Bishop #1

Dec 1994 · Marvel · 2.95 USD; 4.00 CAD

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“Escape from Tomorrow”

★ 1st appearance — Mountjoy

About this Issue

Bishop #1 marked the first solo series for Lucas Bishop, one of Marvel's most prominent Black mutant characters, giving the time-displaced X-Man a dedicated spotlight after three years as a supporting player in the X-Men line. The issue introduces Mountjoy — a body-possessing criminal from Bishop's own future — in his comics debut, adding a villain with a uniquely insidious power set to the X-Men's rogues' gallery. Writer John Ostrander uses the premise to surface a genuine thematic conflict: whether Bishop's paramilitary XSE training, which accepts lethal force, can coexist with the X-Men's code against killing, a tension that would define Bishop's characterization across subsequent series. The four-issue run it kicked off was later collected and reprinted multiple times internationally, affirming its place as the definitive early chapter of Bishop's solo history.

In "Escape from Tomorrow," Bishop is thrust into a deadly race against time when he learns from Bantam that Mountjoy—a dangerous criminal from his own future capable of absorbing or possessing his victims—is loose in the present. With Storm now in his crosshairs, Bishop must confront the threat head-on, testing his resolve and skills in a high-stakes battle that pushes him to his limits. Written by John Ostrander and brought to life by Carlos Pacheco’s dynamic art, with inks by Cam Smith, colors by Joe Rosas, and letters by Comicraft, this issue features a cover by Carlos Pacheco and Cam Smith.

writer John Ostrander · artist Carlos Pacheco · inker Cam Smith · colorist Joe Rosas · letterer Comicraft · cover Carlos Pacheco, Cam Smith

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (NM) $2

CGC 9.8 · 102 in census $24

CGC 9.6 · 32 in census $20*

CGC 9.4 · 24 in census $20*

CGC 9.2 · 6 in census $20*

CGC 9.0 · 5 in census $20*

CGC 8.5 · 1 in census $20*

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CGC 8.0 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 7.5 · 1 in census $20*

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NM · Foil $2.99 VF+ $2.99 NM+ $4 VF+ $4.95 NM · Foil $5 Direct $5.67 Bishop #1 (Marvel Comics December 1994) $3 Bishop #1 6/10/26 Marvel Comic 1st Print $3.95

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History

The series was produced by writer John Ostrander and penciler Carlos Pacheco, with inks by Cam Smith, colors by Joe Rosas, and editorial oversight from Suzanne Gaffney under group editor Bob Harras and editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco. The issue carried a cover date of December 1994 and an on-sale date of October 11, 1994, and was released in both direct-edition and newsstand formats, with an enhanced blue foil cover distinguishing it from typical releases of the era. Contemporary observers noted signs of editorial revision in the finished series — most visibly in re-lettered dialogue around Shard's holographic nature — suggesting the concept was refined during production rather than fully locked before solicitation. Carlos Pacheco's energetic linework was consistently praised even by critics who found the story itself formulaic.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of Mountjoy (Earth-1191), a mutant from Bishop's future with the power to either silently possess a host body or perform a 'hostile takeover' that absorbs the victim's mind, body, and memories.
First solo series for Lucas Bishop, who had debuted in Uncanny X-Men #282 (1991) and appeared in team books for three years before receiving his own title.
Written by John Ostrander; penciled by Carlos Pacheco; inked by Cam Smith; colored by Joe Rosas; lettered by Comicraft/Richard Starkings. Edited by Suzanne Gaffney.
Story title: 'Escape from Tomorrow.' The issue's plot follows Bishop and Storm being ambushed by Mountjoy — a time-traveling fugitive who secretly rode through Trevor Fitzroy's time portal hidden inside the body of Bantam — making him an unknown quantity Bishop had never counted in his fugitive tally.
Malcolm and Randall appear only as Danger Room constructs in this issue; Bishop repeatedly runs a simulation of the battle in which they were killed by Trevor Fitzroy, unable to find a way to save them.
Shard appears only as a mention — Bishop hands Forge a holographic canister containing his sister's memories and brain patterns at the outset of the issue, setting up her active role beginning in issue #2.
The issue was released with an enhanced blue foil cover in its direct-edition format, reflecting the mid-1990s Marvel practice of using premium cover treatments on first issues.
The full four-issue series was collected as Bishop: The Mountjoy Crisis (Marvel, 1996) and reprinted internationally in Spain (Colección One/Shot #7, 1995), Italy (Marvel Magazine #15, 1995), France (Un Récit Complet Marvel #48, 1995), and again in Spain as part of a Carlos Pacheco retrospective volume in 2018.