How would changing the sex or race, or both, of an X-character change *them*?

[Mercury]

Think about it deeply before you answer. This could be a fun and interesting thread.

So, how would you change any given character? Would you change their sex, race, or both? Why? Also, how would doing so change their history and personality? What other changes would happen as a result of changing their sex and race?

[Daedra]

Think about it deeply before you answer. This could be a fun and interesting thread.

So, how would you change any given character? Would you change their sex, race, or both? Why? Also, how would doing so change their history and personality? What other changes would happen as a result of changing their sex and race?

Mutants should be able to change sex at will with 24h cooldown, race cannot really be changed……. I could wake up tomorrow and decide I’m a woman trapped in a male body but I doubt I could actually claim to be asian or native american.

[Ambaryerno]

Logan's entire backstory would have to change since he was able to pass as the son of Jonathan Howlett and Elizabeth Hudson, both of whom were part of wealthy, aristocratic, land-owning families in 19th Century Canada. Because the society of the time would have pretty much entirely excluded Indigenous people and Blacks from these social circles, it would be virtually impossible for Logan to be coded as BIPOC as a result. Even if his actual father was BIPOC or of mixed race, Logan himself still had to be "white enough" for Elizabeth to pass him off as Jonathan's son to hide her affair.

Similarly, changing Magneto's origins to some more contemporary genocide would not have the same impact. The Holocaust is unique in history for not only its scale (possibly exceeded by Stalin's purges, and the slaughter of Chinese by Japan) its industrialized, assembly-line approach to mass murder (which sets it apart from Stalin and China). And it's THIS that we often see in the "bad futures" where mutants face extermination: Mutants facing a very systemic, assembly-line sort of extermination. Having him survive something like Darfur is going to be radically different than what he experienced in the Camps.

[LordMikel]

If Cyclops was a female, it would change the dynamic between Cyclops and Wolverine and the relationship between Cyclops and Jean would be very controversial for the time. Now it might not be as bad of a problem.

[PyroFN]

If Cyclops was a female, it would change the dynamic between Cyclops and Wolverine and the relationship between Cyclops and Jean would be very controversial for the time. Now it might not be as bad of a problem.

Agreed.

Same can be said if Jean was a man instead. In fact, in my opinion, it probably would impact that relationship moreso based on the fact that writers would probably hide behind Logan as a beard for either Female Cyclops or Jean. There is no way around Scott and Logan falling in love the Male Jean beyond calling it just a very, very close friendship. At least until we get to the modern day when those things become less taboo.

Knowing the times though, Scott’s dynamic with everyone else though would change. Female Scott probably wouldn’t be the leader. She probably would end up a love interest to the other members and would probably have the same connection to Jean as Jean has to Lorna or Storm.

[Gripstir]

If Beast was a girl he would have an entirely different kind of fan base

[Mercury]

Imagine: Cyclops, Beast, Angel, and Iceman are all women, with Jean being the only male. lol!

[Gray Lensman]

If Cyclops was a female, it would change the dynamic between Cyclops and Wolverine and the relationship between Cyclops and Jean would be very controversial for the time. Now it might not be as bad of a problem.

That would change the love triangle from one person torn between two into probably all 3 people trying to figure out who they want to be with - Logan and Scott's tension had been characterized as BST (Belligerent Sexual Tension) for a while to the point Bendis even mentioned it on page during the close of Battle of the Atom. Jean's part would be a possible coming out story, Logan's would be does he want the Nice Girl or the Tsundere (Think either Sam and Diane or Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing if you aren't up on anime terms), and Scott/Scotia would probably have her jealousy over Jean misinterpreted as being over Logan - reading strong emotions isn't always accurate, especially when the person isn't fully trained AND it can be easily mined for drama.

Changing Scott's ethnicity, on the other hand, is unlikely to change much about him. Being both a military brat and orphaned before he could learn much about any heritage he had ("I have grandparents?") set his path, although it could lead to a story about him learning about said heritage.

[Sutekh]

Changing Scott's ethnicity, on the other hand, is unlikely to change much about him. Being both a military brat and orphaned before he could learn much about any heritage he had ("I have grandparents?") set his path, although it could lead to a story about him learning about said heritage.

Yeah, he's so disconnected from family and traditions and any sort of culture or heritage, due to his upbringing, he could be literally any ethnicity. As a result, he could almost be the 'safest' character to have been a minority way back in the less-enlightened days, since he doesn't actually offer any real depth involving whatever ethnicity or culture he brings to the table, he's just another disconnected orphan with X-colored skin.

And also yeah to the above about a rule 63 O5 X-Men (male Jean, female Scott, Hank, Warren and Bobby) would be the first harem fic. And everyone would *still* be all about Jean.

Interesting question, would Wolverine still be as beloved and popular if he was a black man.

Sadly, no, he'd fall into all sorts of angry black man and 'black people are savages / violent' tropes, I fear. The sort of 'bad boy' antisocial behavior that's made him *beloved* by white male readers would be held up as 'scary' as a black man.

I do kinda wish Cable had been introduced as a black man, way back in the day (and the whole 'time-tossed son of Scott and Maddie' thing had never happened). Get a decade's jump on Bishop and sort of fuse the best elements of both 'gun-toting dudes from the future.' Maybe there could finally be a black X-character with his own book.

[Rift]

And also yeah to the above about a rule 63 O5 X-Men (male Jean, female Scott, Hank, Warren and Bobby) would be the first harem fic. And everyone would *still* be all about Jean.

Scott really does have that "first girl introduced, and main love interest to the main character" energy. If the X-Men were an dating game, he would be the canon love interest.

[From The Shadows]

All i know is its a stupid idea and unneeded. People just want to push it like its the latest amazing thing like its never been tried before. Besides, I heard color is no longer blind and I at least believe in this now in instances like this, nor should it be. Its like this... if you have to be pushed like you are white or a man so you can erase your own poc/woman legacy I really don't want to understand. X-Men especially has a big enough library of women and poc. If you are talking about roles for actors I choose not to associate the two. Besides their canon appearances are important to me and that includes poc and women.

[JudicatorPrime]

Not to leverage or derail, but I wonder what if it was the race or gender (or both) of the creators and subsequent writers that was changed? What would the X-Men have been like then?

As for the OP, I can't say that I ever wanted any of the X-characters to change their ethnicity or gender.

[Mercury]

If Logan were changed to a woman, she'd go by Tits McGee.

[Big Joe]

There's a whole story about why Banshee was a man when quite obviously he should not have been. Far too late by the time Syrin came along, Banshee, as a male hero, was far too well established.

[From The Shadows]

If Logan were changed to a woman, she'd go by Tits McGee.

Even Girl Logan would lunge at Ice Man for that.