X is for X-MEN

Most-Wanted Monsters is thrilled to be one of more than a thousand blogs taking part in the 2012 A -Z Blogging Challenge - 26 opportunities to help you survive a paranormal apocalypse. Don't let our epic monster limericks fool you - the lore we share about the beasties featured in each daily post could literally save your life. Know them before they GET you!

X-MEN

From the minds of Kirby, and of Lee

Come scientific versions of monstrosity.

Holding up a graphic mirror to human kind

Showing our inner beasts, one comic at a time.

Since 1963 Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have entertained comic lovers with the ever unfolding saga of the X-Men. These two brilliant and creative forces united to put a scientific spin on mythology and folklore. Forget magic and mystery, spells and incantations, the REAL reason behind the lore of our darkest fears - an eXtra gene causing mutations in human DNA.

That's right. They're not monsters, people, they're just human MUTANTS - with good and evil among their diverse ilk. Once outted, the mutants face a hostile reception from the average-Joe human population. They soon see the benefits of aligning with either the caring, "good", Professor Xavier and his X-Men, or with the fierce, "evil", Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants.

The two factions serve as a reflection of human society, revealing our darkness: prejudice, fear of the unknown, intolerance, greed - and yet the villains of the Marvel Universe often have sympathetic orgins. Magneto, himself, a survivor of a concentration camp.

SURVIVAL TIP: Arm yourself with knowledge of the mutants - read the X-Men comics, watch the films...you may see something of your own inner beast.

Fess up - what "X" beast looks back at you from your mirror?

Now, teleport on over to some of the other blogs on the A-Z Blogging Challenge.