Mystique (Marvel)

Mystique in Uncanny X-Men v4 #2.

Mystique is a female comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.

Biography

Origin

Mystique v1 #1.

Raven Darkholme was a female human Mutant born approximately 120 years ago near Salzburg, Austria. (Mystique v1 #15) When she was 4 years old, she became a Mutant during a time when their kind was not common nearly a century ago. (X-Men v2 #174)

In 1921, she was operated in the Mexican Sonoran Desert region when she was captured and sentenced to be executed by a firing squad on account of her blue skin with the locals believing her to be a witch. She was blinded and next to another man sentenced to death with this being a person called Logan. Raven managed to free herself and saved her compatriot despite him suffering from a barrage of bullets and she came to be surprised at him surviving. The pair went to the nearest bar where she introduced herself to the man and he told her his name where she decided to take him to join her group of friends in Kansas City. (Wolverine v3 #62)

Over a century ago, she operated as a consulting detective under the name of Raven Darkholme. During this time, she met a young female Mutant named Irene Adler with the power to see the future. This led to the pair working together in shaping the future based on the visions of Adler. (X-Treme X-Men v1 #2) In 1936, she accompanied Irene in the guise of Mr. Raven and were in Scotland alongside Logan when this era was visited by a time displaced Kitty Pryde. Pryde looked to use this as an opportunity to kill Adolf Hitler to prevent the destruction of six million Jews during World War II. Adler would state that they would not interfere in Kitty's decision but warned that Hitler's death would create a vacuum in the timeline that would be impossible to predict on what would come to replace it. (X-Men: True Friends v1 #3)

In Germany, she came to operate in East Berlin where she took the guise of a deceased German secret agent named Leni Zauber as a cover identity. During this time, she came to meet Victor Creed when both of them were assigned with assassinating a scientist in the city. Raven came to complete the mission as Leni with her and Creed seeking shelter at a safe location where they two briefly became lovers. Afterwards, she came to fake her death in order to leave him and used the body of the real Leni Zauber to ensure that she disappeared from the scene. (Sabretooth v1 #3) The product of their short-lived love affair led to her becoming pregnant and her giving birth to a son named Graydon Creed who was born an ordinary human with Victor Creed unaware of his child. (Sabretooth v1 #4) According to her, Raven had given up the child shortly after his birth as he was a complication for her. (Sabretooth v1 #3) However, another account showed that she kept Graydon with her but at a distance with him being unaware that his mother was a Mutant where she lied to him by saying that his father was a bond trader. This was until one day he disobeyed instructions that told him to stay at the boarding school with him instead following his mother and uncovering that she was a shapeshifting Mutant. Graydon was appalled and developed a hatred for all Mutants as a result with him long having a desire to kill his biological parents with his mother abandoning him at some point. (Sabretooth v1 #4)

Around 20 years ago in Germany, she continued to enjoy the wealth and power she had as the wife of Baron Christian Wagner. The Baron was in love with his wife Raven and had desired to have a child with her but failed to get her pregnant. Raven continued to use this time to entertain herself where she shapeshifted into one of the many women in the town and slept with various men before returning to her identity of Wagner's wife. During this time, she was introduced to a nobleman named Azazel who enchanted her. Azazel stated that she was a majestic being above those of other men and that she could never have a child with her husband Christian as he was the past whilst she was the future. Despite herself, Raven became intensely attracted to him and sought him out where she met him alone in the church. He bade her to undress and show her true nature to him as he was aware she was a Mutant with the two then sleeping with one another. The encounter led to her becoming pregnant with Azazel's child and she felt in love with him. However, in their next encounter, she found Azazel to be disinterested and he stated that their physical passion was not a sign of love from him as he simply desired to be birth him a child. He bade her to return to her husband and claim the child was his in order to be raised in safety whereupon he disappeared. During this time, people around her husband had questioned Raven Wagner's fidelity as they had seen her speak to Azazel in depth leading to some asking for genetic testing of the child. In response, Mystique killed her husband to hide the truth about her infidelity. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #428)

Afterwards, there were fears that Destiny's powers could be misused by others leading to both of them deciding to lay low by joining the Tiboldt Carnival of Wonder where Irene operated as a fortune teller named Madame Destiny. During this time, her tent was visited by a young child named James Proudstar where she saw that his older brother would die in the future. She decided not to reveal this to the child who believed the fortune teller to be a fraud. Irene then revealed her vision to Raven who decided that they were meant for bigger things in life and that it was time to leave the carnival. (X-Force v1 #-1)

She later travelled to Caldecott County in Mississippi where in the guise of a dark-haired woman she had heard talk about a young Mutant girl named Rogue. Mystique went to meet the girl who was hostile to strangers and pointed a rifle at Raven. However, she put the girl at ease and spoke about how she had faced similar fear from humans whereupon she changed her shape into her true form. Raven told the young Rogue that she was a Mutant like her and offered kinship to the girl along with a hug where she promised that everything would be fine in the future. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #4)

Brotherhood of Mutants

A short time before the Brotherhood’s battle with the X-Men, Rogue overheard Destiny and Mystique arguing over Raven’s obsession with Carol Danvers. Rogue learned that Destiny had predicted that Danvers posed some dire threat to Rogue. Eager to prove herself, she went after Danvers herself resulting in her life-changing battle with Ms. Marvel during which she permanently absorbed the heroine’s psyche and powers. Mystique hatched an elaborate plan to free their comrades from prison utilizing Rogue’s new powers. She now had the strength to battle the rest of the Avengers and temporarily absorbed powers from several other members of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to use for their attempt to liberate the Brotherhood. Together, Rogue and Mystique managed to free their teammates from jail. To cover their escape, Mystique assumed the form of SHIELD Director Nick Fury. Due to the unexpected interference of Spider-Woman, the prisoners were re-captured during an ensuing fight with the Avengers. Mystique and Rogue fled in order to remain free to try again. (Avengers Annual v1 #10) Sometime later, Carol Danvers went with Storm and Wolverine to the Pentagon and inadvertently ran in to Rogue and Mystique. While Rogue battled the X-Men, Mystique followed Danvers and shot her. Though weakened, Danvers fought back and dearly wanted to kill Mystique for all she had done. Instead, she subdued Raven and had her arrested. Mystique swore revenge and apparently escaped soon after. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #158)

Mystique’s next plan to free the imprisoned Brotherhood members came as they were being transferred to another jail. Mystique and Rogue infiltrated the prison and set their comrades free. However, due to the interference of the Spaceknight Rom, only Destiny escaped with them. The men of the Brotherhood were too overconfident and failed to listen to Mystique’s orders, which led to their recapture. As “the Sisterhood” got away, they encountered Rom’s enemy, the Dire Wraith creature called Hybrid. Mystique agreed to join forces with him, despite Destiny’s misgivings. They eventually realized that Hybrid intended to subjugate humanity and turned against him. When Rom re-appeared, they were forced to work together to stop the Spaceknight. Mystique and Rogue tricked and ambushed Rom, but as he battled Hybrid, Rogue developed feelings of sympathy for him and Destiny’s visions revealed that Hybrid planned to enslave all mutant women as breeders. Rogue and Mystique then assisted Rom in defeating Hybrid, though Mystique asserted that it was only to protect the lives of the endangered Sisterhood. (Rom v1 #32)

X-Men

Afterwards, she came to end her working with Xavier and infiltrated the Institute in the guise of Foxx who was a student of the Chevaliers squad. Mystique had intended to ruin Gambit's relationship with Rogue and had attempted to seduce him. Remy came to continuously resist her attempts until she eventually revealed her true identity. Raven claimed that she was attempting to relieve the tension between Gambit and her daughter where she took on Rogue's form and promised that it would not be cheating if they had sex. Her true identity was later exposed by Emma Frost whereupon Raven claimed she wanted to join the X-Men in order to forge a better relationship with her foster daughter. She also expressed a dislike of Gambit and Rogue's relationship where she suggested her new associate Pulse would be a better match for her daughter. (X-Men v2 #174)

Manifest Destiny

During the Dark Reign, she was on Osborn's Dark X-Men team where she was tasked with leading the team of Mutant operatives under duress as Norman had planted a bomb in her to ensure Mystique cooperation. In this time, she masqueraded as the deceased Jean Grey where on their first assignment they investigated a mysterious Mutant energy signature that turned out to be newly resurrected Nate Grey. (Dark X-Men v1 #1)

Wolverines

Raven then accompanied Shingen on his task of meeting with the heads of the Yakuza to ensure that he killed them otherwise she intended to kill Harada and accomplish the task herself by assuming his form. After he completed the task, she congratulated him with the angry Shingen departing the scene after murdering his targets. She then took the identity of Azuma Goda where she was to assume his role as he was to be 'assassinated' by Lord Deathstrike allowing the crime lord to fake his death so he could rule in the shadows. However, she instead engaged with the assassin despite her arrangements with her later recruiting him. This was because she and Sabretooth sought to establish themselves as crime lords in East Asia by betraying Goda to assume his position. After Goda was killed, Mystique joined Sabretooth, Silver Samurai and Lord Deathstrike in a meeting with the heads of the East Asia crime organizations who were all killed by the villains. This allowed Creed to assume the mantle of being the invisible king of crime in East Asia. (Wolverine v2 #303)

House of X

She later attended a session of the Quiet Council where Magneto stood down from his seat and relocate to Arakko. This triggered a search for a replacement which culminated in Selene who wished to join their ranks. It was then that Hope Summers voiced her own candidacy for the position leading to a vote. Ultimately, the Council had decided on Hope with this decision angering Selene who summoned a monster to attack Krakoa. (Immortal X-Men v1 #1)

Overview

Personality and attributes

Mystique in Death of Wolverine: The Logan Legacy v1 #6.

She once crafted the identity of the light-blue skinned blue haired Foxx in an attempt to seduce Gambit to break up his relationship with Rogue. (X-Men v2 #172)

Upon meeting Azazel, she was noted to had been enchanted with him and felt in love as she fell for his charms. However, she cursed herself for these feelings when he abandoned her pregnant with their child. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #428)

As Leni Zauber, she was noted to had slept with Victor Creed and became pregnant with his child though he was not aware of her true nature or the offspring from their time together. (Sabretooth v1 #3) Their son was Graydon Creed who was born human and came to hate his parents and all Mutants by extension. (Sabretooth v1 #4) She noted that her son was unexceptional and boring with her giving him up after he was born as he was a complication for her plans. (Sabretooth v1 #3)

In a human guise, Raven came to marry a German noble by the name of Christian Wagner and live in his castle. Around this time, she came to be seduced by the immortal Mutant Azazel and came to bear his son who came to be known as Kurt Wagner. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #428)

She had said that she would never hurt Rogue deliberately. According to her, Rogue was the closest thing to herself that she had encountered in her life. Her feelings for (X-Men Unlimited v1 #4)

Powers and abilities

It was said that her morphing ability continually revitalised her body cells and DNA memory allowing her to maintain her youth over decades without any noticeable aging. (Sabretooth v1 #3)

Her Mutant physiology made her immune to most poisons. (X-Men: Black - Mystique v1 #1) Such was her control that she could evade headshots by shifting most of her brain down her neck. (Wolverine v2 #303)

Notes

• Mystique was created by Dave Cockrum and Chris Claremont where she made her first appearance in Ms. Marvel v1 #16 (May, 1978) but first fully appeared in Ms. Marvel v1 #17 (June, 1978).
• As recounted on CBR, Mystique's creation was the result of Dave Cockrum drawing a beautiful blue woman with this catching the intention of Chris Claremont who wanted the character introduced into the comics.
• As noted on CBR, John Byrne commented on the revelation of Mystique being Nightcrawler's parent, "As originally created, Kurt was the son of gypsies who worked for a circus in Germany. That's it. That's all. Then Chris decided Kurt's mother was Destiny -- and his father was Mystique. That also went the way of ALL FLASH. Now? Who the **** knows?".

In other media

Television

• In X-Men, Mystique appeared as an antagonist in the 1990s animated television series where she was voiced initially by actor Randall Carpenter in the first two seasons then and by actor Jennifer Dale for the rest of the show's run.
• In X-Men: Evolution, Mystique appeared in the 2000 animated television series where she was voiced by actor Colleen Wheeler.
• In Wolverine and the X-Men, Mystique appeared in the 2009 animated television series where she was voiced by actor Tamara Bernier.

Films

• In X-Men, Mystique appeared as an antagonist in the live-action film where she was portrayed by actor Rebecca Romijn. She was a shape changing Mutant that was a member of the Brotherhood of Mutants and worked alongside Magneto.
• In X2, Mystique appeared as an antagonist in the live-action film sequel where she was portrayed again by actor Rebecca Romijn.
• In X-Men: The Last Stand, Mystique appeared as a minor antagonist in the live-action film where she was once again portrayed by actor Rebecca Romijn.
• In X-Men: First Class, Mystique appeared as a main character in the live-action film where she was portrayed by actor Jennifer Lawrence and briefly by Rebecca Romijn in a cameo role. This version was a young shapeshifting Mutant by the name of Raven who snuck into the Xavier Mansion where she attempted to steal food from the kitchen in secret. She was discovered by the equally young Charles Xavier with him being the same age as her and developing a kinship with her. As such, she began to stay at the mansion where she secretly loved Xavier though he was oblivious to her affection and instead saw her as a sister. Raven stayed with Charles when he graduated from Oxford. That night, Moira MacTaggert seeks Xavier's advice on mutation, and takes Xavier and Raven to the CIA to convince the chief that Shaw is a threat. Raven, along with Xavier, displayed their abilities to a group of government CIA agents in order to convince them that mutants really existed, among them The Man in Black and Moira MacTaggert. It was Raven who convinced the government that mutants did exist by demonstrating her shape-shifting abilities. After convincing them that mutants exist they are to be taken to a covert facility, but first Xavier tracks down Shaw. During a failed attempt to capture Sebastian Shaw, Raven and Xavier met Erik Lehnsherr. Lehnsherr joins Xavier and Raven at the CIA facility, where they meet Hank McCoy, another mutant that Xavier accidentally exposes. Hank became instantly smitten with her, and a budding attraction was evident between them. Hank revealed that he had been working on a serum to cure his physical mutation but leave his abilities intact. He believed that Raven's ability to alter her appearance would hold the key to perfecting it. He requested a sample of her blood, during which they shared each others' wish to appear "normal", as well as a kiss. Soon, Xavier and Lehnsherr went to find more mutants, who were then sent to Division X. The mutants included were Angel Salvadore, Sean Cassidy, Alex Summers, Armando Muñoz, and Hank McCoy; they formed the original team of X-Men. The facility is attacked by Azazel, Riptide and Shaw, with all the guards being killed. Shaw successfully recruits Angel, with Darwin feigning joining him. Havok attempts to attack Shaw, with everyone taking cover, but he absorbs Havok's attack and kills Darwin by forcing him to ingest a massive amount of energy. When Lehnsherr and Xavier return they begin to train the mutants, though Raven is conflicted about hiding her natural form. Erik's constant validation of her true beauty and self-overturned her opinion, and when Hank finished the serum she refused to take it. Hank injected himself and underwent a radical transformation, which resulted in him taking on a more bestial appearance. During the Cuban Missile Crises, before taking off, Hank arrived and explained that the serum had the opposite effect he'd intended: it enhanced his mutation instead of dampening it. Though initially ashamed, Raven assured Hank that it was okay, as he is now his true self, and he shouldn't be ashamed. Hank nods in agreement, just before Erik says Hank never looked better. Hank, however, takes this as insult, believing Erik is mocking him, chokes him, until Charles tells him to let Erik go, which he does; Erik informs Hank that he wasn't mocking him. Havok then came up with a new name for Hank: Beast. The X-Men then take off in the Blackbird Beast designed, with him piloting and MacTaggart as his co-pilot.
• In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Mystique appeared in the live-action film sequel where she was portrayed once again by actor Jennifer Lawrence.
• In X-Men: Apocalypse, Mystique appeared in a supporting role in the live-action film where she was once more portrayed by actor Jennifer Lawrence.

Video games

• In X-Men: Next Dimension, Mystique appeared as a playable character in the fighting video game where she was voiced by actor Julianne Grossman.
• In X-Men Legends, Mystique appeared as a boss antagonist in the video game where she was voiced by actor Grey DeLisle.
• In X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, Mystique appeared as an NPC character in the video game.

Appearances

• Ms. Marvel v1: (1978)
• Uncanny X-Men v1:
• Sabretooth v1:
• X-Men v2:
• X-Men Unlimited v1:
• X-Treme X-Men v1:
• Dark X-Men v1:
• Wolverine v3:
• Astonishing X-Men:
• X-Men: Black - Mystique v1:
• House of X v1:
• X-Men v5:
• Inferno v2:
• Immortal X-Men v1: (2022)

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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