Mutant (Marvel Comics)

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Mutant
Publication information
Quiet Council of Krakoa
Avengers

In

Homo sapiens, and are generally assumed to be the next stage in human evolution. The accuracy of this is the subject of much debate in the Marvel Universe
.

Unlike Marvel's mutates, which are characters who develop their powers only after exposure to outside stimuli or energies (such as the Hulk, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Absorbing Man and Captain Marvel), mutants have actual genetic mutations.

Publication History

Early Antecedents

A March 1952 story in Amazing Detective Cases #11 called "The Weird Woman" tells of a woman describing herself as a mutant who seeks a similarly superhuman mate.

telekinetic powers, is shown in Amazing Adult Fantasy #14, dated July 1962.[5]

Officially, Namor the Sub-Mariner is considered the first mutant superhero whom Marvel Comics ever published,[6] debuting in 1939. However, Namor was not actually described as a mutant until Fantastic Four Annual #1, decades after his first appearance.[7] The same is true of Toro, partner of the android Human Torch introduced in 1940.

Modern Concept and Development

The modern concept of mutants as a distinct

homo sapiens began development under Marvel writer and editor-in-chief Stan Lee in the early 1960s, as a means to create a large number of superheroes and supervillains without having to think of a separate origin for each one. As part of the concept, Lee decided that these mutant teenagers should, like ordinary ones, attend school in order to better cope with the world, in this case Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Following the 1963 debut of this conception of mutants in the superhero series X-Men, Marvel later introduced several additional mutant superhero teams, including The New Mutants, X-Factor, Excalibur, X-Force, and Generation X
.

In early X-Men stories, Professor Xavier and others suggest that mutation is related to nuclear radiation, as his parents worked on the

Rahne Sinclair demonstrate her mutant shapeshifting ability, MacTaggert refers to "an anomalous DNA matrix" in her blood signaling that Sinclair "could be a mutant."[10] The cause of mutation was elaborated upon in the first issue of the spin-off series X-Factor, in which Cameron Hodge refers to "people who possess the X-Factor mutation in their genetic makeup."[11] This genetic mutation was later dubbed the X-Gene. At one point, Beast states that the X-Gene is located on the 23rd chromosome;[12] the process described is that the gene activates mutation producing a protein stimulating chemical signals which induce mutations on other genes.[13]

Mutations are depicted as generally manifesting during adolescence,[14] however this is not universal. Some mutants, such as Nightcrawler, are visibly mutated from birth,[15] while others like Magneto do not develop their abilities until adulthood.[16] Some mutants are not even aware of their latent mutations unless deliberately activated, such as Polaris, whose manifestation was triggered with technological aid.[17]

Later developments

In the 2022 storyline,

Celestials and to the publisher's cosmic storylines.[18] In the series' conclusion, new Prime Eternal Zuras confirms the end of hostilities with the mutants and proposed a formal treaty alliance, explaining to Storm, "You mutants share some DNA with Deviants? It's of little matter. Until a mutant triggers our physiological 'excess deviation' response, you're not Deviants in the way that counts. You're just human."[19]

Mutant Subtypes

There are different subtypes of mutants:

Omega-level mutants

Overview
  • War
  • Xilo
  • An Omega-level mutant is one with the most powerful genetic potential of their mutant abilities. The term was first seen in the 1986 issue

    House of X by Jonathan Hickman [emphasis in original]:[22][23]

    Omega Level Mutant: A mutant whose dominant power is deemed to register – or reach – an undefinable upper limit of that power's specific classification.

    For Example: Both Magneto and Forge are the most powerful mutants of their power types on the planet Earth [Magnetism and Technopathy, respectively], but what makes Magneto, and not Forge, an Omega level mutant is that the upper limit of Forge's measurable powers could hypothetically be surpassed [and, in fact, has by multiple humans on the planet], while the upper limit of Magneto's power cannot be surpassed in any measurable fashion.

    Note: Omega level is a classification of a single mutant power. While it is quite common that mutants manifest multiple powers, only one is normally of Omega level.

    For Example: While Jean Grey is both a telepath and a telekinetic, she is only an Omega level telepath.

    Franklin Richards was considered Omega-level mutant. However it had been revealed that he was not actually a mutant. He had unconsciously altered his DNA when he was a child to make it appear that he had the X-Gene to make himself special. Due to this revelation, he was no longer welcome among the mutants.[24]

    After the X of Swords event, many new Omega-level mutants were introduced from the Arakko. Excluding the night seats, the

    Quiet Council of Krakoa) was composed of Omega-level mutants.[25][26]

    • Death
    • Famine
    • Genesis
    • High Mutant Prophet Idyll
    • Isca the Unbeaten
    • Idyll the Future Seer
    • Kobak Never-Held
    • Lactuca the Knower
    • Lodus Logos
    • Lycaon Two Wolves
    • Nameless, the Shape-Shifter Queen
    • Ora Serrata the Witness
    • Orrdon, the Omega Rocket
    • Pestilence
    • Redroot the Forest
    • Sobunar of the Depths
    • Tarn the Uncaring
    • Uqesh the Bridge
    • War
    • Xilo, the First Defender

    Changelings

    Introduced in the second series of X-Factor, a changeling is a mutant whose powers manifest at birth.

    Damian Tryp
    are examples of this sub-class.

    Cheyarafim and Neyaphem

    Cheyarafim and Neyaphem first appear in

    Biblical times. The Cheyarafim were fanatics who had a strict, absolutist view of morality which led them into conflict with the Neyaphem. This escalated into a holy war
    , causing the Neyaphem to be exiled into an alternate dimension. What happened to the Cheyarafim after this has not been revealed.

    Nightcrawler
    is supposedly the son of a Neyaphem, Azazel.

    Chimeras

    In the pages of "House of X and Powers of X," the Chimeras are genetically altered humanoid mutants who are combined from the DNA of past mutants so that they would have combinations of their power set and also propagate the mutant population. Third generation Chimeras have a 10% failure rate making them unable to be warriors. Fourth generation Chimeras have a corrupted hive mind. They were more common in Moira MacTaggert's ninth life where they were created in Mister Sinister's Breeding Pits on Mars.[27]

    Sometime after the "X of Swords" storyline, Mister Sinister created his first Chimera by splicing his own DNA samples with the DNA samples of an Arraki named Tarn the Uncaring. When the experiment proved to be a failure and the Quiet Council of Krakoa found out about it, Mister Sinister is undeterred in his next plans to research the Chimeras.[28]

    Later in the "Sins of Sinister" storyline, Mister Sinister was in an alternate timeline where he created his Chimeras after taking over world with his Sinister gene.[29]

    The following are the known Chimeras:

    Dominant Species/Lupine

    Wolf Cub into his ranks to no avail. A few years later, another mutant named Romulus claims that some human mutants evolved from canines instead of primates.[34] Romulus' sister Remus would later consider his clam to be a hoax when she meets Wolverine.[35]

    Extraterrestrial mutants

    Humans are not the only species to have mutant subspecies.

    Externals

    Created by

    Apocalypse
    .

    • Absalom
    • Burke
    • Candra
    • Crule
    • Gideon
    • Nicodemus
    • Saul
    • Selene
    • Apocalypse

    "Homo superior superior"

    Introduced in

    Vargas claims to be humanity's natural response to mutants. Vargas was born at the epitome of peak physical skill, having superhuman levels of strength, speed, reflexes, agility, stamina, and durability. Vargas also seems to be immune to various mutant abilities (such as Rogue's absorption and Psylocke's telekinetic blast).[36]

    Hybrids

    Mutants have been shown to successfully crossbreed or a result of crossbreed with Humans (Homo sapiens),

    Atlanteans (Homo mermanus), fairies, and other humanoid aliens like Shi'ar
    , etc.

    Mutants as metaphor

    As a fictional oppressed minority, mutants are often used as extended metaphors for real-world people and situations. In 1982, X-Men writer Chris Claremont said, "[mutants] are hated, feared and despised collectively by humanity for no other reason than that they are mutants. So what we have here, intended or not, is a book that is about racism, bigotry and prejudice."[citation needed]

    Danny Fingeroth writes extensively in his book Superman on the Couch about the appeal of mutants and their meaning to society:

    The most popular pop culture franchises are those that make the viewer/reader feel special and unique, while simultaneously making him or her feel he or she is part of a mass of people experiencing and enjoying the same phenomenon. The plight of the mutants is universally compelling. Many people feel a need for a surrogate family, one composed of those the world has abused and persecuted in the same way they have been their whole life. This is especially true in adolescents, which may in part explain some of the draw of mutants.[37]

    An obvious parallel between homosexuality and mutation is drawn in the feature film

    You didn't ask, so I didn't tell.
    "

    In his article Super Heroes, a Modern Mythology, Richard Reynolds writes:

    Much of the appeal and draw of the mutants that comprise the X-Men has to do with feeling like an outcast while simultaneously feeling like part of a family. Mutants are ostracized because they are different but they bound together because of their differences. They may be forced together to a certain extent like 'real' families but they are also a team. They differ from other teams such as the Justice League, which is like a meritocracy; only the best of the best join that team. In contrast, the X-Men is composed of outcasts. They train and nurture one another and are united by common goals and beliefs. ...the whole theme of the X-Men — the isolation of mutants and their alienation from 'normal' society — may be read as a parable of the alienation of any minority... of a minority grouping determined to force its own place within society.[citation needed]

    Other versions

    Earth X

    Within the

    Celestials
    millions of years in the past.

    Ultimate Marvel

    In the

    Ultimatum storyline, information concerning the origins of mutancy was made public and steps were taken in the US to make being a mutant illegal. While the move apparently has majority support among the non-mutant population, a vocal minority has voiced concern that it will lead to witch-hunts and genocide.[40]

    In other media

    X-Men film series

    Marvel Cinematic Universe

    Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, the film rights to the X-Men and other mutant characters reverted to Marvel Studios. When asked if his use of the term "mutants" meant the film would be avoiding the term "X-Men", Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige clarified that he was using the two terms interchangeably. He added that Marvel Studios' approach to the characters would be different to Fox's franchise.[41] Since 2022, the mutant race have appeared in various media set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise:

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Weird Woman" at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
    2. ^ Roger Carstairs at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
    3. ^ Ted Lestron at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
    4. ^ Vincent Farnsworth at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
    5. ^ Tad Carter at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
    6. ^ "Namor". comicvine.com. 1922-02-22. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
    7. ^ Issue #1 — released July, 1963
    8. ^ The X-Men #1 (1963). Marvel Comics.
    9. ^ Uncanny X-Men #125 (1979). Marvel Comics.
    10. ^ Marvel Graphic Novel #4: The New Mutants (1982). Marvel Comics.
    11. ^ X-Factor #1 (1986). Marvel Comics.
    12. ^ Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 3) #25 (2008). Marvel Comics.
    13. ^ Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 3) #27 (2008). Marvel Comics.
    14. ^ New X-Men #118 (2001). Marvel Comics.
    15. ^ Uncanny X-Men #177 (1984). Marvel Comics.
    16. ^ Classic X-Men #12 (1987). Marvel Comics.
    17. ^ X-Men #50 (1968). Marvel Comics.
    18. ^ Bacon, Thomas (17 March 2022). "The X-Men's New Cosmic Origin is Marvel's Biggest Rewrite in History". ScreenRant. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
    19. New York, NY: Marvel Comics
      .
    20. ^ Kistler, Alan (January 16, 2012). "Alpha? Omega? Explaining the X-MEN's Mutant Classifications". Newsarama.
    21. ^ Cronin, Brian (Dec 16, 2017). "Marvel's Omega Level Mutants, Ranked From Least Powerful To OP". CBR.
    22. ^ Lovett, Jamie (July 24, 2019). "Marvel Reveals Official List of the X-Men's Omega Level Mutants". ComicBook.com.
    23. ^ a b House of X #1. Marvel Comics (July 2019).
    24. ^ Fantastic Four #26 (November 2020). Marvel Comics.
    25. ^ Zachary, Brandon (Dec 30, 2020). "X-Men: Marvel's Omega-Level Mutants Population Just SKYROCKETED". CBR.com.
    26. ^ X-Men #16. Marvel Comics (December 2019)
    27. ^ a b c d Powers of X #1. Marvel Comics.
    28. ^ Hellions #15-18. Marvel Comics.
    29. ^ a b Sins of Sinister #1. Marvel Comics.
    30. ^ Immoral X-Men #2. Marvel Comics.
    31. ^ a b c d Nightcrawlers #1. Marvel Comics.
    32. ^ a b c Nightcrawlers #2. Marvel Comics.
    33. ^ a b c d Storm & the Brotherhood of Mutants #3. Marvel Comics.
    34. ^ "Uncanny X-Men Vol. 2: Dominant Species". Marvel Comics Catalog. Marvel.com. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
    35. ^ Wolverine Vol. 2 #312. Marvel Comics.
    36. ^ X-Treme X-Men #2. Marvel Comics.
    37. .
    38. ^ "The X-Men "Come out:" Being a "Mutant" in films can be seen as a metaphor for homosexuality".
    39. ^ Ultimate Origins #1. Marvel Comics.
    40. ^ Yehl, Joshua (July 21, 2019). "Marvel's Kevin Feige Says MCU X-Men Will Be 'Quite Different' Than Fox Movies - Comic Con 2019". IGN. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
    41. ^ Garbutt, Emily (May 5, 2022). "The Illuminati members in Doctor Strange 2, listed and explained". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
    42. ^ Kleinman, Jake (July 13, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Ending Explained: Is Kamala Khan a [Spoilers]?". Inverse. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
    43. ComicBook.com. Archived
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    44. ^ Francisco, Eric (July 13, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Credits Confirm That Huge X-Men Twist". Inverse. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
    45. ^ Patches, Matt (2022-08-25). "She-Hulk's Wolverine Easter egg has Marvel teasing the X-Men yet again". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
    46. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (2022-08-25). "She-Hulk Just Teased a Major Marvel Character's MCU Entrance". IGN. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
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    48. ^ "Who is Mr. Immortal? The latest She-Hulk guest star explained". Popverse. 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
    49. ^ Marnell, Blair (2022-09-28). "Jen Meets Man-Bull and El Aguila In She-Hulk Episode 7 Preview Clip". Comic Book Movies and Superhero Movie News - SuperHeroHype. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
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    52. ^ Vito Oddo, Marco (November 10, 2022). "Is Namor a Mutant in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'?". Collider. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
    53. ^ Goodman, William (November 8, 2023). "The 'Marvels' Post-Credits Scene Spins the MCU in a Whole New Direction. Let's Start Freaking Out Right Now". GQ. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
    54. ^ Donnelly, Matt (2019-12-27). "Ryan Reynolds Says 'Deadpool 3' Is in the Works at Marvel". Variety. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
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