Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum, Black Tom Cassidy first appeared as a shadowy figure in Uncanny X-Men #99 (June 1976).

His original principal power was that he could generate blasts of heat through a wooden medium, such as the shillelagh that he often carries.

While Sean flew away in anger, Tom fell into a chasm, breaking his leg as a result of the attack, which left him with a limp.

[7] Alongside Juggernaut and Theresa (now under the codename Siryn), Tom went to San Francisco and stole the United States' vibranium supply.

Convinced a life of crime was too dangerous for Theresa, Black Tom exonerated her of responsibility for the theft,[2] and wrote a letter to Sean explaining who she was.

[12] After being shot by Cable, Tom was taken to France, where doctors grafted a wood-like substance onto his wounds, healing him and allowing him to channel his bio-blasts through his fists.

[15] Juggernaut managed to escape and warn the X-Men, while Black Tom led an attack on the X-Mansion.

[16] After M-Day, Black Tom woke up as a human again, losing his secondary mutation but possibly still retaining his old powers, along with his sanity.

The organization Black Air hired Tom to attack the new incarnation of Excalibur, of which Juggernaut was now a member.

Though he easily defeated the others, Juggernaut confronted his former friend and convinced him to turn himself in for the death of Sammy, saying "He was a kid, Tom.

[18] Black Tom resurfaces with the Juggernaut attacking a luxury yacht, but they are confronted by the time-displaced young X-Men, with Jean knocking Black Tom out while Beast - who has been training in magic - creates a dimensional portal that passes through Hell before sending Juggernaut to Siberia.

[20] These are terms that Black Tom gratefully accepts; eventually taking a job at internal/external security through a physiological union between himself and the living isle to better articulate his powers.

It is also implied that one of the reasons Black Tom is loyal to Krakoa is because they have promised to resurrect Squid-Boy, who he regretted killing.

[21] Originally, Black Tom Cassidy was a mutant with the ability to generate concussive blasts of force and heat.

This version is a drug dealer with ties to the Brotherhood, a secret society of corrupt police officers and detectives.