| X-Mansion | |
| Blank Label: | Publisher |
| Blank Data: | Marvel Comics |
| Source: | Marvel Comics |
| First: | The X-Men #1 (September 1963) |
| Creator: | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| People: | X-Men Xavier Institute's Students & Faculties |
| Located In: | Salem Center, New York |
X-Mansion and Xavier Institute are the common names for a mansion and research institute appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The mansion is depicted as the private estate of Charles Francis Xavier and serves as the base of operations and training site of the X-Men. It is also the location of an accredited private school for mutant children, teenagers, and sometimes older aged mutants, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.[1] The X-Mansion is also the worldwide headquarters of the X-Corporation.
The X-Mansion's address is 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, located in Westchester County, New York.[2] The school's motto is mutatis mutandis. In a 2011 edition of the comic, Wolverine re-opens the school, at the same address, under the name of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.[3] After the Terrigen Cloud becomes toxic enough to mutants that they die from M-Pox, Storm has the mansion (renamed X-Haven) moved to Limbo to keep mutants safe from the Terrigen while a cure is sought.[4] After Medusa destroys the Terrigen Cloud so the mutants could survive, Kitty Pryde moves the mansion from Limbo to Central Park, New York,[5] and renames it the Xavier Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach.[6] Following the end of the Krakoa Age, the X-Mansion has been converted into a prison to house the mysterious Inmate-X, later revealed to be Charles Xavier himself, forcing the remaining members of the X-men to forge a newly acquired base of their own.
The X-Mansion is the inherited property of Charles Xavier (Professor X) and has been in the Xavier family for ten generations including two known mutants in the lineage, both becoming detached from the family. Little else is known about them or their mutations.
As Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the X-Mansion was the training site of the first two generations of teenage X-Men:
In X-Men vol. 2 #38 (Nov. 1994), the X-Mansion was renamed from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters to the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, as most of the X-Men were adults rather than teenagers by this time. Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was relocated to the Massachusetts Academy in Western Massachusetts (a Marvel created town or region called Snow Valley somewhere in The Berkshires), which served as the training site of the third generation of teenage X-Men beginning in Generation X #1 (Nov. 1994).
The Massachusetts Academy closes permanently in Generation X #75 (June 2001). Shortly thereafter, the school for young mutants is reopened at the X-Mansion, but the name remains "The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning" despite the younger student body. The fourth generation of mutant teenagers, featured in Grant Morrison's New X-Men (2001–2004) and in New Mutants (2003–2004; relaunched as New X-Men: Academy X, July 2004–Feb. 2008), study at the mansion until it is destroyed during the 2007–2008 story "Messiah Complex" and the X-Men subsequently disband and close the institute.
Though protected by high-tech defenses, the X-Mansion has often been breached by the supervillains and evil mutants faced by the X-Men. Indeed, the X-Mansion has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. It was demolished in a battle with the Sidri in The Uncanny X-Men #154 (Feb. 1982) and atomized by Mister Sinister in The Uncanny X-Men #243 (April 1989). It was rebuilt by a future Franklin Richards in moments but reverted to its destroyed state after the time-traveler became confused.[7]
Certain portions of the mansion, such as extensive sub-basements, survived both demolitions. When Onslaught revealed himself and fought the X-Men (X-Men #54 (June 1996) and Onslaught: X-Men), the mansion took heavy damage, though was quickly repaired in-between issues after the "Onslaught" storyline. In, Bastion forced Jubilee to reveal the mansion's defenses. He then stripped down the mansion, having everything inside the mansion removed, even down to the paint on the walls. After defeating Bastion, the X-Men moved back into the mansion, as detailed in X-Men #70 (Nov. 1997). The X-Mansion survived an assault by the Shi'ar in New X-Men #122–126 (March–July 2002) as well as a riot by students led by Quentin Quire in New X-Men #134–138 (Jan.–May 2003). In the Planet X storyline of New X-Men #146–150, however, the X-Mansion was destroyed; the rebuilding process could be seen in New X-Men #155–156 (June 2004). In the wake of M-Day the mansion was infiltrated by followers of the Reverend William Stryker in an attempt to wipe out the students, resulting in some structural damage and several casualties. Then the mansion was severely damaged when the Danger Room became sentient and summoned local machinery to attack the structure. The mansion was also damaged when Mr. Sinister's new team of Marauders attacked the mansion. A fight between the Hulk and several mutants heavily damaged the mansion. In the Messiah Complex storyline, the mansion was completely destroyed by attacking Sentinels.
Unlike past times, the mansion was not rebuilt for a considerable length of time.[8] Rather, the X-Men and their students relocated to a new base of operations in San Francisco. Under the name Graymalkin Industries, the new X-base is not run as a school, but rather as a sort of community center for mutants who wish to develop their powers.
See main article: Xavier Institute Staff.
After the events of X-Men: Schism, Wolverine and half of the X-Men return to Westchester, New York and the X-Mansion. The name of the school is now the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Its grounds are in fact a spawn of Krakoa the Living Island. In the first issue of Wolverine and the X-Men an entirely new school is built on the grounds. It is funded mainly with scientific advancements by the students and diamonds from Krakoa.[9]
After Wolverine dies in the "Death of Wolverine" storyline, Spider-Man becomes a Guidance Counselor in the series Spider-Man and the X-Men.[10]
Under the All-New, All-Different Marvel re-branding, X-Haven was a sanctuary founded by Storm and her Extraordinary X-Men to protect mutants from the Terrigen Mist. The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning was temporarily teleported to a pocket dimension within Limbo with the help of Doctor Strange, the Scarlet Witch, and Wiccan. It also has magical defenses created by Magik to keep the Demons away.[11]
Following the War between the Inhumans and mutants which resulted in the destruction of the remaining Terrigen Cloud, Kitty Pryde, now the new Headmistress of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning had Magik teleport the school back to Earth, more precisely to Central Park, New York City[12] and renames it as the Xavier Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach.[13] It was demolished after the events of Extermination.[14]
As a result of Professor X betraying mutantkind and turning himself into the authorities, the X-mansion undergoes renovations by the US government to be converted into a correction facility for him. This results in the newly-reformed X-men relocating their headquarters in Alaska, the birthplace of Scott Summers. Here, the team decides to reorganize into three factions all while simultaneously returning to their original roots as mediators of human-mutant coexistence.
In the middle of the main courtyard is the Phoenix Memorial Statue, dedicated to the memory of Jean Grey. Notable rooms include the Danger Room and a room containing Cerebro. The Headmasters Office of Cyclops and Emma Frost is on the top floor.
The basketball court is a popular hang-out. It was the site of a basketball game in X-Men #4 (Jan. 1992) in which the X-Men used their mutant powers. Directly below the basketball court is the hangar, which houses many transportation vehicles, as well as aircraft such as the X-Men Blackbird.
There is also a cemetery with memorials for deceased X-Men like Thunderbird and others.
In the Age of Apocalypse reality, the remains of the X-Mansion were the headquarters for a mutant resistance cell against Apocalypse – a mutant that had conquered North America. The Mansion survives, and many new mutants come to the School in hope of shelter.[15]
In the darker continuity of Mutant X, the X-Mansion is run by Magneto, who had long ago taken up Professor X's dream. The mansion is vaporized in a nuclear explosion.
In the Predator vs. Wolverine miniseries, with takes place in an alternate reality, the X-Mansion was damaged in an attack by a Predator in order to lure out Wolverine, who it was hunting.
In issue #2, the X-Mansion is shown to be an orphanage for troubled kids that is run by Professor X and the teachers include Storm and Beast. Some of the orphans include kid versions of Deadpool, Scott Summers, Wolverine, Angel, and Colossus.[16]
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, the X-Mansion does not differ much. However, it is not entirely funded by inheritance. Though the school originally was funded from Magneto's inheritance, allowing them to neither accept nor seek out donations. Its policies have since changed after Magneto's departure and Xavier's subsequent control over the facility. Later, the students question and ridicule the unlikeliness of the facility simply being funded by inheritance. It is then revealed that numerous donors fund Xavier's projects and remain anonymous due to heavy anti-mutant sentiments present in public opinion. One of the biggest donors was the Hellfire Club, who were revealed to have an ulterior motive for doing so. In Xavier's conversation with Lilandra Neramani, it's discovered that S.H.I.E.L.D. were former financiers before their falling out with Xavier; it is unknown what their intentions were. The Church of the Shi'ar have become major investors.
The school's location is concealed by a projected image of a Jehovah's Witness chapter, as revealed in Ultimate X-Men #1.
The mansion is purposely demolished by Iceman in "Ultimate Requiem" following the events of the "Ultimatum" storyline. This is because the team had been devastated by Magneto's attack and the survivors were going on the run.