The long history of theX-Menhas introduced some of the most incredible, world-altering, or even world-shaping superpowers. But when the heroes end up in a hand-to-hand fight, it’s oftenthe X-Men’s animal-based mutationsthat shine the brightest.
Whether it’s a case of biology connecting a Mutant to their more primitive, animalistic instincts, physical appendages or senses that grant superhuman abilities, or just a wild rage, an ‘animal’ mutation can be just as powerful as some of X-Men’s strongest psychics or brawlers. Whether heroes, villains, or anything in between,these animal-based powers in the world ofX-Menstand above the rest.
10Anole (AKA Victor Borkowski)
First Appearance:New Mutants#2 (2003) By Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, And Keron Grant
The physical appearance of Anole makes it obvious that he shares the physiology of a reptile, but his lizard mutations don’t end there.Anole has the forked, prehensile tongue of a lizard, nearly as long as his entire body. He’s also capable of crawling on walls and ceilings, is cursed (blessed) with the scaly skin of a lizard to match.
Going further, Anole can camouflage himself by changing his skin, regenerate replacement limbs, and possesses offensive gifts like razor sharp claws and spikes on his scalp. Aiding his reptillian powers is his super strength, which has shown to be capable of piercing a force field and breaking the metal armor of a Sentinel.
9Shark Girl (AKA Iara Dos Santos)
First Appearance:Wolverine & the X-Men#20 (2012) By Jason Aaron And Steven Sanders
Shark Girl may have started out as a typical girl, but she soon gained mutant powers that saw hertake on the physical form of a shark-human hybrid, which she can transform into similar to a werewolf. In her shark form, she has a bloodlust that makes her incredibly formidable, as well as super speed underwater. Moreover, she can remain for an indefinite amount of time underwater thanks to her shark half. With a shark’s strength, Shark Girl should also be given a spotamong Marvel’s strongest mutants, even without being able to mind control sea animals through marine telepathy.
8Wolfsbane (AKA Rahne Sinclair)
First Appearance:Marvel Graphic Novel#4 (1982) By Chris Claremont And Bob McLeod
Able to turn into a wolf or wold-human hyubrid, Wolfsbane’s name is a perfect fit. Unlike the limitations of a werewolf, Rahne Sinclair is able to change form at any time she wants.Her wolf powers grant enhanced sight, speed, agility, reflexes, and strength, as well as claws and fangs. Having served on multiple teams including New Mutants, X-Factor, Excalibur, X-Force, and the X-Men, Wolfsbane is a valued asset to any team.
7Wild Child (AKA Kyle Gibney)
First Appearance:Alpha Flight#1 (1983) By John Byrne
One look at Kyle Gibney’s beastial appearance explains why his horrified parents kicked him out of the house, putting him on a path that would see him take on villainy (and occasional heroics). Wild Child’s abilities have changed over the years from genetic alterations and natural mutant powers, but regardless of the ebbing and flowing of his abilities,Wild Child’s animalistic enhanced senses, zoopathy, and mind control immunitymake him among the most durable and formidable of the animal-based X-Men mutants.
6Feral (AKA Maria Callasantos)
First Appearance In 1991’sNew Mutants#99 By Rob Liefeld And Fabian Nicieza
A founding member of X-Force,Feral takes on the physical characteristics of a cat, with feline inspired abilities to match.With superhuman senses, Feral’s acute smelling powers allow her to track like a jungle cat, and her retractable claws are capable of cutting through stone and metal. And potent enough to act as Feral’s only offensive weapon. As a twist on a ‘nine lives’ ability, Wild Child’s murder at the claws of Sabretooth render her a ghost, granting her the power of intangibility.
5Wolverine (AKA James Howlett)
First Appearance:Incredible Hulk#180 (1974) By Len Wein And Herb Trimpe
As popular as he is fierce, Wolverine’s superpowers are among the most well-known in all of Marvel lore. Withan impossibly strong healing factor, and an adamantium-coated skeleton, the more primitive (yet potent) parts of Wolverine’s mutations tend to be overshadowed. His regenerative healing factor takes him into the realm of truly supernatural biology at over a century old, but even he has admitted that at the core of his physiology,Wolverine is an animal. Even if he’s his very own breed.
4Sabretooth (AKA Victor Creed)
First Appearance:Iron Fist#14 (1977) By Chris Claremont And John Byrne
It may be a surprise to hear Sabretooth being referred to as a hero but after AXIS, his animal powers were used for good rather than villainy.A severe threat as classified by ONE, Sabretooth has fangs that can tear through incredibly strong substances, with one example being bone. Likewise, his mutant claws were augmented by the Weapon X program to be indestructible. His animal powers are already strong on their own, but combined withSabretooth’s overall feral dispositionand embracing of his animalistic characteristics, he is a massive threat to whoever goes up against him whether he is fighting for good or for evil.
3Beast (AKA Henry McCoy)
First Appearance:X-Men#1 (1963) By Stan Lee And Jack Kirby
Asone of the founding members of the X-Men, Beast is instantly recognizable, no doubt due to his blue fur, imposing physique, sharp fangs, and claws.Born with ape-like gifts concerning his agility, reflexes, and brawn, Beast was called Magilla Gorilla by his school football team. Not just incredibly strong, Beast is also highly intelligent and a fantastic teammate, being valued among the superhero and mutant community (as evidenced by his multiple memberships in different superhero groups).
2Mammomax (AKA Maximus Jensen)
First Appearance:X-Men#161 (2004) By Chuck Austen And Salvador Larroca
With a mamoth-like name,Mammomax has a thick, tough elephant skin that protects him from damage, shrugging off high caliber bullets, energy attacks, weapons, and even falls from high heights.While he may have started out inthe Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, he makes his way into the X-Men team after they save his life. Taking an animal strength and supercharging it to mutant levels, Mammomax succeeds in making both humans and elephants jealous.
1Nature Girl/Armageddon Girl (AKA Lin Li)
First Appearance:Wolverine & The X-Men#1 (2014)
X-Men’s Nature Girl has one important characteristic to her appearance that makes her a tad different: antlers. When she becomes Armageddon Girl, her antlers change to be red, sinister, and otherworldly, to match her villainous transformation. Frequentlyregarded as an Omega level mutant, she has the ability to manipulate and influence all nature, whether it be plants or animals.In an amazing feat of powers, she can also detect a victim’s killer just from communicating with the victim’s microcellular life forms.
