# Marvel Comics—Genoshan mutant inhibitor collars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 2, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469 "2009-06-02T09:12:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/1 "2009-06-02T09:12:58Z")
…in the mainstream Earth-616 universe, that is. Specifically, what’s the story on Genoshan mutant inhibitor/restraint collars? The ones that, when worn, nullify a mutant’s powers? I know they were in the 90s X-Men cartoon (and possibly the new series, too), but I can’t actually find a reference to them existing in the _comics_ continuity, oddly enough. Do they, or functionally comparable devices actually exist in the books? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/2 "2009-06-02T12:37:38Z")
Yup. I remember back in the 80s during the original X-Factor run they had inhibitor cuffs. Sorry, can’t be more specific than that. Wait - there was an issue out where Iceman had recently come back from a trip to Asgard, where he had been endowed with enhanced abilities (on par with an Elemental), and was able to blast through his cuffs because they didn’t know how powerful he had become. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/3 "2009-06-02T13:02:04Z")
Mutant inhibitor collars exist in the Marvel Universe - one of Forge’s inventions, I believe. Genosha didn’t tend to use them much back in its heydey, as I recall - they had a mutant named Wipeout who could shut off powers pretty reliably. Then he died. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/4 "2009-06-02T14:40:24Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Mutant inhibitor collars exist in the Marvel Universe - one of Forge’s inventions, I believe. Genosha didn’t tend to use them much back in its heydey, as I recall - they had a mutant named Wipeout who could shut off powers pretty reliably. Then he died. And even before then, Magneto had inhibitor fields that could suppress all mutant powers within a vicinity, and yet be fine-tuned sufficiently so that he himself was unaffected by Scott Summers could walk around with visor or shades without either killing people or walking into walls. I’m not aware of anyone else ever having the fields, though. I always assumed Magneto invented the device and, for obvious reasons, built it himself and never so much as committed the design to paper or computer. An ex-girlfriend of mine always wondered why Rogue didn’t use the Genoshan tech so she could touch others. My fanwank was that they were unhealthy over an extended period of time, asobviously they must be screwing with a mutant’s metabolism and/or nervous system. Anybody know if there’s any support for that in the books? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/5 "2009-06-02T15:14:52Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Wait - there was an issue out where Iceman had recently come back from a trip to Asgard, where he had been endowed with enhanced abilities (on par with an Elemental), and was able to blast through his cuffs because they didn’t know how powerful he had become. So Bobby’s basically a Hrimthurs? Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/6 "2009-06-02T16:19:37Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > An ex-girlfriend of mine always wondered why Rogue didn’t use the Genoshan tech so she could touch others. My fanwank was that they were unhealthy over an extended period of time, asobviously they must be screwing with a mutant’s metabolism and/or nervous system. Anybody know if there’s any support for that in the books? Yeah, way back so long ago I don’t remember all the details, the X-Men were captured in Genosha (again; go figure). Rogue had an inhibitor collar on, and it would have seemed the opportune time for her to make with the nookie _finally_ with Gambit. But… no. Basically, “not tonight; I have a headache” was used by the writer to prevent the readers from freaking out that OMG sex might happen. Sort of the same audience characteristics that I imagine Twilight has – want to imply sex _could_ happen _eventually_ but must NEVER EVER actually occur. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/7 "2009-06-02T16:36:47Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Mutant inhibitor collars exist in the Marvel Universe - one of Forge’s inventions, I believe. Genosha didn’t tend to use them much back in its heydey, as I recall - they had a mutant named **Wipeout** \* who could shut off powers pretty reliably. Then he died. Don’t forget **Leech**. He could dampen powers. One issue of, I think, New Mutants showed that it didn’t work when he was unconscious. \*bolding added ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/8 "2009-06-02T16:41:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > An ex-girlfriend of mine always wondered why Rogue didn’t use the Genoshan tech so she could touch others. My fanwank was that they were unhealthy over an extended period of time, asobviously they must be screwing with a mutant’s metabolism and/or nervous system. Anybody know if there’s any support for that in the books? The first time Rogue found herself in Genosha (UXM ~230 or thereabouts) her powers were turned off and she was brutally assaulted by the guards, which sent her into a fugue state for several issues (and eventually let Carol Danvers’ persona take control of her body). I think it’s believeable that she wouldn’t touch Genoshan technology with a 10 foot pole after that. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/9 "2009-06-02T16:52:35Z")
Thanks for the info so far, all! Knowing _is_ half the battle. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > An ex-girlfriend of mine always wondered why Rogue didn’t use the Genoshan tech so she could touch others. My fanwank was that they were unhealthy over an extended period of time, asobviously they must be screwing with a mutant’s metabolism and/or nervous system. Anybody know if there’s any support for that in the books? Heh, I read something, somewhere—maybe the SDMB?—where someone speculated that Xavier was actually concealing evidence of power-inhibitors (or doing some telepathic editing) from X-Men who had difficult to control or unpleasant powers because it would be _politically inconvenient_ for his mutant rights movement. 'Harder to get new mutants to accept their new powers as gifts and nothing to be ashamed or afraid of, if you have to admit “well, except for _some_ of us, who have to use an ‘off switch.’ Because, honestly, it’s really the only way for them to have any meaningful quality of life.” Just a few more sacrifices for the cause… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gcat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/10 "2009-06-03T17:11:21Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > The first time Rogue found herself in Genosha (UXM ~230 or thereabouts) her powers were turned off and she was brutally assaulted by the guards, which sent her into a fugue state for several issues (and eventually let Carol Danvers’ persona take control of her body). I think it’s believeable that she wouldn’t touch Genoshan technology with a 10 foot pole after that. > > –Cliffy She was threaten, but not assaulted. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/11 "2009-06-03T17:54:27Z")
> [@Gcat](#): > > She was threaten, but not assaulted. No, I believe she was assaulted but not raped. I haven’t read the issues in question in some time. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Gcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gcat)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-comics-genoshan-mutant-inhibitor-collars/498469/12 "2009-06-07T02:48:25Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > No, I believe she was assaulted but not raped. > > I haven’t read the issues in question in some time. > > –Cliffy Ah. I thought you meant rape, when you said assaulted. She might have been assaulted. It’s been a long time since I read that issues, but I remember one of the Genosha higher ups saying something like “She was threaten but nothing happened and that the guards would be punished anyway.”