Kyle Gibney is a mutant who manifested a feral mutation during puberty; this mutation grants him enhanced physical abilities, an increased rate of regeneration, and a bestial appearance. This prompts his parents to throw him out of their house. Living on the streets, he is kidnapped by the conspiratorial Secret Empire and subjected to experimentation that alters his mind and body, making him mentally unstable and prone to violent and animalistic behavior. During this time, he becomes acquainted with Dr. Valerie Cooper, a United States government official who is unaware of the Secret Empire's true nature or activities. He is freed by Wyre, a man who has unwittingly been the source for the genetic material used in the Empire's experiments. Gibney (now Wild Child) is detained by the military and taken into the custody of Canada's secret Department H, which oversees the formative Alpha Flight team. Flight member Walter Langkowski, wanting to protect Wild Child from the military, places him in the trainee team dubbed Gamma Flight. After Alpha Flight and its trainee groups are disbanded, Gibney is recruited to join Omega Flight.[4]
Wild Child is given membership in the new Gamma Flight.[5] Alongside Gamma Flight, he battles Alpha Flight.[6] However, he then aids Gamma and Alpha Flight against Llan the Sorcerer's forces.[7] When Gamma Flight is disbanded, he goes berserk over his deprecated status and attacks Pathway, another trainee. Gamma's leader Nemesis teleport him away during a fight with Heather Hudson (then Guardian) and Wolverine, and he is captured by Wolverine.[8] Department H help him overcome his psychological problems, train him in unarmed combat, and place him as a special operative of the Canadian government assigned to Alpha Flight under the codename Weapon Omega. Alongside Alpha Flight, he battles Diablo.[9] He joins Alpha Flight's "Core Alpha",[10] meet the government-appointed X-Factor team,[11] and prevents the mind-controlled Omerta from assassinating Italy's head of state.[12] Wild Child defeats Wyre in personal combat; he then learns about his true origin, and changes his codename to Wildheart.[13]
His appearance deteriorates back to his initial feral form, which prompts him to leave Alpha Flight and Aurora. He follows Valerie Cooper to the United States, where he joins X-Factor. There he begins a romantic relationship with his teammate Shard. His teammate Sabretooth frequently attempts, with little success, to convince Wild Child to become a hunter and killer like himself. He remains with the team until his body begins to mutate into a more feral form. He degenerates to a near-mindless state and is recruited into the new Weapon X team.[volume&issueneeded]
As part of his draft, Wild Child is paired with Sabretooth to try and recruit Sunfire to the program. However, he refuses and badly burns Sabretooth. When Wild Child mocks his burns, Sabretooth slits his vocal cords and threatens to kill any medical staff who would operate on him, making sure that he would remain mute.[14] His past flame, Aurora, is recruited into the team but is not herself. After the Weapon X upgrades she becomes cocky and aloof, snubbing Wild Child and engaging in a relationship with the horribly disfigured Director of the program. When Brent Jackson attempts to undermine the authority of director Malcolm Colcord, using Aurora's attitude toward him as motive, Jackson convinces Wild Child to join his splinter group.[volume&issueneeded]
Wild Child is one of the mutants depowered after M-Day.[15] His energy signature is found within the entity known as The Collective, along with the energy signatures of many other depowered mutants.[16] It is later revealed that Wild Child regained his powers and his previously erased memories.[17]
During a mission to Arakko, the Hellions encounter Tarn the Uncaring and his Locus Vile. In the ensuing battle, Wild Child is killed.[20] He is resurrected, albeit stronger and with a more aggressive and impulsive personality as a result of dying in the dimension of Amenth.[21]
Powers and abilities
Kyle Gibney is a mutant who was experimented upon and genetically engineered by Secret Empire scientists using DNA replicated from Wyre. He has superhumanly acute senses, as well as superhuman speed, agility, reflexes, coordination, balance, and endurance. His teeth and nails are hardened and strong enough to rend substances as thick as bone. His body heals at a rate several times greater than that of a normal human being but not at the rate of Sabretooth's healing factor. He also has various animal-like mutations common for "feral" mutants: leaf-shaped ears and eyes with neither pupils nor irises.
He is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant with both special ops and martial arts training from Wolverine as well as the Canadian government's superhero Flight program, and is also trained in acrobatics and gymnastics. In his bestial rages, he relies more on sheer ferocity than fighting skill. As Wildheart, the savage, bestial side of his personality was suppressed by an unknown drug, but his savage self still threatened to overwhelm his sanity at all times.
As a result of injuries suffered at the hands of Sabretooth who prevented him from getting medical treatment, Wild Child was mute for a time. However, along with his renewed powers, he seems to have regained the ability to speak as well.
Reception
In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Wild Child 93rd in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[22]
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
An alternate universe version of Wild Child from Earth-295 appears in Age of Apocalypse. This version is a member of the X-Men who possesses a low level of intelligence comparable to that of a dog and is unable to communicate verbally.[23] Wild Child is later found by an alternate universe version of Quentin Quire and taken to his universe to replace its version of Wild Child, who was not supposed to have died.[24] After returning to his original universe, Wild Child is killed while trying to stop Archangel's genocidal plans on Earth-616.[25][26]
House of M
An alternate universe version of Wild Child from Earth-58163 appears in House of M. This version is a member of the Red Guard, a group that serves Exodus.[27]
Mutant X
An alternate universe version of Wild Child from Earth-1298 appears in Mutant X. This version roams the wilds of Canada along with Sabretooth and Wolverine, collectively known as the Pack.[28]
Old Man Logan
An alternate universe version of Wild Child from Earth-21923 appears in Avengers of the Wastelands. He is among the villains who attack Danielle Cage's group in Osborn County, only to be killed by insects summoned by Dwight Barrett.[29]
Weapon X: Days of Future Now
An alternate universe version of Wild Child from Earth-5700 appears in Weapon X: Days of Future Now.[30]
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate universe version of Wild Child from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Comics: Wolverine #2. He and a group of soldiers are sent to kill Jimmy Hudson's adoptive parents, James Hudson and Heather Hudson. Wild Child nearly kills Jimmy until Quicksilver appears and kills him.[31]
In other media
Television
Wild Child makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "One Man's Worth" as a member of Magneto's mutant resistance.
Merchandise
The Age of Apocalypse version of Wild Child received an action figure as part of Toy Biz's Age of Apocalypse toyline.
The Age of Apocalypse version of Wild Child received an action figure as part of Hasbro's Marvel Legends brand.
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