# Professor X - Evil Genius? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299 "2004-02-21T00:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/21 "2004-02-21T19:05:32Z")
> [@Patr100](#): > > That should be Jacob Kurtzberg. I wish this board had an edit function working! Not to nitpick, but wasn’t it “Ja **k** ob”? ---
**Author:** ![Patr100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Patr100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patr100)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/22 "2004-02-21T19:41:42Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Not to nitpick, but wasn’t it “Ja **k** ob”? Both Goulart’s Encycopaedia of American Comics and Les Daniels History of Marvel use Jacob , but I have seen Jakob in some places. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/23 "2004-02-22T02:12:53Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > There have been at least two major storylines in the comic where he was possessed by malevolent villains (The Brood back in the 80s and his evil twin sister, Cassandra Nova, more recently), and nobody could tell the difference. I haven’t read X-Men in quite a while, so I’m hoping - praying, even - that you’re kidding. An evil twin sister? “Cassandra Nova”? Please tell me you’re joking. Please? ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/24 "2004-02-22T03:16:11Z")
No! He’s the good guy. There are no arguments otherwise whatsoever. Even if he takes over someone’s mind to broadcast 5th column propaganda it’s for the greater good. Honest. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/25 "2004-02-22T05:41:36Z")
> [@Shade](#): > > No! He’s the good guy. There are no arguments otherwise whatsoever. Even if he takes over someone’s mind to broadcast 5th column propaganda it’s for the greater good. Honest. Y’know, I’ve heard a similar arguement used by characters in a Jack Chick tract… :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/26 "2004-02-22T19:02:00Z")
Quoth **Ranchoth** , in a (minor, seen in the commercials) spoiler:[spoiler] > [@](#): > > he actually is running a secret paramilitary group! It just happens that it’s not an evil paramilitary group. > > Well, aside from that, they really weren’t doing anything illegal, I guess. Of course, in the Grand Ol’ US of A, paramiltary groups _aren’t_ illegal. You want to stockpile weapons? That’s the Second Ammendment. Train folks how to use them? Sure! Most of the militas you hear about on the news that the Feds crack down on, it’s just because they refuse to pay their taxes. Even the unlicensed Blackbird X-jet is only a problem while being flown: So far as I know there’s no law against just owning one’s own airplane (even if it is kept underneath the tennis court).[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/27 "2004-02-22T19:58:37Z")
Does the Blackbird have weapons on it? I don’t remember. I’m pretty sure that the Feds would have something to say about civilians assembling their own private air forces 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/28 "2004-02-22T20:26:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Does the Blackbird have weapons on it? You mean, other than the pilot and copilot? Storm’s reaction to Wolverine, when he asked that same question in the movie, was classic. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/29 "2004-02-23T05:04:30Z")
bmoak: > [@](#): > > (Marvel had the Black Panther running around for several years before the Black Panther Party became part of the national conciousness.) In fact, when the Black Panther Party did become well-known in the early 70’s, they had T’Challa call himself “Black Leopard” for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/30 "2004-02-23T11:51:13Z")
I think they are going to explore the “Xavier is a little too manipulative for his own good” idea a bit more in the Ultimate universe. They already had a downright evil Xavier in the Mutant X universe. Xavier’s always sort of stayed pretty close to the line. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/31 "2004-02-23T11:52:15Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > I haven’t read X-Men in quite a while, so I’m hoping - praying, even - that you’re kidding. An evil twin sister? “Cassandra Nova”? > > Please tell me you’re joking. Please? Din’t scoff too much: it’s actually a pretty darn good run that includes this storyline. Though, it’s too bad you’ve been spoiled. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/32 "2004-02-23T14:28:02Z")
> [@](#): > > They’re mostly trained how to fight. In the comics and movies, though, most of them will wind up having to use their powers to take down terribly evil mutant/evil genius/alien fiend/ demonic hellbeast at some point. And in the movies, the student mutant kids aren’t being taught combat skills. In the X-men evolution story, I can see how people really, really need to sstop mutants. Even the good guys regularly do millions of dollars in property damage and endanger countless innocent lives. Quite frankly, mutants really are a threat in Evolution. Spoiler for Onslaught storyline. [spoiler]When Xavier finaly turned Magneto “off” after the Big M basically came down and taunted them all about losing Illyana while holding a giant city above New York with his power and changing global weather, Magneto’s evil pysch left a psychic scar on Xavier, that eventually took him over from the inside and he became Onslaught. It was his power taken to its ulotimate form. He was an unholy terror and only the combined power of half of marvel earth stopped him. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/33 "2004-02-23T14:30:40Z")
> [@](#): > > They’re mostly trained how to fight. In the comics and movies, though, most of them will wind up having to use their powers to take down terribly evil mutant/evil genius/alien fiend/ demonic hellbeast at some point. And in the movies, the student mutant kids aren’t being taught combat skills. In the X-men evolution story, I can see how people really, really need to sstop mutants. Even the good guys regularly do millions of dollars in property damage and endanger countless innocent lives. Quite frankly, mutants really are a threat in Evolution. Spoiler for Onslaught storyline. [spoiler]When Xavier finaly turned Magneto “off” after the Big M basically came down and taunted them all about losing Illyana while holding a giant city above New York with his power and changing global weather, Magneto’s evil pysch left a psychic scar on Xavier, that eventually took him over from the inside and he became Onslaught. It was his power taken to its ulotimate form. He was an unholy terror and only the combined power of half of marvel earth stopped him.[/spoiler ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/34 "2004-02-23T14:33:07Z")
Ah… moderater! [Lelu] Plaese… halp! [/Lelu] ---
**Author:** ![MrMyth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@MrMyth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMyth)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/35 "2004-02-23T14:48:39Z")
I think the ultimate test of whether he’s evil or not is that he has all these abilities to put a stop to all strife on Marvel Earth, yet all the regular humans still have protests and pass anti-mutant laws. If Charles were evil, they’d all be knitting in rocking chairs on their porches by now. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/36 "2004-02-23T16:40:49Z")
Xavier has always been a complex character. During the classic Claremont run on X-Men, it was established that one day when a young Xavier was out walking around in downtown Cairo he happened to pass by a restaurant where the telepathic mutant Amahl Farouk was sitting. The two telepaths probed each other, Xavier realized Farouk was evil, so he killed him. More recently, Grant Morrison wrote a story in which a much younger Xavier (heh heh) enacted a similar scene with Cassnadra Nova. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/37 "2004-02-23T17:56:48Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > This guy couldn’t be any more transparently evil if he had a long-haired Persian cat. Which brings us to Wolverine. ---
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/38 "2004-02-23T19:41:54Z")
> [@TOTBP](#): > > One small correction. “X-Men” doesn’t refer to Xavier; it refers to humans with the X-Factor, or x-gene, or whatever. Anyhoo… In the movie, Pryo explains that it is the male of the species that spreads the mutant gene. So going by that analogy, they should be the Y-Men ---
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/39 "2004-02-23T19:46:18Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Which brings us to Wolverine. Wolverine is Persian? I thought he was Canadian 😕 ---
**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:** [February 23, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299/40 "2004-02-23T23:04:09Z")
> [@MrMyth](#): > > If Charles were evil, they’d all be knitting in rocking chairs on their porches by now. I think that’s the oddest definition of evildoing that I’ve seen in my _life._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professor-x-evil-genius/230299.md?page=3)