PHOENIX BIO --When Jean Grey was 10 years old, she watched as her best friend was hit by a car. The emotions she felt as she held the dying girl awakened her latent telepathic powers, and Grey experienced her friend's feelings as she passed. The traumatic occurrence left her in a withdrawn and deeply depressed state. Moreover, she discovered she could not control her newly awakened powers and was forced to isolate herself from other people to keep hold of her sanity. --Grey's parents were referred to Professor Charles Xavier, secretly a mutant with similar powers. Xavier explained to Grey -- but not to her parents -- that she was a mutant, and he treated her for several years. During this period, he erected psychic shields in her mind so she would not be able to use her powers until she achieved the maturity necessary to handle them. When Grey had reached a certain level of mastery, Xavier recommended that her parents enroll her in his newly established School for Gifted Youngsters. Thus, Grey became the fifth member to join the X-Men, taking the codename Marvel Girl. Now known as Phoenix, she is one of the most powerful telepaths on the planet. Back to DIVAS REALM: Phoenix Back to DIVAS REALM Back to The M.X.E