Blink

Blink, born Clarice Ferguson, is one of Marvel's most visually striking and narratively compelling mutants, debuting in Uncanny X-Men #317 in 1994. Her introduction during the harrowing "Phalanx Covenant" crossover event was brief but explosive — a frightened young mutant whose unstable teleportation powers detonated in a desperate act of sacrifice. That debut issue, alongside Uncanny X-Men #318 and X-Men #37, forms a highly sought-after set among collectors who recognize just how much that seemingly throwaway character would grow to mean to the Marvel Universe.

While the 616 version of Clarice met a tragic early end, Marvel's reality-hopping Age of Apocalypse event in 1995 reimagined her as a hardened, confident warrior — and collectors went wild. The AoA Blink became a fan-favorite almost overnight, starring in her own limited series and anchoring the ensemble cast of that landmark alternate-universe storyline. Books like X-Men Alpha, the Blink limited series, and the various AoA titles featuring her are cornerstones of any serious mid-90s X-Men collection.

Blink's second major renaissance came with the launch of Exiles in 2001, where she served as the team leader of a group of dimension-hopping mutants tasked with repairing broken realities. The Exiles run gave Clarice room to grow into a fully realized hero — capable, strategic, and emotionally complex. That series ran for over 100 issues and remains beloved by readers who followed her across countless alternate timelines and reality-bending adventures. Her leadership role made her one of the few female mutant characters of that era to anchor an ongoing title.

For collectors, Blink represents outstanding value and untapped potential. Her first appearance in Uncanny X-Men #317 is an affordable key that carries real upside, particularly in high grade. The Age of Apocalypse tie-ins are perennial fan favorites with strong back-issue demand, and the Exiles run offers a deep and rewarding reading experience. With Marvel continuing to revisit alternate realities and dimension-spanning stories, Clarice Ferguson's moment in the spotlight may come again — making now an ideal time to build out your Blink collection.