Is Charles Xavier a Villain? It Seems the Fantastic Four Have a Controversial Take
Charles Xavier was once inarguably seen as a hero, but the end of the X-Men's Krakoan era marked the final days of that perception, proving that Marvel’s own Fantastic Four was right to be wary of the professor. In the early days of the mutant nation, Reed and Sue Richards balked at the idea of sending their son, Franklin, to the island, and given Xavier's track record with powerful mutants, their lack of trust was highly warranted.
Although Xavier stood as a beacon of heroism, those closest to him suffered regularly at his hands (and his mind).
One candid take on the social media platform X, from user whoppernaut, puts Professor Xavier on blast through the eyes of the Fantastic Four. The comment harkens back to a controversial exchange in House of X #1—by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Pepe Larraz—between Cyclops and Invisible Woman, wherein Scott tells Sue that Franklin Richards has "family on Krakoa."
Reed and Sue resisted their son going to the mutant island, leading many to assume that the Fantastic Four (along with the rest of the world) simply believed mutantkind had overstepped in creating their own nation. However, the truth is more layered. The X-Men's founder, Charles Xavier, has historically been unsafe for the most powerful young mutants.
Professor X’s Manipulative Ways Set Him on the Path to Villainy
Even Xavier’s Long Heroic Legacy Is Up for Debate
While the Fantastic Four's rejection of Krakoa was complex, their need to shield their son casts an interesting light on the X-Men and their founder. Charles Xavier's dream of peace guided mutants for decades. They trained as soldiers and spies, warriors and martyrs, all for the sake of upholding an idea that always seemed just out of reach. It was a noble goal, but Xavier was always up to more behind the scenes than anyone knew. Those most loyal to his cause sacrificed the most, as he altered memories, suppressed powers, and even sacrificed lives to prop up his vision.
Although Xavier stood as a beacon of heroism, those closest to him suffered regularly at his hands—and his mind. Cyclops had his memories of his brother erased and was essentially molded from a young age into a military leader and strategist. Jean Grey had her powers suppressed. Xavier even infected his own son, David Haller, with a psychic virus, while demonizing or casting him aside for most of his life. Even the best intentions haven't stopped Xavier from taking advantage of the powerful and the loyal.
Professor X Would Have Been a Dangerous Influence on Franklin Richards
The Fantastic Four Were Right to Keep Franklin Away From Xavier
Franklin Richards is no longer considered a mutant but was deemed one of the most powerful beings in the world at the time of Krakoa's creation. His gifts allowed him to alter reality on an incomprehensible scale, and he has demonstrated precognitive and telepathic abilities. For someone like Xavier, who has always been willing to play puppet master with both telepaths and precogs, an attempt to harness Franklin's powers seemed inevitable. Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman's protective instincts were justified in this case, even if they were accompanied by political and ideological disagreements with Krakoa as a whole.
Xavier's willingness to use others as he sees fit lies at the core of his current status as a villain. Becoming the "Butcher of Krakoa" is part of a scheme that is once again meant to do good for mutantkind. He’s taking the fall for everyone, yet the plan is still built on layers of lies and manipulation. Charles hasn’t always had villainous intent, but his approach to good deeds is questionable. The Fantastic Four sought to keep Franklin Richards away from the X-Men, offering one of many clues that Professor X has always followed the villain's handbook.
- Movie(s)
- X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
- X-Men (2000)
