Possession

Possession is the phenomenon in which an invading spirit takes root in the body of a mortal, often supplanting or outright excising the existing spirit or soul. Creatures capable of possession include ghosts and demons, though some magic uses like witches and warlocks may possess this ability as well. Forcing a spirit to leave a body usually requires someone with acute knowledge of the occult, a strong will and, if necessary, a strong standing with the Catholic Church. If the victim is possessed by a powerful demon, it is usually best to have an old priest and a young priest on hand ready to administer the Rites of Exorcism.

Possession may also be utilized as a form of mind control. This is a common trait amongst telepaths who can forcibly subvert the target's consciousness with their own. Emma Frost of the X-Men comic book series utilized this power often, particularly during her less reputable Hellfire Club days. Another Marvel Comics supervillain, Zebediah Killgrave, who got saddled with the un-creative code-name, the Purple Man, harnessed a milder form of possession as well.

In DC Comics, the former member of the Teen Titans, Jericho, could possess a living target after making eye contact with them. His corporeal form would temporarily disappear allowing his psychic essence the ability to dominate another human being. If the target victim is conscious when the possession takes place, then Jericho could only affect his physical actions. If the target victim were unconscious, then he could take complete control over their mind and body until their subconscious mind awakened again.

Appearances

 * New Mutants 32 - Shadow King possessing Karma.