Background[]

Amahl Farouk was born in Egypt Eyalet in the 16th century the son of a merchant trader, his mutant powers of telepathy emerged at an early age in contrast to other mutants, he decided to use these powers to protect the market from thieves until tragedy struck in the form of a plague. Amahl's father contracted the plague and Amahl stayed by his side while he died, it is suggested that he felt his father's death with his powers as though it were his own. Amahl was left alone the sole survivor until the Shadow King appeared to him, who promised him that he would give him the chance of never being alone again. Having lost everything and feeling dead inside, Amahl accepted the deal and bonded with the Shadow King.^[1]

The Shadow King[]

A few centuries later, shortly before World War II, Farouk worked with Baron von Strucker on a plot to destabilize Britain's political structure, with the intention being Britain allying with Germany in the coming war, or at the very least, staying neutral. He captured a time-displaced Rachel Summers, intending to sacrifice in a ritual, however Kitty Pryde came to her rescue and he attacked her, being surprised at her knowing his true identity.

A few decades later, became the leader of the underground syndicate located in the "Thieves' Quarter" of Cairo, Egypt and took the alias of the Shadow King.^[2] While Charles Xavier was touring Cairo he had his pockets picked by Ororo, a girl "trained" by Farouk. After catching her, Xavier was suddenly stuck by a psi-bolt sent from the possessed Farouk and was knocked unconscious. He awoke and entered a nearby saloon owned by Amahl. Farouk greeted Xavier and then offered him a partnership. Xavier refused and challenged Farouk to a duel. After a brief battle, Xavier mentally defeated Farouk; after that, Xavier took his leave from Cairo.^[2] Despite his apparent death at Xavier's "hands", Farouk reappeared many years later as the Shadow King once more.^[3]

Farouk later became a citizen of the mutant-only island of Krakoa.^[4] Farouk began mentoring a group of young mutants, who did not like their appearance and encourage their synergizing of their powers, such as experimenting with the corpses in the Boneyard.^[5] Although he had the New Mutants trust, Scout was suspicious of him and after warning her friends to stay away from him several times she was eventually forced to confront him. While they were alone he told her he still feels the Shadow Kings influence but it's weaker on the island and that he wanted to make sure these children could protect themselves. The next day Gabby was found dead after Magneto and his fellow omega level mutants terraformed Mars,^[6] having been murdered by Wolfsbane under the possession of the Shadow King.^[7]

As a child, Amahl Farouk was a gentle and kind person, after discovering his powers of telepathy, he decided he would put his powers to good use and defend his market from thieves. However, after losing the market and his father to the plague while also experiencing the latter's death, Amahl became depressive and feared to be left alone, so much that he let the Shadow King possess him to never be alone again.^[1]

While possessed by the Shadow King, Farouk became greedy, power-hungry and sadistic, wanting to gain power in order to rise to the top. He was also noted to be hedonistic.^{[citation needed]}

Telepathy

• Consciousness Swapping

• Amahl resembles King Farouk I of Egypt.