Box (Roger Bochs) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, specifically Alpha Flight, of which Box was a member. He first appeared in Alpha Flight #1 (Aug. 1983).

Fictional character biography Roger Bochs was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He was a brilliant engineer and mechanic who lost both of his legs. He created a remote-controlled robot which he called Box as a play on his own name. James Hudson, seeing Bochs' potential, helped him construct Box and recruited him into Gamma Flight, a training program for the Canadian superhero group Alpha Flight, which was led by Hudson as Guardian. Bochs graduated to Beta Flight, a group for more advanced superhero trainees, but the Canadian government dissolved Alpha Flight, and Beta Flight and Gamma Flight were cancelled.

Most Gamma Flight members are recruited by Jerry Jaxon, a disgraced former employer of Hudson, to join Omega Flight. Bochs joins Omega Flight with the intention to destroy it from within.Alpha Flight #11 (June 1984) However, Jaxon attacks Guardian by wearing Box's controlling helmet. Guardian overloads Box, and the feedback kills Jaxon. The damage sustained during the battle causes Guardian's suit to explode.Alpha Flight #12 (July 1984)

Bochs returns to work on Box, but feels partly responsible for Guardian's death. Another friend of Guardian, Madison Jeffries, meets Bochs.Alpha Flight #16 (November 1984) Collaborating, and because of Jeffries' mutant ability to shape metal, plastic and glass with his mind, they significantly improve upon the original Box design. It is no longer controlled by a helmet. Instead, the user physically merges with the Box armor.Alpha Flight #22 (May 1985)

Bochs wants to use Box to hunt down Delphine Courtney, an android working for Jaxon and the leader of Omega Flight, for its part in Hudson's death, but Box is needed elsewhere: the body of Walter Langkowski (alias Sasquatch) has been taken over by the Great Beast Tanaraq, and Snowbird is forced to destroy his body. Alpha Flight projects Langkowski's soul into the Box machine.Alpha Flight #24 (July 1985) Jeffries uses his powers to turn Courtney inside-out, destroying her. In the aftermath, Bochs tries to find a new body for Langkowski, but fails, and Langkowski's soul leaves Box.Alpha Flight #28 (November 1985) Bochs controls Box once again and joins Alpha Flight as an official member.Alpha Flight #29 (December 1985)

Bochs and Jeffries use Courtney's remains to reconstruct Guardian's battlesuit, allowing Hudson's widow Heather to become Vindicator.Alpha Flight #32 (March 1986) Aurora expresses a romantic interest in Bochs,Alpha Flight #37 (August 1986) who returns her affection, but Aurora's fickle nature is extremely stressful for Bochs. During an underwater mission, Bochs surfaces too fast while merged with Box and suffers from decompression sickness, preventing him from leaving Box.The Avengers #272 (October 1986)Alpha Flight #40 (November 1986)Alpha Flight #42 (January 1987) Madison Jeffries' brother Lionel (also known as Scramble), who can shape flesh and bone with his mind, separates Bochs from the Box armor and restores his legs.Alpha Flight #44 (March 1987)Alpha Flight #45 (April 1987) Lionel does not tell Bochs, though, that he used dead human bodies as material for Bochs' legs and new body. During this time, Langkowski's soul briefly inhabits Box again before ultimately settling in the body of the recently deceased Snowbird. Langkowski was Aurora's lover before Bochs, and she leaves Bochs for him again. Feeling betrayed by Aurora and with his legs starting to decompose, Bochs goes insane. Madison Jeffries inhabits Box to prevent the amount of damage Bochs can do, but this only increases the sense of betrayal that Bochs felt.Alpha Flight #46 (May 1987)

Bochs leaves Alpha Flight and goes to Lionel Jeffries, hoping that he can restore his legs again. Lionel, also insane, merges with Bochs and they form Omega, who combines Lionel's powers with Bochs' genius intellect.Alpha Flight #48 (July 1987) Within Box, Madison Jeffries fights Omega. During the fight, Bochs comes to his senses again and starts to rebel against Lionel. Madison is forced to kill Omega, which kills Bochs alongside it.Alpha Flight #49 (Aug. 1987)

Powers and abilities The original Box is a robot which is controlled by a human wearing a special neural interface helmet. The upgraded version of Box is a unique construct: it cannot operate on its own and its controller does not wear a helmet. He has to phase into Box and merge with it. The controller feels a psychic bond with Box and can feel the damage done to Box as pain. If a person remains merged with Box for too long, they risk being bonded to the armor permanently. Box has superhuman strength (which was increased with every improvement Roger Bochs and Madison Jeffries made on the armor) and durability. The improved Box also had the ability to fly and had a wide array of sensors and detecting equipment. Both Box robots possess high levels of superhuman strength, with the newer version being considerably stronger.

Other users of Box Jerome Jaxon stole the controlling helmet of the original Box from Bochs. After the Great Beast Tanaraq took over his body, Walter Langkowski became a disembodied spirit, which resided in the Box armor for a short time. Madison Jeffries completely changed the look of the armor and used his own powers to constantly change and adapt the armor.

In other media Marvel Legends will release Box as part of a BAF wave in 2026.

References

External links Box (Roger Bochs) at AlphaFlight.net Box (Walter Langkowski) at AlphaFlight.net Box (Madison Jeffries) at AlphaFlight.net