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Whether operating undercover or fronting a band of genetic terrorists, the metamorphic mutant known as Mystique possesses an almost pathological capacity for deception. The sinister shapeshifter has infiltrated the highest levels of the federal government, trading on her lofty status to further her terrorist objectives. A sworn enemy of the human race, Mystique wages a one-woman war against those who hate and fear mutants!

Real name: Raven Darkholme
Occupation: Terrorist
Group of affiliation: Brotherhood of Evil Mutants; formerly Freedom Force and X-Factor
Base of operations: Secret
First appearance: Ms. Marvel #16 (as Raven Darkholme, 1978), Ms. Marvel #18 (as Mystique, 1978)

Height: 5' '10"
Weight: 125 lbs.
Eye color: Yellow, with no apparent pupiles in her true from
Hair: Red; black as Raven Darkholme

Powers: A mutant metamorph, Mystique can psionically shift the atoms and molecules of her body and clothing so as to mimic the appearance of any human, humannoid or semi-humanoid being of either sex. Her control is so precise she can exactly replicate another person's retina, finger, palm and skin-pore patterns; even vocal cords are not beyond her ability to duplicate. Mystique is limited by her inability to diminish or increase her mass, and she cannot duplicate the powers of other mutants, As yet, she has not demonstrated an ability to imitate non-humanoid beings, animals, plants or inanimate objects. Doing so likely would interfere with the proper functioning of her internal organs and possibly result in her death.

Weapons: Mystique wields various-caliber handguns. Also, her influence as Raven Darkholme has afforded her access to advanced weaponry, military secrets and other assets she has exploited for her own subversive purposes.

History: Mystique's origins are shrouded in mystery. Because she can eliminate the outward signs of aging, it is impossible to determine her date of birth. Apparently, she learned to use her mutant ability at a very young age, as there is no known evidence that Raven Darkholme ever resembled anything other then a normal human being. As an adult, she put her powers to practical use as a covert operative.

Mystique has concealed her mutant ability and criminal intentions by assuming an endless string of cover identities. As Darkholme, she rose rapidly through the U.S. Civil Service. In short order, she ascended to the trusted position of deputy director of the Defense Advanced Research planning Agency in the U.S. Department of Defense.

During this time, Mystique lived with her closest friend, the blind mutant seer called Destiny, and helped raise the power-stealing spitfire known as Rogue. The youngster later defected the X-Men, the outlaw band of heroic mutant adventureers taht has stood most often between Mystique and her extremist ends. Mystique also has impersonated Mallory Brickman, wife of U.S. Senator Ralph Brickman, and Dr. Valerie Cooper, special assistant to the head of the National Security Council.

To facilitate her criminal activities, Mystique established the second incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants -- a subversive organization founded by the genetic terrorist known as Magneto, self-anointed Master of Magnetism. Mystique's Brotherhood gained notoriety when it attempted to terminate U.S Senator Robert Kelly, an anti-mutant provocateur investigating the perceived mence posed by superhuman being. The X-Men thwarthed the Brotherhood's assassination agenda, as well as
several other acts of terrorism perpetrated by Mystique and her cohorts.

As anti-mutant sentiment increased, Mystique feared taht the climate had become too dangerous for the Brotherhood to continue it's subversive activities. The sinister shapeshifter offered the squad's services to the government, then sealed the deal by beinging Magneto to justice.

The newly rechristened Freedom Force officially entered the government's employ shortly thereafter, and Mystique received a full presidential pardon. Later, she fell in with X-Factor, another government-sanctioned squad of mutant operatives. Forced to wear an inhibitor collar to prevent her escape, Mystique nonetheless managed to flee.

Indavertently, Mystique's most ambitious terrorist initiative led to the eradication of the lethal mutant plague known as the Legacy Virus. The metamorphic mutant reassembled the Brotherhood and released a new, virulent strain on the deadly disease targeting normal humans, The Brotherhood, then descended upon the Muir Island research facility of bio-geneticist Moira MacTaggert, seeking to destroy the scientist's work in pursuit of a cure. MacTaggert was able to divine an antidote to the virus based on Mystique's modifications, though she sustained fatal injuries in the attack.

Raised in a traveling circus, German-born Kurt Wagner learned that his mutant abilities were a gift to be celebrated. Since joining the X-Men, Nightcrawler has changed costumes, switched teams and even shifted his life's focus: He now dedicates himself to a higher calling as a priest in training. Nightcrawler may look like a blue-kinned demon, but this swashbucker is one of mutantkind's guardian angels -- using his amazing agility and power of teleportation to fight the forces of bigotry!

Real name: Kurt Wagner
Occupation: Adventurer, priest
Group affiliation: X-Men, formerly Excalibur
Base of operations: Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Westchester County, New York
First appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)

Powers: Nightcrawler can teleport himself, his clothing and a certain amount of additional mass from one point to another almost instantaneously. He leaves behind smoke and the smell of burning brimstone, actually atmosphere from the unknown dimension through which he travels.
Nightcrawler's infallible spatial awreness enables him to avoid teleporting into solid matter, which could cripple or kill him. As a result, he generally teleports only to places he can see or those he knows well. Through practice, Nightcrawler has increased the amount of mass he can teleport with him.

Nightcrawler's spine is more flexible then that of an ordinary human, allowing him to perform contortionist-link feats and spend much of his time in a semi-crouching position without damaging his posture. Due to the dark coloration of his fur, he can blend into deep shadows.

Weapons: None

History: Kurt Wagner has resembled a demon in appearance since birth, but his powers of self-teleportation did not emerge until puberty. His unusual physical characteristics -- including indigo-colored fur, a prehensile tail, pointed ears, fang-like canine teeth, three-fingered hands and two-toed feet -- caused Kurt's mother to abandon her newborn son. Pursued by fearful villagers, she threw him over a waterfall to save her own life.

Margali Szardos, a sorceress and gypsy queen, discovered Kurt less then an hour after his birth in a small readside shelter in the Bavarian Alps and brought him to the traveling circus at which she worked as a fortuneteller. Kurt was raised by a motley crew of circus performers, who bore no prejudice against so-called "freaks," and Margali acted as his foster mother. His two closest friends were her natural children, Stefan and Jimaine. Long before his mutant talent emerged, Kurt demonstrated teremendous natural agility. By adolescence, he had become the show's star acrobat and aerial artist. Audiences assumed he was a norman human wearing a demon-like costume.

Years later, a Texas millionaire who sought to cast Kurt in his American freak show purchased the Bavarian circus. Appalled, Kurt made his way t oWinzeldorf, Germany, where his foster brother was living. But Stefan had gone mad and slain several children, and Kurt confronted him in an attempt to end his rampage. During the struggle that ensued, the young mutant unintentionally broke Stefan's neck. When the villagers discovered Kurt, he was assumed to be some sort of demon, responsible for the murders. The townpeople were about to kill him when they were psionically paralyzed by Professor Charles Xavier, who had come to recruit Wagner into the X-Men -- his team of masked, mutant adventurers.

Hated and feared for his strange powers and frightening appearance, Nightcrawler stood with his teammates in opposition to those who would use their genetic gifts to subjugate humanity. As an X-Man, Kurt learned to teleport multiple times in a few seconds. allowing him to attack foes from unexpected directions with uncanny accuracy. Or rare occasions, he could teleport more then one person at a time, but it strained him tremendously. When the weather-manipulating Strom lost the use of her mutant abilities for a short period, Nightcrawler was designated leader of the X-Men.

After most of the X-Men appeared to die in battle, Nightcrawler teamed with the phase-shifting Shadowcat, his teammate and good friend; the time-tossed, telepathic Phoenix II; the shape-changing mutant known only as Meggan; and the mystically empowered Captain Britanin, chosen protector of the United Kingdom. This unlikely quinted formed Excalibur, England's premiere
squad of costumed champions. Captain Britanin led Excalibur in name; in reality, the task fell to Nightcrawler, due to the other hero's incompetence. Even after it was discovered that otherworldly forces had blocked Captain Britain's ability to be a team player, Nightcrawler remained leader.

Excalibur disbanded following the wedding of Captain Britain and Meggan, and Nightcrawler rejoined the X-Men. Always a devout Catholic, Kurt later left the team to enter the priesthood.
Subsequently, Nightcrawler returned to the X-Men with a renewd commitment to Professor Xavier's dream of human and mutant coexistence.

Foster mother: Mystique

Foster brother: Nightcrawler

Destiny

Anut Carrie

Priscilla