X-Men Explains How Its Unique New Mutant Power Actually Works

WARNING! Spoilers for X-Men #14

The X-Men have a new hero joining them on their next mission, and her power is being properly explained at long last. Jennifer Starkey has found herself working with the X-Men now that she's been given a shocking mutation by 3K, with her power involving the growth of different physical attributes of living creatures, and Marvel has finally shared more information about what this ability entails.

In the preview for X-Men #14 by Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman, J.P. Mayer, Marte Gracia, and Clayton Cowles, Cyclops gets notified about a missing persons case, and he sends the X-Men out to aid in the search for Piper Cobb. To help, new recruit Jennifer Starkey joins them in a bird-like form that enables her to fly.

Beast informs Jennifer that, though she only recently grew her wings, she's able to fly with little practice because she has an instinctive understanding of the traits she obtains via adaptation. This impressive development for Jen's powers prove that she has immense potential with the X-Men.

X-Men Explains Its Newest Mutant's Powers, And She's Overpowered

Jennifer Starkey Has Potential to be a Powerful X-Men Hero

Jennifer Starkey wasn't always a mutant, and her powers are a more recent development for her than most other mutants' are. She was taken in by the insidious 3K organization and transformed into a mutant against her will, which has granted her abilities that she's still learning about. After being rescued by Cyclops' X-Men, Beast studies her newfound mutant in X-Men #11, and he discovers that she can alter her genetic disposition via a form of metamorphosis. For instance, when she thinks about the physical attributes she wants, she can manifest them as additions to her body.

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For example, Jen tells Beast that she'd contemplated jumping into the Detroit River, and it was this thought that caused gills and fish-like attributes to appear along her body. Beast decides to put a hypothesis to the test by asking her to think about taking flight. Jen imagines herself flying, then sees that she's grown feathers and wings. Now, she appears to have taken flight in this form, and Beast confirms that she can easily master the features she develops. Jennifer's adaptive abilities put Darwin's to shame, cementing her as a promising new X-Man.

Cyclops' X-Men Team Has an Impressive New Member In Its Roster

Will Jennifer Starkey Join The X-Men for the Long Haul?

The roster for Cyclops' faction of X-Men is already full of major powerhouses from the mutant side of the Marvel Universe. From the unstoppable Juggernaut to telepaths like Psylocke and Kid Omega, the line-up that Cyclops has gathered is an undoubtedly impressive one, and Jennifer's inclusion could push them over the top as the best current X-Men team. Rogue's Louisiana X-Men may have the likes of Wolverine, but a hero who can adapt and learn as quickly as Jen gives Cyclops and his allies an advantage that no other group of X-Men currently has.

X-Men #14 will be available on April 2nd, 2025 from Marvel Comics!

X-Men

Movie(s): 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)
First Film: X-Men (2000)
TV Show(s): 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): 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)
Character(s): 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: 213035,212968