Warning: Contains spoilers for Uncanny X-Men (2024) #3!As the new group of X-Men Hopefuls shared their origin stories and gave a glimpse into their lives before they were first, I was perhaps most shocked and intrigued by one mutant’s disturbing backstory. Calico debuted alongside three other mysterious young mutants seeking the help of Rogue, Gambit and Wolverine. Dodging a mysterious threat called the Endling, the mutants discover harrowing pasts they’ve also left behind, with Calico’s being truly evil.
Becca Constance Simon-Pinette AKA Calico is established as a wealthy “horse girl” type with an anti-mutant upbringing when she debuts with the other New Mutants. in Uncanny X-Men (2024) #3 – Written by Gail Simone with art by David Marquez – Newly revealed details paint a disturbing picture of Calico’s sheltered home life and the haunting way she managed to escape it.
Calico clearly makes it known that she is from what sounds like some kind of prestigious family, the Loudon County Simon-Pinettes. But her mother almost completely isolated her from the world, except for a few books and her beloved horses.
As an Undead X-Men reader, Calico highlighted the difficulties of growing up a mutant for me.
Uncanny X-Men (2024) #3 – Written by Gail Simone; Art by David Marquez; Color by Matt Wilson; Lettering by Clayton Cowles
All four of the new mutants’ origins are quite common; For me, it puts a spotlight on how difficult it is to be a mutant, especially one whose unexplained or uncontrollable abilities appear at a young age. These themes are not new to X-Men comics, however Simone and Marquez Invisible X-Men #3 Succinctly runs through four distinct origins that highlight the difficulties of growing up a mutant. It reminded me that whether they’re dealing with anti-mutant sentiment in their families, or hateful extremist villains, or just figuring things out, it’s rarely easy being a mutant in the Marvel Universe.
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Her fellow mutants Jitter, Deathdream and Ransom’s unique powers mostly affected their childhood, however Calico seems like she would have a hard time growing up regardless. It seems to me, at this point, that the weird and abusive way Becca was raised was a result of her family recognizing her abilities and trying to stop her mutant awakening. It certainly seems like the type of restrictive and domineering home she wouldn’t have been safe in, even as a human. Mutant experience is usually used as an allegory for real life conflict, and Calico’s upbringing involves a more grounded and troubling human horror.
I can’t shake the harrowing horror story of Marvel’s newest mutant hero
Invisible X-Men #1-3 available now from Marvel Comics; Issue 4 available October 16
One thing I found fascinating about how Becca was presented in Invisible X-Men So far it is that people could see her as a perfect and wealthy life from afar, her childhood as well as her current attitude towards him are quite distressing. Her isolation from other people and restrictions on things like movies or music were already troubling. The other half of Calico’s origin that details her trauma and the house fire that led to her escape makes it a true nightmare.And places her story among some of the most harrowing origins for mainstream superhero characters.
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Overall, I found the way Calico’s mistreatment is twisted into a sign of her mother’s love to be heartbreaking and horrifying in equal measure. In her story, Calico clarifies that the horses were her only true companions in her childhood, and specifically her horse Ember. . With her horse as her only friend and indeed the only being she could trust in her home growing up, Calico’s current power being connected to Ember may be a direct reaction to her trauma.
Calico could be Marvel’s new mutant-hunting monster in disguise – but I don’t think so
How calico fits in Invisible X-Men Overarching mystery
Along with most X– Fans, I am excited by the mystery brewing in Invisible X-Men; When Rogue’s new mutant rockets in with her team, it’s revealed that one of the “outsiders” is secretly the “Endling,” a vicious mutant-hunting menace who seeks to make mutantkind pay the diabolical cost of their Krakoa resurrection. . With Calico’s disturbing backstory and seemingly nonchalant exterior in her face, she could easily be a suspect as the mysterious villain, but I have a feeling she’s not the danger hiding among Rogues’ mutant class.
Calico’s origin is heightened to the level of X-Men Comics in a way that I find absolutely unsettling and heart-wrenching, but it’s perfect for the series.
While the nature of Calico’s past might make her seem like the most likely to flip to villain, Marvel’s mutants have always represented outsiders and oppressed people experiencing strife and trauma. Although she grew up with a family that taught her anti-mutant hatred and isolated her from society, Becca is still a mutant herself and has to contend with this and their corporal punishment. Calico’s origin is heightened to the level of X-Men Comics in a way that I find absolutely unsettling and heart-wrenching, but it’s perfect for the series as a possibly relatable allegory for true human horrors.
Uncanny X-Men (2024) #3 is out now from Marvel Comics.