>Marvel’s mutants have served as a metaphor mirroring social issues ever since their inception in the 1960s. Creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby ascribed the term “mutant” to anyone who was considered an “other” or ostracized and prejudiced against. It was a statement about the ongoing civil rights battles of the time, many of which are, sadly, still being waged. The X-Men are a stark reminder that the world should fight for justice in the face of prejudice.>While Professor Xavier’s team of X-Men has always pursued a peaceful purpose of coexistence between humans and mutants, others have sought more controversial means to their end. The shape-shifting Mystique is among the most notorious mutants in the Marvel Universe. From a villain to an anti-hero, she also holds the distinction of being one in a line of characters that identify as LGBTQ+.>Introduced in the late '70s as one of Ms. Marvel’s earliest adversaries, Mystique was crafted by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum. She was introduced as a double agent, working clandestinely to undermine and bring down Carol Danvers's superpowered alter ego. She would eventually reveal herself as a dangerous foe with a shadowy agenda, bringing her into conflict with the Avengers and the X-Men.>A critical player in the X-Men’s “Days of Future Past” story arc, Mystique, known as Raven Darkölme, is the mastermind behind the plot to murder Senator Robert Kelly, a politician with an anti-mutant stance. Leading her newly formed Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in an assassination attempt, until the X-Men intervene. Claremont has said that he had always intended for Mystique to be revealed as one of Nightcrawler’s parents. Their resemblance to one another was immediately apparent.
>>154163810Raven's big blue cock...
>Claremont has also suggested on record that there was more to the relationship between Mystique and her teammate in the Brotherhood, the blind pre-cog Irene Adler, Destiny. There were always cleverly placed clues in the narrative. Irene, who was rendered as a wizened woman, seemingly older than Raven, who used her mutant ability in service of Mystique’s nefarious strategies, was always at her side.>Amid their conspiratorial collaboration, the duo communicated closely and from a place of intimate familiarity. After busting her Brotherhood out of prison, in the now epic Avengers Annual #10 (1981), Raven is so relieved to be reunited with Irene that she refers to her as “my beloved.” If not for the now largely antiquated Comics Code Authority, their love story would have been something that Claremont would have realized from the beginning, rather than resort to it all coming off as subtext.>Claremont cleverly told their story in plain sight, but under the CCA (which Marvel stopped adhering to in 2001), the writer had to tread carefully. Raven and Irene were referred to as “good friends,” although it was deeper for certain. The two were characters who cohabited, which could suggest they were just roommates or, more likely, were married and raising a family, since they were both foster parents to Rogue.>Eventually, all of their “hiding in plain sight,” as Claremont revealed, would unravel a passionate love affair that has lasted decades. It’s had its share of hills and valleys, but Raven has stood by Irene, and Irene has referred to Mystique as her “one true love.” In 2024, Mystique and Destiny openly renewed their marriage vows in the highly publicized X-Men: The Wedding Special #1, which also included a chronicle of their love story.
>The Many Lines and Layers of Raven Darkhölme In Marvel Comics >Mystique has certainly lived up to her namesake. As legend goes, Claremont was looking through Dave Cockrum’s book of sketches and wrote the name “Mystique” right next to the rough image that caught his eye. With a superpower that immediately elicits subterfuge and illusion, where else would the femme fatale feel at home but in the world of espionage?>The iconography of Mystique has always been extremely alluring. Statuesque at 5’ 10” (although her height varies), with striking red hair and indigo blue skin, the mistress of deceit struck an intimidating pose in a white one-piece bodysuit with matching evening gloves, accessorized with the latest automatic handgun for good measure. An ornamental golden skull at her widow’s peak completed the look.>The provocative nature of an individual who can disguise themselves completely, down to the cellular level, is a seductive image; the sexual suggestiveness of such a package is not lost on longtime readers. Mystique usually struck fear in her early appearances, but as her backstory was further explored in the pages of X-Men comics, it was clear there was much more to her than meets the eye.>Notwithstanding her formidable combative skills and experience, Mystique began to exhibit a very protective, maternal nature. Conflicted by her foster daughter Rogue’s decision to leave her and join the X-Men, and the eventual revelation that she indeed is one of Nightcrawler’s mothers (as the story goes, Irene carried Kurt Wagner to term), she would find herself wrestling with these feelings and often confiding in Irene.
Mystique frames a guy for rape, cheats on then brutally murders her husband, attempts to turn the Legacy virus on the human population, stabs Rogue, depowers Wolfsbane, murders Moira, cuts Banshees throat, bombs the shit out of Paris, murders a presidential candidate, throws baby Nightcrawler over a waterfall and fucks with Gambit so much that he goes running to Apocalypse. Yeah, that's great fucking representation.
>lesbian>Is evil
>>154163927>The nature of their uniquely intimate relationship would take decades to unravel. The pair had been aligned long before readers set eyes on the newly banded Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in the now-classic issue of Uncanny X-Men #141 (1981), and would emerge as a dynamic that transcended mutual respect, evolving into an unprecedented devotion that has literally endured for lifetimes.>You Are Cordially Invited…>Very recently, Marvel fans were given access to a momentous occasion. During the annual series of PRIDE releases, a special edition of Marvel Voices finally gave readers a deeper insight into the relationship between Mystique and Destiny in the one-shot X-Men: The Wedding Special #1 (2024). In the anthology volume, Mystique and Destiny prepare to renew their vows, but not without performing one more heist.>The special release also relays Chris Claremont’s creative intentions for the characters and their backstory, and his efforts to strike a balance that authentically tells their tale during an era of publishing that kept him from giving fans the full picture. It may have taken upwards of a few more decades than anticipated, but it’s deeply gratifying to know that in the Marvel Universe, Reed and Storm Richards were not the only longest-running couple in comics.>Even though Mystique and Destiny may not have always served on the side of the light, the one thing that the pair held close and treasured most was their love and affection for one another. Mystique had stood by her “ride or die” for better or worse, even if Destiny had a premonition of what was ahead of them. In hindsight, their union remains one of Marvel’s admired pairings in comics and is trailblazing.
>>154163996>Mystique’s journey and the creatives’ dedication to telling their story adhere to Marvel’s legacy of publishing narratives of representation, social relevance, and inclusivity that reflect global culture, enhancing the diversity of its audience. In this era of confusion, it’s never been more important to strive to find that sense of community. It’s great to know that pride exists in the world of comics.
Literally cuts Banshees throat in cold blood, but hey it's okay cause she's part of the LGBTQ community.
>>154163810Mystique was born a little blue boy.Has been both sexes for extended periodsIs a confirmed serial rapist and threatens rape as if it's as natural as threatening to punch someone in the face.Has knocked up and been knocked up by people they raped by deception and forceFathered nightcrawler with her girlfriend destiny using it's normal cock in it's marriage bed. This is while it was pretending to be a human woman that IT may or may not have killed to take it's identity and was raping a german count in the process.She's one of the most gross problematic creatures in Marvel's history and anyone who claims it as good representation or even a decent being is a redflag. I'm not even getting into it's unironic murderous evil past that has never been accounted for. That's par for the course like with that bitch Magneto. No It's just an evil creature and deserves nothing but spite.
>>154163810>Trying to celebrate Marvel's closest answer to The Joker as a woke achievementNo. She just wants to kill everybody on Earth, except maybe Destiny depending on how she's feeling at the time.
>>154163976She's bisexual, the most untrustworthy sexuality.
I tried to give her mini a chance last year. Destiny shows up as fury's informant and I instantly lost interest. Oh another story where they're both just codependent psycho narcissist who fuck with each other over and over out of boredom and don't care who gets hurt in their games.
>>154164442>she
>>154163974Is villain, yes.
Too bad that is inconvenient as fuck to make an itemized list of everything evil someone did in a long-running series. I wonder how powerful Norman Osborn would rank compared to her for example.
>>154164618Yes, you troon
>>154163810She's Nightcrawler dad .
>>154166697PLEEEEEEASE let Disney make this canon in the MCU. I NEEDZ IT.I need the hilarious grifter takes that are going to be made from it.
>>154166740 Is Destiny the woman a thing in the X-Men movie universe? cuz I'm pretty sure most of the ones going to the MCU come from the X-Men Cinematic Universe.
>>154166762Disney is doing the incursion thing and making the fox xmen the badguysThey are being used as throwaway memberberries. BUT They will go full MCU and RAINBOW with the newest Xmen. So I'm pretty damned sure they are thinking about doing the born male pansexual serial rapist mystique origin alongside bring in destiny as ti's girlfriend/wife.I mean, they made death into a lezbo who is thirsty for agatha harkness of all people.
>>154166740You should hang out on Reddit
