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| Mutant | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | X-Men #1 (September1963) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| Characteristics | |
| Place of origin | Earth |
| Notable members | X-Men X-Factor X-Force Dark X-Men New Mutants Brotherhood of Mutants Acolytes Morlocks Quiet Council of Krakoa Xavier Institute Student Body |
InAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, amutant is a human being that possesses agenetic trait called the X-gene. It causes the mutant to developsuperhuman powers that manifest atpuberty. Human mutants are sometimes referred to as a human subspeciesHomo sapiens superior or simplyHomo superior. Mutants are theevolutionary progeny ofHomo sapiens, and are often referred to as the next stage inhuman evolution. The accuracy of this is the subject of much debate in theMarvel Universe.
Unlike Marvel's mutates, which are characters who develop their powers only after exposure to outside stimuli or energies (such asSpider-Man,Captain America,Fantastic Four,Hulk), mutants have innategenetic mutations from birth.
A March 1952 story inAmazing Detective Cases #11 called "The Weird Woman" tells of a woman describing herself as a mutant who seeks a similarly superhuman mate.[1] Roger Carstairs, a mutant who can create illusions, is shown inMan Comics #28, dated September 1953.[2] A character with superhuman powers, born from a radiation-exposed parent, was seen in "The Man with the Atomic Brain!"[3] inJourney into Mystery #52 in May 1959; although not specifically called a "mutant", his origin is consistent with one. A little-known story inTales of Suspense #6 (November 1959) titled "The Mutants and Me!"[4] was one of the first Marvel (then known asAtlas) stories to feature a named "mutant". Tad Carter, a mutant withtelekinetic 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 untilFantastic Four Annual #1, decades after his first appearance.[7] The same is true ofToro, partner of theandroid Human Torch introduced in 1940.
The modern concept of mutants as a distinctspecies independent ofhomo sapiens began development under Marvel writer and editor-in-chiefStan Lee in the early 1960s, as a means to create a large number ofsuperheroes andsupervillains 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 caseXavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Following the 1963 debut of this conception of mutants in the superhero seriesX-Men, Marvel later introduced several additional mutant superhero teams, including theNew Mutants,X-Factor,Excalibur,X-Force, andGeneration X.
In early X-Men stories, Xavier and others suggest that mutation is related to nuclear radiation, as his parents worked on thedevelopment of the atomic bomb, though later descriptions of mutation would describe it deriving from genetics. The first in-story mention of mutants in this context is inThe X-Men #1, in which Xavier explains his school to the newly admitted Jean Grey: "You, Miss Grey, like the other students at this most exclusive school, are amutant! You possess an extra power...one which ordinary humans do not!! That is why I call my students...X-Men, forEx-tra power!"[8] This issue also features the first reference to mutants as the species "Homo Superior" byMagneto. Following the relaunch under writerChris Claremont, narration in stories taking place onMuir Island describedMoira MacTaggert as "second only to Charles Xavier as an authority on genetic mutation."[9] In theNew Mutants graphic novel, after witnessingWolfsbane demonstrate her mutant shapeshifting ability, MacTaggert refers to "an anomalous DNA matrix" in her blood signaling that Wolfsbane "could be a mutant."[10] The cause of mutation was elaborated upon in the first issue of the spin-off seriesX-Factor, in whichCameron 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 23rdchromosome;[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 asNightcrawler, 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 asPolaris, whose manifestation was triggered with technological aid.[17]
In the 2022 storyline,A.X.E.: Judgment Day, mutants are discovered byEternals to be an offshoot of theDeviant race, triggering efforts by the Eternals' leaderDruig to wipe them out, giving the mutants an explicit link to theCelestials and to the publisher's cosmic storylines.[18] In the series' conclusion, new Prime EternalZuras confirms the end of hostilities with the mutants and proposed a formal treaty alliance, explaining toStorm, "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]
Introduced in the second series ofX-Factor, achangeling is a mutant whose powers manifest at birth.Jamie Madrox andDamian Tryp are examples of this sub-class.
Cheyarafim and Neyaphem first appear inUncanny X-Men #429. According to the characterAzazel, the Cheyarafim are a group ofangel-like mutants who were the traditional enemies of the Neyaphem, a demonic-looking group of mutants who lived inBiblical times. The Cheyarafim werefanatics who had a strict, absolutist view of morality that led them into conflict with the Neyaphem. This escalated into aholy war, causing the Neyaphem to be exiled into an alternate dimension. What happened to the Cheyarafim after this has not been revealed.
Angel andIcarus are said to be descended from Cheyarafim,[citation needed] whileNightcrawler is supposedly the son of a Neyaphem, Azazel.
Introduced in "House of X and Powers of X", theChimeras 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 inMoira MacTaggert's ninth life, where they were created inMister Sinister's Breeding Pits on Mars.[20]
Sometime after the "X of Swords" storyline, Sinister created his first Chimera by splicing his DNA with that ofTarn the Uncaring. When the experiment proved to be a failure and the Quiet Council ofKrakoa found out about it, Sinister is undeterred in his next plans to research the Chimeras.[21]
In an alternate timeline depicted in the "Sins of Sinister" storyline, Sinister creates a series of Chimeras after taking over the world with his Sinister gene.[22]
The following are the known Chimeras:
Maximus Lobo claims to be a part of a mutant sub-species of feral wolf-like mutants, whom he calls the Dominant Species. He later tries to recruitWolf Cub into his ranks to no avail. A few years later, another mutant namedRomulus claims that some human mutants evolved from canines instead of primates.[32] Romulus' sister Remus would later consider his claim to be a hoax when she meets Wolverine.[33]
Created byRob Liefeld,Externals are immortal mutants whose powers have allowed them to exist for centuries. Eventually, most of the Externals are killed bySelene, and later byApocalypse.
Introduced inChris Claremont'sX-Treme X-Men, a character known asVargas 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 asRogue's absorption andBetsy Braddock's telekinetic blast).[34]
Mutants have been shown to successfully crossbreed or a result of crossbreed with Humans (Homo sapiens),Atlanteans (Homo mermanus), fairies, and other humanoid aliens likeShi'ar, etc.
Humans are not the only species to have mutant subspecies.
Mutant animals have been shown, including cats, primates, bees, as well as alternate universes with humans descended from other species such as dinosaurs and insects. Robots such as Wild Sentinels and Sentinel 2 have been stated to have mutations.
As a fictionaloppressedminority group, mutants are often used as extendedmetaphors for real-world people and situations. In 1982,X-Men writerChris 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 bookSuperman 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.[38]
An obvious parallel between homosexuality and mutation is drawn in the feature filmX2, whereIceman's mother asks, "Have you triednot being a mutant?" This question (or various forms thereof) is common among parents who find out their children aregay.[39][40] In the 2011 filmX-Men: First Class, Hank McCoy (later known asBeast), upon being outed to a colleague as a mutant, responds, "You didn't ask, so I didn't tell."
In his articleSuper Heroes, a Modern Mythology, Richard Reynolds writes:
Much of the appeal and draw of the mutants that comprise theX-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 theJustice 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]
Within theEarth X universe, the powers of the vast majority of Marvel's human superheroes were revealed to have been the result of genetic manipulation by theCelestials millions of years in the past.
In theUltimate Marvel universe within the pages of theUltimate Origins #1, it is revealed that super-powered "mutants" were artificially created viagenetic modification by theWeapon X program in a laboratory inAlberta,Canada in October 1943. The project was an attempt to produce asupersoldier, inspired by the existence ofCaptain America.James Howlett was the first individual to be so modified. At some later point, possibly during a confrontation between Magneto and his parents, the mutant trigger was released into the environment worldwide, leading to the appearance of mutants in the general population. Following the events of theUltimatum 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.[41]
Mutants appear throughout theX-Men film series and animated media and games based onX-Men produced by20th Century Fox, most of which closely adhere to the comic book explanations of mutant origins as humans born with a genetic difference that gives them special powers, the fact of which engenders discrimination from other humans due to the pitfalls ofhuman nature. One liberty the films often take withX-Men characters is to simplify non-mutant characters in the X-Men franchise into mutants for simplicity's sake, as was the case withDeadpool andJuggernaut in the film series.
FollowingThe Walt Disney Company'sacquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, the film rights to the X-Men and other mutant characters reverted toMarvel Studios. When asked if his use of the term "mutants" meant the film would be avoiding the term "X-Men", Marvel Studios presidentKevin 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.[42] Since 2022, members of the mutant race have appeared in various media set within theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise:
