Destiny (Irene Adler)
Irene Adler Destiny | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Uncanny X-Men #141 (October 21, 1980) |
Created by |
|
In-story information | |
Full name | Irene Adler |
Species | Quiet Council of Krakoa |
Abilities | Precognition |
Destiny is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141, published on October 21, 1980.
Destiny's civilian identity is Irene Adler, a
Decades after her death, Destiny was resurrected by Mystique during the Krakoa Age of X-Men in 2021. In this era, it was revealed that Destiny was the Irene Adler featured in Sherlock Holmes stories, her rivalry with Moira MacTaggert was established, and the pivotal role she plays in the history and future of mutantkind. A 2023 storyline revealed it was actually Destiny who gave birth to the X-Men superhero Nightcrawler, rather than Mystique; the two conceived him after Mystique used her abilities to take on a male form. In 2024, Destiny and Mystique will renew their vows, marking the first depiction of a female-female wedding in Marvel Comics.
Destiny has received significant attention, particularly for her relationship with Mystique, being one of Marvel's earliest queer characters; their relationship has often received praise. Destiny also received attention for the revelation of her status as Nightcrawler's mother, which was praised for adhering to Claremont's original design for the characters.
Publication history
Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, the character first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #141 (Jan. 1981).[1]
As far back as 1981, Claremont had intended Destiny to be the lover of Brotherhood of Mutants teammate Mystique, and for them to be Nightcrawler's biological parents, with Mystique taking the form of a man for the conception.[2][3] However, at that time, the Comics Code Authority and Marvel policy prohibited the explicit portrayal of gay or bisexual characters.[4][5] Destiny was simply referred to as the only member of the new Brotherhood that Mystique saw as a friend; all the other members being male and prone to arguing amongst each other.
Destiny died at the hands of Legion in a 1989 storyline in The Uncanny X-Men #255. In the 2000s (decade) series X-Treme X-Men, years after Destiny died it was revealed that she filled several diaries with the future history of mutantkind, and the search for these diaries was a main storyline in the series. She was resurrected with a techno-organic virus during the 2009 "Necrosha" storyline.
In November 2021, Marvel announced a new storyline titled "Destiny of X", which began in 2022 and features Destiny as one of its central characters.[6] The Immortal X-Men by Kieron Gillen in November 2022 also explicitly established her as Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes stories for the first time, with Holmes being an identity used by Mystique.[7]
In November 2023, Claremont's intended storyline of Mystique and Destiny being Nightcrawler's parents, with Mystique having morphed into a male body for the act of conception, was made canon.[8][9]
Fictional character biography
Irene Adler was born in Salzburg, Austria. Mystique was working as a consulting detective when Destiny sought her help in understanding the precognitive visions recorded in her diaries.[10] During this time, the two fell in love. Background details suggest that this meeting took place around 1900.
She was more accurate in predicting near-future events concerning her present environment. In a period of 12 months during her adolescence, Irene had produced 13 volumes of prophecies concerning the late 20th and early 21st centuries. When that period ended, Irene was left physically blind and haunted by disturbing images of uncertain meaning. She enlisted Raven's services in pursuit of two goals: the deciphering of her recorded prophecies and a mission to prevent the most terrifying of them from ever being fulfilled.[11][10][12]
The two women would soon become lifelong friends and lovers. They both discovered that their set goals were difficult to achieve. Their abilities would easily allow them to achieve personal success but to shape the future was stated to be "next to impossible" as it would require "social engineering." Although they remained romantically involved for years to come, there were periods where they were separated from one another, allowing them both to have other romantic relationships and even families.
Together, the two later raised adopted daughter Rogue in their home in fictional Caldecott County, Mississippi. They remained together until Destiny's death.
In 1946, a Dr. Nathan Milbury (Mister Sinister in disguise) was involved with Project: Black Womb, a secret government project headed by Amanda Mueller and aided by Alexander Ryking (father of Carter Ryking), Brian Xavier (Professor X's father), Kurt Marko (father of Juggernaut), and Irene Adler.[13][14][15] In the 2008 series X-Men: Legacy, Xavier is searching to find out more about this project and its influence on his (and Juggernaut's) life. From recent issues[volume & issue needed], it seems at least Kurt Marko believed their research would result in immortality.[16]
Brotherhood
Mystique and Destiny formed the second
Freedom Force
Eventually, the members of Mystique's Brotherhood went to work for the United States government as
While on a mission with Freedom Force to
Eventually Mystique tracked Legion, who was left in a coma after the defeat of Shadow King in Muir Island, and tried to kill him. Although he was comatose, his mind was still active and in his dreamscape, and he had regular encounters with an aspect of Destiny who gave cryptic clues about a possible way to help his father's dream come true.[29] She also prompted Legion to awake from his coma and to deliver a message to Mystique as well as requested for David to stop blaming himself for her death as his guilt had already set in motion events that will change reality itself.[30] Legion interpreted Destiny's words as a need to kill Magneto to preserve the dream of his father, Charles Xavier. Instead, he accidentally killed Xavier himself, creating an alternate timeline.[volume & issue needed][31]
After reality was repaired, Mystique protects a young mutant named Trevor Chase who addressed her as "Auntie Raven" strongly implying that Chase was Destiny's grandson.[32] It is not certain whether Chase's mother was born before Mystique and Destiny became lovers or whether, like Mystique, Destiny had a child during the course of their relationship.
The Books of Truth
Years after her death it was revealed that when Destiny's mutant power first manifested she filled several diaries called "The Books of Truth" with prophecies of the future that, when in the wrong hands, posed the greatest threat to humanity ever known.[33][34] Guarded by Mystique for years,[35] a volume was first discovered by heroine Shadowcat just before the Apocalypse: The Twelve crossover.[33][36][a] Eventually, other volumes came into the possession of Professor Charles Xavier by Mystique.[37][b] However, a team of X-Men, fearing that absolute knowledge of the future would lead their mentor to a temptation the world could not afford, exiled themselves from their home and teammates in order to hunt down the remaining Books of Truth, in the hope that they can locate the prophecies before Xavier or someone worse does.[38][39][c]
This team of
Necrosha
After getting hold of the Technarch transmode virus during the Necrosha storyline, Selene resurrected Destiny so she could question Irene about what her future holds.[50] After telling Selene what she wants to hear, Destiny is taken back to her cell, where she telepathically contacts Blindfold by accident when she was trying to reach her foster daughter Rogue. After showing Blindfold she means no harm and saving her life from falling rubble caused by Warpath, she gives Blindfold information about Selene. However, after breaking contact, she realizes she made a grave mistake.[51]
The mistake is revealed to be Proteus who is now in possession of Blindfold.[52] Rogue, along with a group of X-Men go to Muir Island to battle Proteus, and it is through the combined efforts of Rogue, Magneto and Psylocke that he is defeated. Afterwards Destiny explains to Blindfold that she is not her mother, but rather a distant relative. Destiny then takes a moment to share a final good-bye with Rogue, before eventually leaving in order to supposedly die at the end of the storyline.[53]
Chaos War
During the
Dawn of X
During the "Dawn of X" storyline, Destiny and the Brotherhood confront Moira on the latter's third life while she was developing a cure for mutation, destroying her lab and murdering her colleagues. Destiny threatens to permanently kill Moira on her next life should the former foresee that the latter was once again acting against mutant-kind. She also warns Moira that the latter cannot reincarnate indefinitely. She instructs Pyro to give Moira a slow and painful death so that the latter woman will remember the cost of her current transgression on her next life.[56] At some undetermined point before her death, Destiny foresees the rise of the Krakoan nation and that its leaders will promise Mystique resurrection for Destiny but ultimately deny it. Destiny tells Mystique that when that day comes that the latter must work to have the former resurrected, and should Mystique be unable to do so and the Krakoan leaders themselves refuse to do the deed, Destiny tells Mystique to burn Krakoa to the ground.[57] Moira is against Destiny's return or for that matter the presence of any precognitive on Krakoa as she seeks to prevent mutant-kind's doomed fate from being foreseen.[58]
During the "Reign of X" storyline, it is revealed that Moira was apparently able to copy the diaries burnt by Gambit, because at least 9 volumes were seen in her possession at No-Space Zone, a few visibly numbered (vol. 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9).[59]
Inferno
Moira demands Professor X and Magneto to remove Mystique from the Quiet Council and erase Destiny's genetic and psychological data to prevent her resurrection. Despite the two men's efforts to make this possible Destiny appears to have been resurrected anyway and Mystique puts into a vote the former's inclusion into the Quiet Council.[60] Mystique disguises herself as Magneto to acquire Destiny's psychological data from the Cradle on Island M, then assumes Professor X's identity to acquire Destiny's genetic data from Mister Sinister and get the Five to resurrect Destiny, who is now voted into the Quiet Council. There is a hole in the future Destiny can not see through and she believes Professor X and Magneto hold the answer.[61] Destiny and Mystique meet with Emma Frost at the White Palace and run into the Cuckoos beforehand. Destiny gives the girls hints as to their respective futures but cannot specify to whom each future applies as Destiny cannot tell them apart. Emma informs Destiny and Mystique about the truth regarding Moira and while this has soured her relationship with Professor X and Magneto, Emma chooses not to side with either and instead will fight for herself and manipulate everyone else.[62]
Emma however offers the women several gifts: a means to locate Moira (captured by Orchis) and to retrieve her before Professor X and Magneto do, as well as Forge's mutant power neutralizer which can turn Moira human and therefore prevent the timeline from resetting upon death. They retrieve Moira and take her back to her No-Space, severing her arm to leave her tracker behind to mislead Professor X and Magneto, and directing Nimrod and Omega Sentinel towards the two men by faking an Orchis distress message. Mystique uses Forge's device to turn Moira human and before they kill her, she confesses to her true agenda which is to develop a cure that targets mutants when they're still children, preventing them from becoming mutants to begin with. Before either one could kill Moira they are interrupted by Cypher, whose connection to Krakoa made him aware of what transpires within Moira's No-Space. Because Moira is now human, Cypher cannot allow the women to murder Moira as it violates Krakoa's laws. Destiny realizes that Cypher is the reason for the hole in the future she cannot see through and that the only future favorable for her and Mystique is where Moira is allowed to live. Destiny can only foresee that Moira has hard choices ahead of her, otherwise the latter's future is unclear. Before Moira departs Krakoa she's warned by Destiny that she will be hunted not just by them, but others as well. Mystique and Destiny return to the Quiet Council (now aware of Moira) in order to consolidate their power.[63] At some later point she had a vision of Sabretooth leaving The Pit but told Mystique to let him go because she foresaw him doing something good once he left the island. They allowed him to steal a boat giving him the order to "cause chaos", which he happily accepted.[64]
Judgment Day
During the "
Powers and abilities
Destiny was a mutant that had the ability of psionic precognition, to see future probabilities and interpret them to best select or manipulate what was likely to happen. This allowed her to compensate for her blindness by seeing where objects in her path would be. The accuracy of Destiny's ability to foresee the future decreases in direct proportion to the distance ahead in time.[66]
She carried a small crossbow with her that she used offensively, and had good aim because she "saw" where it would land in her precognitive visions.
In Necrosha, Destiny was shown to utilize telepathic abilities as she mentally searched for Rogue (instead finding Blindfold) and then projecting her image into Blindfold's mind. This was explained later that she had fragments of the mutant Proteus inside her.[volume & issue needed] After making physical contact with Blindfold, Proteus appeared to take full possession of Blindfold and vacate Destiny's body. As such, she may or may not still have telepathy.[volume & issue needed]
Reception
Critical reception
Alex Schlesinger of
The storyline involving the revelation of Destiny as Nightcrawler's mother was positively received. George Marston of GamesRadar+ was pleased that Marvel finally established Claremont's original backstory for the characters as canon.[71] James Whitbrook of Gizmodo also praised the storyline for making "one of the greatest, often unspoken queer loves of X-Men comics [...] to be woven back through history as it [was] always intended to be".[72]
Accolades
- In 2018, Nerdist ranked Destiny 6th in their "7 Unsung X-Men Heroes That Would Be Perfect for The Gifted" list.[73]
- In 2021, Screen Rant ranked Destiny and Mystique 6th in their "10 Best Relationships in The X-Men Comics" list.[74]
- In 2022,
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
Destiny appeared in the
Millennial Visions
Destiny appears as a member of the Brotherhood on Earth-1043.
X-Men: The End
Destiny's diaries and its prophecies reappear as a minor plot point in the 2004–06 miniseries trilogy X-Men: The End.[80][81][h]
In other media
- Destiny appears in X-Men: Evolution, voiced by Ellen Kennedy.[83] This version is Mystique's best friend who took care of Rogue during the latter's childhood. While it is never stated in the series, character designer and episode director Steven E. Gordon confirmed that she was intended to have been Mystique's lover as in the comics.[84]
- Destiny appears as an NPC in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse voiced by Marsha Clark.[83] This version is a former member of the Brotherhood of Mutants who relocated to Avalon in the Savage Land.
Explanatory notes
- ^ At the time, it was thought to be Destiny's only journal.[33][36] Later, the number of the volume Shadowcat found was given as "seventh".[37]
- ^ Mystique said she gave Professor X all the diaries she had, which were numbered 2, 3, 5, 7 and 11.[35]
- ^ Before the X-Treme team departed from the mansion, Beast commented with Storm and Gambit "they" had one diary, Xavier had the ones Mystique gave him and the rest were "missing".[38] They later took the volume Shadowcat had found ("the only one in [their] possession"), which was renumbered "Volume 3: March".[40]
- Gateway gave her.[43]
- ^ Two numbered diaries are visibly seen: volumes XI and II. Frenzy holds a stack of some 6 books in another scene.[48]
- ^ At the end of the issue, at least 8 books are seen in Kitty Pryde's attic studio.[82]
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^ Ingro, Cheryl (July 12, 2006). "The Bisexual Mystique". AfterEllen. Lesbian Nation, LLC. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
- ^ Cronin, Brian. "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #14!" Comic Book Resources (Sept. 1, 2005). Accessed November 30, 2023.
- ISBN 0-87805-975-X.
- ^ Bartilucci, Vinnie. "One Thin Dime an' Two Thick Pennies" (Jim Shooter interview), Thwack!.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (November 23, 2021). "Marvel Comics New X-Men Event, Destiny Of X, For Spring 2022". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.
- ^ Polo, Susana (November 28, 2022). "Marvel's newest mutant is the actual Sherlock Holmes". Polygon.
- ^ Johnston, Dais (November 30, 2023). "28 Years Later, Marvel Finally Makes Good on the Wildest X-Men Idea Ever". Inverse. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Schedeen, Jesse (November 30, 2023). "Marvel Dramatically Rewrites the History Between Nightcrawler and Mystique". IGN. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ a b X-Treme X-Men #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #389. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Immortal X-Men #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men (2nd series) #12-13. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men Forever #4 (2001). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Immortal X-Men #8. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men Legacy #211-214, 219. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #141-142. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers Annual #10. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #170. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #178. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Rom the Spaceknight #30-32. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #199. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers Annual #15. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #225. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Uncanny X-Men #226. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b The Uncanny X-Men #255. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Factor Annual #6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Factor #115, 136. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men #38. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Factor #109
- ^ Legion Quest crossover (1994-1995). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Factor #135
- ^ a b c X-Men #94 (1999). Marvel Comics
- ^ X-Treme X-Men #1 (2001). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b X-Men #104-105 (2000). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b The Uncanny X-Men #375-376 (1999-2000). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b The Uncanny X-Men #389 (2001). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b X-Men #109 (2001). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Treme X-Men #1-4 (2001). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Treme X-Men #1 (2001) (flashback). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Treme X-Men #1, 4, 15. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Treme X-Men #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Treme X-Men Annual 2001 (first story). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b X-Treme X-Men #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Treme X-Men Annual 2001 (second story). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Treme X-Men #17 (2002). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men #201-202 (2007). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men #202 (2007). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men #203 (2007). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Force vol. 3 #19. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Necrosha #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men: Legacy #231. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men: Legacy #233. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Chaos War: X-Men #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Chaos War: X-Men #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ House of X #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men vol. 5 #6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Powers of X #6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men vol. 5 #20. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Inferno #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Inferno #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Inferno #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Inferno #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth Vol 4 #4
- ^ A.X.E.: Judgment Day #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ "X-Men: Marvel Just Brought Back a Mutant That Could Change Everything". Marvel. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ Schlesinger, Alex (2022-06-08). "X-Men's New Leaders Embrace in Iconic Mystique & Destiny Fan Art". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ Samantha Puc Contributions from George Marston (2022-06-10). "Most iconic LGBTQIA+ comics romances". gamesradar. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ Staff, Beat (2020-01-14). "A history of X-Men's Destiny & Mystique". The Beat. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ a b Eckhardt, Peter (2022-06-06). "X-Men: 10 Queer and Awesome Mutants". CBR. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ Marston, George (November 29, 2023). "Marvel just retconned Nightcrawler and Mystique's relationship in the most X-Men way possible". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ Whitbrook, James (November 30, 2023). "Marvel Just Made Nightcrawler Part of a Big, Queer Family". Gizmodo. G/O Media. Archived from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ "7 Unsung X-MEN Heroes That Would Be Perfect for THE GIFTED". Nerdist. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ Harn, Darby (2021-10-07). "The 10 Best Relationships in The X-Men Comics, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ Harth, David (2022-07-23). "10 Most Heroic Marvel Villains, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- ^ X-Calibre #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men: Omega. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men Millennial Visions 2001 - "Brother(hood)'s Keeper". Marvel Comics.
- ^ Alex Maleev. Text by Bill Rosemann. "X-Treme X-Men: Rogue, P.I." X-Men: Millennial Visions 2001. Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men: The End - Book 1: Dreamers and Demons #1 (2004). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men: The End - Book 2: Heroes and Martyrs #3-4 (2005). Marvel Comics.
- ^ X-Men: The End - Book 2: Heroes and Martyrs #3 (2005). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b "Destiny Voices (X-Men) - Behind The Voice Actors".
- ^ "Steven E Gordon's Blog: A 'few' questions...And answers". August 23, 2006.
External links
- Destiny at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
- Destiny (Irene Adler) at the Marvel Universe wiki
- Destiny (Age of Apocalypse) at the Marvel Universe wiki