MADISON JEFFRIES
Former Aliases: Box IV, Gemini
First Appearance: Alpha Flight #16
Group Affiliation: Weapon X. Former member of the Zodiac, former member of Alpha Flight, former member of Gamma Flight
Creator: John Byrne

        Little is known about Madison Jeffries' past. What is known is that he was uncomfortable with his mutant power and that he and his brother Lionel both served in the United States Army during some conflict in Southeast Asia. Madison was a mechanic, Lionel was a medic. Near the end of their tour Lionel Jeffries went insane after their platoon was decimated in an attack. Madison was forced to use his metal-controlling ability to restrain his brother.

        [Compiler's Notes: The conflict I'm referring to was originally stated as the Vietnam War. However, due to the shifting nature of "Marvel Time", it's virtually impossible that Madison was a Vietnam vet. Hence the more generic wording, which is similar to what Marvel has done with the origin of Tony "Iron Man" Stark.]

        It's unknown when Madison Jeffries became involved with James Hudson's Department H, or how Jeffries came to Hudson's attention. Jeffries became a member of the second tier training team known as Gamma Flight. While with Gamma Jeffries was romantically involved with fellow member Lillian Crawly, a.k.a. Diamond Lil, but the two eventually split up. Madison's involvement with Department H and Gamma ended when H's funding was cut by the government, and he became a ditch digger to earn a living. Jeffries was the only Gamma Flight member not approached by Delphine Courtney to join Omega Flight.

        Jeffries was contacted by former Beta Flight member Roger Bochs when Bochs was in the process of redesigning his Box robot. Madison used his metal-controlling abilities to create the new robot from Boch's designs, and he tagged along with Bochs when Bochs joined forces with Alpha Flight.

        Jeffries was in the parking lot of the West Edmonton Mall after Alpha's second encounter with Omega Flight. Using his powers he was able to single-handedly defeat the retreating Omegans, destroying Courtney in the process.

        Jeffries remained with Alpha as a resident machinesmith and mechanic until Roger Bochs succumbed to his growing mental problems. When Bochs finally snapped it was Madison who defeated Bochs by using his powers to kick Bochs out of the Box robot. Jeffries then took possession of the robot for himself.

        During battle with the composite creature known as Omega (made up of Madison's brother Lionel and Roger Bochs), Jeffries discovered that he could use his metal-controlling abilities to reshape the Box robot into any form he desired while he was still inside it. After the battle ended he decided to kill Omega rather than risk it escaping captivity.

        Jeffries served Alpha capably until he retired to marry Lil Crawly, who had rekindled their romance. When Department H became active for the fourth time and restarted Alpha Flight, Madison rejoined the team despite objections from his wife. For unknown reasons he was no longer using the Box robot. [Towards the end of v1, there were hints that merging into the robot was addictive. This is a possible explanation. -C] During a mission vs. the criminal organization called the Zodiac Jeffries was knocked unconscious and captured.

        The Zodiac brainwashed Madison into joining the organization. He became the new Gemini, with his power animating a metallic "twin." [Gemini is the astrological sign of the twins. -C] Jeffries was present during the Zodiac's attack on Department H headquarters and during the fight he was unmasked by Guardian III and Puck. Despite his team-mates' desire to rescue him Jeffries managed to elude them and escape with the rest of the Zodiac.

        Madison was "rescued" from the Zodiac by the black-ops project called Weapon X. The Weapon X project replaced the Zodiac programming with their own. Madison has been made completely loyal to the man known as the Director, to the point that Madison accompanied him when the Director was forced out of the Weapon X project. The two later parted company under unknown circumstances. Jeffries is apparently still scarred from the mental abuse he suffered from both the Zodiac and Weapon X.

        Jeffries was recently recruited by Warren Worthington III (The Angel) and Hank McCoy (The Beast) to become a part of McCoy's squad of "mad scientists" working on ways to improve the plight of mutantkind after M-Day. He is currently living on Utopia, home to most of the world's surviving mutants, located in the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco. Madison is also grieving the death of his wife Lil.

        Madison Jeffries is a mutant with the ability to manipulate metal, glass and plastic. He is able to manipulate these substances down to the atomic level. Jeffries is also extremely gifted at using his abilities to create advanced technology. While his brother was alive, Madison was able to psychically sense the presence of Lionel Jeffries within an undetermined radius.