X-Mansion
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Image:X-mansion.JPG In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion, the common name for the Xavier Mansion, is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. It is also the worldwide headquarters of the X-Corporation. Its address is 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center (part of the town of North Salem), located in the very northeast corner of Westchester County.
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[edit] History
The X-Mansion is the inherited property of Charles Xavier (Professor X) and has been in the Xavier family for ten generations.
As Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the X-Mansion was the training site of the first two generations of teenage X-Men:
- the original X-Men:
Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman, Angel, and later, Mimic (briefly), Havok, and Lorna Dane
- the original New Mutants:
Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Mirage, Karma, Sunspot, Cypher, Magma, Magik, and Warlock
In X-Men v2 #38 (November 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 some where in The Berkshires), which served as the training site of the third generation of teenage X-Men, Generation X, beginning in Generation X #1 (November 1994).
Some years later, the Massachusetts Academy closed permanently in Generation X #75 (June 2001). The school for young mutants was moved back to the X-Mansion, but the name Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was no longer used at all. Currently being taught at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning at the X-Mansion are the fourth generation of mutant teenagers, as detailed in Grant Morrison's New X-Men and in New Mutants v2 (relaunched as New X-Men: Academy X in July 2004).
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 destroyed by the Sidri in Uncanny X-Men #154 (February 1982) and again by Mister Sinister in Uncanny X-Men #243 (April 1989). However, certain portions of the mansion, such as sub-basements, survived both attacks. When Onslaught revealed himself and fought the X-Men (X-Men v2 #54 (June 1996) and Onslaught: X-Men), the mansion took heavy damage, though was quickly repaired in-between issues after the "Onslaught" storyline. In Operation: Zero Tolerance, Bastion forced Jubilee to reveal the mansion's defenses. He then stripped down the mansion, having nearly everything inside the mansion removed. After defeating Bastion, the X-Men moved back into the mansion and restocked it, as detailed in X-Men v2 #70 (November 1997). Most recently, the X-Mansion survived an assault by the Shi'ar Imperial Guard 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 (January-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 Reverand William Stryker in an attempt to wipe out the students, resulting in some structural damage.
[edit] Faculty
- Shadowcat, teaches technology classes and is a part of the senior staff.
- Karma, teaches French and is in charge of the mutants too young to join the New Mutants
- Nightcrawler, teaches the music, art, and life science.
- Beast, teaches science and mathematics and is part of the senior staff, presumably overseeing curriculums and academic aspects.
- Gambit, teaches french and gymnastics.
- Emma Frost, besides being the Headmistress of the Xavier Institute, also teaches ethics, much to the horror of Kitty Pryde. She also presides over the new team of X-Men, teaching them to work as a team, with some assistance from the senior staff, such as Colossus.
- Wolverine, teaches combat, presumably close quarters combat. Logan has commented sarcastically that Cyclops teaches advanced self-pity.
- Cyclops besides being the Headmaster of the Xavier Institute, also teaches the elective leadership and tactics.
[edit] Layout
Blueprints for the newly-rebuilt mansion were given in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004.
The X-Mansion is in the shape of an X. 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 well-known basketball game in X-Men v2 #4 (January 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.
