The concept of a mutant is a common trope in fiction. The new phenotypes that appear in fictional mutations generally go far beyond what is typically seen in mutants in reality, and often result in the mutated life form exhibiting superhuman abilities or qualities.
Role in Cultural Perceptions Scholars have argued that mutants in fiction have been used as a device that reflect broader cultural perceptions surrounding technoscience topics. Mutants' depiction in fictional media has often followed global events that have sparked mass public concern, such as events spreading radioactive material and developments in genetic engineering. Furthermore, it is argued that fictional mutants stemming from these events symbolize public perceptions associated with scientific advancement. For example, in the 1954 film Them! ants mutate into civilization threatening monsters as a result of atomic bomb testing in New Mexico. The film's release follows real world atomic bomb testing that took place at the Trinity Site in New Mexico.
DC Comics
In DC Comics, the term was first used in the 1980s by a fictitious race of extraterrestrials known as the Dominators when they appeared in the Invasion! mini-series. Metahumans are mutants who gain their abilities from the metagene, a gene which is often activated by external factors. However, the metagene can also manifest at birth. Captain Comet gained superpowers at birth when a comet activated his metagene, which manifested by the time he was eight.
Marvel Comics
In Marvel Comics, genetic mutation has been used as an explanation for super-powers since the 1950s. Mutants have played a major role in Marvel Comics, particularly the X-Men and related series. In the Marvel Comics universe, they are a persecuted minority where most people fear and hate them. Marvel Comics redefines the term to beings who are in a higher stage of evolution known as Homo superior and are not yet accepted by the human race. Other terrestrial and alien races, as well as robots, have also exhibited mutations and have joined the X-Men, including Ariel, Danger, and Warlock. Additionally, Mr. Immortal (Craig Hollis) is reported to be Homo Supreme, a higher stage of mutant than the more common Homo Superior; Mr. Immortal is the only known member of his species. Marvel Comics makes clear distinctions between mutants and 'mutates', beings who gain superpowers by other means, such as Spider-Man or Cloak and Dagger.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, mutants are creatures who were evolved by interaction with mutagen, an alien ooze. In the original comics, the mutagen simply evolves animals into anthropomorphic forms. In some adaptations, such as the 1987 and 2012 animated series, the mutagen hybridizes whoever is exposed to it with the DNA of the organism they last touched.
In other media
Literature In Foundation and Empire (1952) by Isaac Asimov, a "mutant" named The Mule possesses the ability to sense and manipulate the emotions of others. He uses this ability to subjugate people in his attempt to conquer the galaxy. Children of the Atom (1953) by Wilmar H. Shiras. The children of workers who were exposed to a radioactive explosion give birth to children with a high intelligence. In The Hunger Games, the mutants bred by the Capitol are called "muttations" or "mutts". They include jabberjays, birds that can copy speech, tracker jackers, a vicious wasp specimen, orange monkeys with claws like switchblades, and wolf mutts. Also, there are mockingjays, hybrids of jabberjays and mockingbirds that can copy songs. In The Chrysalids by science fiction author John Wyndham, a post-apocalyptic, fundamentalist society views genetic mutation as a blasphemy and the work of the Devil; not realizing it is the result of radiation from a world-wide nuclear war that occurred over a thousand years before. In order to prevent another tribulation, they follow a strict eugenics policy. Individuals considered deviations are either killed or sterilized and banished. The protagonist, a boy named David, can communicate telepathically with a small group of other children. However, David and his friends must keep their abnormal abilities secret or risk death or banishment. In the espionage novel Performance Anomalies, by Victor Robert Lee, the protagonist Cono 7Q is investigated by geneticists at Stanford University who determine that his accelerated nervous system is due to mutations on the long (q) arm of his seventh chromosome. They cite mutations in the brain-related genes timeless, FoxP2, and STX1A, and perhaps others as underlying Cono 7Q's ability to perceive high-speed events and react to them with a rapidity not seen in normal humans.
Television Leela in the animated sitcom series Futurama initially believes herself to be an alien. In the episode "Leela's Homeworld", it is revealed that she is actually a mutated human; being the least unusual-looking of any mutant on 31st century Earth (where mutants are shunned and forced to live underground), her parents sent her into New New York as an infant and presented her as an alien. In Power Rangers Time Force the Evil warlord Ransik and his daughter Nadira are a group of mutants who are evil with monsters but the Time Force police track them, with teenager Wesley Collins who is billionaire of Mr. Collins, they defeat the mutant monsters in every episode of the show.
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
