Photo by Kerwin Elias from Unsplash
Flight or invisibility? Which superpower would you choose?
According to Forbes, “We have collected data from 7065 leaders across the globe.
With a difference of almost three to one, 72% of our leaders chose the ability to fly over being invisible (28%).”
Flight is a power that requires confidence where invisibility is a passive power.
In the X-Men Universe “X gene” gives mutants a diverse set of abilities.
Shapeshifting is a power that mimics invisibility because you can look and sound like anyone.
Shapeshifting is Mystique’s power. In the original trilogy, Mystique is prominently shown in her iconic scaly blue skin and wide yellow eyes.
She is confident in who she is and doesn’t use her power to be invisible.
Mystique’s Origins
In the film X-Men: First Class we see Mystique’s real name is Raven, and Raven wanted to look “normal”.
The desire to be “normal” comes from the expectations of society. Raven’s desire and struggle to accept herself parallels the experience of people in the LGBTQ+ community.
The connections between the LGBTQ+ and mutant communities is reinforced in X2: X-Men United in a scene where Bobby Drake, a mutant also known as Iceman, comes out to his parents as a mutant.
Their immediate disbelief is demonstrated in the question; “have you tried not being a mutant?”
Mystique’s powers allow her to mask her natural blue appearance into a socially acceptable human form.
In reality many transgender people go through the process of changing appearances to “pass” as the gender they identify with.
Mystique’s storyline in First Class shows her struggling to accept herself.
In the film, she contributes to efforts to find a cure.
Unlike the mutant cure at the end of the original trilogy, it is only meant to change appearances, not erase powers.
Her X-gene is the key to making the cure possible.
She is struggling with internalized expectations, which lead to her genoism (prejudice against mutants).
In the real world members of the LGBTQ+ community often struggle with internalized homophobia or transphobia. The way to combat those feelings is with self-confidence.
The question of why she doesn’t “stay transformed as a human” is answered by a simple “Because we shouldn’t have to.” in the original trilogy.
First Class confliction
X Men: First Class shows how Raven became Mystique. As young children, Erik (later known as the antagonist Magneto) finds Raven beautiful. When they meet, he encourages Raven to be herself.
Charles Xavier (Professor X) also appreciates who she is. She has to choose which side she is on at the end of X-Men: First Class.
We see her being conflicted because Magneto and Professor X both want the world to accept mutants. She could be herself once that happens.
The key reason she chooses Erik is because she gains confidence by being seen as beautiful.
Mystique’s confidence is illustrated by her appearance. In real-world applications this could represent LGBTQ+ people being “out and proud” with their partners or dressing however they want.
Such confidence in someone with a visible physical disability might be represented by mobility aids such as orthotics or wheelchairs sporting colors and patterns that accentuate personality.