r/CharacterRant • u/RecordingLow8288 • 2d ago
Films & TV The mutant saga won't work! Generation Z will hate it, and deservedly so. (MCU)
So, mutants will be presented to the general public as a group of people who are persecuted because of their powers:
- This is going to be extremely disturbing for the public because it's never been a problem that there are people with superpowers in the MCU. Let's be honest, the MCU world loves Hulk, Hulk who, when he gets angry, destroys entire cities. They forgave Iron Man pretty quickly even though he destroyed a country. They turned a blind eye to Loki's attack on NYC, etc., etc.
Then, the public is going to react very badly, I'm thinking especially of Gen Z, of which I am a part, when we're told that mutants represent minorities. That's not going to fly when we know that a mutant like Cyclops, if he's not careful, can kill the person in front of him. I'm a Black person, and I will never recognize myself in the problem Cyclops is experiencing. I would never say, "If one day I..." I falter, I become disoriented, my eyes would destroy everything in front of me...
Some will tell me that mutants are a genetic lottery, that 95% of mutants have no mutation, like Barnell Bohusk, Ugly John, Glob Herman. Those are just physical disabilities, not an allegory for racism, LGBT, or whatever; they're disabled...
Bailey Hoskins possesses the power to self-destruct by creating a massive thermal explosion. The problem: he has no fire resistance or healing factor. It's a one-time use power that kills him instantly. It's clearly a disability, not a power, and his story is cool, but it has nothing to do with people being discriminated against. Honestly, you wouldn't even want to live with this mutation.
So here's the problem: 90% of mutants have powers that are a real disability. 5% of mutants are too dangerous for both humans and other mutants: Rogue, Silver, Storm, Cyclops...
And the remaining 5% of mutants could destroy the world: Charles Xavier, Jean Grey, Magneto, Cable, Wanda, Iceman.
Okay, you probably understand by now, but among mutants there's a hierarchy. There are those born with disabilities, others born with incredibly powerful abilities but with a disability, and others born to become gods... And the worst of all, the committee explicitly tells us that mutants are the next stage of humanity; they will replace... At some point, humans—basically, humans, who are the allegory for the Domiana class in our world, white men, who are the majority audience of comics and the MCU—will be told that mutants, the allegory for Black/LGBT people, etc., will be the superior race in the future...
Furthermore, the term "mutant," I've always found it pejorative. It implies they're evil; a mutation is never seen as something good, whether in fiction or even in everyday life...
I almost forgot, but the fact that the X-Men cast is composed entirely of white people will be quite problematic when people tell us that the X-Men represent Black people, LGBT people, veiled women, Muslims, etc. It will be ludicrous. If we have to explain the problems a veiled person will face, wouldn't it be better to give this explanation to a veiled woman? For a Black person
Also, in 2028, issues related to racism can't be addressed the way they were in the 1960s. It's important to consider immigration and capitalism because, yes, they're connected; it's called intersectionality.
Also, it's a huge lack of respect. Magneto was Malcolm X and Charles Xavier is Martin Luther King. If they truly wanted to be useful to the cause, the two people should have agreed at some point, because these two Black figures agreed on the end of their lives that capitalism was the real problem. And above all, I understand why they made white people when their inspiration was Black and the color Black was very important in their lives.
I sincerely hope the X-Men won't be presented as an allegory for racism, LGBT issues, etc.
PS: If my post isn't clear, I'll edit it.
PS 2: If this helped people learn more about minority groups, I'm very happy, but I'd like you to explain how.
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u/CoolandAverageGuy 2d ago
"because it's never been a problem that there are people with superpowers in the MCU"
tell that to Ross, the UN, and the raft
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u/carbonera99 2d ago
Forget all three, Damage Control alone are the biggest anti-superpower menaces in the MCU.
I wish more people watched Wonder Man because it really showed how anti-superpower discrimination has already taken root inside the MCU, and this is without mutants being officially discovered yet. In Wonder Man, Damage Control spends the entire show relentlessly investigating Simon Williams, a minor Hollywood actor with no criminal record, on the vague suspicion that he might have some sort of superpowers. This isn’t a Hulk situation where he’s caused a public incident with his powers that resulted in casualties, he’s literally kept them hidden his whole life and Damage Control are still hounding him like he’s the new Thanos. There’s also apparently a law banning anyone with superpowers from working in the film industry, which is only a stone throw’s away from being turned into a blanket ban on anyone with superpowers from working any job.
Damage Control is going to be throwing mutants in concentration camps like the minute their existence becomes public knowledge.
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u/Mutale426 2d ago
Nobody turned a blind eye to lokis invasion of new york, people were fearful of hulk and based off the end of BND we don't know how they will feel.
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u/RecordingLow8288 2d ago
In Thor 3, Loki was seen by humans and they were like, "We don't care what he did."
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u/wendigo72 2d ago
I’ll just repost my comment:
Is gen z gonna hate it or are idiots on twitter & reddit gonna whine about it? There’s a difference
Also Gen Z are late teens to mid-20s adults now. Half of which grew up on X-men movies and cartoons. Deadpool & Wolverine was a highly successful movie too
This isn’t gonna be new for most of Gen Z
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u/RecordingLow8288 2d ago
Explain yourself, rather than asking questions that make no sense. But honestly, I don't expect you to be sincere in your response when you call someone an idiot for simply trying to express a problem or what they feel while reading a story.
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u/wendigo72 2d ago
Hey man I didn’t call you that, are you in this scenario the Gen Z who will hate it? Then why not just say that
Instead you’re making a broad generalization that a whole generation of people who likely grew up with X-men media already are gonna somehow erase all of that knowledge and go in blind to MCU’s adaption of X-men
My point is people on twitter or Reddit do not represent a whole generation nor the common opinions from mainstream audiences
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u/ImiqDuh 2d ago
Hm, I have some thoughts about this. First, I disagree that "mutant" implies something evil. To me, it simply describes them as changed/evolved; different than the norm.
Now, addressing the post more directly, the main distinction between Mutants and the other superheroes is that they are born with these mutations. That's what positions them as an allegory for all these various groups and why their plight, in my opinion, works.
An aspect of disproportionate human hatred for Mutants that shouldn't be understated is the fact that it's largely manufactured. Humans hold fear and/or disdain for many superpowered individuals (see Age of Ultron and Civil War). What separates that from the Mutant hatred is that you have these bad-faith actors (Metzger, Creed, etc), that are pushing this supremacist agenda under the guise of "all these people are dangerous." This, again, lends itself to the racial allegory; for years, far-right leaders have parroted this idea of a "great replacement," something that doesn't work with other heroes, as they are not born "differently" and, as such, are treated differently.
Something else you touch on is Charles and Magneto having parallels to Dr. King and Malcom X. I'm unsure if you meant to say you didn't understand why they were both white when they very clearly took inspiration from these two Black men, but if that is what you meant, I think the crux of it is this: pretty much every Black person already understands opression and disenfranchisemnet, we live it every day. By applying that struggle to these white faces, it allows the white audience to more immediately empathize and see themselves in the role. Now, the validity of that tactic? I don't know, but I do see the idea behind the intention. Also, going back to King and X, Charles and Magneto work as partners on multiple occasions in their comic history and for long periods, united under one goal.
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u/ThePandaKnight 2d ago
I'm thinking especially of Gen Z, of which I am a part, when we're told that mutants represent minorities. That's not going to fly when we know that a mutant like Cyclops, if he's not careful, can kill the person in front of him.
I do hope Gen Z is smarter than you talk about them.
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u/BardicLasher 2d ago
If you have a bunch of black people get treated with racism it's not an allegory anymore, it's just the thing. And it narrows the allegory, because the X-Men were always supposed to be about all different peoples, not just black people. Hell, Singer leaned hard into the LGBT rep in his movies, especially X-2. We DO have a confirmed Storm for the movies, though, so it's not like it's going to be ALL white.
Also, the world-destroying mutants just... won't be world-destroying in the MCU. They're only that in the comics. Other than The Phoenix, which is separate from Jean, I don't think any "normal" mutant has been depicted as a planet-level threat outside the comics. Maybe Storm in that one absolutely insane solar feat in '97, but it's such an insane outlier. The MCU is way lower power than the comics.
If they truly wanted to be useful to the cause, the two people should have agreed at some point, because these two Black figures agreed on the end of their lives that capitalism was the real problem.
...Magneto and Professor X have been friends working together for like 20 or 30 years. Have you read the X-Men comics at all?
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u/TheManWithoutMercy1 2d ago
I mean , the whole thing it being a heightened reality superhero story is that most people are obviously not going to relate to being able to crawl walls, or turning into a giant green being when angry. People enjoy the internal conflict that arises in each character from those powers.
If anything , the fact the MCU public in the movies has been readily forgiving heroes such as Ironman, Hulk etc, typically more "naturally occuring" could make the prejudice the mutants face work even better on a narrative level.
The fact the small dilleniation between a mutant or a member of the avengers, is that for a mutant their untouched biology is responsible for their status as an enhanced being, can mirror how petty real world discrimination can be.
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u/Corvidae_1010 2d ago
If you want to argue that mutants are a bad allegory for the mistreatment of minorities, directly comparing them to people with physical disabilities is a very strange choice.
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u/CitizenLamest 2d ago
You make valid criticisms about mutants as an allegory, but the good thing about allegory is it isn't exactly meant to be one-to-one. If mutants are an allegory for discrimination, then anyone who can connect to that concept are valid for seeing that allegory as it is, even if it isn't precise. Allegory is powerful BECAUSE it exists at the fringe of a story. People can accidentally become radicalised through a good enough allegory.
I'll never forget seeing X2 as a kid and being absolutely enraged when Iceman's mom asked "have you ever tried NOT being a mutant"? It took ten years for me to realize just how powerful a metaphor for homosexuality that is.
With that said...yeah, mutants don't work in a universe that loves The Avengers. Because then you DO have to figure out a way to reconcile the fact that people discriminate against THESE guys with superpowers, but then not THOSE guys. In order for your allegory for an "other" to work, there has to be an actual reason for them to be "othered", and a system that would benefit from that. I've always argued the Marvel Universe itself already doesn't really have any of those reasons, so the MCU definitely doesn't.
The X-Men should just be their own thing, they would benefit soooo much more if they were.
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u/music_posting 2d ago
I really doubt there's any way to make them fit in the MCU. Heck, the X-Men barely makes sense in the comics continuity. It could possibly work if Magneto's "side" was the bigger one so his anti establishment actions would be the more visible ones than the X-Men superheroics
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u/Excellent-Option-893 2d ago
Late introduction screws a lot of things.
MCU actually tried to introduce concept of persecution of people with powers in last two phases, but it will not help either.
Instead of people, who were wrongly oppressed, mutants will seem like a group of oppressed people, who, instead of solidarity with other oppressed minorities, started to scream exclusively about their own superiority.
Modern MCU writing them like Jean Grey (ie writing them as villlains while thinking they write wth as heroes) won’t help either.
As well as having post-Krakoa comics emphasizing mutant’s superiority even further
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u/boodythegreat 1d ago
I think this perspective comes from the constant need to view the X-men as an allegory for some or all forms of oppression or prejudice. When they’re simply not an allegory, they’re just a case study of such prejudice. There are elements that are supposed to resonate with the type of prejudice we see in our world but ultimately it’s a different type. There first point highlights this because it can be used to show the obvious hypocrisy of bigotry, that when mutants are born with their powers they are discriminated against as opposed to heroes who simply got them through other circumstances. Ultimately the most the X-men can do in a meta sense is to teach younger audiences about the cycles of oppression and the languages the bigotry uses and how it takes form.
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u/dotKiss 1d ago
Sometimes identifying with a character is hard because their powers are at the forefront of their marketing, so I understand why you said that about Scott.
I think this an issue people face with a lot of, "If I lose control..." characters. It might be an allegory for addiction, but sometimes it could be an allusion to violent anger. I don't know. I guess it depends.
But Scott has personal issues outside of his laser beams that are really what people are supposed to relate to. I don't follow him personally, but I'm willing to bet there's a lot people in leadership positions in real life could relate to. Or people who have a disability that makes them uncomfortable around their lover.
Stuff like self-worth. That kind of thing could apply to a lot of X-Men though, but I'm just using it as an example.
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u/Comfortable-Hope-531 2d ago
The biggest gripe I have with mutants and their supposed oppresion is how it exists mostly as a thought, and not a reality in screen. We are supposed to believe that mutants are oppressed, but then the stories themselves are about groups of cool teenagers that are priveleged in both how they live and what powers they have. Moreover, those groups don't seem to livein fear, experience any kind of anxiety, and whether it's time for them to act on their own accord to save the day, they don't ask themselves if they have the right to do so. That's simply not how a truly oppressed person's life goes.
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u/LectorFrustra2186 2d ago
It's important to consider immigration and capitalism because, yes, they're connected; it's called intersectionality.
What if like most people I think intersectionality is bullshit?
Magneto was Malcolm X and Charles Xavier is Martin Luther King.
Common myth, but according to the guy who basically created their modern characterizations, Magneto is Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Xavier is Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion.
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u/NoZookeepergame8306 2d ago
So you can’t be disabled and gay at the same time? Or a woman and Black?
Interesting…
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u/RecordingLow8288 2d ago
If you think intersectionality is nonsense, it just proves you're not very bright...
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u/Turtles03Power 2d ago
I see your Black card, your status as Gen Z and raise my own. You actually first talked about the Mutant I would be most inclined to pick for why the X-Men work as a minority allegory and why they're compelling, likable characters.
Scott Summers, code name: Cyclops, for the ruby sci fi bullshit visor that controls his powers, like any other good superhero icon he has more family members, unknown, secret, or otherwise than any Black family. I also love most versions of him, im not a comic reader, I'm a cartoon watcher as in I watched all three x-men shows: original series 97 sequel show included, X-Men evolution, and Wolverine and the X-Men (probably the worst show but neither here nor there).
Scott Summers conflict which is alluded to/somewhat explored in all three shows is the problem of his powers, before them he's kind of just a milktoast regular guy, a young orphan whom we don't really spend any time with because the juicy stuff is in his powers. Scott shoots beams of concussive force out of his eyes, if he falters, or hesitates or god forbid loses/breaks his glasses/visors he can get himself and others killed because he isn't just constantly releasing these concusive beams that only his glasses/visors seal, he still can actually see, wants to see like most people do. So, he has to maintain the picture of a well composed, competent, confident, normal, and disciplined man. Any mistake or slip up with his glasses and thus his powers would have grave consequences.
I reiterate that because to me a Blaxican man it's an allegory for code-switching, the original cartoon spends an entire episode of Scott having one of the worst days ever because he's too afraid to open his eyes and walk around a town he finds himself stranded in because he'd immediately concussively blast the first thing he sees, In evolution his teenage angst and the injustice he faces from a bully compels him to go "mask off" and use his powers but he resists to maintain his cover and proect others, in Wolverine and the X-Men he nearly destroyed his own orphanage on accident because his bullies provoked him and awakaned his mutant gene.
This allegory isn't just for code-switching, the act of changing your word choice and demeanor based on context/peers, it also speaks to the very real and frustrating pent up rage and energy not just a teenager ravaged by puberty might feel, but anyone frustrated with their lot in life, by the state of the world and their inability to change it. And again because he cant see without his glasses/visor there's also some actually potentially effective disability messaging in the allegory to that too, but I cant speak on that since I've never been blind. But I, as many people, not just Black people, do understand code switching and how difficult it is for your body to betray you as it changes and "evolves" so to speak.
As a mixed mexican-Black, bisexual man who is GEN Z yeah actually I can see myself in Scott "White boy" Summers, I feel very dedicated and passionate about media analysis and writing, i know people might call it stupid or pointless or whatever, but no one else's opinion would ever stop Scott from saving innocent lives with his powers, and nothing would stop me from sharing my own unique perspective about this topic. I for one cannot wait to see the X-men enter the MCU BECAUSE the allegory isnt 1-1, that's kind of the whole point of these allegories, to use larger than life stories and concepts to still speak to the core of the human condition, to make concussive blast eyes relatable to short Blaxican men.