Jennifer Lawrence will portray Mystique one final time in X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016. A lifetime of hatred by humanity shaped the shapeshifter into a radical crusader for mutant rights.
While the cinematic Raven Darkholme is ruthless, her comic book counterpart is a stone cold killer with a long list of crimes making her one of humanity and the X-Men’s greatest enemies.
As Brian Michael Bendis wraps his X-Men run, Raven is front and center again in a mad powerplay and the X-Men may have finally put a stop to her…for now.
Raven may not be as powerful as Magneto or Apocalypse but she’s still in the top tier of the X-Men’s deadliest enemies and here are Mystique’s greatest hits:
Abandoning Nightcrawler. Mystique was living as the wife of a German noble when was became pregnant by the demonic looking mutant named Azazel. When her son was born with blue skin like his parents, Raven abandoned the baby but gypsies found the future X-Man. Kurt would later learn the truth about his mother from hell and have multiple confrontations with her and her schemes including a recent one that would free Azazel from his dark dimension.
Masquerading as a Marauder! After M-Day, the mutant race was facing extinction for the X-Men voted Raven in a probationary member. While Raven fought with the Rogue led squadron (during Mike Carey’s excellent run) she eventually betrayed them and shot her own foster daughter. Raven was working with Mister Sinister’s new Marauders all along. The multiple betrayal part of Raven’s plan to find the first mutant baby born after M-Day and use it to free Rogue of a deadly infection. Talk about tough love and hurting the ones you love.
The Dazzler Doping and Deception! Alison Blaire found a new purpose in life as the mutant affairs liaison officer for S.H.I.E.L.D. Raven condemned Ali as a traitor, kidnapped her, impersonated her and kept her as a source MGH (mutant growth hormone) that she “milked” and made millions selling it to depowered mutants like Blob. As you can see Raven put the moves and mind games on the young X-Men during this part of the Brian Michael Bendis run.
The Murder of Moira MacTaggert! The former lover of Professor Xavier was an expert in genetic mutation. Moira was attempting to find a cure of the Legacy Virus which was killing mutants. Raven manipulated Moira’s research to make the virus kill only humans. Mystique’s tampering helped Moira find a cure but she was killed in the bombing of Muir Island. Moira held on long enough for a final embrace with Xavier and to pass on her medical discover.
The Assassination of Senator Robert Kelly! This is the killing that had the greatest impact on the Marvel Universe and the mutant race…even though it didn’t happen. In this classic two-part tale by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Raven led an all-new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to attack the Senator behind anti-mutant legislation. The killing led to the U.S. government’s official use of the Sentinels and paved the way for the terrifying world of Days of Future Past. Kate Pryde went into the past to prevent the killing but in this alternate universe world, millions of mutants and any super-powered humans were hunted, killed or caged.
If you read the most recent issue of Uncanny X-Men you know Dazzler and Mystique had a satisfying showdown but don’t think Raven will be down for long.
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By Editor