In a shocking turn of events, Classic X-Men member Beast just revealed that his most powerful ability is actually causing him to spiral back into his former villain status, and the iconic X-Men hero is not sure how to stop it. Though Hank McCoy was one of Professor X’s very first students, Beast’s brief time as a villain stains his reputation.
In the preview to X-Men: Tooth and Claw #1, written by Alex Paknadel and art by Phillip Sevy and Diógenes Neves, Beast admits that in trying to use his intelligence to suppress his more violent tendencies, Beast has only been amplifying them.
Beast’s most prominent power, his brilliant mind, is still dragging him towards a more vicious nature, creating a truly terrifying problem for the X-Men heroes.
Beast Realizes That His Greatest Strength as a Hero Is Actually Turning Him Into a Villain
X-Men: Tooth and Claw #1; Story By Alex Paknadel; Art By Phillip Sevy & Diógenes Neves; Color By Michael Bartolo & Arthur Hesli; Letters By Clayton Cowles
Beast’s awareness that his intelligence is propelling him towards his more cruel and violent tendencies underscores just how the most dangerous part of Beast is not his animalistic form but his mind. Alternate versions of Hank McCoy, such as his predecessor, Beast Prime, and Beast from the Age of Apocalypse timeline, are proof of his dangerous intellect.
The original Hank McCoy had been walking a darker path for years prior. However, during the Krakoa Era, Beast committed numerous morally bankrupt acts, such as experimenting on inmates in his outer space prison, controlling Wolverine using a mind-controlled collar, and creating an army of clones of himself. Beast Prime’s villainous alignment is further solidified when he teams up with “Dark Beast.”
The true pinnacle of Hank McCoy’s dark side takes form in his variant from the “Age of Apocalypse,” appropriately dubbed “Dark Beast,” as he was known for being Apocalypse’s geneticist and a mad scientist who would experiment on mutants to create perfect specimens. In both Beasts’ other iterations, it’s clear his intellectual skill is a core trait that amplifies his problematic tendencies.
Beast Confronts His Past Demons, as His Mind Threatens to Turn Against the X-Men Once Again
Hank McCoy Walks the Line Between Good and Evil
Hank’s intelligence brings up a complex problem, as Hank claims his egotistical and bestial nature is ingrained within his genetics. However, a decade into the future, Hank allies with an older Cyclops and his team during X-Men: Age of Revelation #0, showing that Beast can still retain his moral compass and is not purely controlled by his more sinister traits.
Beast grappling with his incredible intellect as it leads him back to villainy adds an interesting depth to his character, and more so, the X-Men face the unique challenge of potentially confronting their teammate once again. However, there is hope for Beast as his future with the X-Men implies he is still in control of his inner genius and madness.
X-Men: Tooth and Claw #1 will be available August 27, 2025, from Marvel Comics!
- Movie(s)
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X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
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X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
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X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
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X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Character(s)
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Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
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213035,212968
