Professor X

Professor X
Variant cover of
Astonishing X-Men #7 (March 2018).
Art by Mike Deodato Jr.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe X-Men #1
(September 1963)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist/co-plotter)
In-story information
Alter egoProf. Charles Francis Xavier
SpeciesHuman mutant
Place of originUnited States of America, New York City
Team affiliationsUnited States Army
X-Men
Illuminati
X-Corporation
The Twelve
New Mutants
Genoshan Excalibur
Starjammers
Cadre K
Brotherhood of Mutants
Quiet Council of Krakoa
Notable aliasesConsort-Royal
Founder
Doctor X
Warlord
Entity
Prisoner M-13
X
Abilities

Professor X (Prof. Charles Francis Xavier) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The X-Men #1 (September 1963). The character is depicted as the founder and occasional leader of the X-Men.

Xavier is a member of a subspecies of humans known as mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities. He is an exceptionally powerful telepath, who can read and control the minds of others. To both shelter and train mutants from around the world, he runs a private school in the X-Mansion in Salem Center, located in Westchester County, New York.[1] Xavier also strives to serve the greater good by promoting peaceful coexistence and equality between humans and mutants in a world where zealous anti-mutant bigotry is widespread. However, he later abandons his dream in favor of establishing a mutant nation in Krakoa.

Throughout much of the character's history, Xavier has been depicted with paraplegia and uses a wheelchair. One of the world's most powerful mutant telepaths, Xavier is a scientific genius and a leading authority in genetics. He has devised Cerebro and other equipment to enhance psionic powers and detect and track people with the mutant gene.

Xavier's pacifist and assimilationist ideology and actions have often been contrasted with that of Magneto, a mutant leader (initially characterized as a supervillain and later as a complex antihero) with whom Xavier has a complicated relationship. Writer Chris Claremont, who originated Magneto's backstory, modeled the politics of Xavier on David Ben Gurion and that of Magneto on Menachem Begin.[2]

Patrick Stewart portrayed the character in the first three films in the 20th Century Fox X-Men film series and in various video games, and James McAvoy portrayed a younger version of the character in the 2011 prequel X-Men: First Class. Both actors reprised the role in the film X-Men: Days of Future Past. Stewart would reprise the role in the film Logan (2017), while McAvoy would further appear as his younger iteration of the character in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), and Dark Phoenix (2019). Harry Lloyd portrayed the character in the third season of the television series Legion. Stewart returned to the role again, portraying an alternate version of the character in the 2022 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.[3][4]

  1. ^ Sanderson, Peter (2007). The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City. New York City: Pocket Books. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-4165-3141-8.
  2. ^ Foege, Alex (17 July 2000). "The X-Men Files". New York Magazine. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  3. ^ Garbutt, Emily (May 5, 2022). "The Illuminati members in Doctor Strange 2, listed and explained". Total Film. GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 11, 2024). "Sam Claflin & Patrick Stewart To Star In 'Barbaric' Series Based On Comic In Works At Netflix From Sheldon Turner; Michael Bay Circling To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.