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|image=meltdown01.jpg
|image=meltdown01.jpg
|caption=Tabitha Smith on the cover to ''Weapon X'' #11.<br>Art by Georges Jeanty.
|caption=Tabitha Smith on the cover to ''Weapon X'' #11.<br>Art by Georges Jeanty.
|character_name= Tabitha Smith
|character_name= Tabitha Smith<br />{{small|Boom-Boom}}
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #5 (Nov. 1985)
|debut=''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #5 (Nov. 1985)
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'''Tabitha Smith''' is a [[superhero]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]], commonly in association with The [[X-Men]] and related titles. Created by [[Jim Shooter]] and [[Al Milgrom]], the character first appeared in ''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #5 (Nov. 1985). She then appeared as a member of [[X-Force]] and later as a member of [[Nextwave]].
'''Tabitha Smith''' is a [[superhero]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]], commonly in association with The [[X-Men]] and related titles. Created by [[Jim Shooter]] and [[Al Milgrom]], the character first appeared in ''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #5 (Nov. 1985). She then appeared as a member of [[X-Force]] and later as a member of [[Nextwave]].


Tabitha is mentally able to create variably-sized yellow orbs of pure energy that explode with concussive and destructive force. Since her first appearance, she has used a number of different codenames, including '''Time Bomb''', '''Boom-Boom''', '''Boomer''', and '''Meltdown'''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wyse |first=Alex |date=2018-04-11 |title=X-Force: 20 Powerful Members Ranked From Weakest To Strongest |url=https://www.cbr.com/x-force-members-ranked/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>
Tabitha is mentally able to create variably-sized yellow orbs of pure energy that explode with concussive and destructive force. Since her first appearance, she has used a number of different codenames, including '''Time Bomb''', '''Boom-Boom''', '''Boomer''', and '''Meltdown'''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wyse|first=Alex|date=April 11, 2018|title=X-Force: 20 Powerful Members Ranked From Weakest To Strongest|url=https://www.cbr.com/x-force-members-ranked/|access-date=November 11, 2022|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref>


==Publication history==
==Publication history==
Created by [[Jim Shooter]] and [[Al Milgrom]], the character first appeared in ''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #5 (Nov. 1985), in which she and the [[Beyonder]] are the primary characters. She next appears as a main character in the 1987 limited series ''[[Fallen Angels (comics)|Fallen Angels]]''. This led to her becoming a supporting character in the ''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'' series beginning with issue #11, which then led to a co-star role in the ''[[X-Terminators]]'' limited series.  Following this series, she appeared in ''The [[New Mutants]]'', initially guest-starring as a member of the X-Terminators, and eventually becoming a member of the titular group. The team then became [[X-Force]] and she remained a member of the team for most of the ''X-Force'' series. Sometime later, she appears as a member of [[Nextwave]] throughout the ''Nextwave'' series. Writer [[Warren Ellis]] said that he picked Boom-Boom to be in Nextwave because Boom-Boom is his favorite superhero name in the history of comics for its sheer oddness and silliness, and he loved it when she was in ''Uncanny X-Men'' when [[Joe Madureira]] was the artist.
Created by [[Jim Shooter]] and [[Al Milgrom]], the character first appeared in ''[[Secret Wars II]]'' #5 (Nov. 1985), in which she and the [[Beyonder]] are the primary characters. She next appears as a main character in the 1987 limited series ''[[Fallen Angels (comics)|Fallen Angels]]''. This led to her becoming a supporting character in the ''[[X-Factor (comic book)|X-Factor]]'' series beginning with issue #11, which then led to a co-star role in the ''[[X-Terminators]]'' limited series.  Following this series, she appeared in ''The [[New Mutants]]'', initially guest-starring as a member of the X-Terminators, and eventually becoming a member of the titular group.  
 
The team then became [[X-Force]] and she remained a member of the team for most of the ''X-Force'' series. Sometime later, she appears as a member of [[Nextwave]] throughout the ''Nextwave'' series. Writer [[Warren Ellis]] said that he picked Boom-Boom to be in Nextwave because Boom-Boom is his favorite superhero name in the history of comics for its sheer oddness and silliness, and he loved it when she was in ''Uncanny X-Men'' when [[Joe Madureira]] was the artist.


{{blockquote|"I wanted a character who could blow things up," he said of his choice of Boom-Boom. "I was also looking for a team structure where the women outnumbered the men. I liked her [[white trash|white-trash]] criminal background, which had uses in the plot set-up. But mostly I wanted a character who could blow things up. I mean, these are characters who no-one at Marvel had any use for, and I could have been stopped at any time, Jen. But a skinny-ass blonde mutant with a [[kleptomania]]c streak had both plot and entertainment value to me. Especially when played against the others."<ref>[http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004065 Ellis& The Nextwave @ ComicCon.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060530122147/http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004065 |date=May 30, 2006 }}</ref>}}
{{blockquote|"I wanted a character who could blow things up," he said of his choice of Boom-Boom. "I was also looking for a team structure where the women outnumbered the men. I liked her [[white trash|white-trash]] criminal background, which had uses in the plot set-up. But mostly I wanted a character who could blow things up. I mean, these are characters who no-one at Marvel had any use for, and I could have been stopped at any time, Jen. But a skinny-ass blonde mutant with a [[kleptomania]]c streak had both plot and entertainment value to me. Especially when played against the others."<ref>[http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004065 Ellis& The Nextwave @ ComicCon.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060530122147/http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=004065 |date=May 30, 2006 }}</ref>}}
Despite the appearance of Nextwave characters in other Marvel titles, in 2006 editor-in-chief [[Joe Quesada]] stated that Nextwave's setting was in a universe separate from the main Marvel continuity.<ref>Gum, Wade (2006-07-01). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070711133600/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000765389.cfm "Heroes Con: Joe Quesada Panel"], WizardUniverse.com (archived)</ref> However, ''[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe]]'' and ''[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War: Battle Damage Report]]'' consistently place Nextwave's activities in mainstream continuity.<ref name="civilwarbattledamage">{{Cite comic | Writer = [[Anthony Flamini]] & [[Ronald Byrd]] | Penciller =  [[Scott Kolins]] | Inker = [[Scott Kolins]] | Story =  | Title = Civil War: Battle Damage Report | Issue = #1 | Date = March 2007 | Publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] | }}</ref> To further complicate matters, Nextwave's entry in ''Civil War: Battle Damage Report'' states: "Recent intelligence suggests some or all Nextwave members unknowingly had their memories and/or personalities altered by their new employers (H.A.T.E.)."


==Fictional character biography==
==Fictional character biography==
===Early life===
===Early life===
Tabitha Smith was born in [[Roanoke, Virginia]] and is depicted as a rebellious but normal teenager, and the daughter of divorced parents, in her first appearance. Her [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] powers manifest at age 13, and her parents immediately show their disgust, with her father even beating her. Running away from home, she gives herself the alias "Time Bomb" and meets the cosmic entity known as the [[Beyonder]]. He brings her to [[Charles Xavier]], headmaster of the [[X-Mansion|School for Gifted Youngsters]], who ignores her to combat the Beyonder. Before she can commit suicide over this second rejection, the Beyonder stops her, taking her with him on his cosmic trip. The Beyonder confronts the [[Celestial (comics)|Celestials]], and at her behest, returns Tabitha to Earth. She helps the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] ambush the Beyonder and leaves the battlefield when she learns that the Beyonder felt betrayed by the actions of "his only friend."<ref>''Secret Wars II'' #5</ref> When she was younger, she once unknowingly crossed paths with [[Warpath (comics)|James Proudstar]] when they attended the same roadside carnival as children.<ref>''X-Force'' #-1</ref>
Tabitha Smith was born in [[Roanoke, Virginia]] and is depicted as a rebellious but normal teenager, and the daughter of divorced parents, in her first appearance. Her [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] powers manifest at age 13, and her parents immediately show their disgust, with her father even beating her. Running away from home, she gives herself the alias "Time Bomb" and meets the cosmic entity known as the [[Beyonder]]. He brings her to [[Charles Xavier]], headmaster of the [[X-Mansion|School for Gifted Youngsters]], who ignores her to combat the Beyonder.


===Fallen Angels and X-Terminators===
===Fallen Angels and X-Terminators===
Living on the streets, Tabitha becomes involved with Maurice "Tiger" Antonini and, after he threatens her and murders her friend Gina, she uses her powers to kill him. Then, the villain known as the [[Vanisher]] recruits her for his band of thieves, called the Fallen Angels, and she officially takes on the codename "Boom-Boom." She eventually betrays the Vanisher, calling in the help of [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]], with whom she stays afterward.<ref>''X-Factor'' #11</ref> Tabitha's former teammate in the Fallen Angels, the alien [[Ariel (comics)|Ariel]], kidnaps the Angels and takes them to her home where they are experimented on by her planet's scientists. Ultimately, she is unable to go through with the plan and helps them escape. The Angels return to Earth and go their separate ways.<ref>''Fallen Angels'' #3-8</ref> Tabitha is kidnapped by the Right, an anti-mutant organization. Tabitha, X-Factor, and other mutants regain their freedom.<ref>''X-Factor'' #22-23</ref>
Living on the streets, Tabitha becomes involved with Maurice "Tiger" Antonini and, after he threatens her and murders her friend Gina, she uses her powers to kill him. Then, the villain known as the [[Vanisher]] recruits her for his band of thieves, called the Fallen Angels, and she officially takes on the codename "Boom-Boom." She eventually betrays the Vanisher, calling in the help of [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]], with whom she stays afterward.<ref>''X-Factor'' #11</ref> Tabitha's former teammate in the Fallen Angels, the alien [[Ariel (comics)|Ariel]], kidnaps the Angels and takes them to her home where they are experimented on by her planet's scientists. Ultimately, she is unable to go through with the plan and helps them escape.
 
When X-Factor wards [[Artie Maddicks]] and [[Leech (character)|Leech]] are kidnapped by [[N'astirh]]'s demons, Tabitha joins her fellow X-Factor trainees in a mission to rescue them. Taking the situation less seriously than the others, Tabitha is quick to pronounce the five of them "the newest super-mutant team in town" and pick out costumes for them all. They adopt the name [[X-Terminators]].<ref>''X-Terminators'' #1-4</ref>


===New Mutants===
===New Mutants===
Following two successful team-ups with the [[New Mutants]],<ref>''X-Terminators'' #4, ''The New Mutants'' #73 and 76</ref> Tabitha and some members of the X-Terminators, [[Rusty Collins]], [[Skids (character)|Skids]], and [[Rictor]], join the group.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #77</ref> During her time with the New Mutants, Tabitha falls in love with her teammate, [[Cannonball (comics)|Cannonball]]. When the team is transported to the mythical realm of Asgard, it is partially through Tabitha that the team is able to foil a plot to kill [[Odin (Marvel Comics)|Odin]]. There she becomes close friends with the wolf-prince [[Hrimhari]].<ref>''The New Mutants'' #76-78</ref> They encounter the man known as [[Cable (character)|Cable]],<ref>''The New Mutants'' #89</ref> and when he starts to mentor the team, Tabitha gains greater control of her powers. Tabitha is captured by [[Stryfe]] and the [[Mutant Liberation Front]] but is rescued.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #93-94</ref>
Following two successful team-ups with the [[New Mutants]],<ref>''X-Terminators'' #4, ''The New Mutants'' #73 and 76</ref> Tabitha and some members of the X-Terminators, [[Rusty Collins]], [[Skids (character)|Skids]], and [[Rictor]], join the group.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #77</ref> During her time with the New Mutants, Tabitha falls in love with her teammate, [[Cannonball (Marvel Comics)|Cannonball]]. When the team is transported to the mythical realm of Asgard, it is partially through Tabitha that the team is able to foil a plot to kill [[Odin (Marvel Comics)|Odin]]. There she becomes close friends with the wolf-prince [[Hrimhari]].<ref>''The New Mutants'' #76-78</ref> They encounter the man known as [[Cable (character)|Cable]],<ref>''The New Mutants'' #89</ref> and when he starts to mentor the team, Tabitha gains greater control of her powers. Tabitha is captured by [[Stryfe]] and the [[Mutant Liberation Front]] but is rescued.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #93-94</ref>
 
During "[[The X-Tinction Agenda]]" crossover, in which the country of [[Genosha]] attacks mutants in the United States, the Genoshan Magistrates kidnap Boom-Boom and her teammates Rictor, Wolfsbane, and [[Warlock (New Mutants)|Warlock]], transporting them to Genosha.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #270</ref> The incident receives international coverage, and Tabitha's father is interviewed, still voicing his disgust for his daughter.<ref>''X-Factor'' #60</ref> Although stripped of their powers, she and Rictor escape. Warlock does not survive.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #95</ref> On the streets of Genosha, Rictor and Tabitha meet [[Jubilee (character)|Jubilee]], and Tabitha and Jubilee's similar attitudes clash.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #96</ref> They eventually make their way to the Genoshan citadel, where the other X-Teams gather to defeat [[Cameron Hodge]], who orchestrated the entire ordeal.<ref>''The New Mutants'' #97</ref> Once returned to the United States, Tabitha spreads Warlock's ashes over the grave of [[Cypher (Marvel Comics)|Cypher]].<ref>''X-Factor'' #62</ref>


===X-Force===
===X-Force===
[[Image:4604-64525-1-x-force 400.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Cover to ''X-Force'' #51, featuring the revamped Tabitha Smith. Art by [[Adam Pollina]].]]
The New Mutants team, under the continued tutelage of Cable, is reformed into [[X-Force]].<ref>''The New Mutants'' #100</ref> The team undergoes a revamp, employing new, more aggressive methods. During this time, Tabitha acts on her crush on Cannonball, and the two have a relationship. Although she questions the team's new methods, Tabitha sticks with the team, rechristening herself "Boomer." She battles the [[Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]] alongside her new team in one of their early missions.<ref>''X-Force'' #7, 9</ref>
The New Mutants team, under the continued tutelage of Cable, is reformed into [[X-Force]].<ref>''The New Mutants'' #100</ref> The team undergoes a revamp, employing new, more aggressive methods. During this time, Tabitha acts on her crush on Cannonball, and the two have a relationship. Although she questions the team's new methods, Tabitha sticks with the team, rechristening herself "Boomer." She battles the [[Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]] alongside her new team in one of their early missions.<ref>''X-Force'' #7, 9</ref>


Following an attempted murder of [[Professor X]], mutual distrust places X-Force in conflict with the X-Men and X-Factor, and X-Force is apprehended.<ref>''X-Force'' #16</ref> Cannonball arranges for the team to be temporarily released so that they can help take down their arch-enemies, the [[Mutant Liberation Front]].<ref>''X-Factor'' #85</ref> Among the MLF are two of Boomer's former X-Terminators and New Mutants teammates, Rusty and Skids, who breaks Boomer's jaw.<ref>''X-Men'' #15</ref> After X-Force's names are cleared, Tabitha is confronted by Cannonball's ex-girlfriend [[Lila Cheney]], who gives the couple her blessing.<ref>''X-Force'' #19</ref> Showing how serious he is, Cannonball takes Tabitha along for a vacation on his family's farm. During the stay, they are confronted by the [[Gamesmaster (comics)|Gamesmaster]] and the [[Upstarts (comics)|Upstarts]], and team up with the [[New Warriors]] to defeat them.<ref>''X-Force'' #32-33</ref><ref>''The New Warriors'' #45-46</ref>
Following an attempted murder of [[Professor X]], mutual distrust places X-Force in conflict with the X-Men and X-Factor, and X-Force is apprehended.<ref>''X-Force'' #16</ref> Cannonball arranges for the team to be temporarily released so that they can help take down their arch-enemies, the [[Mutant Liberation Front]].<ref>''X-Factor'' #85</ref> Among the MLF are two of Boomer's former X-Terminators and New Mutants teammates, Rusty and Skids, who breaks Boomer's jaw.<ref>''X-Men'' #15</ref> After X-Force's names are cleared, Tabitha is confronted by Cannonball's ex-girlfriend [[Lila Cheney]], who gives the couple her blessing.<ref>''X-Force'' #19</ref>
 
Eventually, the team's headquarters is blown up twice,<ref>''X-Force'' #39</ref> and without a home, the team moves back into Xavier's mansion.<ref>''X-Force'' #43</ref> Shortly after, Cannonball graduates and becomes an X-Men member, and their relationship waters down.<ref>''X-Force'' #44</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weyer |first=Michael |date=2018-11-06 |title=20 Relationships That Hurt X-Men Comics (And 10 That Saved Them) |url=https://www.cbr.com/romances-hurt-saved-x-men-comics/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref> Seeking comfort, Tabitha spends most of her time caring for the lobotomized Sabretooth, also confiding in him.<ref>''X-Force'' #47</ref> Her teammates attempt an unsuccessful intervention.<ref>''X-Force'' #48</ref>
 
Sabretooth reveals that he is faking the ordeal, however, and fully healed, escapes by deceiving Tabitha into destroying his bonds.<ref name=autogenerated2>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #328 (Jan. 1996)</ref> In his escape, he eviscerates the X-Man [[Betsy Braddock|Psylocke]], who barely survives her wounds.<ref name=autogenerated2/>
 
[[Image:4604-64525-1-x-force 400.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Cover to ''X-Force'' #51, featuring the revamped Tabitha Smith. Art by [[Adam Pollina]].]]
In an effort to deal with the guilt from this incident, Tabitha travels home to visit her father.<ref name=autogenerated3>''X-Force'' #49</ref> The two reconcile, but in a fight with [[Sebastian Shaw (character)|Sebastian Shaw]] and [[Holocaust (Marvel Comics)|Holocaust]], her father is critically injured.<ref name=autogenerated3/> With more guilt on her mind, Tabitha underwent a radical change, renaming herself "Meltdown," designing a new costume, and gaining better control of her powers along with a more brash and assertive attitude.<ref>''X-Force'' #51</ref> This new attitude is displayed by Meltdown when she fights the [[Blob (Marvel Comics)|Blob]], threatening to kill him, and eventually having two time-bombs explode near his eardrums.<ref>''X-Force'' #52</ref>
 
With Cannonball spending his time with the X-Men, Tabitha grows closer to [[Sunspot (Marvel Comics)|Sunspot]] and they begin a short-lived fling.<ref>''X-Force'' #75</ref> Cannonball finds out and is initially angry but reconciles with both his friends, rejoining X-Force in the process.<ref>''X-Force'' #76</ref> After an incident in which the [[High Evolutionary]] shut off all mutant powers, Tabitha and Cannonball come close to rekindling their relationship.<ref>''X-Force'' #101</ref>


===Peter Wisdom===
===Peter Wisdom===
In the meantime, the sudden power loss really hit home for Cannonball, as to just how little they had been doing lately to help mutant-kind. He got back in touch with [[Pete Wisdom]], and together they devised a plan for reactivating X-Force as a covert strike team. Meltdown, along with [[Warpath (comics)|Warpath]] and [[Bedlam (comics)|Bedlam]], agreed to enter into this new arrangement, and they took up residence in an abandoned Nevada Hulkbuster base for extensive retraining for martial combat and the use of their powers. In particular, Tabitha learned how to direct the explosive force of her power into streams of guided energy and was also heavily trained in computer hacking and manipulating digital information. The revamped X-Force fought the shadow wars that other people could not see, against the likes of meat-spore storm-troopers, mutagenic bioreactors, and assassins who carried the mutant gene for murder. After she almost lost Sam to that last threat, Meltdown confessed she could not bear to see him die, and the two of them became lovers again. While most of their missions were successful, they were not without their share of troubles. Wisdom was apparently killed on their first mission back in San Francisco since leaving, and on two separate occasions, their enemies tried to kill them in massive explosions.<ref>''X-Force'' #102-115</ref>
In the meantime, the sudden power loss really hit home for Cannonball, as to just how little they had been doing lately to help mutant-kind. He got back in touch with [[Pete Wisdom]], and together they devised a plan for reactivating X-Force as a covert strike team. Meltdown, along with [[Warpath (comics)|Warpath]] and [[Bedlam (comics)|Bedlam]], agreed to enter into this new arrangement, and they took up residence in an abandoned Nevada Hulkbuster base for extensive retraining for martial combat and the use of their powers. In particular, Tabitha learned how to direct the explosive force of her power into streams of guided energy and was also heavily trained in computer hacking and manipulating digital information.
 
The team's undercover status turned out to be a weakness, though, for some new organization consisting of mutants that wanted to get rich and famous thought the name was up for grabs. After buying legal rights to use "X-Force" as their name, this group went public and soon became popular. When the original X-Force learned of this, they came out of hiding and confronted the new guys about the name and violating the original concept behind the team, but it was already too late. Apparently, the original X-Force disbanded after this, retreating from their recent hardcore offensive stance on mutant issues. Sam and Tabitha also went their separate ways.<ref>''X-Force'' #117</ref>


===''Weapon X'' and the ''X-Force'' mini===
===''Weapon X'' and the ''X-Force'' mini===
When [[Cable (comics)|Cable]] discovers hints regarding the existence of a revamped [[Weapon X]] program, one designed to use mutants to hunt down and intern other mutants, he creates an organization to investigate the program and the existence of its internment camp, Neverland. He dubs the organization "the Underground" and invites Meltdown to join his elite group. Ultimately, Cable's Underground group is joined by Weapon X agent [[Brent Jackson]], who hopes to stage a coup against the project's director and has formed his own resistance group with fellow agents [[Washout (comics)|Washout]], [[Marrow (character)|Marrow]], [[Wild Child (character)|Wild Child]], and [[Sauron (comics)|Sauron]]. Jackson betrays the Underground team, however, after the coup is successful and alters/wipes their memories of the events.<ref>''Weapon X'' #12</ref>
When [[Cable (character)|Cable]] discovers hints regarding the existence of a revamped [[Weapon X]] program, one designed to use mutants to hunt down and intern other mutants, he creates an organization to investigate the program and the existence of its internment camp, Neverland. He dubs the organization "the Underground" and invites Meltdown to join his elite group. Ultimately, Cable's Underground group is joined by Weapon X agent [[Brent Jackson]], who hopes to stage a coup against the project's director and has formed his own resistance group with fellow agents [[Washout (comics)|Washout]], [[Marrow (character)|Marrow]], [[Wild Child (character)|Wild Child]], and [[Sauron (Marvel Comics)|Sauron]]. Jackson betrays the Underground team, however, after the coup is successful and alters/wipes their memories of the events.<ref>''Weapon X'' #12</ref>
 
Sometime thereafter, Cable learns of another threat to mutant-kind, the voracious creatures known as the [[Skornn]], a creature that was going to threaten Earth. He gathers and reunites X-Force to deal with them. Meltdown is among the former members he recruits. While both Cannonball and Sunspot are also involved in the conflict, Tabitha's feelings for either were not brought up. However, she reveals to have learned a new trick with her mutant powers when she channeled one of her time bombs through Shatterstar's blade straight into the chest of a seemingly unbeatable opponent. After the Skornn was also defeated, some of X-Force remained together, assisting Cable on Providence, an island nation he created. Afterward, she helps them attack the headquarters of the Black Box, though the occupant turns out to be a robot.<ref>''Cable & Deadpool'' #18</ref>


Tabitha is one of the few mutants who retain her powers after the events of [[Decimation (comics)|M-Day]].<ref>''X-Men: The 198 Files'' #1</ref>
Tabitha is one of the few mutants who retain her powers after the events of [[Decimation (comics)|M-Day]].<ref>''X-Men: The 198 Files'' #1</ref>


===''Nextwave''===
===''Nextwave''===
Shortly afterward, after an initial period of wild arrogance, Tabitha mellows out and settles back into her earlier more bubbly personality, developing a tendency to use chat room-like shorthand when speaking out loud, such as "[[SMS language#Common acronyms|OMG]]," "ZOMG," and "OH NOES!" She also begins to start saying "Tick, tick, tick—BOOM!" when using her powers. Tabitha grows her hair long, eschews her codename, and re-appears as a founding member of [[Nextwave]], a new off-beat and more than slightly satirical superhero team featured in an eponymous comic book series created by [[Warren Ellis]] and [[Stuart Immonen]]. The Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort, or [[Features of the Marvel Universe#Government agencies|H.A.T.E.]] (a subsidiary of the [[Beyond Corporation©]]) formed the team. Tabitha Smith's new team includes other second-string characters taken from Marvel limbo, including [[Monica Rambeau]], [[Elsa Bloodstone]], [[Machine Man|Aaron Stack]], and a new character [[Captain (comics)|The Captain]].<ref name="Nextwave #1">''Nextwave'' #1</ref>
Shortly afterward, after an initial period of wild arrogance, Tabitha mellows out and settles back into her earlier more bubbly personality, developing a tendency to use chat room-like shorthand when speaking out loud, such as "[[SMS language#Common acronyms|OMG]]," "ZOMG," and "OH NOES!" She also begins to start saying "Tick, tick, tick—BOOM!" when using her powers. Tabitha grows her hair long, eschews her codename, and re-appears as a founding member of [[Nextwave]], a new off-beat and more than slightly satirical superhero team featured in an eponymous comic book series created by [[Warren Ellis]] and [[Stuart Immonen]]. The [[Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort]], or H.A.T.E. (a subsidiary of the [[Beyond Corporation]]) formed the team. Tabitha Smith's new team includes other second-string characters taken from Marvel limbo, including [[Monica Rambeau]], [[Elsa Bloodstone]], [[Aaron Stack]], and a new character [[Captain (comics)|The Captain]].<ref name="Nextwave #1">''Nextwave'' #1</ref>
 
Everything appeared to be fine until Tabitha started nosing around and discovered the marketing strategy of the Beyond Corporation, H.A.T.E.'s financial backers. Beyond Corp emerged from the former terrorist cell known as S.I.L.E.N.T. and intended to use H.A.T.E. and Nextwave to further its own sinister agendas. Tabitha brought the files she stole to the squad leader, Pulsar, and Nextwave hijacked a Shockwave Rider transport ship and defected from H.A.T.E.<ref name="Nextwave #1"/> Tabitha and the others fought against their former employers, and defended the country from the unusual [[weapons of mass destruction|WMDs]] unleashed by the Beyond Corporation on the general populace; the first biological weapon was revealed to be [[Fin Fang Foom]], a giant lizard which clambered from underground and proceeded to wreck the building site.<ref>''Nextwave'' #2</ref>
 
After putting an end to the threat of Fin Fang Foom in [[North Dakota|Abscess, North Dakota]], Nextwave moved on to [[Illinois]]. Tabitha manages to subdue Mac Mangel, a corrupt police officer who had been taken as a hostage by the Ultra Samurai Seed. The Ultra Samurai metallic shell disintegrates, leaving Mangel crushed. Upon learning that he was a police officer, Tabitha and Aaron began to beat Mangel before Rambeau intervened, unknowingly handed him to his violent, vengeful victims.<ref>''Nextwave'' #3-4</ref> The team then go on to purge one of Beyond Corporation broccoli man operatives growing field, fending off H.A.T.E.'s full frontal attacks and defeating the employed [[Mindless Ones|Mindless One]]'s trap in Shot Creek, Colorado as well as then spitefully humiliating the contracted employee Rorkannu with a toilet brush.<ref>''Nextwave'' #5-8</ref>
 
The team was later attacked by The New Paramounts, a team consisting of ''[[Not Brand Echh]]'' characters including [[Forbush Man]], [[Hulk|The Inedible Bulk]], and [[Captain America|Charlie America]]. Forbush Man attempted to use his mind control powers on Tabitha, but was shocked to find they did not work on her as she apparently has no mind. Tabitha subsequently killed Forbush Man, saving her teammates.<ref>Nextwave #8-10</ref> When they awoke, she explained "The little guy did something to your heads. I gave him the explodo because I am clever."<ref>''Nextwave'' #10</ref> Not long after, they eventually exposed and destroyed the true mastermind behind S.I.L.E.N.T.<ref>''Nextwave'' #12</ref> It would be revealed that Beyond Corporation actually kidnapped and brainwashed the team, placing them in this alternate universe for their own indulgence.<ref>''Captain America and the Mighty Avengers'' #7</ref>


===Manifest Destiny===
===Manifest Destiny===
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===Kidnapping, death and salvation===
===Kidnapping, death and salvation===
Tabitha is later kidnapped, along with Surge and Hellion, by the [[Leper Queen]] and her Sapien League. The Leper Queen attempts to inject her with a modified version of the [[Legacy Virus]], a virus that had been cured years before and afflicted mostly mutants, when the members of X-Force arrive to try and save her. After Cyclops refuses to wait long enough for Wolverine and Domino to kill the Leper Queen, they are sent through time to help Cable, leaving the Leper Queen and Tabitha all alone. The Leper Queen reveals to Tabitha that she had intended using X-Force to kill her, since Bastion will not let her commit suicide and that the plan was for Wolverine to kill her and rescue Tabby. The Leper Queen shoots Tabitha between the eyes, saying that X-Force "failed them both."<ref>''X-Force'' vol. 3 #13</ref> After X-Force's mission in the future is complete, [[X-23]] emerges from the timestream seconds before the Leper Queen is about to kill Tabitha and shoots her in the head.<ref>''X-Force'' vol. 3 #17</ref> With the Leper Queen dead and Boom-Boom saved, X-23 collapses in exhaustion just as a team of [[H.A.M.M.E.R. (comics)#H.A.M.M.E.R.|H.A.M.M.E.R.]] agents storm the building, providing Tabitha with medical care while taking X-23 into custody. The agents are given the order to take a genetic sample from Tabitha and then kill her, but one agent plans to rape her before killing her. She is saved from death yet again by Warpath, who kills the agents before they are able to defile her and takes her to the X-Force safehouse to see if she remembers anything else about her kidnapping.<ref>''X-Force'' #18</ref>
Tabitha is later kidnapped, along with Surge and Hellion, by the [[Leper Queen]] and her Sapien League. The Leper Queen attempts to inject her with a modified version of the [[Legacy Virus]], a virus that had been cured years before and afflicted mostly mutants, when the members of X-Force arrive to try and save her. After Cyclops refuses to wait long enough for Wolverine and Domino to kill the Leper Queen, they are sent through time to help Cable, leaving the Leper Queen and Tabitha all alone.


===Utopia===
===Utopia===
Boom-Boom is later seen during the events of "[[Utopia (comics)|Utopia]]", amongst the mutants assembled in [[Nightcrawler (character)|Nightcrawler]]'s chapel as they all prepare to abandon San Francisco for the base that the X-Club has raised from the bottom of the ocean. She is among the first group of mutants teleported by [[Pixie (X-Men)|Pixie]] to the new base.<ref>''Dark Avengers'' #8 (2009)</ref> Boom-Boom was also one of the X-Men who defeated the invading Predator Xs who attacked Utopia. Boom-Boom, [[Iceman (Marvel Comics)|Iceman]], and [[Colossus (character)|Colossus]] teamed up to defeat the first Predator.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #517 (2010)</ref> She joined fending off Nimrod Sentinels attacks in [[X-Men: Second Coming]].{{volume needed|date=June 2023}}
Boom-Boom is later seen during the events of "[[Utopia (comics)|Utopia]]", amongst the mutants assembled in [[Nightcrawler (character)|Nightcrawler]]'s chapel as they prepare to abandon San Francisco for the base that the X-Club has raised from the bottom of the ocean. She is among the first group of mutants teleported by [[Pixie (X-Men)|Pixie]] to the new base.<ref>''Dark Avengers'' #8 (2009)</ref> Boom-Boom was also one of the X-Men who defeated the invading [[Predator X (character)|Predator X]]s who attacked Utopia. Boom-Boom, [[Iceman (Marvel Comics)|Iceman]], and [[Colossus (character)|Colossus]] teamed up to defeat the first Predator.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #517 (2010)</ref> She joined fending off Nimrod Sentinels attacks in ''[[X-Men: Second Coming]]''.{{volume needed|date=June 2023}}


===''Cable and X-Force''===
===''Cable and X-Force''===
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===Krakoa===
===Krakoa===
Now a citizen of [[Krakoa]], Tabitha was accidentally caught snooping around in Sunspot's room by [[Armor (Marvel Comics character)|Armor]] and was informed of her excursion to extend Krakoa's citizenship to Beak's family. She was able to rescue Armor and friends from an ambushed cartel hostage situation.<ref>''New Mutants'' vol. 4 #3, 4</ref> She later led an unsanctioned mission to anti-mutant state Carnelia to extract a teen mutant who just awakened her power. It ended up with [[Cypher (Marvel Comics)|Cypher]] needing to bring in reinforcements and [[Magik]] bailing everybody out. With so much botched missions Tabitha wondered in her diary if she should move to Brazil to fight monsters instead.<ref>''New Mutants'' vol. 4 #9, 10</ref> She was later recruited for a Breakworld mission by Cable, deliberately wearing her original X-Force costume.<ref>''Cable Reloaded''</ref> She was part of the new X-Terminators along with [[Jubilee (character)|Jubilee]], [[Dazzler (Marvel Comics)|Dazzler]] and [[X-23|Wolverine]].<ref>''X-Terminators'' (2022) #2-5</ref> They teamed up again when vampires were targeting Dazzler's fans.<ref>''X-Men'' vol. 6 #18</ref>
Now a citizen of [[Krakoa]], Tabitha was accidentally caught snooping around in [[Sunspot (Marvel Comics)|Sunspot]]'s room by [[Armor (Marvel Comics character)|Armor]] and was informed of her excursion to extend Krakoa's citizenship to [[Barnell Bohusk|Beak]]'s family. She was able to rescue Armor and friends from an ambushed cartel hostage situation.<ref>''New Mutants'' vol. 4 #3, 4</ref> She later led an unsanctioned mission to anti-mutant state Carnelia to extract a teen mutant who just awakened her power. It ended up with [[Cypher (Marvel Comics)|Cypher]] needing to bring in reinforcements and [[Magik]] bailing everybody out.


==Powers and abilities==
==Powers and abilities==
Tabitha Smith possesses the ability to create variably-sized yellow orbs and spheres of pure plasma, fiery-like energy, which she calls her "time bombs." These "time bombs" explode with concussive force.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donohoo |first=Timothy |date=2019-12-27 |title=OK, Boomer: The X-Men Finally Call Out Marvel's Most Chaotic Mutant |url=https://www.cbr.com/ok-boomer-new-mutants-boom-boom/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref> She can produce marble-sized energized "bombs" which have little concussive impact and which she uses for playing pranks. She has produced "time bombs" ranging up to the size of beach balls, which are able to destroy durable objects, including a [[Predator X (comics)|Predator X]] and a futuristic [[Nimrod (comics)|Nimrod]].<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #517</ref><ref>''New Mutants'' vol. 3 #14</ref> Tabitha can also control the amount of time before detonation. Finally, she can mentally muffle the sound of the detonation. Under the direction of [[Pete Wisdom]] she learns to focus her power as streams of concussive force.<ref>First used in issue ''X-Force'' #102, and recap of training seen in issue ''X-Force'' #107</ref>
Tabitha Smith possesses the ability to create variably-sized yellow orbs and spheres of pure plasma, fiery-like energy, which she calls her "time bombs." These "time bombs" explode with concussive force.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donohoo|first=Timothy|date=December 27, 2019|title=OK, Boomer: The X-Men Finally Call Out Marvel's Most Chaotic Mutant|url=https://www.cbr.com/ok-boomer-new-mutants-boom-boom/|access-date=November 11, 2022|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref> She can produce marble-sized energized "bombs" which have little concussive impact and which she uses for playing pranks. She has produced "time bombs" ranging up to the size of beach balls, which are able to destroy durable objects, including a [[Predator X (character)|Predator X]] and a futuristic [[Nimrod (comics)|Nimrod]].<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #517</ref><ref>''New Mutants'' vol. 3 #14</ref> Tabitha can also control the amount of time before detonation. Finally, she can mentally muffle the sound of the detonation. Under the direction of [[Pete Wisdom]] she learns to focus her power as streams of concussive force.<ref>First used in issue ''X-Force'' #102, and recap of training seen in issue ''X-Force'' #107</ref>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
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=== Accolades ===
=== Accolades ===


* In 2014, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked Tabitha Smith 87th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=June 09 |first1=Darren Franich Updated |last2=EDT |first2=2022 at 12:31 PM |title=Let's rank every X-Man ever |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/05/21/x-men-best-worst/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>
* In 2014, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked Tabitha Smith 87th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Franich|first=Darren|date=June 9, 2022|title=Let's rank every X-Man ever|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/05/21/x-men-best-worst/|access-date=November 11, 2022|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en}}</ref>
* In 2018, ''[[CBR.com]]'' ranked Tabitha Smith 18th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members Ranked From Weakest To Strongest" list.<ref name=":0" />
* In 2018, ''[[CBR.com]]'' ranked Tabitha Smith 18th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members Ranked From Weakest To Strongest" list.<ref name=":0" />
* In 2020, ''[[Scary Mommy]]'' included Tabitha Smith in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic |url=https://www.scarymommy.com/marvel-female-characters |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=Scary Mommy |date=29 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* In 2020, ''[[Scary Mommy]]'' included Tabitha Smith in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic|url=https://www.scarymommy.com/marvel-female-characters|access-date=November 19, 2022|website=Scary Mommy|date=29 November 2021|language=en}}</ref>
* In 2021, ''[[Screen Rant]]'' included Tabitha Smith in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of The New Mutants" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lealos |first=Shawn S. |date=2021-09-24 |title=10 Most Powerful Members Of The New Mutants, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/most-powerful-members-marvel-new-mutants-ranked/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2021, ''[[Screen Rant]]'' included Tabitha Smith in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of The New Mutants" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lealos|first=Shawn S.|date=September 24, 2021|title=10 Most Powerful Members Of The New Mutants, Ranked|url=https://screenrant.com/most-powerful-members-marvel-new-mutants-ranked/|access-date=November 11, 2022|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2022, ''CBR.com'' ranked Tabitha Smith 1st in their "10 Best X-Men Mutants Who Haven't Been In A Movie Yet" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunis |first=Peter |date=2022-07-19 |title=The 10 Best X-Men Mutants Who Haven't Been In A Movie Yet |url=https://www.cbr.com/best-x-men-marvel-mutants-not-in-movie/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref> 9th in their "Every Member Of The New Mutants, Ranked By Growth" list<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allan |first=Scoot |date=2022-10-19 |title=Every Member Of The New Mutants, Ranked By Growth |url=https://www.cbr.com/every-member-new-mutants-ranked-by-growth/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref> and 9th in their "10 Marvel Mutants We Want To See In The MCU's Phase 5" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunis |first=Peter |date=2022-08-04 |title=10 Marvel Mutants We Want To See In The MCU's Phase 5 |url=https://www.cbr.com/mcu-phase-5-mutants-hoped-for/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2022, ''CBR.com'' ranked Tabitha Smith 1st in their "10 Best X-Men Mutants Who Haven't Been In A Movie Yet" list,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunis|first=Peter|date=July 19, 2022|title=The 10 Best X-Men Mutants Who Haven't Been In A Movie Yet|url=https://www.cbr.com/best-x-men-marvel-mutants-not-in-movie/|access-date=November 11, 2022|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref> 9th in their "Every Member Of The New Mutants, Ranked By Growth" list<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allan|first=Scoot|date=October 19, 2022|title=Every Member Of The New Mutants, Ranked By Growth|url=https://www.cbr.com/every-member-new-mutants-ranked-by-growth/|access-date=November 11, 2022|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref> and 9th in their "10 Marvel Mutants We Want To See In The MCU's Phase 5" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunis|first=Peter|date=August 4, 2022|title=10 Marvel Mutants We Want To See In The MCU's Phase 5|url=https://www.cbr.com/mcu-phase-5-mutants-hoped-for/|access-date=November 11, 2022|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref>


==Other versions==
==Other versions==


===House of M===
===House of M===
Tabitha appears as a member of the NYPD strikeforce known as the Brotherhood.<ref>''House of M: Avengers'' #2</ref> Posing as [[Karolina Dean]], she attacked and defeated the [[Wolfpack (Marvel Comics)|Wolfpack]].<ref>''House of M: Avengers'' #4</ref>
An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith appears in ''[[House of M]]'' as a member of the Brotherhood, an [[NYPD]] strikeforce.<ref>''House of M: Avengers'' #2</ref>


===''Marvel Zombies''===
===''Marvel Zombies''===
Tabitha is also shown in ''[[Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness]]'' #3 with her Nextwave team, all uninfected, to save [[Ash Williams|Ash]] from a zombified Power Pack. The entire team is "humiliatingly and ruthlessly dispatched off panel" moments later.
An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith appears in ''[[Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness]]'' as a member of Nextwave.<ref>''Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness'' #3</ref>


===''Rahne of Terra''===
===''Rahne of Terra''===
In the "[[heroic fantasy]]" universe visited by [[Wolfsbane (character)|Wolfsbane]] and [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]] in ''Rahne of Terra'' and ''Knight of Terra'' (though Tabitha does not appear in the latter in any form), Geshem is an otherdimensional realm of medieval magic. The land is ruled by Queen Rain, a counterpart of Wolfsbane, and that dimension's Tabitha is her most loyal and trusted maid. Rain confides in Tabitha with her deepest secrets.<ref>''Wolverine: Rahne of Terra'' graphic novel (Aug. 1991)</ref>
An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith appears in the duology ''Rahne of Terra'' and ''Knight of Terra''. This version is a maid and confidant to Queen [[Wolfsbane (character)|Rain]].<ref>''Wolverine: Rahne of Terra'' graphic novel (Aug. 1991)</ref>


===''X-Men: The End''===
===''X-Men: The End''===
In ''[[X-Men: The End]],'' a series set ten to fifteen years in the future, Meltdown is once again a member of X-Force along with Warpath, Domino, Shatterstar, Feral, and Rictor when the team meets their end. {{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2023}} After their aircraft is shot out of the sky, (which X-Force barely survives), Meltdown is absorbed by the strange entity called Divinity, who uses Tabitha's powers against her teammates.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2023}} Not much later, though, Divinity is killed by [[Apocalypse (character)|Apocalypse]] while Meltdown is still trapped inside him.<ref>''X-Men: The End'' #4</ref>
An possible future version of Tabitha Smith / Meltdown appears in ''[[X-Men: The End]]'' as a member of X-Force. She is absorbed by the entity Divinity, who uses her powers against her teammates.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2023}} Soon afterward, Divinity is killed by [[Apocalypse (character)|Apocalypse]] while Meltdown is still trapped inside him.<ref>''X-Men: The End'' #4</ref>


===X-Force: Shatterstar===
===X-Force: Shatterstar===
In the ''X-Force: Shatterstar'' miniseries, Tabitha is still known as Boomer and she is seen as a part of Cable's rebel forces against [[Spiral (character)|Spiral]], in an alternate universe where Spiral has conquered and now rules Earth. On that Earth, Spiral has also killed most of that world's heroes and mutants. Together, the team eventually defeats Spiral. Tabitha also seems to have developed telepathic powers in this timeline.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2009}}
An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith / Boomer appears in the miniseries ''X-Force: Shatterstar'' as a member of Cable's rebellion against [[Spiral (character)|Spiral]].{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2009}}


==In other media==
==In other media==
===Television===
===Television===
* Tabitha Smith makes a non-speaking appearance in the ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'' episode "No Mutant is an Island" as a child orphan who, among others, [[Purple Man|Zebediah Killgrave]] attempts to take advantage of until they are rescued by [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]].
* Tabitha Smith makes a non-speaking appearance in the ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'' episode "No Mutant is an Island" as a child orphan who, among others, [[Purple Man|Zebediah Killgrave]] attempts to take advantage of until they are rescued by [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]].
* Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom appears in ''[[X-Men: Evolution]]'', voiced by [[Megan Leitch]]. This version was forced by her father to commit crimes when she was younger until she became a student at the [[Xavier Institute]] and joins the [[X-Men]]'s junior team, the [[New Mutants]]. However, her lack of discipline and mischievousness leads to her temporarily moving in with the [[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood of Bayville]] before [[Mystique (character)|Mystique]] evicts her. Additionally, Boom-Boom is best friends with fellow New Mutant [[Magma (comics)|Magma]] and displays a romantic interest in [[Nightcrawler (character)|Nightcrawler]].
* Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom appears in ''[[X-Men: Evolution]]'', voiced by [[Megan Leitch]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/X-Men/Boom-Boom/ |title=Boom Boom Voices (X-Men)|publisher=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=November 10, 2015 | postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref> This version was forced by her father to commit crimes when she was younger until she became a student at the [[Xavier Institute]] and joins the [[X-Men]]'s junior team, the [[New Mutants]]. However, her lack of discipline and mischievousness leads to her temporarily moving in with the [[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood of Bayville]] before [[Mystique (character)|Mystique]] evicts her. Additionally, Boom-Boom is best friends with fellow New Mutant [[Magma (character)|Magma]] and displays a romantic interest in [[Nightcrawler (character)|Nightcrawler]].
* Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom appears in the ''[[Wolverine and the X-Men (TV series)|Wolverine and the X-Men]]'' episode "Hindsight, Part 1", voiced by [[Jennifer Hale]].<ref name="btva2">{{cite web |title=Voice Of Boom-Boom – Behind The Voice Actors |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Wolverine-and-the-X-Men/Boom-Boom/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref>
* Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom appears in the ''[[Wolverine and the X-Men (TV series)|Wolverine and the X-Men]]'' episode "Hindsight, Part 1", voiced by [[Jennifer Hale]].<ref name="btva" />
* Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ''[[X-Men '97]]'' episode "Remember It" as a resident of [[Genosha]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erdmann |first=Kevin |date=April 10, 2024 |title=All 20 Marvel Easter Eggs & References In ''X-Men '97'' Episode 5 |url=https://screenrant.com/x-men-97-episode-5-easter-eggs-marvel-references/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>
* Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ''[[X-Men '97]]'' episode "Remember It" as a resident of [[Genosha]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erdmann |first=Kevin |date=April 10, 2024 |title=All 20 Marvel Easter Eggs & References In X-Men '97 Episode 5 |url=https://screenrant.com/x-men-97-episode-5-easter-eggs-marvel-references/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>


===Video games===
===Video games===
Tabitha Smith appears in ''[[Marvel Heroes (video game)|Marvel Heroes]]'', voiced by [[Kari Wahlgren]].<ref name="btva"/>
 
* Tabitha Smith appears in ''[[Marvel Heroes (video game)|Marvel Heroes]]'', voiced by [[Kari Wahlgren]].<ref name="btva" />
* Tabitha Smith / Boomer appears in ''[[Marvel Cosmic Invasion]]'', voiced by Aileen Mythen.<ref name="btva" />


===Miscellaneous===
===Miscellaneous===
Tabitha Smith appears in the ''Wolverine versus Sabretooth'' motion comic, voiced by [[Kazumi Evans]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/X-Men/Boom-Boom/ |title=Boom Boom Voices (X-Men)|publisher=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=November 10, 2015 | postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref>
Tabitha Smith appears in the ''Wolverine versus Sabretooth'' motion comic, voiced by [[Kazumi Evans]].<ref name="btva" />


===Merchandise===
===Merchandise===

Latest revision as of 11:55, 2 December 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Tabitha Smith is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with The X-Men and related titles. Created by Jim Shooter and Al Milgrom, the character first appeared in Secret Wars II #5 (Nov. 1985). She then appeared as a member of X-Force and later as a member of Nextwave.

Tabitha is mentally able to create variably-sized yellow orbs of pure energy that explode with concussive and destructive force. Since her first appearance, she has used a number of different codenames, including Time Bomb, Boom-Boom, Boomer, and Meltdown.[1]

Publication history

Created by Jim Shooter and Al Milgrom, the character first appeared in Secret Wars II #5 (Nov. 1985), in which she and the Beyonder are the primary characters. She next appears as a main character in the 1987 limited series Fallen Angels. This led to her becoming a supporting character in the X-Factor series beginning with issue #11, which then led to a co-star role in the X-Terminators limited series. Following this series, she appeared in The New Mutants, initially guest-starring as a member of the X-Terminators, and eventually becoming a member of the titular group.

The team then became X-Force and she remained a member of the team for most of the X-Force series. Sometime later, she appears as a member of Nextwave throughout the Nextwave series. Writer Warren Ellis said that he picked Boom-Boom to be in Nextwave because Boom-Boom is his favorite superhero name in the history of comics for its sheer oddness and silliness, and he loved it when she was in Uncanny X-Men when Joe Madureira was the artist.

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

"I wanted a character who could blow things up," he said of his choice of Boom-Boom. "I was also looking for a team structure where the women outnumbered the men. I liked her white-trash criminal background, which had uses in the plot set-up. But mostly I wanted a character who could blow things up. I mean, these are characters who no-one at Marvel had any use for, and I could have been stopped at any time, Jen. But a skinny-ass blonde mutant with a kleptomaniac streak had both plot and entertainment value to me. Especially when played against the others."[2]

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Fictional character biography

Early life

Tabitha Smith was born in Roanoke, Virginia and is depicted as a rebellious but normal teenager, and the daughter of divorced parents, in her first appearance. Her mutant powers manifest at age 13, and her parents immediately show their disgust, with her father even beating her. Running away from home, she gives herself the alias "Time Bomb" and meets the cosmic entity known as the Beyonder. He brings her to Charles Xavier, headmaster of the School for Gifted Youngsters, who ignores her to combat the Beyonder.

Fallen Angels and X-Terminators

Living on the streets, Tabitha becomes involved with Maurice "Tiger" Antonini and, after he threatens her and murders her friend Gina, she uses her powers to kill him. Then, the villain known as the Vanisher recruits her for his band of thieves, called the Fallen Angels, and she officially takes on the codename "Boom-Boom." She eventually betrays the Vanisher, calling in the help of X-Factor, with whom she stays afterward.[3] Tabitha's former teammate in the Fallen Angels, the alien Ariel, kidnaps the Angels and takes them to her home where they are experimented on by her planet's scientists. Ultimately, she is unable to go through with the plan and helps them escape.

New Mutants

Following two successful team-ups with the New Mutants,[4] Tabitha and some members of the X-Terminators, Rusty Collins, Skids, and Rictor, join the group.[5] During her time with the New Mutants, Tabitha falls in love with her teammate, Cannonball. When the team is transported to the mythical realm of Asgard, it is partially through Tabitha that the team is able to foil a plot to kill Odin. There she becomes close friends with the wolf-prince Hrimhari.[6] They encounter the man known as Cable,[7] and when he starts to mentor the team, Tabitha gains greater control of her powers. Tabitha is captured by Stryfe and the Mutant Liberation Front but is rescued.[8]

X-Force

File:4604-64525-1-x-force 400.jpg
Cover to X-Force #51, featuring the revamped Tabitha Smith. Art by Adam Pollina.

The New Mutants team, under the continued tutelage of Cable, is reformed into X-Force.[9] The team undergoes a revamp, employing new, more aggressive methods. During this time, Tabitha acts on her crush on Cannonball, and the two have a relationship. Although she questions the team's new methods, Tabitha sticks with the team, rechristening herself "Boomer." She battles the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants alongside her new team in one of their early missions.[10]

Following an attempted murder of Professor X, mutual distrust places X-Force in conflict with the X-Men and X-Factor, and X-Force is apprehended.[11] Cannonball arranges for the team to be temporarily released so that they can help take down their arch-enemies, the Mutant Liberation Front.[12] Among the MLF are two of Boomer's former X-Terminators and New Mutants teammates, Rusty and Skids, who breaks Boomer's jaw.[13] After X-Force's names are cleared, Tabitha is confronted by Cannonball's ex-girlfriend Lila Cheney, who gives the couple her blessing.[14]

Peter Wisdom

In the meantime, the sudden power loss really hit home for Cannonball, as to just how little they had been doing lately to help mutant-kind. He got back in touch with Pete Wisdom, and together they devised a plan for reactivating X-Force as a covert strike team. Meltdown, along with Warpath and Bedlam, agreed to enter into this new arrangement, and they took up residence in an abandoned Nevada Hulkbuster base for extensive retraining for martial combat and the use of their powers. In particular, Tabitha learned how to direct the explosive force of her power into streams of guided energy and was also heavily trained in computer hacking and manipulating digital information.

Weapon X and the X-Force mini

When Cable discovers hints regarding the existence of a revamped Weapon X program, one designed to use mutants to hunt down and intern other mutants, he creates an organization to investigate the program and the existence of its internment camp, Neverland. He dubs the organization "the Underground" and invites Meltdown to join his elite group. Ultimately, Cable's Underground group is joined by Weapon X agent Brent Jackson, who hopes to stage a coup against the project's director and has formed his own resistance group with fellow agents Washout, Marrow, Wild Child, and Sauron. Jackson betrays the Underground team, however, after the coup is successful and alters/wipes their memories of the events.[15]

Tabitha is one of the few mutants who retain her powers after the events of M-Day.[16]

Nextwave

Shortly afterward, after an initial period of wild arrogance, Tabitha mellows out and settles back into her earlier more bubbly personality, developing a tendency to use chat room-like shorthand when speaking out loud, such as "OMG," "ZOMG," and "OH NOES!" She also begins to start saying "Tick, tick, tick—BOOM!" when using her powers. Tabitha grows her hair long, eschews her codename, and re-appears as a founding member of Nextwave, a new off-beat and more than slightly satirical superhero team featured in an eponymous comic book series created by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen. The Highest Anti-Terrorism Effort, or H.A.T.E. (a subsidiary of the Beyond Corporation) formed the team. Tabitha Smith's new team includes other second-string characters taken from Marvel limbo, including Monica Rambeau, Elsa Bloodstone, Aaron Stack, and a new character The Captain.[17]

Manifest Destiny

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Tabitha moves to San Francisco to help with the X-Men's new relocation plans, and resumes using the codename Boom-Boom. While shopping in San Francisco, she confronts the mutant Nuwa.[18] Forced by the Beast to confront Nuwa through research, instead of strength alone, she discovers - using a thinly veiled parody of MySpace and Facebook[19] called FaceSpace - the true nature of Nuwa's sedation powers, then nullifies them by consuming large quantities of caffeine.[20]

Kidnapping, death and salvation

Tabitha is later kidnapped, along with Surge and Hellion, by the Leper Queen and her Sapien League. The Leper Queen attempts to inject her with a modified version of the Legacy Virus, a virus that had been cured years before and afflicted mostly mutants, when the members of X-Force arrive to try and save her. After Cyclops refuses to wait long enough for Wolverine and Domino to kill the Leper Queen, they are sent through time to help Cable, leaving the Leper Queen and Tabitha all alone.

Utopia

Boom-Boom is later seen during the events of "Utopia", amongst the mutants assembled in Nightcrawler's chapel as they prepare to abandon San Francisco for the base that the X-Club has raised from the bottom of the ocean. She is among the first group of mutants teleported by Pixie to the new base.[21] Boom-Boom was also one of the X-Men who defeated the invading Predator Xs who attacked Utopia. Boom-Boom, Iceman, and Colossus teamed up to defeat the first Predator.[22] She joined fending off Nimrod Sentinels attacks in X-Men: Second Coming.Template:Volume needed

Cable and X-Force

Boom-Boom returned in the Marvel NOW! series Cable and X-Force, aiding her old X-Force teammate Domino in her infiltration of a S.W.O.R.D. base.[23] She remained with the team until its dissolution.[24]

All-New X-Men

Tabitha later appeared in All-New X-Men as a member of the Utopians alongside Elixir, Karma, Madison Jeffries, Masque, and Random, taking down unwanted visitors such as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s investigation team as they sought quiet refuge in the island ruins. S.H.I.E.L.D. asked X-Men for help on the issue, and after a brief fight and discussion, both teams came to an agreement and Tabitha's crew was relocated to New Charles Xavier School.[25]

Krakoa

Now a citizen of Krakoa, Tabitha was accidentally caught snooping around in Sunspot's room by Armor and was informed of her excursion to extend Krakoa's citizenship to Beak's family. She was able to rescue Armor and friends from an ambushed cartel hostage situation.[26] She later led an unsanctioned mission to anti-mutant state Carnelia to extract a teen mutant who just awakened her power. It ended up with Cypher needing to bring in reinforcements and Magik bailing everybody out.

Powers and abilities

Tabitha Smith possesses the ability to create variably-sized yellow orbs and spheres of pure plasma, fiery-like energy, which she calls her "time bombs." These "time bombs" explode with concussive force.[27] She can produce marble-sized energized "bombs" which have little concussive impact and which she uses for playing pranks. She has produced "time bombs" ranging up to the size of beach balls, which are able to destroy durable objects, including a Predator X and a futuristic Nimrod.[28][29] Tabitha can also control the amount of time before detonation. Finally, she can mentally muffle the sound of the detonation. Under the direction of Pete Wisdom she learns to focus her power as streams of concussive force.[30]

Reception

Accolades

  • In 2014, Entertainment Weekly ranked Tabitha Smith 87th in their "Let's rank every X-Man ever" list.[31]
  • In 2018, CBR.com ranked Tabitha Smith 18th in their "X-Force: 20 Powerful Members Ranked From Weakest To Strongest" list.[1]
  • In 2020, Scary Mommy included Tabitha Smith in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.[32]
  • In 2021, Screen Rant included Tabitha Smith in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of The New Mutants" list.[33]
  • In 2022, CBR.com ranked Tabitha Smith 1st in their "10 Best X-Men Mutants Who Haven't Been In A Movie Yet" list,[34] 9th in their "Every Member Of The New Mutants, Ranked By Growth" list[35] and 9th in their "10 Marvel Mutants We Want To See In The MCU's Phase 5" list.[36]

Other versions

House of M

An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith appears in House of M as a member of the Brotherhood, an NYPD strikeforce.[37]

Marvel Zombies

An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith appears in Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness as a member of Nextwave.[38]

Rahne of Terra

An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith appears in the duology Rahne of Terra and Knight of Terra. This version is a maid and confidant to Queen Rain.[39]

X-Men: The End

An possible future version of Tabitha Smith / Meltdown appears in X-Men: The End as a member of X-Force. She is absorbed by the entity Divinity, who uses her powers against her teammates.Template:Volume needed Soon afterward, Divinity is killed by Apocalypse while Meltdown is still trapped inside him.[40]

X-Force: Shatterstar

An alternate universe version of Tabitha Smith / Boomer appears in the miniseries X-Force: Shatterstar as a member of Cable's rebellion against Spiral.Template:Volume needed

In other media

Television

Video games

Miscellaneous

Tabitha Smith appears in the Wolverine versus Sabretooth motion comic, voiced by Kazumi Evans.[41]

Merchandise

  • Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom received a figure in HeroClix's "Xplosion" series.
  • Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom, based on her Nextwave appearance, received a figure in HeroClix's Giant Size X-Men set.
  • Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom received a figure in HeroClix's "Deadpool and X-Force" box set.
  • Tabitha Smith, based on her 1990s X-Force appearance, received a figure in the Marvel Minimates line.
  • Tabitha Smith / Boom-Boom received a figure in the Marvel Legends toyline.

References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Ellis& The Nextwave @ ComicCon.com Template:Webarchive
  3. ↑ X-Factor #11
  4. ↑ X-Terminators #4, The New Mutants #73 and 76
  5. ↑ The New Mutants #77
  6. ↑ The New Mutants #76-78
  7. ↑ The New Mutants #89
  8. ↑ The New Mutants #93-94
  9. ↑ The New Mutants #100
  10. ↑ X-Force #7, 9
  11. ↑ X-Force #16
  12. ↑ X-Factor #85
  13. ↑ X-Men #15
  14. ↑ X-Force #19
  15. ↑ Weapon X #12
  16. ↑ X-Men: The 198 Files #1
  17. ↑ Nextwave #1
  18. ↑ X-Men: Manifest Destiny #1 preview, Comic Book Resources
  19. ↑ Read About Comics » X-Men: Manifest Destiny #1
  20. ↑ X-Men: Manifest Destiny #1
  21. ↑ Dark Avengers #8 (2009)
  22. ↑ The Uncanny X-Men #517 (2010)
  23. ↑ Cable and X-Force #6
  24. ↑ Cable and X-Force #19
  25. ↑ All-New X-Men #40-41
  26. ↑ New Mutants vol. 4 #3, 4
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ The Uncanny X-Men #517
  29. ↑ New Mutants vol. 3 #14
  30. ↑ First used in issue X-Force #102, and recap of training seen in issue X-Force #107
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ House of M: Avengers #2
  38. ↑ Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness #3
  39. ↑ Wolverine: Rahne of Terra graphic novel (Aug. 1991)
  40. ↑ X-Men: The End #4
  41. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:X-Men characters Template:X-Force Template:New Mutants Template:Jim Shooter

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