The difference between the Inhumans and the Mutants

[ChrisHammer]

In case it isn't obvious, my question is whats the difference between the Inhumans and the Mutants.

Both get they're powers from their genetics right? I'm not the most experienced Marvel reader. So I was hoping someone could explain to me the differences.

Also, just for fun, who would win if the two races went to war and why?

[Coal Tiger]

The size of the fan base.

[MythicalChicken]

Movie rights.

[Joe Acro]

Originally, Inhumans were people from outside society--they had their own civilization, their own culture. The only way they acquired power, and still acquire power, is by exposure to the Terrigen mists. When the mists recently spread worldwide and triggered many latent Inhuman genes, these new Inhumans formed cocoons until they stabilized, and then left their cocoons.

So, Inhumans are inherently otherworldly. They come from elsewhere. Or, if they don't come from elsewhere, still have to undergo a very sci-fi-esque process.

Mutants, conversely, are more subtle. There are no mists or cocoons that necessarily proclaim that someone has acquired mutant powers. When they reach puberty (or, in some rare cases, earlier than puberty), their powers simply switch on.

So, basically, the difference is that Inhumans start "normal" and become different through a process. Mutants start "normal" and just one day wake up different.


As for the second question, who would win if they went to war, normally I would save the X-Men just due to sheer numbers, but the Inhumans are pretty crafty at warfare. If the Inhumans have Black Bolt and some of the same technologies they had in War of Kings, I'd say they have the clear edge.

[Post Monster]

Mutants are evolved human mutants. Inhumans are alien hybrids designed to be weapons for the Kree.

Many Inhumans have instincts that run contrary to humans based on the individual's genetic combination (alien instincts). Inhumans are not humans, nor are they trying to be humans. They have their own society that was advanced and complex while humans were primitive. Basically, Inhumans are like the augments/Khan from Star Trek: powerful, engineered to be superior, and suffering from an overwhelming need to rule something. They aren't about a moral, ethical principle, they are a society.

[emac1790]

Mutants are evolved human mutants. Inhumans are alien hybrids designed to be weapons for the Kree.

Many Inhumans have instincts that run contrary to humans based on the individual's genetic combination (alien instincts). Inhumans are not humans, nor are they trying to be humans. They have their own society that was advanced and complex while humans were primitive. Basically, Inhumans are like the augments/Khan from Star Trek: powerful, engineered to be superior, and suffering from an overwhelming need to rule something. They aren't about a moral, ethical principle, they are a society.

Actually, they're not. The Inhumans are descended from Humans the Kree experimented on.

http://marvel.com/universe/Inhumans

[Juggernaut Punch]

Mutants are humans who have naturally evolved to possess superhuman powers. Inhumans are augmented humans who have evolved to use an external catalyst to trigger superhuman powers.

Basically, inhumans are bootleg mutants.

[Post Monster]

Actually, they're not. The Inhumans are descended from Humans the Kree experimented on.

http://marvel.com/universe/Inhumans

Yeah they are, see "...by splicing Eternals DNA into Cro-Magnons" . All those abilities aren't mutations, they're alien DNA being turned on. Inhumans aren't humans anymore, they're something else.

[emac1790]

Yeah they are, see "...by splicing Eternals DNA into Cro-Magnons" . All those abilities aren't mutations, they're alien DNA being turned on.

Earth Eternals. Human Eternals. My point still stands.

[Post Monster]

Earth Eternals. Human Eternals. My point still stands.

Eternals aren't humans. Sky father level gods have more in common with humans than the Eternals do. They, like the Deviants and Inhumans, ceased being human.

[MitchFox]

I heard that many inhumans have weakness to pollution and fall sick easily from diseases. If that is true, then why are the new inhumans wandering around in New York or any polluted cities in the first place? This is one of the things that really bother me so much about this Inhumanity nonsense.

As for the mutants, their vulnerability to disease or pollution all depends on their mutation and physiology. While those with healing factor are always lucky, some are not immune to the disorders thanks to the mutation such as cancer on Firestar for instance.
Also the former major threat for the mutants was legacy virus which makes them have flu-like symptoms, skin lesions on the body and their powers flare out of control.

[CSTowle]

Mutants are humans who have naturally evolved to possess superhuman powers. Inhumans are augmented humans who have evolved to use an external catalyst to trigger superhuman powers.

Basically, inhumans are bootleg mutants.

This, for the purpose of Mythical Chicken's answer ("movie rights"). See the article on the main site about Inhumans being included in "Agents of SHIELD".

[Myetche]

I heard that many inhumans have weakness to pollution and fall sick easily from diseases. If that is true, then why are the new inhumans wandering around in New York or any polluted cities in the first place? This is one of the things that really bother me so much about this Inhumanity nonsense.

They're only weak because of how sterile their home of Attilan is and how little they actually leave it. Medusa and Crystal have spent significant time outside Attilan, so they can handle the pollution better. The hybrid-Inhumans have already adapted to their conditions since they were born and raised outside, so they don't suffer from it at all.

Gotta build that immunity, y'know.

[ImprobableQuestion]

I feel like there's a Zodiac of discussion topics branching from the X-Men, where every couple months the cycle starts over again.

This is a very pleasant discussion so far though.

[Trident]

Originally, Inhumans were people from outside society--they had their own civilization, their own culture. The only way they acquired power, and still acquire power, is by exposure to the Terrigen mists. When the mists recently spread worldwide and triggered many latent Inhuman genes, these new Inhumans formed cocoons until they stabilized, and then left their cocoons.

So, Inhumans are inherently otherworldly. They come from elsewhere. Or, if they don't come from elsewhere, still have to undergo a very sci-fi-esque process.

Mutants, conversely, are more subtle. There are no mists or cocoons that necessarily proclaim that someone has acquired mutant powers. When they reach puberty (or, in some rare cases, earlier than puberty), their powers simply switch on.

So, basically, the difference is that Inhumans start "normal" and become different through a process. Mutants start "normal" and just one day wake up different.


As for the second question, who would win if they went to war, normally I would save the X-Men just due to sheer numbers, but the Inhumans are pretty crafty at warfare. If the Inhumans have Black Bolt and some of the same technologies they had in War of Kings, I'd say they have the clear edge.

This is the best answer out of the bunch.

I would also add that by comparison average Inhuman seem more powerful than the average Mutant. Inhumans also seem to have more outlandish physical features on average.