It's my third post related to X-Factor #10. That may just be a record for a single comic.
So here's the question: Is Quicksilver still a mutant?
The difficulty comes in a) trying to define "mutant" in the Marvel Universe, and b) figuring out what exactly Wanda did to depower all these mutants.
I'm leaning towards the theory that mutant powers are provided by a certain gene being active that normally isn't. The trick is, it's a different gene for each power, or at least each subset of powers (like mental powers, density control, enhanced senses, energy manipulation, etc.), with the particular power that's expressed being somewhat reliant on the mindset of the person and their life experiences. This could explain the difference between a Shadowcat, who manifests density control as the ability to pass through objects, and a Colossus who manifests by turning into organic steel and just smashing through the same objects.
Going with that assumption/hypothesis, I'm going to say that either Wanda has somehow rendered these alleles inactive - as they would be for Homo sapiens - or she has removed them entirely, so that the affected people are actually missing genetic material. I'm thinking the first one is more likely, or at least simpler. Somehow Wanda has altered the mutants so their RNA Polymerase enzymes no longer recognize that section of the genome as something to make a protein from, or the code has been altered so it no longer can code for the protein that provided their mutant abilities.
And now I'm seeing Dr. Gathman at the chalkboard, hands held above his head saying , "I'm RNA Polymerase!" Sigh, crazy Dead-head.
So if Pietro's gene stopped working, what did the Terrigen Mists do? He doesn't run super-fast anymore, he travels through time. Offhand, that would appear to not be a case of the gene being reactivated, right? Of course, relativistic theory says that at high enough speeds, time slows down (look at me, talking like I understand physics), so time travel could merely be seen as the ultimate expression of super-speed. I suppose the question is whether the Mist enables the body of the person exposed to begin coding proteins for the previously unused gene sequence, or if the Mist is something different, more akin to the chemical/lightning accident that gave Barry Allen his super-speed.
And questioning whether Pietro is once again a member of Homo superior leads to similar questions about the people he's changed. Are they mutants again (in the sense Marvel applies to the term), or are they just another addition to that "not human, not mutant" group we've seen so many of over the years (including right now in X-Men!)?
Come back tomorrow when we once again discuss mutant-related themes brought to the front of my brain courtesy of X-Factor #10!
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10 comments:
if i rember right ..it was beast who determined wanda wiped out the "gene" that causes mutation...and im no expert but its the gene that alows the mutation to take place...it would be like cancer genes....if you can isolate that gene and remove it then cancer wouldnt be able to form....so wanda took the gene away and the powers with them...the mist from i recall..and im no inhuman master..but the mist mutates them kree wise..like makes them advanced humans part kree part human..hybrid maybe??(in alot of stories like earthx and stuff they always say how the inhuman were humans advanced by kree or those big space dudes..im drwaing a blank) but thats how i see it as adnvanced humans like the defiants or the inhumans..the mist mutates them or pushes the genes to thier fullest potential.. so my vote advanced human
gabesummers
Long long ago in the Quicksilver mini, the writer admitted that he was going to give Pietro more of a 'time' based power, amping up his speed and putting him in the power levels of Reality Altering Sister and World Turning Father. The act time has come into the picture doesn't surprise me as much as the 'Divine Test' thingie.
As for what happened to the mutants, I believe the 'X Gene' is the starting whatsit that starts the genetic anomaly that gives people lazer eyes, etc. It might not cause the power, but is where genetis branches off. Keep in mind my biology knowledge is very rusty, but my Marvel ken is fairly good.
So if all the mutant powers were 'nipped in the bud' so to speak, it would effectively make them human. How they are getting them back... maybe they're considered 'mutates' now, the handmade mutants that the Genoshans were?
Oy.
I'm going to shoot for a technical answer based on the RNA Polymerase enzyme idea.
With this in mind, Wanda didn't succeed when she said "no more mutants." What she did is inhibit a whole heck of a lot of RNA Polymerase from working. I'd guess that she probably hit some humans as well. The difference being that the "mutant" genes were inhibited, not destroyed. In essence, all the mutants are still mutants.
Also, in order for the decresed number of mutants to hold, Wanda would need to maintain her power, which she has not... unless she's magically teleported in a lot more RNA Polymerase.
As for those mutants who kept their powers, I think they are a herald for what will inevitably come along, more mutants. After all, just as the line from Jurassic Park suggests, "life finds a way."
So, yes, in my opinion, Pietro is still a mutant.
gabe: so Pietro would be more like an Inhuman now? That could work. I'd say Luna definitely is like an Inhuman now, given she had no powers before her dad exposed her to the Mists.
And the big space dudes, the Celestials? Yeah, they supposedly tampered with human genetics millions of years ago, which may explain why there were so many mutants.
carla: Genosha made it's own mutants?
And I kind of figured Pietro was trying to absolve himself of some of the fault for mutants current plight. Kind of a "Well it was Divine Will that I manipulate my deranged sister into altering reality, only to see her get pissed later and screw a lot of my former mutant brethren."
It seems like the sort of thing it'd be hard to take responsiblity for, given the sheer number of people it hurt.
len: Like she introduced the mutant gene equivalent of methanol for Alcohol dehydrogenase? Something interferes with RNA Polymerase's ability to copy the gene?
It would still leave me somewhat confused as to why the depowered mutants Pietro touches get amped up versions of their powers. Unless Pietro is removing the block Wanda's put on everything, and he's doing something else.
I don't know. I pretty much exhausted my genetics knowledge with the Alcohol dehydrogenase stuff.
Well, Beast also identified a gene in humanity that would end the race, self-destructively, and Marvel did nothing with that. So I wouldn't be so sure about his scientific pronouncements.
Although the extinction gene was a Morrison idea, and the mutant gene being turned off was a Bendis idea, so we all know which Marvel will go with...
well quicksilver is time traveling by shaking really really fast, so the mists did restored his superspeed in a sense.
And what of Namor McKenzie? He still has his powers, but Marvel are never sure of whether he's a mutant or not.
anonymous: So, Pietro's powers really have just augmented then? That would tie-in with carla's comments I guess.
kelvin: I think Namor's a mutant version of an Atlantean. What that makes him, I don't know.
Ah, Wikipedia: Mutants in Genosha were the property of the state and children who were positively identified with the mutant gene were put through a process developed by David Moreau, commonly known as the Genengineer, stripped of free will and made into mutates (a Marvel term for genetically-modified mutants as opposed to those who developed mutant powers naturally).
And for the record, Pietro's never really been 'tight' with his mutant roots. Remember: never an X-Man, never stood nex to Xavier, was a government superhero before he was a 'mutant' one so I wouldn't say he would want to atone for crimes against his breathren. Do remeber that the whole House of M thing was a very bad but well-meant attempt to save Wanda first and foremost.
Besides, you can always blame your crazy father, it's worked for him in the past.
Oh, and for the record, they ALWAYS tout Namor as the first mutant, even teaching that to kids in House of M.
Oh, and for the record, they ALWAYS tout Namor as the first mutant, even teaching that to kids in House of M.
Something happened in House of M?
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