10 X-Men Prequel Movie Characters You Didn’t Realize Are From Marvel Comics

Even the most obscure characters from the X-Men prequel movies actually have comic book origins and counterparts. Fox’s Fox’s X-Men universe has produced a litany of characters inspired directly by X-Men’s impressive comic book history. The prequel movies in particular expanded the world to include some vital characters from the source material.

X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix explored the eponymous hero team in the decades preceding Fox’s original X-Men trilogy. Each set within a defined era from the comics, the movies adapted many beloved characters and stories from X-Men comic history. With X-Men poised to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many characters could reappear in the MCU timeline with far more consequential narratives.

10 Ink Is A Member Of The X-Men

X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)

In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Ink was portrayed as a mutant with the ability to manipulate his tattoos, granting him various powers. He appears in the G.I. base in Vietnam in 1973 and as an older man in 2023 in a mutant concentration camp. In Marvel Comics, Ink was recruited by Cyclops for the Young X-Men team. While the movie captured his visually striking abilities, it simplified his character and narrative arc, focusing primarily on action sequences rather than delving into his complex backstory. Unlike the movie, Ink in the comics is not actually a mutant.

9 Vuk Was Very Different In The Comics

Dark Phoenix (2019)

In Dark Phoenix, Vuk is depicted as the leader of the D’Bari alien race seeking the Phoenix Force. In the movie, Vuk’s motivations are primarily centered around obtaining the Phoenix Force for her species’ survival, whereas in the comics, Vuk’s goals often involve intergalactic power struggles and conflicts. The major difference is that Vuk in Marvel Comics is male and is often depicted as an Avengers villain rather than an X-Men foe. Despite the connection with the D’Bari, there is little other affiliation with the Phoenix Force, with her cinematic appearance blending elements of Lillandra, Emma Frost, and Mastermind.

8 Selene Is A Member Of The Hellfire Club

Dark Phoenix (2019)

Selene appears as part of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants in Dark Phoenix. She has a fairly limited role compared to the comic books, in which she is a far more formidable villain. Selene is a member of the Hellfire Club’s Inner Circle and is eventually crowned their Black Queen – a position once filled by Dark Phoenix. She has a far wider range of powers than is portrayed in the movie, most notably the ability to drain other people’s life force. Despite her muted role in Dark Phoenix, including Selene was a thrilling nod to the original Dark Phoenix Saga.

7 Sunspot Fights The Sentinels

X-Men: Days Of Future Past

In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Sunspot, portrayed by Adan Canto, brings his fiery powers to the forefront during the intense battle against the Sentinels. Bord Roberto da Costa, Sunspot harnesses solar energy to augment his strength and emit blasts of intense heat. His cinematic portrayal pays homage to his comic book origins, where he is known for his tenure in teams like X-Force and the New Mutants. Sunspot also appeared in The New Mutants, appearing as a younger rendition of the character, and is also scheduled to appear in the animated series X-Men ’97.

6 Match Is A Member Of The New Mutants

Dark Phoenix (2019)

In the Dark Phoenix party scene set in the woods, Marvel Comics character Match makes a brief cameo. During the scene, Match can be observed igniting a campfire while Dazzler performs in the background. In the X-Men comics, Match is a mutant with the ability to manipulate and control fire. Originally introduced as a student at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, Match has often been depicted as a member of the New X-Men. While his appearance in the movie is subtle and serves primarily as an Easter Egg for comic book fans, it adds depth to the cinematic mutant world, rounding out the mutant universe.

5 Angel Salvadore Is Codenamed Tempest In Marvel Comics

X-Men: First Class (2011)

In X-Men: First Class, Angel Salvadore, portrayed by Zoë Kravitz, is a mutant recruited by Charles Xavier and Eric Lehnsherr. In the movie, Angel works as an exotic dancer before joining the fledgling X-Men group. She eventually sides with Magneto and joins his Brotherhood of Mutants. In the comics, Angel is codenamed Tempest and works as part of the X-Men team. However, like the movie, Angel is eventually convinced to join Magneto, until the House of M event strips her of her powers. Like many First Class characters, Angel is killed between the events of First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

4 Caliban Is A Member Of The Morlocks

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

In X-Men: Apocalypse, the eponymous villain visits a distinctive-looking mutant named Caliban, coercing him into assisting his hunt for powerful mutants. In Marvel Comics, Caliban is a member of the Morlocks, a community of mutant outcasts living beneath New York City. Caliban aided X-Factor in numerous adventures, becoming an honorary member of the mutant hero team. On two occasions, he also briefly served as one of Apocalypse’s horsemen, making his inclusion in X-Men: Apocalypse especially appropriate, albeit very brief. Caliban was also portrayed by portrayed by Stephen Merchant in 2017’s Logan.

3 Warpath Is Thunderbird’s Younger Brother

X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)

In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Warpath, portrayed by Booboo Stewart, brings a comic book legacy to life as Thunderbird’s younger brother. Hailing from the Apache tribe, Warpath inherits his brother’s superhuman strength, speed, and heightened senses, which he channels into fierce combat skills. While his role in the movie is relatively minor, it nods to his rich comic book history. In the comics, Thunderbird’s tragic death motivates Warpath to join the X-Men, seeking justice and redemption. Warpath’s inclusion in X-Men: Days of Future Past serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of characters within the X-Men universe.

2 Bolivar Trask Was Not The Original Assassination Target

X-Men: Days Of Future Past

Bolivar Trask was portrayed by Peter Dinklage in X-Men: Days of Future Past and is a character rooted in X-Men history. As the creator of the Sentinels, Trask embodies humanity’s fears of mutantkind. However, in the comics, it is not Trask who becomes the assassination target in the pivotal storyline, but rather Senator Robert Kelly. Trask’s role in the movie combines elements from both characters to provide a truly despicable villain. Trask’s adaptation as the target adds layers to his character while maintaining the overarching theme of mutant persecution and the consequences of prejudice.

1 The Sentinels Were Based On Nimrod

X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)

In X-Men: Days of Future Past, the ominous Sentinels depicted in the future scenes draw inspiration from Nimrod, an advanced and relentless robotic adversary from the X-Men comics. Nimrod, known for its adaptability and formidable abilities, serves as a terrifying model for the futuristic Sentinel’s design and capabilities. These mechanized enforcers, equipped with advanced technology and a relentless pursuit of mutant extermination, match the comic book counterpart. Their imposing presence underscores the dire consequences faced by mutants in a dystopian future. Like the movie, Nimrod is an extremely dangerous foe, drawing on years of X-Men lore.