Robert Edward Kelly is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, often in association with theX-Men. He is a prominentUnited States Senator who began his career on an anti-mutant platform and tended to be an antagonist to the X-Men team, but later began to change his views on mutants as a whole.
Senator Robert Kelly is first seen at a social gathering hosted by theHellfire Club, where an illusion projected by the mutant villainMastermind causes Kelly to believe thatX-Men memberCyclops is firing randomly into a crowd. Kelly is the primary backer of theMutant Control Act andProject Wideawake, a government program aimed at creating updatedSentinel robots that will track down, detain and, if necessary, kill violent mutants.[1]
Kelly played a central role in theDays of Future Past storyline. In a possible future, his assassination byMystique and theBrotherhood of Mutants leads to a dystopian future where mutants and other heroes are hunted down by the Sentinels and nearly totally eliminated, with the X-Men working to prevent it.[2]
Kelly is later married to Sharon, a former maid who worked in the Hellfire Club.[3] Sharon is killed byMaster Mold during the latter's battle withRogue, which further incites Kelly's stance against mutants.[4]
Kelly remains an active anti-mutant activist, but slowly becomes more tolerant towards mutants, promising the X-Men he would work for mutant rights. Kelly's changed views are reinforced when the mutantPyro saves him during an attack fromPost.[5] Not long afterward, Kelly is assassinated at a college rally by anti-mutant activist Alan Lewis, who felt that Kelly betrayed his cause. Cable's failure to protect Kelly, coupled with the death ofMoira MacTaggert, causes him to leave the X-Men.[6]
An alternate universe version of Robert Kelly appears inX-Men Noir reality. This version is a Republican senator from New York who defends the extraterritorial prison Genosha Bay, intending for the prison to launch a new generation of soldiers and government operatives.[9]
Robert Kelly, renamedRobert Jefferson Kelly, appears inX-Men: The Animated Series, voiced byLen Carlson.[10] He initially runs forPresident of the United States on an anti-mutant campaign during the first season until he gradually changes his mind following failed assassination attempts byMystique disguised asGambit and kidnapped byMaster Mold before being rescued by theX-Men, whom he befriends. Upon winning the election and taking office, Kelly publicly supports mutants and pardonsBeast as his first presidential act. Kelly makes minor appearances in subsequent seasons as an ally of the X-Men.
A character based on Robert Kelly namedEdward Kelly appears inX-Men: Evolution, voiced byDale Wilson.[10] This version is the principal of Bayville High, which several X-Men and theBrotherhood of Bayville attend, following his predecessor Raven Darkholme's disappearance. After the X-Men's identities are publicly revealed, Kelly attempts to vote the mutants out of school, but the school board vote against him after the X-Men save them from the Brotherhood. After subsequently expelling the latter, Kelly runs for mayor.
Senator Robert Kelly appears inWolverine and the X-Men, voiced byRichard Doyle.[10] This version supports various anti-mutant projects, such asBolivar Trask'sSentinel program and theMutant Response Division (MRD), and arranged a deal whereMagneto receivedGenosha. After Magneto closes Genosha's borders, Kelly sends Gambit to steal Magneto's helmet and cripple the nation, though Gambit only succeeds in the latter task. Magneto attempts to seek revenge, butProfessor X intervenes by showing Magneto and Kelly the possible dystopian future that will take place if they continue on their current path. Shocked by this, Kelly shuts down Sentinel production. Magneto is undeterred and hasQuicksilver capture him so Mystique can take his place and help incite a war between mutants and humanity.
Senator Robert Kelly appears in theIron Man: Armored Adventures episode "The X-Factor", voiced again by Dale Wilson.[10] This version sports a beard.
Senator Robert Kelly appears inX-Men (2000), portrayed byBruce Davison.[10] This version is aRepublican from Kansas who advocates for a Mutant Registration Act. After being kidnapped by theBrotherhood of Mutants and used as a test subject forMagneto's plan to convert humans intomutants, Kelly is transformed into a jellyfish-like mutant with stretching capabilities. However, the process proves fatal due to his body rejecting the changes. The X-Men later recover Kelly and learn of Magneto's machine before he dies.
Senator Robert Kelly appears inX2, portrayed again by Bruce Davison. Following Kelly's death, Magneto's subordinateMystique takes his place to avoid arousing suspicions.
Senator Robert Kelly appears inMarvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced byPeter Renaday.[10] This version harbors a general distrust of superhumans in addition to mutants. After being captured byArcade and imprisoned in Murderworld, players have the option of saving Kelly. If he is found and rescued, Kelly will support a mutant aid bill, which will allow government funding for schools dedicated to training young mutants in how to control their powers. If not, he frees himself and successfully sponsors a bill where all mutants are sent to re-education camps, where they are brutally educated in not using their powers.
^abcdefg"Senator Robert Kelly Voices (X-Men)".Behind the Voice Actors (Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources). RetrievedDecember 19, 2019.
