The Acolytes first appeared in X-Men (Vol. 2) #1, published in October 1991. They were co-created by the legendary writer Chris Claremont and superstar artist Jim Lee during their revolutionary run that relaunched the X-Men line of comics. Their debut was a cornerstone of this new era, which split the X-Men into two distinct squads (the “Blue” team featured in X-Men and the “Gold” team in Uncanny X-Men).
Their creation came at a pivotal moment for the franchise. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a shift towards darker, more complex, and politically charged storylines. Magneto had evolved from a simple supervillain into a tragic anti-hero and even a temporary headmaster of the Xavier School. The Acolytes represented a regression, or rather, a radicalization of his original ideals. They were conceived as followers who took Magneto's ideology of mutant superiority and twisted it into a dogmatic, unyielding faith, viewing him not just as a leader, but as a savior. This introduction provided the X-Men with a new, ideologically-driven threat that was directly tied to their greatest frenemy, Magneto, even in his absence. Their initial appearance, led by the duplicitous Fabian Cortez, immediately established them as a formidable and ruthless force.
The origin of the Acolytes is a tale of fanaticism born from perceived persecution and the power vacuum left by a fallen leader.
The Acolytes were founded by Fabian Cortez, a powerful and ambitious mutant with the ability to amplify the powers of other mutants. Following the apparent death of Magneto aboard his orbiting space station, Asteroid M, during a conflict with the X-Men and the Shi'ar, Cortez saw an opportunity. He traveled the globe, seeking out mutants who had been victimized by human prejudice and who felt abandoned by the X-Men's more passive approach. Cortez presented himself as a high priest of Magneto's cause, framing Magneto's “death” as a martyrdom. He preached a gospel of mutant supremacy, claiming that Magneto was the prophesied savior of Homo superior and that his followers were destined to inherit the Earth. He used his power-augmenting abilities to make his recruits feel stronger and more important than ever before, cementing their loyalty. The first recruits included Anne-Marie Cortez, his sister, along with Chrome and Delgado. Their first public act was an attack on a S.H.I.E.L.D. installation in the South Pacific, where they intended to execute a mutant named Simon Hall, whom they deemed unworthy of his genetic gift. This brought them into direct conflict with the newly formed X-Men Blue Team. During the battle, it was revealed that Magneto had survived. He returned and seemingly killed Delgado for his failure, taking command of the Acolytes. Cortez, however, had secretly been using his powers to boost Magneto's own, manipulating the aging Master of Magnetism for his own ends. This act of founding the Acolytes set in motion years of conflict, establishing a militant faction that would plague the world long after Cortez's initial deceptions were revealed.
To date, the Acolytes do not exist as a named organization within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The concept of mutants has only recently been introduced to the prime MCU timeline (Earth-199999) through characters like Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) and Namor, so the broader societal structures and factions like the Acolytes have not yet been formed. However, the thematic role of the Acolytes has been filled by other groups in adjacent Marvel media, most notably the Fox X-Men film franchise. In these films, Magneto's followers are typically referred to as the Brotherhood of Mutants. While they share the Acolytes' core belief in mutant supremacy and a willingness to fight humanity, they are generally depicted as a political and military faction rather than a quasi-religious cult. Characters like Mystique, Pyro, Toad, and Juggernaut follow Magneto out of loyalty, shared ideology, or a desire for power, but they do not worship him as a messiah in the way the comic book Acolytes do. The closest the films came to this level of devotion was perhaps in X-Men: Apocalypse, where a weakened Magneto is swayed by Apocalypse, who presents himself as the first and most powerful mutant, a god-like figure. Should Magneto be introduced into the MCU proper, it is highly probable that he will attract followers. The MCU could choose to adapt the Acolytes directly, leaning into the cult-like aspects to create a unique and disturbing threat that distinguishes them from the more grounded terrorism of groups like the Flag Smashers.
The Acolytes are defined by their rigid ideology, their ever-shifting leadership, and a membership composed of some of the most zealous mutants in the Marvel Universe.
The Acolytes' structure has always been a top-down hierarchy, though the figure at the top has changed several times, leading to internal schisms and power struggles.
The Acolytes have had dozens of members over the years. These are some of the most notable:
As the Acolytes do not exist in the MCU, there is no mandate, structure, or membership to analyze. If a similar group were to be introduced, its structure would likely be simplified for cinematic clarity. It might consist of:
The MCU's approach to villainy often involves grounding their motivations. An MCU version of the Acolytes would likely have their fanaticism rooted in a specific, traumatic event, such as a government-sponsored anti-mutant program or a devastating attack on a mutant community, making their extreme ideology a direct, albeit tragic, response to persecution.
The Acolytes are ideologically isolated, making true “allies” rare. Their primary allegiance is to an individual and an idea, not other groups.
The history of the Acolytes is defined by their central role in several major X-Men crossover events.
The debut of the Acolytes. Led by Fabian Cortez, they attack a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility to “liberate” mutants taken from the destroyed nation of Genosha. They are portrayed as ruthless zealots, willing to kill anyone—human or mutant—who stands in their way. The story culminates in the dramatic return of Magneto, who takes command of the group and seemingly executes one of them for failing him. This arc immediately established them as a serious threat and reintroduced Magneto as a powerful, messianic figure for a new generation of readers.
This is arguably the Acolytes' most defining storyline. Under Magneto's direct command from their new orbital base, Avalon, they issue an ultimatum to the world: a sanctuary for all mutants, or global war. They unleash a worldwide electromagnetic pulse that causes widespread devastation. The X-Men launch a direct assault on Avalon, leading to one of the most infamous moments in X-Men history: Magneto violently rips the Adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton. In retaliation, a horrified Charles Xavier uses his telepathy to completely shut down Magneto's mind, leaving him catatonic. In the aftermath, the powerful Exodus assumes leadership of the Acolytes, becoming their new, even more fanatical leader.
Following Fatal Attractions, this crossover between the Avengers and X-Men sees Exodus lead the Acolytes in an invasion of Genosha. They instigate a civil war between the nation's human and mutant populations and kidnap Luna Maximoff, the human daughter of Quicksilver and Crystal, whom Exodus declares a mutant messiah. This act brings the full might of both the X-Men and the Avengers down on them. The event showcases Exodus's immense power and the Acolytes' unwavering commitment to their brutal cause even without Magneto.
This storyline revolves around the return of Magneto after years of being presumed dead or amnesiac. During this time, the Acolytes had pledged allegiance to Joseph, a benevolent clone of Magneto. When the true Magneto returns, more powerful than ever, he declares war on Joseph and all who followed him. The Acolytes are fractured, forced to choose between the kind-hearted imposter and their terrifying, true master. Magneto ultimately prevails, re-consolidating his power and re-establishing his absolute authority over the Acolytes just before he is granted control of Genosha.
In the final days of Genosha, the Acolytes form Magneto's ruling cabinet. They help him police the island and prepare for a war with humanity that he believes is inevitable. This period of relative stability is shattered when Cassandra Nova, Charles Xavier's psychic twin, unleashes a new breed of Wild Sentinels that annihilate Genosha's population of 16 million mutants. Most of the Acolytes, including long-standing members like Scanner, are killed in this genocide, effectively destroying the organization in its most powerful form. While some members survived and the group would be reformed later, this was the cataclysmic end of their golden era.
In this dark, alternate reality ruled by Apocalypse, the concept of the Acolytes as a specific group does not exist. However, many of their members play significant roles. Exodus is one of Apocalypse's chief lieutenants and a member of his “Four Horsemen” before defecting to Magneto's X-Men. Amelia Voght is a member of the X-Men from the beginning. The Kleinstock Brothers are part of the “Brotherhood of Chaos,” a different extremist group. In this timeline, Magneto is the heroic leader of the resistance, so the characters who would have been his fanatical followers in Earth-616 are instead his soldiers in a noble, desperate war.
The function of the Acolytes is filled by the Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy. This version, led by a far more genocidal and villainous Magneto, is less of a religious cult and more of a straight-forward mutant terrorist army. While members like Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and the Blob are present, the fanatical, worshipful dynamic of the Acolytes is largely absent. The Ultimate Brotherhood is driven by a cold, political, and species-ist hatred for humanity, reflecting the grittier, more grounded tone of the Ultimate line.
The Acolytes appeared in the two-part episode “Sanctuary.” The series adapted the core elements of their early comic appearances, with Fabian Cortez forming the group and luring mutants to Asteroid M as a safe haven. The episode closely follows the plot of Cortez manipulating Magneto and the X-Men intervening. Characters like Amelia Voght and Chrome are featured, and their religious devotion to Magneto is a key part of their characterization, making this one of the most faithful adaptations of the group outside of the comics.
As previously noted, no group is explicitly named “The Acolytes.” However, Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants in films like X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Dark Phoenix serves the same narrative purpose. In The Last Stand, Magneto gathers an army of disenfranchised mutants to wage war on humanity over the “mutant cure.” In Dark Phoenix, he leads a group of mutant refugees from Genosha (another concept borrowed from the comics) in his quest for revenge. These groups are his followers and soldiers, but they lack the specific “Acolyte” name and the messianic cult-like dynamic of the comics.