

He broke into his home one night, and with Cable gone at that time, his wife and daughter were defenseless. In that particular timeline, he and Cable frequently clashed with one another, with the latter coming close to killing him a few times. Russell decided to hurt him by going after Cable's family. In the future where Cable comes from, Russell is a terrorist who, upon having his revenge on the headmaster, starts to enjoy killing people and commits mass murder throughout his life. The Ice Box is attacked by Cable, a time-traveling mutant intent on killing Russell. Deadpool is sure he is going to die in prison and not be useful in protecting Russell so he tries to make him see how his plan is not going to work. Unfortunately, Deadpool's collar stops his healing power, meaning his cancer returns. Deadpool tries to get him to see the reality of prison, but Russell believes that he and Deadpool are a team that will protect each other. His plan in prison is to find the largest guy in prison and start a fight to earn respect. Russell manages to sneak in a pen in his butt that he plans to turn into a shiv. Both mutants are arrested, placed in power-dampening collars and taken to the Ice Box prison. Deadpool managed to talk him down but realizes that the staff at the orphanage have been abusing him and kills a member of the staff. The X-Men – Colossus, Deadpool, and Negasonic Teenage Warhead – arrive to stop him. Eventually, Russell snaps and lets loose with his pyrokinetic powers. This sparks the anger in him, causing him to want revenge.

Russell grew up in the Essex House for Mutant Rehabilitation where he was tortured by the headmaster of the orphanage simply for being a mutant. Due to Alkali-Transigen putting mutant-suppressing chemicals in the products used in mass food production, Russell is one of the last natural born mutants.
