The super-soldier program has been the inspiration behind many heroes and villains over the years. Time and time again scientists – both good and evil – have attempted to repeat the process that created the first Avenger, Captain America. How funny is it that even mother nature took a stab at it herself with the evolution of the X-gene?
When Steve Rodgers became Captain America during World War II, he became one of the most powerful beings on the planet. He gained super strength, reflexes, speed, agility, senses, durability, an accelerated immune system, and even a measure of intelligence to better use his newfound skills. All impressive, but not something the planet hasn’t produced the old-fashioned way.
Here are 10 mutants that can give old Captain Roger’s a run for his superhuman money.
10. Cypher
There’s something to be said about a sharp mind. Douglas doesn’t possess any physical superhuman powers, but his mind is nothing to trifle with. When Captain American received his powers, he didn’t just get really strong. His cognitive abilities were also enhanced. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to utilize his gifts effectively.
Cypher isn’t as fast, strong or as tough, but his ability to analyze any sort of communication also allows him to mimic and learn bodily language including martial arts. He can breakdown an opponent’s fighting style and use those skills as his own.
Related: 10 X-Men More Powerful Than Captain Marvel
9. Prodigy
When the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning became more than a cover for the X-Men, Prodigy was one of the first new students the school took on. Prodigy has one singular ability provided by his X-gene; superhuman intellect. The difference between his mental aptitude and Captain America is, while Rogers thinks faster than normal humans – Prodigy is a bonafide genius.
What minds like Reed Richards, Magneto, Beast, and Xavier worked for through years of school, comes naturally as breathing for him. However, after the events of M-Day, Prodigy was among 98% that lost their powers. With that said, he’s slated to be part of the new X-Factor book. Will he regain his powers via the Krakoan resurrection protocols?
8. Outlaw
Though never an X-Man, ‘Crazy Ilene’ is 100% mutant. While she’s spent most of her comic life as a small recurring character in the Deadpool comics, she was seen at least once on Utopia after M-Day – Outlaw was one of the few that retained their mutant powers.
In terms of her strength, she’s fairly comparable to Captain America. Much stronger than the average human or street-level hero, but vulnerable enough to be hurt by gunfire or falling from a tall building. She can’t quite benchpress a bus like Spider-Man but her talents make her a great merc.
Related: X-Men: 10 Mutants That Can Out-Think Iron Man
7. Frenzy
Joanna Cargill is best known as a villain. Most notably for her dogged following of Magneto as a member of his Acolytes. Also called Frenzy due to her violent ways, she’s a mutant gifted with several powers including super strength and durability.
Though she’s not as powerful as Rogue, she’s definitely stronger than Captain America. While Rogers would basically walk through any strongman competition, he can’t exactly throw a station wagon like a javelin. Frenzy’s not a 100% invulnerable, but she’s tough enough to literally bathe in Cyclops’ optic blasts!
No joke, she actually went through that on a nightly basis in the Age of X. I’m not judging.
6. Warpath
James Proudstar is the second-born son of his family. As strong and fast as his deceased (how long is that going to last?) brother Thunderbird was – James has proven to be more. Like everyone else on this list, James has many superhuman attributes.
On top of being able to fly – depending on who’s writing him – Warpath possesses super strength, durability, speed, reflexes, senses, and stamina. Of Native-American descent himself, he chooses to use a traditional tomahawk, or a combat hatchet in battle, as well as a giant @#$@ bowie knife.
5. Northstar
What are Northstar’s powers? He’s better in every way. His speed isn’t quite Quicksilver-level but he’s one of the fastest X-Men out there. He’s also more agile than most Olympic-level athletes even before his mutant powers emerged. After, however, he gained superhuman strength, speed, dexterity, durability, stamina and can even project blasts of energy.
Related: Marvel Announces the Return of ‘X-Factor’ With New Series
In terms of strength, he’s probably similar to Captain America if not slightly stronger, but what makes him more than a match is his super-speed – which also counts towards his ability to fly as well. Cap is quicker than any human, but Northstar can move faster than some people can even visually track!
4. The Gorgon
One of the newest additions to Krakoa, the Gorgon debuted as a member of Wolverine’s rogue’s gallery. If you know anything about Logan, then you understand anyone who lasts in a fight against him is worth keeping an eye on. Especially if it’s happened on multiple occasions.
The Gorgon’s mutant power allows him to petrify anyone upon making eye contact with them. I don’t just mean scare them. He turns them into a flippin’ stone – or at least something like it. He also possesses a bevy of other abilities including super strength, speed, agility, balance, coordination and also a healing factor – to keep it short.
3. X-23
If Logan is the best there is, then the weapon created to be better than him should be worth mentioning. Laura Kenny is less of a clone of Wolverine, and more of a daughter. Like her DNA donating father-figure, she has superhuman senses, reflexes, and stamina.
Unlike Logan, she spent most of her life as part of the Weapon-X program. Using Wolverine as a template, her designers tried to avoid most of the downfalls in his creation. Because her skeleton isn’t fully plated in adamantium, she’s faster and possesses a more advanced healing factor!
Related: Top 8 Wolverine-Based Characters Still Alive and Swinging in the Marvel Universe
2. Wolverine
Logan is the man he is, partially due to the success of Captain America. The serum that created Cap was lost soon after the process was complete. Wolverine is the product of a program that tried to recreate it – Weapon- X. Before Wolverine was programmed and had adamantium bonded to his skeleton, he was already a superhuman.
Wolverine’s mutant powers grant him animal-level senses including sight, hearing, and smell. He also has a mutant healing factor that allows him not just to withstand the toxic nature of the metal in his body, but regenerate from just about any wound.
1. Monet
Monet is as close to perfect as just about anyone on the planet has ever been. Physically anyway. Her mutant powers and attributes include; super strength, speed, stamina, senses, agility, durability, healing, intelligence and the ability to fly. It doesn’t end there either…
Related: X-Men: The St. Croix Family Explained
She also possesses a measure of telepathy, telekinesis and can also see another mutant’s aura. Don’t ask me what that last part means. I don’t know exactly, and it’s barely used outside of hunting for mutants in a crowd. All this juice also gifts her a super-ego as well – and it’s not unwarranted. She’s disarmingly attractive, well-spoken and naturally intelligent. Probably not helping curve her superiority-complex.
There you have it. 10 mutants more superhuman than the Avengers’ Captain America. Stop in next time when we test Thor’s god-hood against our mutants!