Five Films Mutants Could Debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In the last decade the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a force more powerful than the Infinity Stones themselves. They have smashed box office records and created perhaps the most complex film franchise in history. But Marvel comic book readers have been waiting this whole time for some of the missing heroes to assemble within the MCU. The most prominent of these characters being the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. Now Disney have purchased 20th Century Fox, it has opened the doors for these characters to finally arrive and join the other heroes and villains on the big screen.

It is highly likely the Fantastic Four will simply debut through their own film before joining other characters in a cross-over capacity. This would be for two primary reason. The first being it is a simple way to introduce the team, the second and larger factor would be to test audience reactions to Marvel's interpretation of the first family of superheroes as the last few Fantastic Four films have not been well received. But, the mutants and X-Men could be handled very differently.

Mutant characters could start appearing at any point now within the MCU. The simple reason being, there are hundreds of them to choose from! It is well known in the comics that mutants may not just serve on the X-Men, as they have been Avengers, become members of the Fantastic Four, team-up with other Marvel characters and even strike out in their own solo adventures. So, with all this in mind we will now look at five ways the mutants may appear in the MCU.

5. Iceman & Firestar

First Debuted:

• Iceman - The X-Men #1 (September 1963)
• Firestar - TV: Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends: Episode "The Triumph of the Green Goblin" (September 12, 1981), Comics: Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends #1 (December 1981)

We know phase four will contain a third Spider-Man film, we just do not know the title of it yet. But we also know it could be Spider-Man's last appearance in the MCU if Marvel and Sony can not figure a way to extend their deal. So Marvel may decide to set up some new teenage heroes to take his mantle just in case. Who better than his Super Friends of Iceman and Firestar?

The pair could easily debut and one in a way already has. Firestar in the Ultimate Marvel Comics is none other than Parker's pal Liz Allen. With the MCU seemingly taking queues from the Ultimate Comics, such as black Nick Fury and a more grounded science in explaining situations. So perhaps Liz's inclusion in Spider-Man: Homecoming was no mistake. All they need do is add another student called Bobby and the pairs complete. If they do introduce the duo it could allow Marvel the chance to also experiment with a younger team of heroes before diving into a full-on Young Avengers movie.

4. Magik

First Debuted:

• Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975)

Illyana has an older brother better known than her, the steel-skinned Colossus. But young Illyana has made her mark in the comics as Magik. Her name pretty much gives away her powers as she is a mutant who can use magic, open inter-dimensional portals and wields the powerful Soulsword. You can already guess where she could appear and that would be Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Madness.

She would not need a large part to play or even need a large part in the film. She could perhaps aid Strange and Wanda at some point by opening a portal from one place to another. Another option could be a post-credit scene showing Illyana still within the multiverse, as Illyana does have a habit of getting trapped in various places in the comics. We know the character is set to appear in The New Mutants, portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy. However, Disney and Marvel seems to be holding back releasing the film for now. Perhaps they could be planning to incorporate the cast into the MCU if the film is received well enough.

3. The Starjammers

First Debuted:

• Uncanny X-Men #104 (April 1977)

Okay, this team isn't really made of mutants, but they are part of the X-Men family due to links between them. The Starjammers are space pirates who roam the galaxy. With that you can imagine them appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to act as rivals to the Guardians. While the focus would be on the Guardians, we could see both teams heading across the galaxy in aim to be the first to get something. Perhaps Adam Warlock, as he is set to arrive in the MCU, so perhaps both teams could be trying to get to his cocoon first.

The benefit of playing it out like this would be the non-links to the mutants, as it would shock non-comic readers when they discover the captain of the Starjammers, Corsair, is the father of Cyclops and Havok. In the comics the brothers believed both their parents perished in an attack by the Shi'ar Empire. Really both were captured and taken into space. So this could be a much better father and son reunion than Starlord saw with his father in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2.

2. Mystique

First Debuted:

• Cameo appearance: Ms. Marvel #16 (May 1978), Full appearance: Ms. Marvel #18 (July 1978)

News hit a few months back that reported of a mutant appearing in Captain Marvel 2. Novices who only know their mutants from the 1990s X-Men animated show instantly believed this meant Rogue would be the one as she once stole Carol's powers. However, true Marvel fans who read the comics also would place their bets on Mystique. Mystique first appeared in Carol's comics when she was known as Ms Marvel and quickly became her nemesis.

The pair have a hatred and rivalry that has spanned decades with Mystique more often on the losing side. It was due to this that Mystique sought out Rogue and manipulated the mutant into stealing Carol's powers in the first place. When you also consider the Skrulls presence in Captain Marvel, you could see how she might think Mystique is a rogue Skrull before discovering the mutant factor in the human genome. This would also link Carol to the X-Men as she has briefly been a member in the comics. Also doing this would also be a chance for Marvel to bring Mystique back to her villainous roots once again.

1. Storm

First Debuted:

• Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975)

Now many would have banked on Wolverine being the top spot, but I feel Marvel have missed their easy window to introduce Wolverine through other MCU film. This simply being down to Steve Rogers now being out of the game now. It would have been easy to show Wolverine and Cap serving in the army together, but that ship has long sailed. So why not go for the mistress of the elements and introduce Storm in Black Panther 2.

The pair are the ultimate power couple in the comics with the Watcher appearing at their wedding, as the Watcher only appears when it is an event of significance to the universe itself. We also saw hints in Black Panther that T'challa is clearly thinking already about who could be his future queen. He had the same issue in the comics, which then told the story of him taking a year away from Wakanda to learn about the rest of Africa. This was when he met Ororo, a young woman with the power to control the weather. The pair fell in love and Ororo even lost her virginity to him.

Years later that young woman had become a powerful lady who has been the leader of the X-Men, leader of the Morlocks, a street thief, worshipped as a Goddess and even joined the Avengers. This already gave Storm great influence within the comics, but by joining forces as husband and wife their power became unchallenged. They even filled in for Reed and Sue when they needed to repair their marriage, adding Fantastic Four member to Storms ever growing titles. She is perhaps the most prevalent female mutant of all time and would make the perfect mutant to debut for the MCU audiences.

What are your thoughts?

This is just my list and thoughts of how the mutants could debut in the MCU with a marvellous mutant bang. Who from the massive mutant roster would you want to see enter the MCU and how?