The Zeb Wells written X-men title Hellions (2020) has proven to be one of the more enjoyable reads on my pull list since it made its debut. The only problem, however, which I have already raised in my House of X: The Black Mutant Listing which had around 100 entries as of now. It got me thinking about the Hellion’s program as a method of giving those with more homicidal and violent mutants on Krakoa an outlet. The current team is finished based on Mr. Sinister and Kwannon’s machinations and the revelation that Empath has been a spy for Emma Frost this whole time. Entertaining madness!
Since the Hellions are essentially the Suicide Squad equivalent in Marvel comics we could see a new lineup when the X-line gets reshuffled after Inferno (2020). Here are some picks to add some melanin popping, black Excellence to one of my favorite squads.
- Powerhouse
Created by: Erik Larsen
1st appearance: Spider-Man #15 (October 1991)
Powerhouse has the ability to drain the energy of other living things to increase her own power. She can absorb energy through physical contact with a victim, even brief contact like a punch. At some point, under uncertain circumstances, Powerhouse developed mutant powers and a strong hatred for humanity.
Beast was giving a lecture at ESU on genetics and Powerhouse decided to show up and send her anti-human message there. Simultaneously, a mutant hater called Masterblaster decided to make his presence and opinions felt at the same lecture. Though it is unclear whether one of them influenced the other’s actions at the lecture, Masterblaster came to attack Beast, and Powerhouse attacked humans there and the Beast came to their aid and fought Powerhouse. They fought back and forth, with Powerhouse having the upper hand until Spider-Man showed up.
In the Hellions: A relative blank slate thus far giving future writers many avenues to develop her motivations, powers and past in any way they want.
- Emplate
Created by: Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo
1st appearance: Generation-X #1, 1994
Biography
Born into the wealthy house of St. Croix Marius was the first of three siblings and the outcast as soon as everyone laid eyes on his perfect little sister Monet. His jealously grew even further when Nicole and Claudette were born. When he hit puberty his powers manifested one day when his father and the girls were away from the house. He killed his mother by feeding on her. His father kicked him out of the house soon after without realizing he was the one who had committed the crime. He would further destroy his family when he imprisoned Monet in the Penance shell. Feeding on her for years he got his cruel revenge until she was rescued by Gateway. He was the main villain for the young mutants of Generation X, even creating a team of Hellions and terrorizing all his siblings, and infecting Synch with his form of Vampirism.
Look what they have done to my boy! Relegated to background noise monitoring the mutant energy that Krakoa is absorbing along with Selene…but Selene is busy causing trouble for Captain America and appearing in X-Corp? He has a history with new X-men member Synch, brother to Monet/Penance, and even history with Emma Frost? Was he every a villain because he was evil or simply because his powers necessitated it? Can we delve into his psyche, being ostracized from his father? Feeling alone in his family despite having three other mutant siblings? Such missed potential here!
~DIG DEEPER INTO EMPLATE HERE~
RELATED: House of X: The Black Mutant/X-men Listing
- Nekra
Created by: Steve Gerber, Ross Andru
1st appearance: Shanna, The She-Devil #5 (August 1973)
Biography
Decades ago, Gemma Sinclair was an African-American cleaning lady at Los Alamos National Laboratory. While she was pregnant, an exploding lab experiment bombarded Gemma with radiation, causing her unborn child to mutate. Nekra was born albino-like with vampiric features. Nekra is able to grant herself various superhuman physical attributes by harnessing violent emotions within her, especially the emotion of hate. The precise nature of how she’s able to do this isn’t known, but it is possible this ability is partially psionic.
Her undefined magic powers would suggest she should be showing up with Excalibur and the more magic-centric mutant/witch breed squad but as a longtime villain with anger issues, she would be right at home for a new Hellion squad.
- King Bedlam
Created by: John Francis Moore and Steve Epting
1st appearance: Factor X #1, 1995 (Age of Apocalypse)
X-force #83, 1998 (Mainstream Marvel comics)
Biography
Chris was the first of two children born to a middle American family. As his power manifested he became difficult especially when his parents spoke of sending him away to boarding school. In a testament to his cruelty even at this early stage he used his powers on his parents driving them mad and caused them to crash their car. His parents were killed in the accident but his younger brother Jessie survived. They were separated and sent to different orphanages. From this stage, he decided to never allow anyone to use him for their own personal gain. When his powers came to the attention of the orphanage he was separated and recruited into a secret government operation where he was trained for a few years. He eventually rebelled and drove his handlers mad. For the next few years, he maintained a low profile and gathering together a band of mutants who shared his goal of mutant supremacy.
Bedlam is one of the more evil mutants that have been created. Similar to Empath on the current squad. He could easily fit into the same A-hole mold. He is also quite powerful and one-note which allows writers to truly make him their own.
~DIG DEEPER INTO KING BEDLAM HERE~
RELATED: 10 Forgotten Black Marvel Mutants Who Should Be Revived
- Fatale
Created by: Scott Lobdell and Brandon Peterson (Pamela Greenwood); John Francis Moore and Jeff Matsuda (Fatale)
1st appearance: Uncanny X-Men #299, 1993
Biography
Fatale was a mutant who became one of Europe’s most noted assassins. In America, she was employed by Dark Beats who used her to gather information on the X-men, particularly Bishop. When her master got the information he needed to infiltrate the team she faked her death and escaped. When Dark Beast became interested in Havok brother to the X-men’s Cyclops she joined with the Tatsuo clan to secure him. Here she ran into Storm’s long-time friend Yukio and she fled. She then joined Onslaught’s army along with Dark Beast and was captured and jailed. They were later freed by Havok who recruited them into his rendition of the “Brotherhood”.
With history and flirtations with the new Captain of the mutant race Bishop and ties to evil AOA Beast, she could be just the Kwannon replacement with her martial arts prowess and ties to the underworld.
- Hairbag
Created by: Peter David and Larry Stroman
1st appearance: X-Factor # 75, 1992
Biography
His early life in Jamaica is unknown but he came to the attention of Mr. Sinister who quickly recruited him into his second team of operatives called the Nasty Boys. This team mainly fought the government-sponsored X-factor lead by Havok. In most clashes, he fought fellow feral mutant Wolfsbane. In a final showdown with X-factor, his team was defeated and jailed. They were freed by Black Supervillain Reignfire’s Mutant Liberation Front and later returned o the nasty boys. He fought the X-men’s wolverine soon after and survived but hasn’t been seen since though he has been confirmed as retaining his powers after M-day.
A blank slate except for his time on the 90’s X-men series. Hairbag could be the feral mutant on the new squad as a replacement for Wildchild. His Jamaican accent on the 90’s tv show also means they could take the untapped Caribbean struggle in the US and run with it. He also has ties to Mr. Sinister so…
- Knight
Created by: Bryan Edward Hill, Juan Ferreyra
1st appearance: Killmonger #1 (February 2019)
Biography
Patricia Jackson was a mutant mercenary with superhuman strength in the service of Kingpin under the alias of “Knight.” She was part of a crew alongside King and Rook. When their boss was doing business with Klaw, Knight and the rest of the team intercepted an assassination attempt on Klaw by Erik Killmonger.
Pretty well fleshed out before her death. She also has ties to Killmonger and through him Wakanda. Considering the Black Panther brand is so hot right now bringing her back and making her ties to other mutants explicit would be epic!
- Junction
Created by: Chris Claremont, Leinil Francis Yu
1st appearance: X-Men (Vol. 2) #106 (November 2000)
Junction was a member of the mutant offshoot known as the Neo, they were Homo sapiens superior who decided to live reclusively, waiting for humanity to self-annihilate, and developed their own warrior culture. Joining the Warclan they battled the X-men. She had the power of teleportation.
Blank slate! Just tidy up that whole neo are something other than mutant and we have an established character who can be taken anywhere.
- Punchout
Created by: Chris Claremont and Rick Leonardi
1st appearance: Uncanny X-Men #235, 1988
Biography
Punchout is a super-humanly strong mutant who lived in Genosha. Nothing else is known of her past but she joined the Genoshan Magistrates and the Press Gang. Here she fought the X-men and Cable multiple times in Genosha’s defense. She later helped defeat Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four and took him to Genosha. Later when the island fell into a civil war she remained with her Press Gang friends to fight against the rebels. When Magneto rose to power in Genosha she seemingly disappeared and has not been seen since. It is unknown if she retained her powers after M-Day.
An old mutant with no character development, a tragedy if I ever did see one. So much space to show her adventures and just what it was like to be in Genosha and in their service for an extended time.
- Astrid Bloom
Created by: Karl Bollers and Carlo Pagulayan
1st appearance: Emma Frost #14, 2004
Biography
Astrid was born in England and had a happy life with both parents. Her life changed when her father died and her mother remarried and gave birth to her little sister. Immediately she became the outcast, her room was converted to a baby nursery and her parents pampered and spoiled her sister while she was always in the wrong. When her powers manifested she had enough and using her powers she cruelly took control of her sister and had her kill her parents. Using her powers she made a life for herself and eventually arrived in New York for college. Here she met Emma Frost a fellow telepath, Astrid saw Emma as a student, someone to mold and manipulate to her anti-human way of thinking. When Emma realized she was being manipulated the two fought and Emma the more powerful telepath prevailed. The strain left Astrid Catatonic. She is still in the hospital to this day.
I have a fascination with Astrid. Not just because of her ties to a young Emma Frost but how much of Emma’s personality and outlook were shaped by their brief time together. Left Comatose all these years could leave her holding a grudge. As the template for a modern White Queen, I’m curious how well she would play with others.
~DIG DEEPER INTO ASTRID BLOOM HERE~
There you have it!
What did you think of our list, did we miss anyone?
Be sure to leave a comment below!
If you enjoyed this list be sure to check out
the Top 30 Black Superheroes- Traffic Edition,
the Top 30 Black Superheroes-Fan Edition,
the Top 20 Black Superheroes-Milestone Comics editions.
and