Marvel just officially expanded X-Men lore by introducing a new team, pursuing a unique mission of mutant heroism under the leadership of a founding mutant hero.
X-Men has a long history of success introducing spin-off teams, with groups like X-Force, X-Factor, Excalibur and the Louisiana X-Men anchoring their own series, separate to the main team and their adventures.
Now, Marvel is introducing the latest spin-off roster, with a fascinating membership and a surprisingly storied history in X-Men lore.
Beast Introduces the X-Men Science Team
In a new preview of X-Men #31 – from Jed MacKay, Tony S. Daniel, Mark Morales, Fernando Sifuentes and Clayton Cowles – founding X-Men hero Beast leads a new X-Men Science Team into the field.
Rather than Cyclops’ combat/rescue team, Beast’s squad are dedicated to investigating scientific anomalies – especially those caused by mutants. This issue sees them investigating a bizarre phenomenon in the Rocky Mountains, where the terrain has begun to break away, creating floating islands in the sky.
Fans already know that this mission will bring Beast’s team into conflict with Department H and a mysterious mutant, putting them at risk given their relative lack of combat expertise.
X-Men’s Science Team Members and Powers
Beast’s science team are a fascinating unit, including two new mutants who only gained their powers in adulthood, transformed by the villainous 3K. The current members are as follows:
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X-Men Science Team Members |
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X-Men’s Science Team Debut in 2026’s X-Men #31, Created by Jed MacKay and Tony S. Daniel |
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Hero |
Powers |
Creators |
First Appearance |
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Beast (Henry McCoy) |
Enhanced physique and senses (genius intellect unconnected to mutant status). Clone of original Beast with limited memories. |
Original: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Clone: Benjamin Percy and Robert Gill |
Original: X-Men #1 (1963) Clone: X-Force Vol. 6 #48 (2024) |
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Magneto (Max Eisenhardt) |
Ability to sense and control magnetic fields (the latter lessened due to R-LDS illness) |
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby |
X-Men #1 (1963) |
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Kid Omega (Quentin Quire) |
Telekinesis, vastly enhanced intelligence, Omega-level telepathy |
Grant Morrison and Keron Grant |
New X-Men #134 (2002) |
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Shen Xorn |
Healing, black-hole brain allowing control of gravity in nearby area |
Chuck Austen and Salvador Larroca |
X-Men Vol. 2 #157 (2004) |
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Animalia (Jennifer Starkey) |
Can take on animal qualities (wings, gills, claws) as adaptive evolution to environment. |
Jed MacKay and Netho Diaz |
X-Men Vol. 7 #4 (2024) |
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Benjamin ‘Ben’ Liu |
Reality warper (subconscious obsession with aliens influences his creations) |
Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman |
X-Men Vol. 7 #2 (2024) |
It’s possible that team chef Glob Herman is considered a member of the Science Team, but isn’t on this mission as he was recently shot during an assassination attempt. He’s shown in a variant cover from Mark Bagley with the other team members, though lacks any apparent expertise that would make him an asset to this unit.
Beast commanding his own team is a big step for the hero. During the Krakoan Era, the original Beast was corrupted by power and seemingly died. The X-Men replaced him with a clone missing years of memories, glad to have their friend back as they remembered him. Apparently, the Beast clone has enough trust to be handed his own team, including several neophyte mutants.
X-Men’s Next Event Will Push the Science Team to Their Limits
The X-Men’s Science Team may be a non-combat unit, but they’re going to be essential to X-Men lore soon enough. The upcoming DNX crossover – starring the X-Men and Fantastic Four – will see the original Beast (now known as the Chairman) attempt to release a plague that will transform some humans into mutants… and kill the rest.
Coming from Jed MacKay and Federico Vicentini, DNX will see the X-Men and Fantastic Four unite their resources to stop the plague. This team-up makes even more sense now that the X-Men have a dedicated science unit who specialize in mutant problems. Consulting with Reed Richards is a major feather in the cap of any science-based superhero group.
Due to the existence of the Science Team, DNX will see the original and replacement Beasts pitted against each other, mutant scientist vs mutant scientist for the fate of the planet.
Marvel’s Original X-Club Deserve a Movie Rebirth
While X-Men’s Science Team are a new group, the concept behind them is significantly older. In 2009, Marvel introduced the X-Club – a group of human and mutant geniuses dedicated to furthering mutant survival through science. The team even received their own miniseries in X-Club, from Simon Spurrier and Paul Davidson.
Beast led that roster too, though the membership was significantly more daring, drawing in some forgotten geniuses from classic comics that were otherwise being wasted.
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X-Club Members in X-Men Lore |
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X-Club Debuted in 2009’s Uncanny X-Men #507, Created by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson |
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Hero |
Status |
Powers/Are of Expertise |
Creators |
First Appearance |
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Beast (Hank McCoy) |
Founder and X-Men liaison |
Enhanced physique and senses |
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby |
X-Men #1 (1963) |
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Dr. Nemesis (James Bradley) |
Founding Member |
Enhanced intelligence, additional cybernetic and biological enhancements including extended lifespan |
Harry Anderson, Roy Thomas and Dave Hoover |
Lightning Comics #6 (1941) |
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Box (Madison Jeffries) |
Founding Member |
Technological genius, transmutative control over inorganic material, able to communicate with electronics |
John Byrne |
Alpha Flight #1 (1983) |
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Dr. Yukio Takiguchi |
Founding Member |
Non-mutant genius with focus on kaiju-related fields (genetics, radiation, robotics etc.) |
Doug Moench and Herb Trimpe |
Godzilla #1 (1977) |
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Dr. Kavita Rao |
Founding Member |
Non-mutant genius with focus on mutant biology (repentant co-creator of the anti-mutant ‘Cure,’ which permanently removes superpowers) |
Joss Whedon and John Cassaday |
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3 #1 (2004) |
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Danger |
Consultant |
Evolved AI with the ability to inhabit and transform technology, including creating advanced weaponry and holograms |
Joss Whedon and John Cassaday |
Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3 #9 (2005) |
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Psylocke (Betsy Braddock) |
Field Agent |
Powerful telepath and telekinetic, wields ‘psychic knife’ composed of psionic energy (at the time, possessing the body of ninja warrior Kwannon) |
Betsy Braddock: Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe Kwannon: Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert |
Betsy Braddock:Captain Britain #8 (1976) Kwannon: X-Men Vol. 2 #17 (1992) |
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Angel (Warren Worthington III) |
Field Agent |
Avian wings, alternate form as ‘Archangel’ with metallic, poison-tipped wings |
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby |
X-Men #1 (1963) |
Hopefully, when Marvel inevitably revamps X-Men for its cinematic universe, the concept of an X-Men Science Team/X-Club is rekindled. It’s a great way to showcase mutant characters who aren’t top-level powerhouses, and introduces creative new threats that lean even further into sci-fi than the franchise’s default.
Beast’s X-Men Science Team resurrects the idea of the X-Club, combining the main team’s support staff into a unique group dedicated to investigating the abnormal and inexplicable.
X-Men #31 is coming June 10 from Marvel Comics.
- Movie(s)
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X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- TV Show(s)
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X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
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X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- First Film
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X-Men (2000)
- Character(s)
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Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
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213035,212968