Donald Pierce was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pierce first appeared as a high ranking member of the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, where he held the position of White Bishop, during that organization's first direct encounter with the X-Men. During this conflict, Pierce battled Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Colossus, alongside Mastermind and the Inner Circle. When Wolverine nearly severed his arm it was discovered that he was a cyborg, and he was then defeated by Colossus. The Hellfire Club inner circle was eventually defeated and Donald Pierce fled with Sebastian Shaw down a hidden corridor of their headquarters.