{"id":6205,"date":"2025-06-27T14:37:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T19:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/?p=6205"},"modified":"2026-04-28T09:51:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:51:43","slug":"x-men-ethics-characters-mi-z","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/27\/x-men-ethics-characters-mi-z\/","title":{"rendered":"X-Men Ethics &#8211; Characters (Mi-Z)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This is my second &#8220;snapshot&#8221; overview of the ethics of many of the key mutant characters in the X-Men stories. I have already expanded some of these into stand-alone posts, but this should serve as helpful background for some of my upcoming commentaries (especially the <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/10\/a-x-e-judgment-day-conclusion\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7647\">conclusion to the A.X.E.: Judgment Day<\/a> event). I&#8217;ve split these mini-overviews across two posts for space (<a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/\">A-Ma<\/a> previously, Mi-Z here), by either superhero name or by first name, following the current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/unlimited\">Marvel Unlimited<\/a> nomenclature for which name is commonly used to identify the character. These profiles reflect the apparent character ethics as of 2025 &#8211; I will mark any future updates as they come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As always, please see my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2554\">Ethics 101<\/a> page for a description of my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">Superhero normative ethics<\/a> rating scales, and an explanation of <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#normative\">normative ethics<\/a> terms. And see my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/27\/glossary\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5118\">Glossary<\/a> post for a list of the key philosophical concepts and related links on this site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>X-Men\/Mutants &#8211; A through Ma<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#beast\">Beast (Hank McCoy)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#xavier\">Charles Xavier (aka Professor X)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#cyclops\">Cyclops (Scott Summers)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#destiny\">Destiny (Irene Adler)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#frost\">Emma Frost (aka White Queen)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#exodus\">Exodus (Bennet du Paris)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#isca\">Isca the Unbeaten<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#phoenix\">Jean Grey (aka Phoenix)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#pryde\">Kitty (Kate) Pryde<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#legion\">Legion (David Haller)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#magik\">Magik (Illyana Rasputina)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#magneto\">Magneto (Max Eisenhardt)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong><strong>X-Men\/Mutants &#8211; Mi through Z<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#sinister\">Mister Sinister (Nathaniel Essex)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#marvel\">Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#mystique\">Mystique (Raven Darkh\u00f6lme)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#nightcrawler\">Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#psylocke\">Psylocke (Kwannon)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#omega\">Quentin Quire (aka Kid Omega)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#rogue\">Rogue (Anna Marie)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#shaw\">Sebastian Shaw (aka Black King)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#storm\">Storm (Ororo Munroe)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#wolverine\">Wolverine (Logan, aka James Howlett)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>I have previously provided an <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/01\/x-men-ethics-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3728\">Introductory overview<\/a> of the ethics of the X-Men (and mutants more generally) in the Marvel Universe. There, I tried to show not only how character&#8217;s normative ethics can change with time, but how modern writers can take a wholesale different view of ethics than earlier ones. This is in keeping with the evolution of ethics thinking over time (including in terms of human rights, for example), and the changing Zeitgeist of people living through different time periods (with the advent of modern care ethics as an example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have also explored in detail two long-running X-Men characters, <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/27\/x-men-ethics-professor-x-charles-xavier\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4309\">Professor X<\/a> (Charles Xavier) and <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/14\/x-men-ethics-magneto\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4370\">Magneto<\/a> (known as Magnus, Erik, or Max depending on the time periods) in stand-alone posts. Both have seen considerable ethics changes over time, but often with cycles of redemption and reversion. In the case of Charles Xavier, the complexity and contradiction of his ethical drives resulted in a second post, where I discussed his potential <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/x-men-ethics-charles-xaviers-redemption\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4719\">redemption<\/a> (and the unique challenges faced by utilitarians).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m also looking forward to wrapping up my discussion of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kieron_Gillen\">Kieron Gillen<\/a>&#8216;s ethics-heavy (and excellent) 2022 cross-over event, A.X.E.: Judgment Day (<a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">introduced here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brief Background<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Originally created by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stan_Lee\">Stan Lee<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jack_Kirby\">Jack Kirby<\/a> in 1963, the X-Men were a team of &#8220;mutant&#8221; superheroes (i.e., super-powered beings whose powers come from spontaneous genetic mutations). These differed from the other superheroes of the time, whose powers were usually obtained by exposure to environment effects (often radiation), or through technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The inital rise in popularity of these mutant superheroes can be attributed mainly to two key Marvel creators from the 1970s and 80s &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Byrne_(comics)\">John Byrne<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chris_Claremont\">Chris Claremont<\/a>. Claremont in particular had a record long run writing X-Men (1975 to 1991), and introduced a lot of more complex themes into the stories. Subsequently, pretty much all the major talent at Marvel has had a chance to pen X-Men stories. At the present time (summer 2025), roughly half the ongoing Marvel comic titles feature X-Men\/mutant characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"sinister\">Mister Sinister (Nathaniel Essex)<\/a> Ethics:<\/strong> None (amoral), but <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">C<\/a> <\/strong>is the closest otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The current Nathaniel Essex clone known as Mister Sinister possesses the ability to control every molecule of his body, including his DNA. He is a genius-level geneticist, with access to every potential mutant ability through his gene control &#8211; including telepathy, superhuman strength, etc. See detailed character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Nathaniel_Essex_(Mister_Sinister)_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/sinister.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5986 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nathaniel Essex character was created shortly after I gave up reading comics as an adolescent &#8211; although I had read the forerunner stories to his reveal, the creation of the mutant clone of Jean Grey known as Madelyne Pryor. His character wasn&#8217;t fully fleshed out initially, but over time &#8211; and especially with his pivotal role in the Krakoan Age &#8211; he now has an extensive and very significant back history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Briefly, the original Nathaniel Essex was of noble-birth in England in the mid-19th century. Following the publishing of Charles Darwin&#8217;s The Origin of Species, he became obsessed with human evolution, eventually identifying &#8220;Essex factors&#8221; which could accelerate the evolution of humans (in other words, he anticipated the development of mutants). He was transformed by Apocalypse into Mister Sinister, and spent most of the rest of his natural life trying break free from Apocalypse&#8217;s control. He also anticipated the rise of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), and was determined to be the first intelligence to ascend to godhood in the future (i.e., the singularity, or the Dominion as it is known in Marvel Comics).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To that end, before he died he created four clones of himself (unknown to each other initially), identified by the four playing card suits displayed on their foreheads. The red Diamond clone was also known as Mister Sinister, and is the most consistent continuation of the original Essex &#8211; maintaining his deep interest in mutant genetics, for example. The other three clones are known as Doctor Stasis (black Club), Orbis Stellaris (black Spade), and Mother Righteous (red Heart), the latter a physical clone of Essex&#8217;s dead wife Rebecca. The current Mister Sinister became the world&#8217;s greatest mutant geneticist, manipulating the DNA of other mutants (and himself) to enhance mutant powers or exert control over them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A genius manipulator, Essex is completely amoral and ruthless when it comes to his work, or attaining his desired goals (e.g., godhood). Essex lacks any normal human empathy, which he purposefully excised from himself to facilitate his work. Since then, Essex has continued to consciously re-program his own personality, adopting a very sarcastic, comedic, dramatic and vain persona. This was very well captured by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kieron_Gillen#\">Kieron Gillen<\/a> in his <em>Immortal X-Men<\/em> run, most especially in issue #4, 2022, with art by <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Michele_Bandini\">Michele Bandini<\/a>, where you see a cloned Essex being reactivated after a timeline renewal:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/f70e9522-3d13-4750-b011-1779dd53803b.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:750px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve always been impressed by Gillen&#8217;s amusing way of accurately distilling down a character&#8217;s personality by strategically comparing them to contrasting sources. In this case, &#8220;a cocktail of Deadpool scrapings, five choice seasons of <em>[RuPaul&#8217;s] Drag Race<\/em> and a sample of Oscar Wilde&#8221;. That sums him up well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For all the amusing descriptions though, Essex&#8217; character is quite shallow in substance &#8211; it is a lot of surface-level characteristics, with very little heft. This can make him fun to read (and presumably write) &#8211; as an evil, moustache-twirling villain &#8211; but it doesn&#8217;t really give you much to work with from an ethics perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He could best be described as a <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rational_egoism\">rational egoist<\/a><\/em>, which holds that it is rational to act in one&#8217;s own self-interest. This is related to (but differs) from the normative ethics concept of egoistic consequentialism (aka <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethical_egoism\">ethical egoism<\/a>), which posits that you morally <em>ought<\/em> to act in your own self-interest. The latter is good fit for the ethics of a lot of comic villains, like the early Magneto (not presently), Doctor Doom, and Kang the Conqueror. Essex lacks this moral dimension to his thinking &#8211; he really is amoral in his presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The attempt of the original Essex to reach Dominion godhood status (as Enigma) was eventually frustrated through the conclusion of the Krakoan Age. The current cloned Essex&#8217; Mister Sinister decided to lay low after that. He has recently resurfaced in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eve_Ewing\">Eve L. Ewing<\/a>&#8216;s <em>Exceptional X-Men<\/em> series, which is explicitly playing on his lack of empathy (by using a mutant whose main power is stimulating empathy in others). I&#8217;m enjoying how that story line is developing so far, for a number of the characters (including <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#frost\">Emma Frost<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"marvel\">Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan)<\/a> Ethics:<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">V\/d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kamala is an Inhuman polymorph with the ability to stretch her body in any possible way. Kamala took the name Ms. Marvel to honor her hero, Carol Danvers (currently <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/captain-marvel-carol-danvers-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3536\">Captain Marvel<\/a>). Kamala is also a mutant, but her mutant power is unclear as it is suppressed by her Inhuman abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Passed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/msmarvel.jpg\" alt=\"From NYX Vol 2, issue #10, 2025. Writer(s) Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing. Penciler and Inker Francesco Mortarino\" class=\"wp-image-5937 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Created in 2013, originally Kamala Khan was an <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Inhumans_(Inhomo_supremis)\">Inhuman<\/a> &#8211; a competing group of mutant-like super-powered beings in the Marvel Universe, whose latent powers derive from the influence of alien genetic engineering of early humans (and emerge when exposed to the Terrigen Mists). It was thought that one couldn&#8217;t be both a mutant and an Inhuman. But in 2023, a recently murdered Kamala is resurrected by the mutant resurrection protocols, revealing to the world (and herself!) she is in fact both &#8211; or more specifically, a hybrid. It is just that her Inhuman powers manifested before her mutant X-gene, effectively suppressing her innate mutant nature (although we just got an idea of what it might be in <em>Giant-Size Dark Phoenix Saga<\/em> Vol 1, issue #1, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Collin_Kelly_and_Jackson_Lanzing\">Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Rod_Reis\">Rod Reis<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a modern character, I find Kamala has always had a very strong moral core &#8211; she is always looking to do what is &#8220;right&#8221;, and her instinct is often to protect those most vulnerable. As a Pakistani-American Muslim teenager, her stories have often focused on identity and her sense of community. Over time, she became increasingly recognized by the established superhero community of New York, and invited to participate in events. Eventually, she joined the Avengers, befriending an extended impromptu group of teenage superheroes. After confronting and moving away from her hero, the extremely utilitarian (at that point in time) <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/captain-marvel-carol-danvers-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3536\">Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)<\/a> during second Civil War event in 2016, Kamala left the Avengers and formed her own group of teenager superheroes, the Champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An attempt to outlaw teenager superheroes in 2020 (through a law named after Kamala, due to serious injuries she suffered during an event) left Kamala struggling to regain her autonomy and rights as a superhero. Kamala was subsequently killed while helping out Spider-Man and friends in 2023. She was surprised to find herself resurrected in time for the annual Hellfire Gala ball later that year (with the revelation that she is also a mutant). Following the fall of Krakoa, Kamala featured prominently as one of the young members of the mutant diaspora in New York city (&#8220;NYX&#8221;).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kamala&#8217;s ethics have always reflected a blend of deontological and virtue ethics elements. As originally written (by co-creator <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/G._Willow_Wilson\">G. Willow Wilson<\/a>), she was very similar to the early original <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/15\/spider-man-peter-parker-ethics\/\">Spider-Man (Peter Parker)<\/a>, with his strong sense of responsibility that power brings. Kamala was particularly focused on protecting her local community and helping one and all in need. Like both current Spider-Men (Peter Parker and Miles Morales), Kamala also always shows great empathy &#8211; not just for the victims of crime, but for the villains whose past abuse led them to take out their anger and frustration on others. And so, just like both Spider-Men, I have observed Kamala moving increasingly toward a virtue ethics perspective &#8211; in both the classic sense and the modern care ethics sense (more so the latter for Kamala).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is well captured in the confrontation between Kamala and her mentor, Carol Danvers &#8211; from <em>Ms. Marvel <\/em>Vol 4, issue #11, 2016, by Wilson, T<a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Takeshi_Miyazawa\">akeshi Miyazawa<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Adrian_Alphona\">Adrian Alphona<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/4bc2ab11-ffe3-43a2-a61f-6c13e17247b2.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:697px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/a48f9c16-1eb0-4d27-9441-611113c2f9f9.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:730px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Up to and including the previous issue, Kamala was still trying to hold on to her loyalty to Carol (and her historical loyalty to a deontological perspective) against her new better judgment. I feel WIlson has handled this transition remarkably well, given the increasingly extreme utilitarianism shown by Carol in that cross-over event. As an aside, I was never a fan of that ethical characterization of Carol (to be more extreme a utilitarian than Iron Man is hard to accept!). And so I was glad to see her <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/captain-marvel-carol-danvers-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3536\">subsequent rehabilitation<\/a> at the hands of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kelly_Thompson\">Kelly Thompson<\/a> into a care ethicist, and re-connection with Kamala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was very impressed with Wilson&#8217;s expansion of Kamala&#8217;s ethics over the course of her run. Often, it is only when a new writer takes over that we see a character&#8217;s ethics change. As the panels above show, Kamala developed a more mature understanding as she grew (both literally, and in her role as superhero) &#8211; and discovered that morality is not a simple matter in a complex world. Indeed, throughout all her stories, Kamala often grapples with moral dilemmas and demonstrates a willingness to learn from her experiences (including acknowledging past mistakes). This aspect of her character development fits well with the sense of personal growth that virtue ethics illustrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As alluded to above, Carol Danvers and Kamala reconcile as Carol develops her own virtue ethics (care ethics) perspective. There&#8217;s also a nice one-off story in <em>Captain Marvel <\/em>Vol 9, issue #30, 2021, written and drawn by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jamie_McKelvie\">Jamie McKelvie<\/a>, where a down-trodden Carol goes to her former prot\u00e9g\u00e9 looking for validation as to why she is an inspiration. Kamala explains that it is the ripple effect of how Carol&#8217;s actions lead others to not only have better outcomes, but want to <em>be better<\/em> than they were.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/0122a200-4ce0-48e6-b7b7-dd4b09f86121.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>So it is not surprising that the Progenitor would appear to Kamala as Carol in the A.X.E.: Judgment Day <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">event<\/a>. From <em>A.X.E.: Judgment Day<\/em> Vol 1, issue #4, 2022, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kieron_Gillen\">Kieron Gillen<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Valerio_Schiti\">Valerio Schiti<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Marte_Gracia\">Marte Gracia<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/d77573d1-2c67-4776-b56f-236ff6c1ac7c.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>This again gets to the primarily virtue ethics core of Kamala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms. Marvel has been a successful character for Marvel, with a well-regarded Disney TV series and appearances in the feature films, played by Iman Vellani. I&#8217;ve really enjoyed these as well, and think Ms. Vellani has done an excellent job playing the character &#8211; with a lot of sympathy, empathy and humor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kamala is having a moment in a number of X-Men adventures this summer, and I hope those connections continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"mystique\">Mystique (Raven Darkh\u00f6lme)<\/a><\/strong> <strong>Ethics:<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">C<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mystique is a metamorph, allowing her to duplicate the appearance of any other person at will. With her enhanced physical abilities and training, she can adapt to mimic anyone. See detailed character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Raven_Darkh%C3%B6lme_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Failed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mystique-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3955 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Mystique is generally a villain in the X-Men stories, although she has (rarely) served as member of the team. Mystique espouses an extreme version of mutant superiority. Her origins remain unclear, but she has been active since the late 19th century with her partner <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#destiny\">Destiny<\/a> (Irene Adler). As an aside, fans of the Sherlock Holmes stories will recognize that name &#8211; it was eventually established in the Marvel Universe that Mystique assumed the identity of Sherlock Holmes and that she and her partner Irene were the inspirations for Conan Doyle&#8217;s stories on Earth-616. Over her long life, her struggles and failures to bring about mutant supremacy has made her increasingly angry and extreme in her actions. Mystique eventually took over Magneto&#8217;s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, but her moral core has never been as clearly defined as Magneto&#8217;s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A skilled assassin and infiltrator, Mystique is very comfortable killing others, or manipulating and using them for her own purposes. Mystique is probably most likely to be considered a consequentialist &#8211; either an <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethical_egoism\">ethical egoist<\/a> or a utilitiarian, depending on how much emphasis you want to put on her self-interest versus the broader mutant group ones. She certainly displays no deontological traits, and although you could make an argument for some virtues (such as strength of will, determination, and a strong sense of purpose), her methods and her disregard for life and the personal integrity and autonomy of others strongly argue against this (e.g., there is no real sign of compassion, empathy, or fairness).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, she does have a particularly strong connection to her wife Irene, and a supportive relationship with her adopted daughter Rogue. She is favorably disposed toward her son Nightcrawler, although they are not close given her previous behaviors and past abandonment. But again, this hardly makes her a care ethicist given her discounting of the dignity and rights of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an aside, Mystique might generously be considered under the heading of <a href=\"https:\/\/iep.utm.edu\/moral-re\/\">moral relativism<\/a>. This is fundamentally a <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2554\">meta-ethics<\/a> perspective, as it holds that moral principles and values are relative to the individual or culture, and what is right or wrong depends on the specific circumstances and standpoint of the observer. This view is popular among certain anthropologists and some historians, who argue against normative ethics judgments of other cultures (or time periods). So, in this sense, moral relativism might suggest that Mystique&#8217;s actions are morally justifiable in the context of her world and cultural background (of which we actually know little &#8211; she is quite the cypher). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Personally, I find that to be a cop-out &#8211; but then again I would, as I am writing a blog about <em>normative ethics<\/em> as revealed through comic book stories. \ud83d\ude42 Seriously, the moral relativism argument typically descends into subjectivism (in the sense of the individual) or cultural relativism (for a group or time period). But neither of these holds up to careful scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subjectivism basically reverts all ethical arguments into opinions &#8211; what is &#8220;right&#8221; is simply &#8220;right for you&#8221; (and what is &#8220;right for me&#8221; is different). This gets into an odd circular reasoning problem &#8211; there can be no ethical arguments since everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and therefore everyone is &#8220;right&#8221; (and so, we don&#8217;t disagree anymore?). But what happens if you grow and learn and change your opinion &#8211; was your former self just as &#8220;right&#8221; as your current self? And along with that, are all historical past abuses of others (e.g., slavery, rape, genocide, etc.) similarly perfectly fine too? In essence, this becomes a logical paradox where no one can ever be wrong (and therefore, no one can ever be right either!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cultural relativism suffers from a similar circular reasoning problem, even as it tries to punt the problem from individuals to the group level. Culture is not such an easy thing to define (we all belong to multiple sub-cultures, or have different facets to our cultural identities &#8211; which can be at odds with each other). And while cultural relativism can seem to be an appealing way to avoid the unfair intolerance and dismissal of other cultures that we have seen throughout history (by the dominant culture of the time), it soon runs into the wall of the intolerance presented in those subjugated cultures themselves (i.e., should we accept their prejudices as acceptable?). This quickly becomes a self-defeating contradiction of avoiding intolerance by accepting intolerance &#8211; another circular reasoning problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is not to say this isn&#8217;t some value in considering subjectivism and cultural relativism perspectives, especially when encountering foreign ideas or concepts (i.e., we can be too quick to judge things as unethical without carefully considering their specific contexts). But these meta-ethics perspectives don&#8217;t supplant the need to do that careful considering in terms of normative ethics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mystique reports she was failed by the Progenitor in the A.X.E.: Judgment Day <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">event<\/a>, but refuses to provide the reason. Again, knowing so little of her background makes her hard to evaluate (or predict).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mystique has just completed a new mini-series, written and drawn by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Declan_Shalvey\">Declan Shalvey<\/a> (known for his contribution to the very utilitarian Civil War II story arc). The ending for this series is interesting in what it has to say about Nick Fury Jr.&#8217;s ethics, and the nature of corruptibility (or moral flexibility). Not sure what it means for the Mystique character long-term though, as she seems to be &#8220;off the board&#8221; for an extended period as a result of the events here. But it does support my primary consequentialist (C) theory for the character, with no obvious secondary moral drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"nightcrawler\">Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner)<\/a> Ethics: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">D\/v<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A frequent member (and occasional leader) of the X-Men, Nightcrawler is<em> <\/em>a demonic-looking mutant with teleporting abilities. See detailed character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Kurt_Wagner_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250520_132955_Marvel-Unlimited.jpg\" alt=\"Immortal X-Men Vol 1 issue #7, Cover Art by Mark Brooks\" class=\"wp-image-5895 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite his appearance, Kurt is fundamentally warm-hearted and kind, with a charming demeanor &#8211; much beloved by his teammates. Like <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/daredevil-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2897\">Daredevil<\/a>, Kurt&#8217;s deeply-held Catholic faith greatly informs his moral and ethical code &#8211; but unlike Daredevil, Kurt persists in seeing the good in everyone. This make him more entertaining to read (and no doubt would be more fun at parties!), but we don&#8217;t often get as thorough an examination of issues from his perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He is consistently very deontological with a strong sense of duty and adherence to strict moral rules. He is among the most Kantian of deontological superheroes in fact, and seems to believe in <em>universal<\/em> moral principles and laws. He has a strong commitment to doing the <em>right<\/em> thing, even (especially?) when facing personal hardship or risks. He has a strict prohibition against taking a life, and rejects violence unless absolutely necessary. Consistently, his powers are often used for helping his teammates escape, or to be better placed to carry out their missions with lower risk to themselves and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite often facing morally ambiguous situations in his life as an X-Man &#8211; and undeserved hatred and abuse for his appearance and mutant nature &#8211; Kurt is a rock that the other characters look to for moral guidance and support. He embodies the classic virtues of compassion, humility, selflessness, and a deep faith in goodness. A frequent theme in stories he stars in is how he strives to be a good person and to cultivate virtues in himself. So it&#8217;s a D\/v rating from me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kurt has always impressed me as a character, for both his resilience and his unwavering compassion amid all the conflict and strife in the X-Men stories. He&#8217;s probably one of the best beloved deontological characters in the Marvel Universe. He is a staunch advocate of doing what is morally <em>right<\/em>, even if the outcome is unfavorable. His Catholic faith is not played up as much in modern times, but I would think he remains a good Christian role model: he is welcoming and inclusive, always full of compassion and care, regardless of the poor treatment he receives (i.e., he is very much of the turn-the-other-cheek mindset). I haven&#8217;t seen the animated X-Men TV series from the 1990s, but apparently the religious aspects of the character were successfully explored there, judging by the Christian reviews online (like <a href=\"https:\/\/tylerhuckabee.substack.com\/p\/how-nightcrawler-made-me-a-better\">this one<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kurt often expresses doubts as to the correct course of action, yet he provides a consistent moral compass in the stories. Below is an example from the A.X.E.: Judgment Day <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">event<\/a>, in a rare issue that focused on him &#8211; <em>Immortal X-Men<\/em> Vol 1, issue #7, 2022, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kieron_Gillen\">Kieron Gillen<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Lucas_Werneck\">Lucas Werneck<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/520e9eee-0609-4e2f-8607-8b4ab15c2376.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Personally, I always enjoy when Kurt is made the central character in a story, as he often brings a refreshing change of perspective. And I found it interesting that there is no record of what his judgment from the Progenitor was in the A.X.E.: Judgment Day event by Kieron Gillen et al. Typically, deontological characters didn&#8217;t fare well in the Progenitor&#8217;s assessment (for reasons that I will discuss in an upcoming post). But I find it hard to see how the Progenitor would have failed Kurt, since he is typically very true to his moral self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good series that had a strong of focus on Kurt was <em>Legion of X<\/em> Vol 1, 2022, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Simon_Spurrier\">Si Spurrier<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Jan_Bazaldua\">Jan Bazaldua<\/a>. You get to see him action as a sheriff of sorts for Krakoa, keeping the smooth execution of its laws and justice for mutants. It&#8217;s a worthwhile read for its development of both <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#legion\">Legion<\/a> and Kurt&#8217;s characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"psylocke\">Psylocke (Kwannon)<\/a> Ethics:<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">C\/v<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mutant telepath with the ability to focus her psychic powers as knives or a katana coming out of her fists. Trained martial arts assassin.<em> <\/em>See detailed character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Kwannon_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Passed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/psylocke-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3957 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Kwannon was raised from birth to be an assassin for the ninja clan known as the Hand. Kwannon eventually left the Hand and rose through the underworld of Japan. A low-level telepath, Kwannon&#8217;s body was once switched with that of Betsy Braddock (Captain Britain), enhancing her telepathic powers. Kwannon eventually joined the X-Men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kwannon&#8217;s character trajectory is similar to that of Elektra from the Daredevil comics. Given the shifting moral compass from villain to hero, her normative ethics are not straightforward. Overall, I find her to be most obviously associated with consequentialism (utilitarianism in particular). She is a very &#8220;tactical&#8221; character, always looking for the best way to achieve her ultimate outcomes, which seem to involve the greatest good for the greatest number. Kwannon seems to be particularly sympathetic to the needs of mutants and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Psylocke has some virtue ethics characteristics, and often displays the virtues of bravery, compassion, and resilience. Given that her character arc is focused on themes of identity and redemption, developing and applying virtues based on her experiences is important for most writers. There are times where she also displays a sense of duty, particularly in her loyalty to her teammates and friends, and she does seem to have a personal code of honor. But I feel these deontological aspects are less significant than the virtue ethics ones, so I&#8217;m tentatively putting her down as a C\/v for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kwannon received a passing grade (somewhat grudgingly) from the Progenitor in the A.X.E.: Judgment Day <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">event<\/a>. From <em>Marauders<\/em> Vol 2, issue #6, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Steve_Orlando\">Steve Orlando<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Andrea_Broccardo\">Andrea Broccardo<\/a>, where the Progenitor appeared to Kwannon first as Mister Sinister (who she stabbed in the head), and then as her dead child (as she is psychically recounting to another telepath, below):<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/0e9444c7-f6fd-4655-b4e0-a879335a64b8.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:798px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>And yet he passed her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Psylocke recently received her own title, written by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alyssa_Wong\">Alyssa Wong<\/a> (who did great work on <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/captain-marvel-carol-danvers-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3536\">Captain Marvel<\/a>). From <em>Psylocke<\/em> Vol 2, issue #1, by Wong and Vincenzo Carrat\u00f9, an early scene showing her vulnerability with her lover, John:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/59b630cb-7342-4289-9a80-5b99b7f7fa40.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>But by the end of this issue, Kwannon kills a trafficker of mutant children with this narration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I told John that killing was a reflex. This isn&#8217;t what I want to be, but it was so easy to fall back into it. It&#8217;s horrifying. I should feel horrified. But what scares me\u2026 is that I don&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m curious to see how this series develops, and will update this entry if anything seems to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"rogue\">Rogue (Anna Marie)<\/a> Ethics:<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">V\/c<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rogue&#8217;s mutant ability is absorbing the energy of others through physical contact, temporarily incorporating their abilities, powers, memories and even personality. See detailed character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Rogue_(Anna_Marie)_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/rogue-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3959 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Rogue is a character that has gone from being a villain to a hero over the years. Indeed, her original villain persona (having been raised by <a href=\"#mystique\">Mystique<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#destiny\">Destiny<\/a>, and part of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants) was first challenged during my time collecting comics in the early 1980s. Over the objections of the X-Men, <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#xavier\">Professor X<\/a> insisted on admitting the troubled youth to his school &#8211; on the basis of his beliefs in helping all mutants (he was more deontological in those days).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the precipitating event for her conversion to the good side was the complete absorption of <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/captain-marvel-carol-danvers-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3536\">Carol Danvers<\/a>&#8216; Ms. Marvel character &#8211; powers, memories, and psyche. The internal conflict that the absorbed hero psyche created for her was the impetus to seek out Professor X&#8217;s help. There was a great series of Captain Marvel (after Carol adopted that persona) where Carol has to overcome her trauma by letting a mind-controlled Rogue drain her again. From <em>Captain Marvel<\/em> Vol 10, issue #5, 2021, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kelly_Thompson\">Kelly Thompson<\/a> and Carmen Carnero:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/0dafb423-d492-46f5-b3c2-6ac7a378db3b.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In terms of her ethics, it is easy to see Rogue as very consequentialist, as she is always considering possible outcomes of using her powers. This is understandable, as she can absorb both the powers and memories of others &#8211; causing her to grapple with the consequences of those actions (both for herself and for others). Her abilities can lead to very direct impacts on other&#8217;s lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, Rogue has also developed some deontological aspects, especially over the long arc of her journey toward redemption. Her battles with her own identity push her to act in ways that seek to do moral good, in line with an evolving personal moral code. But personally, I see this more as virtue ethics, as Rogue also strives for personal growth. She often displays virtues like courage, loyalty, and compassion. Ultimately, I think her quest for redemption &#8211; and her evolution into a hero &#8211; reflects an effort to cultivate a virtuous character. I also note that her experiences seem to have made her particularly empathetic toward others &#8211; she is even more willing to sacrifice herself, or take significant personal risks, than most superheroes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the recently relaunched <em>Uncanny X-Men<\/em> Vol 7 (2024-present, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gail_Simone\">Gail Simone<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/David_Marquez\">David Marquez<\/a>), Rogue is the leader of a group of established X-Men and some young mutants only recently discovering their powers. The challenges and burdens with keeping them all safe brings to my mind the principles of care ethics, with its focus on relationships and prioritizing the needs of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so, on the relative weighing of the above, I think a V\/c rating makes the most sense for the character at the present time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"omega\">Quentin Quire (aka Kid Omega)<\/a> Ethics: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">C<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Quentin is an Omega-level telepath with considerable telekinetic powers and the ability to rapidly accelerate his thinking. See detailed character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Quintavius_Quire_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot_20250522_154017_Marvel-Unlimited.jpg\" alt=\"From X-Men (Vol. 7) #5, 2024. \nWriter Jed MacKay.\nPenciler Ryan Stegman.\nInkers JP Mayer and John Livesay.\n\" class=\"wp-image-5958 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;width:277px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Quentin&#8217;s character was created in the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grant_Morrison\">Grant Morrison<\/a> era of the X-Men, as a star pupil at <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#xavier\">Charles Xavier<\/a>&#8216;s school for gifted mutants. As an Omega-level telepath, Quentin was bound to play a significant role in X-Men adventures over the years. However, one of his defining characteristics is his insecurity, which has manifested in his brash appearance, near-constant bragging, and abrasive edgelord personality. This appears to be designed to provoke others, leaving Quentin often feeling isolated from his comrades. His insecurity also manifests in his taking greater risks than he should (likely in an attempt to impress others). Combined with his considerable powers, this is has often made Quentin an immediate target of the X-Men&#8217;s adversaries (that is, he is often targeted to be taken out quickly). During the Krakoan Age, it seems to me that he suffered a lot more trauma and deaths (and resurrections) than most of his compatriots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His sartorial fashion sense has often been a source of in-jokes among the mutant-loving crowd (both within the Earth-616 comic world, and in our world). In <em>New X-Men<\/em> Vol 1, issue #135, by Morrison and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Frank_Quitely\">Frank Quitely<\/a>, you can see how Quentin flaunts Xavier&#8217;s authority in his own unique style:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/9928f586-768c-424d-abb8-52361e35ce9f.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Quentin&#8217;s provocative Che Guevara-style &#8220;Magneto was right&#8221; (in his early militant views, presumably) went on to become a popular iconic phrase. He went on to sport all sorts of mocking or ironic t-shirts over the years (as a left-handed person, I prefer his later &#8220;Magneto was left&#8221; shirt). In keeping with his deep insecurities, this era also saw him develop a drug addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of his ethics, his initial &#8220;revolutionary&#8221; teen persona could be seen as rebellious for its own sake. While initially more anarchistic and somewhat destructive, I would say Quentin&#8217;s ethical framework has matured into a more typically utilitarian form of consequentialism, with some residual egoistic consequentialism (aka <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethical_egoism\">ethical egoism<\/a>). He seemed to be starting to mature during the Krakoan Age, in part through his relationship (and break-up) with Phoebe, one of the five Stepford Cuckoos (younger clones of Emma Frost). He seemed to be making some progress in dealing with his past traumas during this time as well. But he wasn&#8217;t a major character during this era, and was more on the periphery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also hasn&#8217;t been given as much direct air time in the new <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jed_MacKay\">Jed MacKay<\/a> <em>X-Men<\/em> Vol 7, where he seems to be playing largely a supportive role for his teammates. I don&#8217;t see him espousing any strong traditional moral views in this series. Interestingly, although he has operated a lot like Charles Xavier in the recent past (that is, doing what he thinks is right, regardless of other people&#8217;s agency or autonomy), he remains opposed to his former mentor&#8217;s view. There is a good scene in <em>X-Men<\/em> Vol 7, issue #13, by MacKay and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Netho_Diaz\">Netho Diaz<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Sean_Parsons\">Sean Parsons<\/a>, after Xavier overpowers Quentin in a telepathic dual, and points out how he remembers the insecure little boy who was his former pupil:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/50af75e4-b44c-4d43-b1e7-c8ee85a1f70f.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/7fd28804-7dd9-46fb-ab06-61b76c803646.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It is nice to see Quentin gain the upper hand, for once. It will be interesting to see how his character evolves from here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"shaw\">Sebastian Shaw (Black King)<\/a> Ethics: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">C<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shaw has the ability absorb any kind of energy directed against him to enhance his own physical strength, speed, and stamina. He has a secondary mutation to absorb ambient kinetic energy. See full character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Sebastian_Shaw_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Failed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shaw-cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3961 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Shaw was raised in poverty, but overcame his humble beginnings to become an extremely successful and wealthy businessman, eventually being accepted and rising to the top of the Hellfire club and the Hellfire Trading Company (where he became known as the Black King). He has a complex relationship with <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#frost\">Emma Frost<\/a>, who he initially abused and later promoted through the Hellfire club. In keeping with his background, he has frequently been an adversary of the X-Men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the Krakoan Age, Shaw was a &#8220;necessary evil&#8221; that the founders of Krakoa needed in order to distribute their mutant miracle drugs around the world. This gave Shaw a seat on Krakoa&#8217;s ruling Quiet Council, where he engaged in his usual form of backroom-dealing and self-enrichment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of ethical frameworks, Shaw is very much in the mold of the classic Marvel villain, with a strong showing of egoistic consequentialism. Also known as <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethical_egoism\">ethical egoism<\/a>, this is where you believe that one ought to act in their own self-interest (and thus, see everyone else operating that way too). Like a number of mutants, he believes that his in-group is special and should be valued above regular humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what I find interesting &#8211; and somewhat unique &#8211; about Shaw is that he also espouses an extreme form of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Social_Darwinism\">social Darwinism<\/a>. This discredited pseudo-scientific theory argues that we should apply biological concepts like <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charles_Darwin\">Charles Darwin<\/a>&#8216;s natural selection and &#8220;survival of the fittest&#8221; to society (most especially, business and politics). You can see this in his naked avarice and business success, where he promotes extreme competition under <em>laissez-faire<\/em> <em>capitalism<\/em>, while at same time promoting mutant supremacy as the dominant race. In this twisted view, the greater power of mutants confers moral authority &#8211; the strong have not just the right but the evolutionary obligation to dominate the weak (survival of the fittest).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This merger of extreme capitalism and mutant supremacy is novel. It also makes him particularly dangerous, because he is not motivated by simple self-interest, but by an ideological conviction. In this sense, a close comparable is Doctor Doom, who also displays his own twisted form of paternalism. They both seem to genuinely believe they are working toward a better world by establishing themselves as its rulers (that is, they see themselves as visionaries, not tyrants). Shaw is just focused on mutants exclusively as the evolutionary master race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shaw also shares some commonalities with the immoral <a href=\"#sinister\">Mister Sinister<\/a>, with their common focus on the evolutionary might of mutants. In that sense, they can both serve as a critique and warning of how evolutionary theory can be perverted to justify oppression, genocide and slavery. In the hands of a skilled writer, like <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kieron_Gillen\">Kieron Gillen<\/a> in <em>Immortal X-Men<\/em> Vol 1, they can also be entertaining &#8211; but it is important to recognize how morally shallow they actually are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I very much enjoyed <em>Immortal X-Men <\/em>Vol 1, issue #6, 2022, by Gillen and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Lucas_Werneck\">Lucas Werneck<\/a>, which is narrated by Shaw. We also get see how he fares against the Progenitor, as part of of the A.X.E.: Judgment Day <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">event<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/cfbd30b0-dc96-415d-8c11-9aa6f02d395c.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/bdda27de-6f0d-4518-8e9f-71bc0d8716a5.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the Progenitor does not explain why it is failing Shaw (although selling out your own people to make a buck may have something to do with it &#8211; given Shaw believes in mutant supremacy). No, what I find interesting here is that it appears him to as Emma, and not as his father &#8211; as he was expecting, given his considerable &#8220;daddy issues&#8221;. Despite how disrespectfully Shaw has treated Emma over the years &#8211; and how he continues to mistakenly ascribe his motives to her in this sequence &#8211; this sequence cleverly shows Shaw ultimately knows he is her inferior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the end, it seems to me that Shaw&#8217;s ethical system nearly collapses under the weight of its own contradictions &#8211; although he doesn&#8217;t quite reach the level of Sinister&#8217;s explicit amorality. His constant game-playing, and fundamental disrespect for others, means he is forever trapped in interpersonal power struggles. I see no sign of his emerging from this state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"storm\">Storm (Ororo Munroe)<\/a> Ethics: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">D\/v<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ororo is an Omega-level mutant whose power is weather manipulation, including storms and lightning. She is also the descendant of magical beings, giving her a primal connection to elemental life forces, plus some limited magical abilities. A frequent member and leader of the X-Men. See full character history <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Ororo_Munroe_(Earth-616)\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/storm.jpg\" alt=\"Storm (Vol. 5) issue #1, 2024. Cover Artist Mateus Manhanini\" class=\"wp-image-5901 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ororo&#8217;s back-story and history has been extensively reformed and retconned over the years. Originally, she was presented as having come from poverty, living as street &#8220;urchin&#8221; in Egypt. But once her powerful mutant powers manifested, she rose to be mistakenly considered a god\/godling. <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#xavier\">Charles Xavier<\/a> recruited her to the X-Men by disabusing her of her divine nature. Over time she has grown into a much more powerful character, reflecting the revised back story that reveals she does indeed come from more significant ancestry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From <em>X-Men: Red<\/em> Vol 2, issue #11, 2023, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Al_Ewing\">Al Ewing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Stefano_Caselli\">Stefano Caselli<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Jacopo_Camagni\">Jacopo Camagni<\/a>, where Ororo challenges Xavier for his consequentialist ethics in deceiving her:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/3144d6e5-8623-42f3-9e05-8c6bbc3be2db.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:656px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As with many long-standing heroes, it is good to examine Ororo&#8217;s ethics through each of the key ethical frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were certainly times in her back history where she exhibited consequentialist elements (though not as severely as Charles above). Through a number of X-Men eras &#8211; and her brief time with T&#8217;Challa as Queen of Wakanda &#8211; where Ororo&#8217;s would consider actions based on their outcomes, in keeping with her leadership position. That includes classically utilitarian thinking, weighing the greater good of your people (e.g., mutantdom, Wakandans) against the individual costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Various writers have also rooted her moral decision-making in virtue ethics. It is common to see an emphasis on character traits like compassion, courage, temperance, and a commitment to justice (especially in terms of protecting the environment or the oppressed). Indeed, Ororo consistently expresses great sympathy for the oppressed over the years (e.g., I recall the early Morkock stories of 1980s). However, she does seem to struggle with pride. Her confidence &#8211; and insistence &#8211; when expressing her moral principles has always been very clear in the comics, and I don&#8217;t generally see much evidence of her struggling to improve herself in this regard. Still, there are signs of character growth overall, so I think virtue ethics holds a stronger sway than consequentialism at the present time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which leads to me the ethical theory that I think best fits her moral character, deontology. Throughout the years, Ororo has illustrated a propensity to follow certain inviolable (to her) moral rules. These include respect for the dignity of all sentient beings, a duty to protect innocent life, and a commitment to using her powers responsibly. Another key characteristic is her opposition to oppression. This social justice perspective tends to come up the most in stories that reflect on Ororo&#8217;s personal history. Her modern status as having descended from elemental forces can also show up as a commitment to various spiritual traditions and perspectives, including harmony with nature and environmental stewardship. So while I wouldn&#8217;t peg her as a Kantian, I do find she can be an avatar of various cultural and environmental perspectives (with the specifics depending on the author).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the reasons above, I think an overall D\/v rating on my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">superhero normative ethics<\/a> rating system makes the most sense. But a secondary consequentualist rating could also fit, if drawing upon earlier story lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her role as a principled deontological leader was the most pronounced in the Krakoan Age, where she served as the Regent of Arakko (Mars) as well as on the Quiet Council of Krakoa for a time. I actually find it relatively rare to see a primarily deontological leader for a superhero group in the modern comics (it was more common in earlier eras). In that sense, it was refreshing to see her nuanced personal take in making principled decisions. However, I find there is less evidence of personal growth or reflection on her part (something that Captain America shows more of, despite also sporting a deontological core).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like her good friend Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler) &#8211; who is also primarily deontological &#8211; there is no record of the Progenitor&#8217;s judgment for this character in the A.X.E.: Judgement Day <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">event<\/a>. Ororo is significant character for X-Men during this time period, and I continue to find it interesting that we didn&#8217;t story focusing on her judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ororo recently received her own comic title again, with the launch of <em>Storm<\/em> Vol 5 at the end of 2024, by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Murewa_Ayodele\">Murewa Ayodele<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Lucas_Werneck\">Lucas Werneck<\/a>. I&#8217;m not really getting a clear read on where the ethics of the character is going in this series, as she has been under partial (or intermittent?) mind control of the cosmic entity Eternity. We&#8217;ll have to wait and see how this series plays out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong><a name=\"wolverine\">Wolverine (Logan, aka James Howlett)<\/a> Ethics: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">V\/d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolverine&#8217;s main mutant power is extensive regenerative abilities (durability, rapid healing factor, greatly reduced aging, etc.). He has superhuman senses and strength, and two sets of retractable bone claws in his hands. He had Adamantium fused to his skeleton, further enhancing his durability and lethality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">A.X.E. event<\/a> Progenitor judgment: Passed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"242\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/wolverine.jpg\" alt=\"Wolverine (Vol. 8) issue #3, 2024. Variant cover artist Pablo Villalobos\" class=\"wp-image-5902 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 242px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 242\/220;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolverine is one of the hardest characters to summarize from a normative ethics perspective. Like <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/15\/spider-man-peter-parker-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3456\">Spider-Man<\/a>, he is one of the most extensively featured Marvel superheroes. It seems like all the talent at Marvel has had a chance to create Wolverine stories over the years. Many bring their own unique take to the character, making any attempt to neatly describe his ethics virtually impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that is what I am here for! I think it&#8217;s helpful to go through each of the main normative ethics theories to see how each are a potential fit for the character. There is value in trying to understand Wolverine&#8217;s normative ethics through these different philosophical lenses, even though his moral framework is particularly complex and somewhat contradictory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, even the extent of his abilities can be quite variable depending on the era and writer as well. He is certainly quite durable, and his regenerative abilities can also extrude contaminants as well is repairing\/replacing damaged body parts. But his specific strength, stamina, and regenerative powers have fluctuated a lot over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolverine&#8217;s history was largely left a mystery when the character was first created, explained by memory loss and the experimentation performed on him. An angry and aggressive character (with a &#8220;berserkers rage&#8221;), his violent history has since been extensively fleshed out in the comics. Consistent with his longevity, he is now believed to have been born as James Howlett, in 19th century Alberta, Canada. Adopting the name Logan following an early family trauma, he had broad experiences across the world, including spending considerable time in Japan and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Madripoor\">Madripoor<\/a> (a Marvel fictional stand-in for Singapore, which is located nearby). He was unwittingly subjected to the Weapon X program in Canada, where indestructible Adamantium was bonded to his skeleton, making him an even more effective lethal weapon. He was approached to join the X-Men and came to see them as his found family, eventually developing more of a sense of balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will start this tour of his ethics with consequentialism, as I think it is the ethics theory that fits him the least well (at least overall &#8211; some writers have leaned in on his consequetialism). Like <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/15\/spider-man-peter-parker-ethics\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3456\">Spider-Man<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/#frost\">Emma Frost<\/a>, Wolverine does have a catch phrase of sorts: <em>&#8220;I&#8217;m the best there is at what I do, but what I do best isn&#8217;t very nice&#8221;<\/em>. This implies a consequentialist perspective &#8211; he does what needs to be done, even (or especially) if it something that is too unpleasant for the other superheroes to consider. Basically, he is willing to accept the moral burden of violence to achieve better outcomes for all. But I see Wolverine&#8217;s consequentialist leanings more often directed toward specifically protecting or avenging the innocent (especially children and youths). His willingness to permanently eliminate threats could fit well with a forward-looking moral perspective like consequentialism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Wolverine is not a classic act utilitarian, like <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/27\/x-men-ethics-professor-x-charles-xavier\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4309\">Charles Xavier<\/a> for example. You rarely see the kind of explicit calculus or machinations that Charles (and other purely consequentialist heroes) typically use. Wolverine is not methodically weighing individual outcomes and consciously acting on the one to bring about the greatest amount of good. Instead, he typically displays an almost immediate knee-jerk reaction to situations &#8211; often responding with great violence to any provocation. In stories where he is mentoring other heroes, he often draws upon his long life experience to give them a longtermist perspective. But again, he rarely proposes using consequentialist methods. I think we need to look elsewhere to understand his morals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I actually find Wolverine to be more deontological in some ways. This may seem like an odd statement, as he frequently violates traditional universal deontological principles. For example, he regularly kills, lies, and breaks his promises (when he considers it necessary). But he does seem to have his own rigid moral <em>code<\/em>. This includes protecting the innocent (again, especially children and youths), loyalty (to those who have earned it), and taking responsibility for his actions. He thus seems to be following a deeply <em>personalized<\/em> deontological system that conflicts with universal moral laws (like Kantian ethics). The loner following his own personal moral code is a common trope in thriller\/police procedural\/murder mysteries &#8211; like Lee Child&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jack_Reacher\">Jack Reacher<\/a>, Michael Connelly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harry_Bosch\">Hieronymous (Harry) Bosch<\/a>, or Tana French&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Searcher_(novel)\">Cal Hooper<\/a>. You could make an argument that Wolverine fits within this mold, with his warrior&#8217;s code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But I think a better fit for Wolverine is under a virtue ethics framing. Despite his gruff exterior, Wolverine certainly embodies several classical virtues, like loyalty, courage, and a fierce protective instinct. Of course, he clearly struggles with temperance and often acts on his instinctive rage, which is at odds with traditional virtue ethics. But his increasing thoughtfulness over the years &#8211; and his explicit mentoring of other heroes, based on his learned life lessons &#8211; fits with the personal moral growth that is a common feature of modern virtue ethics frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, his strong commitment to his chosen family (the X-Men, students under his care, etc.) fits with a modern care ethics perspective. Care ethics puts its emphasis on responsibility and duty within close relationships. It also rejects a universal application of moral action, and always considers the unique and specific circumstances of a situation. So this modern form of virtue ethics also seems to fit him well. It&#8217;s an interesting thought to me, but Wolverine could actually be one of the first care ethicists in the Marvel Universe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is actually another concept, distinct from the big three normative ethical theories, that could possibly apply here as well. Getting back to the earlier point about Wolverine&#8217;s apparently personalized deontological framework, some might consider that a form of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moral_particularism\"><em>moral particularism<\/em><\/a>. Moral particularism proposes that there is no universal set of moral principles, and that moral judgements can only be made based on the particular context of given situation. Wolverine seems to believe that context matters more than universal rules, and his decisions are typically informed by his relationships, the specific circumstances, and an assessment of individuals involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While moral particularism shares some characteristics with care ethics, I don&#8217;t consider it a comprehensive ethical theory. It punts the problem of where, exactly, individual moral decisions come from (by simply removing universality). Taken to the extreme, moral particularism ventures into the same fraught territory as meta-ethics&#8217; moral relativism (namely subjectivity and cultural relativism, which I critiqued under my <a href=\"#mystique\">Mystique<\/a> entry). It is true that humans are not internally consistent in how we make moral decisions in different circumstances (although we may think we are, as I discuss on my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#bias\">Ethics 101<\/a> page). But that doesn&#8217;t mean we don&#8217;t try to apply a coherent set of moral principles. And we do learn and adapt our ethical approaches with experience (which moral particularism doesn&#8217;t address). What modern neuroscience shows is that our different intuitive moral systems are engaged depending on the context &#8211; in particular, depending on how strong of an emotional response it creates within us. This is a fairly cutting-edge area of research, and one I hope to explore in future posts. <em><strong>UPDATE<\/strong>: Please my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/21\/moral-thinking-fast-and-slow\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"8210\">Moral Thinking, Fast and Slow<\/a> post.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So how did Wolverine fare in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kieron_Gillen\">Kieron Gillen<\/a>&#8216;s A.X.E. Judgment Day <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/28\/axe-judgment-day-introduction\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2955\">event<\/a>, where a revised Celestial (the Progenitor) judged every living being on Earth? Wolverine&#8217;s trial was presented in a single issue of his main title at the time, <em>Wolverine<\/em> Vol 7, issue #25, 2022 by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Benjamin_Percy\">Benjamin Percy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/marvel.fandom.com\/wiki\/Federico_Vicentini\">Federico Vicentini<\/a>. It got off to a good start, with Wolverine observing that most people adopt religion because they are worried about being judged by a god. He describes his own experience with the Progenitor:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/3bf2dc96-5211-449f-a521-bfc0e409448d.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>That sounds like Wolverine. He neither expects nor wants to try and pass the Progenitor&#8217;s test. After destroying an avatar of the Progenitor, he continues on trying to reach and kill the Progenitor itself &#8211; although he knows that is a fool&#8217;s errand. There are a couple of key panels that reveal Wolverine&#8217;s thinking:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/934f9f28-ea55-4e5d-85e8-c957c7c0179c.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/24f26511-dc9c-41aa-aef6-f77c7212279a.jpg\" alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You will note that Wolverine&#8217;s reasoning above is very much in keeping with my virtue ethics thesis &#8211; all you can do is to keep trying, to be <em>better<\/em> than you were before. And how does the Progenitor react to this reasoning?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/hosting.photobucket.com\/7f94707c-da1b-49ed-9987-8c1a46606668\/c8c8a8d9-75b7-46a8-8d22-6d44195a5e68.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:727px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Note that those are some of the faces of people he has killed. Although potentially shocking, it is an understandable judgment from the Progenitor, as I will explain on my upcoming conclusion to the Judgment Day event. <em><strong>UPDATE:<\/strong> See my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/10\/a-x-e-judgment-day-conclusion\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7647\">A.X.E.: Judgment Day conclusion<\/a> post here<\/em>. As an important aside, Wolverine&#8217;s ongoing feelings of unworthiness are also very consistent with a virtue ethics perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In any case, I don&#8217;t consider the lack of a clear (or entirely consistent) normative ethics framework here an issue. Indeed, I think part of Wolverine&#8217;s enduring appeal lies in this moral complexity. He is not purely heroic, and is someone who struggles to do the right thing while grappling with his violent nature and heavily traumatic past (although again, doesn&#8217;t that sound like a virtue ethicist?). For now, I&#8217;m going to put him down as V\/d on my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/ethics-101\/#superhero\">superhero normative ethics<\/a> scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>See my <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/27\/glossary\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5118\">Glossary<\/a> post for a list of the key philosophical concepts and related links on this site.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further Reading<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"622\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/xmen_characters-1024x622.jpg\" alt=\"X-Men: Legacy Vol 1 issue #216, cover art by Salvador Larroca; X-Men Vol 7 issue #7, cover art by Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer and Marte Gracia; Exceptional X-Men Vol 1 issue #5, variant cover Kitty Pryde cover art by David Balde\u00f3n, and Jesus Aburtov.\" class=\"wp-image-5898 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/xmen_characters-1024x622.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/xmen_characters-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/xmen_characters-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/xmen_characters.jpg 1120w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/622;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more X-Men: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/x-men-ethics-characters-a-ma\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4007\">X-Men A-Ma<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/x-men-ethics-charles-xaviers-redemption\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"622\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/X-MANHUNT-1024x622.jpg\" alt=\"Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 6) #11, cover art by David Marquez and Matthew Wilson; NYX (Vol. 2) #9, cover art by Sara Pichelli; Storm (Vol. 5) #6, cover art by Mateus Manhanini\" class=\"wp-image-4729 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/X-MANHUNT-1024x622.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/X-MANHUNT-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/X-MANHUNT-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/X-MANHUNT.jpg 1120w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/622;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more about: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/x-men-ethics-charles-xaviers-redemption\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4719\">The Redemption of Charles Xavier<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/14\/x-men-ethics-magneto\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"622\" data-src=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Magneto_comic-1024x622.jpg\" alt=\"Resurrection of Magneto, issue #3, 2024, by Al Ewing and Luciano Vecchio. Cover art Mark Brooks\" class=\"wp-image-5643 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Magneto_comic-1024x622.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Magneto_comic-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Magneto_comic-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Magneto_comic.jpg 1120w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/622;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For more X-Men: <a href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/14\/x-men-ethics-magneto\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4370\">Magneto<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is my second &#8220;snapshot&#8221; overview of the ethics of many of the key mutant characters in the X-Men stories. I have already expanded some of these into stand-alone posts, but this should serve as helpful background for some of my upcoming commentaries (especially the conclusion to the A.X.E.: Judgment &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a class=\"more-link bs-book_btn\" href=\"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/27\/x-men-ethics-characters-mi-z\/\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[43,41,40,50,42],"class_list":["post-6205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-x-men","tag-care","tag-consequentialism","tag-deontology","tag-marvel","tag-virtue"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6205"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11282,"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6205\/revisions\/11282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comicphilosophy.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}