not intrinsic nor essential; accidental; accompanying; superficial.

The external circumstances are greatly different. Trench.

5.

Foreign; relating to or connected with foreign nations; as, external trade or commerce; the external relations of a state or kingdom.

6. Anat.

Away from the mesial plane of the body; lateral.

External angles. Geom. See under Angle.

© Webster 1913.

Ex*ter"nal, n.

Something external or without; outward part; that which makes a show, rather than that which is intrinsic; visible form; -- usually in the plural.

Adam was then no less glorious in his externals South.

God in externals could not place content. Pope.

© Webster 1913.