Healing factor

A Brief History

A healing factor is the ability of some characters in fiction to recover from bodily injuries or disease at a superhuman rate. Since the introduction of Wolverine by Marvel Comics in 1974 and inspired by the immense popularity of the character, superhuman healing has become a fairly common power featured in comic books, novels, television, film, and other media. The overall efficiency of a character’s healing factor often fluctuates due to various writers applying a very broad degree of artistic license. Weapon X has been established, on multiple accounts for having the fastest healing factor over all mutants, with the exception of external factors. As a result, especially concerning characters depicted in comic books, it has become a very common source of debate among fans. Over the years, it has also become common for healing factors to have an umbrella effect, serving as a partial source for multiple superhuman abilities; various powers thus demonstrated include superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, durability and/or senses, to name the most common. The source of a character’s healing factor, depending upon the medium, usually ranges from natural genetic mutation, accidental exposure to radioactive materials, artificially-induced genetic enhancement, cybernetic augmentation, magic or even a combination of different factors. Despite the ability to quickly recover from wounds, characters with a healing factor are still capable of feeling pain.

Digging Deeper

Comic books

Marvel Comics

There are numerous characters within the Marvel Universe that possess some form of accelerated healing ability.

Marvel Comics characters known to possess a certain “healing factor” ability include:

In addition to the above, all Asgardians, Elders of the Universe, and other immortals are able to heal much faster than humans can.

Ultraverse

• Ghoul^[27]
• Hardcase
• NM-E
• Rex Mundi
• Rune
• Sludge^[28]
• Solitaire
• Aro

DC Comics[edit]

Wildstorm[edit]

• Apollo
• Daemonites^[70]
• Deathblow
• Grifter^[71]
• Grunge
• The High
• Kherubims
• Midnighter^[72]
• Voodoo^[73]
• Winter

Image Comics[edit]

• Amy Belcher^[74]
• Angela and other angels
• Gary Hampton
• All of the Hellspawn, including Spawn himself^[75]
• Malcolm Dragon^[76]
• Malebolgia and other demons^[77]
• Pitt
• Ripclaw
• Savage Dragon^[78]
• SuperPatriot^[79]
• Tremor^[80]
• Virus^[81]

Top Cow Comics[edit]

• The Angelus wielders
• The Darkness wielders.
• Witchblade and the Excalibur wielders^[82]

Valiant[edit]

• Armstrong
• Bloodshot^[83]
• Eternal Warrior
• Geomancer
• Psi Lords
• Rai^[84]
• Shadowman
• Timewalker

Dark Horse[edit]

• Hellboy^[85]
• The Mask wearers^[86]
• X

Aspen MLT[edit]

• Aspen Matthews^[87]
• Kiani
• The Blue and The Black

Caliber Comics[edit]

• Eric Draven^[88]

Dynamite Entertainment[edit]

• The Butcher
• Painkiller Jane^[89]
• Vampirella

IDW Publishing[edit]

• Vampires^[90]

Chaos Comics

• Purgatori
• Chastity
• Evil Ernie
• Jade

Outside of comics

Non-comic characters who can heal rapidly in one manner or another include:

Question for students (and subscribers): Do you wish you had a healing factor superpower?  Please let us know in the comments section below this article.

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Historical Evidence

Some content in this article is adapted from this article on Wikipedia.  It is reproduced here per the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike License.

For more information, please see…

1.  Wolverine vol.2 #79-80, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Wolverine 2004
2.  Wolverine: Origins #6, Wolverine: Origins #10-15
3.  Wolverine vol.2 #88, Wolverine Annual ’95, Cable & Deadpool vol.1 #34,
4. Jump up^ New Mutants v2. by Christina Weir
5. Jump up^ Bloodstone vol.1 #1-4 (Dec. 2001-Mar. 2002)
6. Jump up^ Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2. #3
7. Jump up^ Incredible Hulk vol.1 #340, Incredible Hulk vol.1 #455, Wolverine vol.2 #145
8. Jump up^ Wolverine vol.2 #114
9. Jump up^ Amazing Spider-Man #32-33
10. Jump up^ Anthony Flamini *Morbius the immortal vampire Ronald Byrd (w), Scott Kolins (p), Scott Kolins (i). Civil War: Battle Damage Report 1 (March 2007), Marvel Comics
11. Jump up^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Wolverine 2004
12. Jump up^ X-Men vol.2 #2-5
13. Jump up^ X-Men: Endangered Species
14. Jump up^ Sabretooth: Death Hunt #1-4, Wolverine vol.2 #124, Wolverine vol.2 #125
15. Jump up^ She-Hulk vol. 2 #16
16. Jump up^ Ultra Girl #1 (1996), All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12 (Dec. 2006)
17. Jump up^ Marvel Presents #1, Rampaging Hulk vol.1 #8, Captain America vol.1 #357, Marvel Universe #7
18. Jump up^ Underworld #1-6 (2006), All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update #2 (2007)
19. Jump up^ Tomb of Dracula #54
20. Jump up^ Incredible Hulk vol.1 #181, Blaze vol.2 #4, She-Hulk vol.2 #16
21. Jump up^ Marvel Spotlight vol.1 #3 (Mar. 1972), Werewolf By Night vol.1 #8, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Update ’89 # 8 (Dec. 1989)
22. Jump up^ Alpha Flight #11-13
23. Jump up^ J2 #5 (1999), All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12 (Dec. 2006)
24. Jump up^ Wolverine vol.1 #1, Wolverine vol.2 #90, Wolverine vol.2 #150, Wolverine vol.3 #43
25. Jump up^ Alpha Flight #114
26. Jump up^ X-23: Target X
27. Jump up^ “Ghoul profile at Appendix to the Marvel Universe”.
28. Jump up^ “Sludge (Ultraverse character)”. marvunapp.com.
29. Jump up^ Justice League of America (Vol.2) #24
30. Jump up^ Faces of Evil: Prometheus #1
31. Jump up^ Wallace, Dan (2008). “Bane”. In Dougall, Alastair. The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 36. ISBN 0-7566-4119-5.
32. Jump up^ Resurrection Man vol. 2 N° 0, release November 2012
33. Jump up^ Wallace, Dan (2008), “Cicada”, in Dougall, Alastair, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 82, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5, OCLC 213309017
34. Jump up^ Green Arrow/Black Canary #14
35. Jump up^ Showcase #73 (April, 1968)
36. Jump up^ “Creeper I”. spider-bob.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-20.
37. Jump up^ Lobo The Last Czarnian by Simon Bisley and Keith Giffen, November, 1990
38. Jump up^ “ImageShack – Image Page”. ImageShack.
39. Jump up^ “The DC Comics Encyclopedia”
40. Jump up^ “Characters – DC Comics”. DC Comics.
41. Jump up^ “Flash” The Flash v2, 1: 19/4 (June 1987), DC Comics
42. Jump up^ The DC Comics Encyclopedia
43. Jump up^ Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #6
44. Jump up^ Brightest Day #0
45. ^ Jump up to:^a b c Hawkman (Vol. 4) #21
46. Jump up^ “JSA: Justice Be Done”
47. Jump up^ Icon #3 (July 1993)
48. ^ Jump up to:^a b Secret Six: Six Degrees of Devastation
49. Jump up^ Action Comics 877
50. Jump up^ Lobo #27 (1997)
51. Jump up^ Detective Comics #437-443 (1973) #1 (Oct. 2000)
52. Jump up^ Mike’s Amazing World of DC Comics Archived 2007-09-21 at the Wayback Machine.
53. Jump up^ “Manhunter (02 – Paul Kirk) – Comic Book DB”. comicbookdb.com.
54. Jump up^ JLA: Classified #3
55. Jump up^ Simone , Gail (w), Scott, Nicola (p), Hazlewood, Doug (i). “Whitewater, Epilogue: Swan Song” Birds of Prey 108 (September 2007), DC Comics
56. Jump up^ Superman #693
57. Jump up^ Blackest Night# 3
58. Jump up^ “Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe” (Vol. 1) XVII
59. Jump up^ “Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus” (Vol. 4)
60. Jump up^ “JLA: The Ultimate Guide to the Justice League of America”
61. Jump up^ As seen in Batman #26 (December 1944)
62. Jump up^ Birds of Prey #108
63. Jump up^ Justice League of America #104 (February 1973)
64. Jump up^ Static Shock vol. 1 N° 8, release June 2012
65. Jump up^ “Swamp Thing index”. tripod.com.
66. Jump up^ Batman vol. 2 N° 3 release January 2012
67. Jump up^ Timber Wolf
68. Jump up^ “The Unofficial Tracer Biography”. dcuguide.com.
69. Jump up^ JSA: Classified^{[volume & issue needed]}
70. Jump up^ WildC.A.Ts #5 (1992)
71. Jump up^ WildC.A.Ts #12 (1993)
72. Jump up^ Midnighter: Killing Machine (collects Midnighter #1-6; 144 pages, November 2007
73. Jump up^ WildC.A.Ts #3 (1992)
74. Jump up^ The Savage Dragon Vs. The Savage Megaton Man Special #1 (March, 1993)
75. Jump up^ Spawn #6 (1992)
76. Jump up^ Savage Dragon vol. 2, #151 (2009)
77. Jump up^ Spawn #53 (1996)
78. Jump up^ Savage Dragon vol. 1, #1 (1992)
79. Jump up^ Force #1, December 1993
80. Jump up^ Spawn #48 (1996)
81. Jump up^ Savage Dragon vol. 2, #167 (2010)
82. Jump up^ Witchblade #3 (1996)
83. Jump up^ Bloodshot #1 (March 1994)
84. Jump up^ Rai #2 (February 1995)
85. Jump up^ Hellboy: The Lost Army (written by Christopher Golden, cover and other illustrations by Mike Mignola, 1997)
86. Jump up^ Mayhem (#1-4, Monthly, May 1989-September 1989, re-printed in The Mask #0)
87. Jump up^ From the comic book Fathom, Aspen #1–3 2005
88. Jump up^ From the comic book The Crow, The Crow #1, 1989
89. Jump up^ 22 Brides (vol. 1) #1 (1996)
90. Jump up^ From the comic book series 30 Days of Night
91. Jump up^ From the television series Kyle XY, “The Prophet” original airdate June 11, 2007
92. Jump up^ From the Heroes television series, “Four Months Later…” 2nd season episode, original airdate of September 24, 2007
93. Jump up^ From the Stargate franchise, episode 201 “Counterstrike” August 25, 2006
94. Jump up^ From Doctor Who, as introduced in the serial Full Circle
95. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Fullmetal Alchemist, manga chapter 71.
96. Jump up^ Buso Renkin chapter 14: “The Midnight Run”.
97. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Hellsing, anime, episode 3: “Sword Dancer”, original airdate October 24, 2001.
98. ^ Jump up to:^a b From the film series Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Extinction released in 2008.
99. Jump up^ From the television series The X-Files episode “The Unnatural”, original airdate April 25, 1999.
100. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Hellsing, anime, episode 13: “Hellfire”, original airdate January 16, 2002.
101. Jump up^ From the Stargate franchise, episode 14 “Sanctuary” November 29, 2004
102. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Neon Genesis Evangelion, anime episode 1 “Angel Attack” original airdate of October 4, 1995.
103. Jump up^ From the Heroes television series, “Dying of the Light” 6th season episode, original airdate of October 20, 2008.
104. Jump up^ From the television series Alias, “All The Time In The World” season 5 episode, original airdate May 22, 2006.
105. Jump up^ From the anime and manga D.Gray-man, manga Vampire of the Castle (9) – Affection original release July 9, 2005
106. Jump up^ From the novel and TV series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, TV series episode 4 “Escape from Dragon House” September 28, 2008
107. Jump up^ From the novel series Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter
108. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Shaman King, manga Reincarnation 096. “Blood and Pompadour” original release November 2, 2000
109. Jump up^ From the television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and its CGI remake Gerry Anderson’s New Captain Scarlet.
110. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Dragon Ball, manga chapter 203. “Cell vs. Son Goku”, release date June 4, 1993
111. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Hunter × Hunter, Togashi, Yoshihiro (2008). “Chapter 193”. Hunter × Hunter, Volume 19. Viz Media. pp. Pg.100. ISBN 978-1-4215-1786-5.
112. Jump up^ From the anime film Blood: The Last Vampire and its spin-off; Blood+ anime episode 04 “Dangerous Boy” original airdate October 29, 2005.
113. Jump up^ From the Heroes television series, “Genesis” 1st season episode, original airdate of September 26, 2006.
114. Jump up^ From the TV series Charmed, season 5 episode 01: A Witch’s Tail (Part 1), original airdate September 22, 2002
115. Jump up^ Jeepers Creepers, 2001 horror film and its sequel Jeepers Creepers II released in 2003.
116. Jump up^ From the light novels Trinity Blood, anime episode: “The Throne of Roses III. Lord of Abyss” original airdate October 13, 2005.
117. Jump up^ From the novels Vampire Hunter D, first novel Vampire Hunter D Volume 1, Publication date January 1983
118. ^ Jump up to:^a b From the Devil May Cry video game series.
119. Jump up^ From the manga O-Parts Hunter, chapter 66: “Heart” release date June 22, 2007
120. Jump up^ “The Nemesis”. Alias. Season 3. Episode 6. November 2, 2003. ABC.
121. ^ Jump up to:^a b The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
122. ^ Jump up to:^a b From the Twilight series, Book 2.
123. Jump up^ From the TV series Charmed, season 7 episode 06: Once In A Blue Moon, original airdate October 17, 2004
124. Jump up^ While Onizuka doesn’t recover immediately after suffering an injury, he is extraordinarily durable, being able to survive gunshots, falling from great heights and also recovering from such injuries in short time, for example, it took him a mere day to heal from an arm fracture
125. Jump up^ From the anime and manga YuYu Hakusho, manga chapter 131: “Principal Pursuit” release date December 2, 1993.
126. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Neon Genesis Evangelion, anime episode 19 “Introjection” original airdate February 7, 1996.
127. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Fullmetal Alchemist
128. Jump up^ A Nightmare on Elm Street film series, Freddy vs. Jason
129. Jump up^ From the film series Riddick series
130. Jump up^ From the Stargate franchise, episode The Enemy Within
131. Jump up^ Godzilla 2000: Millennium
132. Jump up^ From the television series Dead Like Me, episode 10: “Business Unfinished” original airdate August 29, 2003
133. Jump up^ From the First Wave television series, first season episode “Motel California”.
134. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Bleach, manga chapter 184 release date March 3, 2006
135. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Fullmetal Alchemist, manga chapter 38: “Signal to Strike”.
136. Jump up^ Gladiator, a science fiction novel written by Philip Wylie in 1930 and one of the earliest examples of a superhuman “superhero” character in American literature.
137. Jump up^ From film series The Mummy Series, action film The Mummy released in 1999
138. Jump up^ Highlander film released circa 1986, Highlander II: The Quickening released in November 1991.
139. Jump up^ From the anime and manga InuYasha, manga, chapter ’43: The Demon Reborn, original release April 1998
140. Jump up^ From The 4400 television series, “Blink” 3rd season episode, original airdate of July 23, 2006.
141. Jump up^ From the Torchwood television series, “Everything Changes” 1st season episode, original airdate of October 22, 2006.
142. Jump up^ From the Stargate franchise, episode The Serpent’s Lair
143. Jump up^ Angel, episode “Shiny Happy People” original airdate April 9, 2003.
144. Jump up^ Jason X, 2002 science fiction–horror film in which his regenerative powers are first mentioned throughout the Friday the 13th film series.
145. Jump up^ From Final Fantasy VII and its various spin-offs.
146. Jump up^ From the manga Zetman, chapter 95.
147. Jump up^ From the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, name=”The Deserter”>Director: Lauren MacMullan; Writer: Tim Hedrick (2005-10-21). “The Deserter”. Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 1. Episode 16. Nickelodeon.
148. Jump up^ From the tv series South Park, season 14 episode 13, Coon vs. Coon and Friends
149. Jump up^ From The 4400 television series, “Daddy’s Little Girl” August season 4 episode, original airdate of August 12, 2007.
150. Jump up^ From The Neverhood game series. He actually doesn’t seem to be mortal at all. For example, he can have his head chopped off and after a while, his head grows back from “nothing”
151. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Buso Renkin, manga chapter 10: “Vs Washio”.
152. Jump up^ From the franchise Saint Seiya, Saint Seiya Episode.G chapter 45: The one who pays with sacrifice original release February 20, 2007
153. Jump up^ From the novel series The Vampire Chronicles, Blood and Gold Publication date October 16, 2001
154. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Silent Möbius.
155. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Dragon Ball, manga chapter 314. “The Buu of Pure Evil”, release date August 4, 1995
156. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Blade of the Immortal, manga, Volume 1 (Blood of a Thousand).
157. Jump up^ From the Roswell television series, “Pilot” episode, original airdate of October 6, 1999.
158. Jump up^ From the TV series Dark Angel, Fuhgeddaboudit- season 2, episode 15
159. Jump up^ From the light novels Trinity Blood, anime episode 11: “From the Empire” original airdate July 14, 2005.
160. Jump up^ Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/synopsis
161. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Yuyu Hakusho, manga chapter 122: The Cry of a Shadow!! release date October 4, 1993.
162. ^ Jump up to:^a b From the anime and manga Rosario + Vampire
163. Jump up^ From the anime and manga InuYasha, manga, chapter 274. The Two Auras, original release December 5, 2002
164. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Naruto, manga chapter 11: Disembark original release June 2, 2000.
165. Jump up^ From the film series The Matrix, The Matrix: Path of Neo release date November 8, 2005
166. Jump up^ Warhammer 40,000
167. Jump up^ From the Heroes television series, “Homecoming” episode, original airdate of November 20, 2006.
168. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Dragon Ball, manga chapter 184. “The Real Fight”, release date February 10, 1989
169. Jump up^ From the manga Zetman, chapter 80.
170. Jump up^ “PROMETHEUS : Greek Titan god of forethought, creator of mankind ; mythology ; pictures”. theoi.com.
171. Jump up^ From the visual novel Fate/stay night, anime Episode 04: The Strongest Enemy, Original Air Date, January 27, 2006
172. Jump up^ From the Japanese novel, manga and film Ring, its sequel and prequel, Ring 0: Birthday.
173. Jump up^ From the anime film Blood: The Last Vampire and its spin-off; Blood+ anime episode 11 “After the Dance” original airdate December 17, 2005.
174. Jump up^ From the anime and manga InuYasha, manga, chapter121. Kikyo Captured, original release December 1999
175. Jump up^ novel Eragon, Publication date August 26, 2003
176. Jump up^ From the Animation Jackie Chan Adventures, season 1, episode 09 “The Rock”, original airdate December 2, 2000
177. Jump up^ From the television show The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers episode 2: New Frontier, original airdate October 29, 1986
178. Jump up^ From the visual novel Fate/stay night, anime Episode 15: The Twelve Ordeals Original Air Date, April 14, 2006
179. Jump up^ Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode “Villains” original airdate May 14, 2002.
180. Jump up^ Angel, episode “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” original airdate February 15, 2000.
181. Jump up^ Angel episode “I Will Remember You” original airdate November 23, 1999.
182. Jump up^ Angel episode “Unleashed” original airdate October 15, 2003.
183. Jump up^ From the TV series Charmed, season 4 episode 08: “Black as Cole”, original airdate November 15, 2001
184. Jump up^ From the film series Species, Species (1995)
185. Jump up^ From the Star Trek franchise, Voyager, season 3 episode 26 “Scorpion: Part 1”, original airdate May 21, 1997
186. Jump up^ From the television series The X-Files episode “Existence“, original airdate May 20, 2001.
187. Jump up^ From the Ben 10 universe, Ben 10: Alien Force episode 1, “Ben 10 Returns: Part 1” original airdate April 18, 2008
188. Jump up^ From the Heroes television series, “The Second Coming” 3rd season episode, original airdate of September 22, 2008.
189. Jump up^ From the anime Speed Grapher, episode 13: “Ginza the Lawless” original airdate June 30, 2005
190. Jump up^ From the television Series Doctor Who, Time and the Rani
191. Jump up^ The Matrix Reloaded due to their ability to become incorporeal, which heals injuries sustained while in corporeal form.
192. Jump up^ Underworld horror/action film released in 2003 and its 2006 sequel, Underworld: Evolution.
193. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Fullmetal Alchemist, manga chapter 104. “The Center of the World”, original release August 12, 2010.
194. Jump up^ From Final Fantasy VII and its various spin offs.
195. Jump up^ The Wolf Man film released in 1941 Cycle of the Werewolf novella written by Stephen Kingcirca 1983, The Monster Squad film released in 1987
196. Jump up^ From the TV series Charmed, season 5 episode 10: “Y Tu Mummy Tambien”, original airdate January 5, 2003
197. Jump up^ Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode “Same Time, Same Place” original airdate October 8, 2002.
198. Jump up^ From the Stargate franchise, Stargate Atlantis, first season episode 12: The Defiant One, original airdate November 15, 2004
199. Jump up^ From the Stargate franchise, Stargate Atlantis, fifth season, episode 14: The Prodigal, original airdate November 14, 2008
200. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, anime episode 22 “The Haunted” original airdate of September 6, 2005.
201. Jump up^ From the anime and manga Claymore, manga, chapter 121. 004. “The Black Card”, original release January 5, 2002
202. From the TV series Charmed, season 7 episode 06: “Death Becomes Them”, original airdate May 15, 2005
203. From the Puella Magi Madoka Magica films