Polaris Crash Course
It’s easy to forget Polaris was one of the very first X-Men with how often she’s left out, but Polaris has often been misunderstood. Even her role as Magneto’s daughter is a fairly recent introduction from the early 2000s.
Polaris, or Doctor Lorna Sally Dane, has lost more parents than you can count, unsuccessfully retired from the superhero life, lost and regained her magnetic powers after M-Day, struggled with mental health issues, and been possessed half a dozen times.
And, despite all her struggles, she pushes on not only to protect a world that hates and fears her and mutantkind, but even leads a variety of superteams. She’s one of the best the X-Men have to offer, and although she may not have a million solo books to show it, she’s led and appeared in some great stories.
Start here
The Bread
This is the stuff that makes Polaris who she is, the essential reads that shaped Lorna into the character we know today. Start here before venturing anywhere else.
The Debut
“Magnetized” – Uncanny X-Men (1963) #49-52
Written by Arnold Drake · Art by Werner Roth, Jim Steranko
60s X-Men often gets dismissed, and while it hadn’t quite found its footing just yet, there are still a few gems to be found here, especially Lorna Dane’s first appearance. A little confusing considering the back-and-forth on whether Magneto is her father or not, but some stellar Jim Steranko art in issue #50 is more than enough to make this odd trip down memory lane more than worth reading.
The Turning Point
“Deadly Genesis” – Giant-Size X-Men (1975) #1
Written by Len Wein · Art by Dave Cockrum
The biggest turning point in X-Men history is remembered for a lot of reasons, but it’s easy to forget just how key Polaris is to defeating “KRAKOA, THE ISLAND THAT WALKS LIKE A MAN”, long before its time as a mutant homeland. It may be her departure from the X-Men for quite a few years, but it’s still a great showing of just how powerful Lorna really is, and the beginning of a relationship with Krakoa that pays off a few decades later.
The Anniversary
“The Dane Curse” – Uncanny X-Men (1963) #249-250
Written by Chris Claremont · Art by Marc Silvestri
In this anniversary special, Lorna finally regains control of herself just in time for the arrival of Zaladane, mistress of the Savage Land and maybe Polaris’s sister. While that particular mystery never really gets touched on again, this is a real turning point for Polaris, complete with an all-new, all-different power set.
The Truth
“Secret Origin” – X-Factor (2005) #243
Written by Peter David · Art by Leonard Kirk, Jay Leisten
In this issue in Peter David’s long-running X-Factor Investigations, Lorna learns the truth of her origin thanks to Monet and Longshot in this tragic issue that changes both Lorna, and her relationship with Magneto, forever. Polaris sticks around for the rest of the tail end of David’s run, with some key moments later on too.
Go deeper
The Meat
Once you’ve got the essentials down, here’s where you dig deeper into who Lorna really is, from government agent to Krakoan founder, in stories big and small.
The Reunion
“All-New, All-Different X-Factor” – X-Factor (1986) #71+
Written by Peter David · Art by Larry Stroman, Al Milgrom
Perhaps Polaris’ most iconic run as she reunites with Havok for the government-run X-Factor. This is the first series that gets to really dive deep into the interiority of Lorna and define who she is in a way that’s stuck to this day as we see her stay with the team throughout much of the 90s. This book is also one of the most beautiful looks Lorna has ever had when drawn by Larry Stroman, who makes that curly green hair absolutely stunning.
The Leader
“An X-Factor of Her Own” – All-New X-Factor (2014) #1
Written by Peter David · Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico
An All-New X-Factor means an All-New leader as Polaris gets a chance to lead for the first time in one of my personal favourite Polaris stories that gets to develop some key relationships for her outside of the usual ones, especially her brother Pietro and even briefly her sister Wanda.
The Space Opera
“Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire” – Uncanny X-Men (1963) #475-487
Written by Ed Brubaker · Art by Billy Tan, Clayton Henry
Still struggling to control her newly returned magnetic powers from Apocalypse, Lorna heads to space alongside Havok and Professor X to chase down Vulcan, Havok’s younger brother, before he tears apart the Shi’ar Empire to gain revenge for his childhood. Like a lot of Lorna stories, this is not one she gets a key focus in unfortunately, but still has plenty of moments to shine.
The Detective
“X-Factor Investigates” – X-Factor (2020) #1-10
Written by Leah Williams · Art by David Baldeón
When mutants go missing on Krakoa, Polaris steps up and forms a new X-Factor to investigate alongside a delightful cast of lesser known mutants in one of my favourite books of the Krakoan era that shines a rare spotlight on Polaris. It may have ended a little sooner than I’d have liked, but that didn’t stop it being one of the single best Polaris books, and a must-read.
The Elected
“Krakoan X-Men” – X-Men (2021) #1-12
Written by Gerry Duggan · Art by Pepe Larraz
As Polaris finds herself being elected one of the first Krakoan X-Men, she also finds time to gain her doctorate in the fun first 12 issues of this book as some of Krakoa’s greatest threats begin to show themselves. While Duggan may not dive too deep into Lorna compared to her time on X-Factor, she’s a really fun presence in this book and drawn beautifully by Pepe Larraz with some great creative displays of her powers.
The hidden gems
The Special Sauce
Beyond the essentials, there’s a whole lot of Polaris worth exploring, whether that’s grief, possession, or a quieter moment that still captures who she is at her core.
The Possession
“Malicious Intent” – Uncanny X-Men (1963) #219
Written by Chris Claremont · Art by Bret Blevins
A dark era for Polaris begins here as she falls under the sway of the Marauder named Malice, a mutant with no body of her own who uses Lorna to wreak chaos in the name of Mister Sinister. It’s not all grim though, this issue has one of my favourite brief moments with Lorna’s long-time love and fellow X-Man, Havok, who joins the X-Men for one of their darkest eras here.
The Grief
“Fall of Genosha” – New X-Men (2001) #132
Written by Grant Morrison · Art by Frank Quitely
Polaris reacts to the fall of Genosha and the loss of her father in this tragic issue in Morrison and Quitely’s New X-Men. Although not the exact issue she finds out about her parentage (you’ll have to turn to the less popular Chuck Austen run of Uncanny X-Men for that), it’s a tragic display of Lorna’s grief, her struggles with mental health, and her magnetic powers.
The Corruption
“Horseman of Apocalypse” – X-Men (2004) #180-187
Written by Peter Milligan · Art by Salvador Larroca, Aaron Lopresti
Having lost her powers thanks to the Decimation, when Scarlet Witch (her sister) reduced the number of mutants to only 198, Lorna turns to desperate places to try and regain them as she follows a strange alien called Daap, ultimately leading her to the clutches of Apocalypse and her role as his newest horseman, Pestilence. This is an odd story from an odd era that focuses little on Lorna herself, but an essential chapter in her journey nonetheless.
The Reckoning
“Last Days of Magneto” – Magneto (2015) #19-21
Written by Cullen Bunn · Art by Gabriel Hernández Walta
In this “Last Days” tie-in, the world itself comes to an end and Magneto seeks to save it, holding back the other earth from colliding in one last incursion to end reality itself. This finality gives a rare honest insight from Magneto into many things, including his relationship with Polaris, his last remaining child, in this heartbreaking story of the end of the world and the monster who may be its only hope, and the lengths he’d go to save it.
The Mentor
“Teacher and X-Man” – X-Men: Blue #8+
Written by Cullen Bunn · Art by Cory Smith
Lorna takes on the role of teacher to the time-displaced O5 X-Men, once her peers, in this odd but enjoyable run dealing with the fallout of Secret Empire in an era where the X-Men were only just starting to regain relevancy after years of neglect thanks to movie rights disputes. This run also lets Polaris lead her own X-Men team after the O5 X-Men’s disappearance, and is a rare chance for her to develop her relationship with Magneto in a more casual manner than the usual end-of-the-world scenario.
Polaris has decades of stories behind her, and it’s impossible to capture them all in one list. If there’s a Lorna story that means something to you that didn’t make the cut, let us know!
GateCrashers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
