In one of our previous discussions, we talked about the ethics of X-Men and the possibility that Magneto, X-Men’s most recognizable super-villain. That Magneto might be right — mutants and humans might never coexist harmoniously, and more importantly, maybe they shouldn’t. That discussion concluded that, while his methods are often radical and filled with moral and ethical complexities, Magneto only wants to protect his fellow mutants, and his actions and goals only reflect the lengths to which the oppressed would go to escape the oppression.
But what about Charles Xavier, the beloved Professor X? If Magneto isn’t truly a villain but a radicalized defender of his people, what does that say about Xavier, his ideological opposite? Is he truly a saint that the movies and animated series made him out to be? Or is there something far more insidious lurking beneath that polished exterior of the wise and peace-preaching professor? Well, we’re here to discuss whether Xavier truly is the mutant savior everyone believes him to be or is he something far more sinister.
Let’s start the discussion by exploring Xavier’s entire philosophy, which hinges on the idea that mutants and humans can coexist peacefully. While this is an admirable goal, it was proven to be dangerously naïve — and more than once. Each time mutants in the comics extended their hands and approached humans, the latter responded not with acceptance but in the way humans usually respond to something they don’t understand — with fear, hatred, and violence. The Sentinel program, Mutant Registration Acts, and the Genosha massacre only attest to the fact.
Magneto recognizes these patterns and acts accordingly. However, having experienced firsthand the horrors humanity has to offer to those who are different, Xavier insists that mutants must continue to play the role of pacifists, no matter the costs. He even demands from his students, many of whom suffered the brutality of human prejudice firsthand, to believe in his ideal that has been disproven by reality time and time again. This makes us wonder whether this is truly a noble dream or a self-imposed delusion.
Casual fans of X-Men love Charles because they see the idealized version of the character, who is a wise, kind, and compassionate leader of a team of superheroes. However, hardcore fans of the comics have had the opportunity to witness and dig into some of Xavier’s more controversial actions. If we examine some of those actions, it becomes crystal-clear that he actually fits the mold of a criminal mastermind rather than a heroic leader. Though we’ll admit that the two may overlap; the X-Men comics have been imbued with complexity and ethical questions ever since the beginning.
For example, a number of comic books have shown that he has a dark side, which he actually struggles to suppress. He misused his powers to erase Magneto’s memories and remove his free will, removed some of Logan’s memories, and has even gone as far as to alter the personalities of different people to suit his own moral code. This makes him the ultimate puppet master, someone who doesn’t get his hands dirty but makes others do his bidding — just like a true mastermind.
Not to mention that his School for Gifted Youngsters, while famed as a sanctuary for young mutants, basically functions as a training ground. He takes in vulnerable children who have experienced the brutalities of humanity and grooms them into soldiers for his ideological war. At least Magneto gives his followers a choice. Oh, and the dark side of his subconsciousness gave birth to Onslaught, one of Marvel’s most powerful villains. This happened when Xavier erased Magneto’s mind — or at least, so he claims.
However, perhaps the most alarming thing he had done within the Marvel universe, and one that made Charles extremely dangerous, was the founding of the Illuminati. The Illuminati is a secret society of powerful Marvel heroes who take it upon themselves to control the world’s fate from the shadows. This is mostly done by manipulating global events and wiping the minds of powerful threats, as well as resorting to some universe-destroying tactics in Secret Wars. While they initially wielded their collective power for the benefit of mankind, they usually end up creating more problems than they fix.
The list of Xavier’s wrongdoings is as long, if not longer than that of his ideological opponent, Magneto. He resorted to mind control and manipulation, created some of Marvel’s most powerful and dangerous villains, and created a government that controls who lives and dies through resurrection protocols. He even went as far as blackmailing the world with mutant-produced pharmaceuticals that prevented the human “diseases of the mind” and extended the human lifespan.
Knowing all of this, we can only conclude that Xavier, while perceived as a kind and benevolent leader by casual fans, is nothing more than a benevolent dictator (if there ever was such a thing) in the eyes of those who had witnessed his wrongdoings on the pages of comic books. So, if Magneto isn’t the true villain of the X-Men’s story, perhaps Professor X is. One thing is certain: As a man who justifies his manipulations under the guise of mutant progress, Charles Xavier definitely fits the description of Marvel’s true criminal mastermind.