The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants burst onto the scene in The X-Men #4, published in March 1964. They were co-created by the legendary duo of writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the architects of the burgeoning Marvel Universe. In the context of the 1960s, a period rife with social upheaval and the American Civil Rights Movement, the ideological conflict between Professor X's dream of integration and Magneto's militant separatism was incredibly potent.
Lee and Kirby designed the Brotherhood as the perfect thematic foil for their young heroes. If the X-Men represented hope and the struggle for acceptance, the Brotherhood represented the anger, fear, and radical response that arises from systemic oppression. Their name, “The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants,” was a product of the Silver Age's more black-and-white morality, a label that later writers and even the characters themselves would challenge and deconstruct. This first appearance not only established the central conflict of the X-Men franchise but also introduced cornerstone characters like Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Mastermind, and Toad, who would go on to have complex and long-lasting histories within the Marvel Universe.
The formation of the Brotherhood is a direct reaction to the persecution of mutants. While the specific events and members change, the core motivation remains consistent: a profound belief that humanity will never accept mutants and that assertive, often violent, action is the only guarantee of survival.
The first and most iconic incarnation of the Brotherhood was founded by Max Eisenhardt, the mutant master of magnetism known to the world as Magneto. A survivor of the Holocaust, Magneto's worldview was forged in the fires of humanity's worst atrocities. He witnessed firsthand how a passive, targeted minority could be systematically exterminated. This trauma instilled in him an unshakeable conviction that a similar fate awaited mutantkind unless they seized power. After his friendship with Charles Xavier fractured over their deep philosophical differences on mutant-human relations, Magneto decided to build an army. He traveled the world, seeking out powerful mutants who shared his anger and disillusionment. His first recruits were the twins Pietro (Quicksilver) and Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch), whom he saved from an angry mob in Eastern Europe. Though they were indebted to him, the twins were deeply uncomfortable with his extremism. He also recruited Jason Wyngarde (Mastermind), a powerful illusionist, and the sycophantic Mortimer Toynbee (Toad). This original team, based on a hidden asteroid headquarters known as Asteroid M, launched a series of audacious attacks, including the takeover of the South American nation of San Marco. Their goal was simple and terrifying: to force humanity to kneel before the superiority of Homo superior. Every one of their early schemes was thwarted by Magneto's old friend and new nemesis, Charles Xavier, and his team of X-Men, setting the stage for a conflict that would span decades and define the fate of mutantkind. Following an encounter with the cosmic entity known as The Stranger, the original team disbanded, but the name and the ideology would live on, inspiring new generations of mutant radicals.
As of the current phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a formal “Brotherhood of Evil Mutants” has not been established within the primary timeline (designated Earth-199999 or Earth-616 post-Multiverse Saga). The concept of mutants is still in its infancy in the MCU, introduced via characters like Kamala Khan and Namor. However, the ideological groundwork has been laid in other on-screen adaptations, primarily the 20th Century Fox X-Men film series, which exists in a separate continuity. In the Fox universe (primarily Earth-10005), the Brotherhood is formed by Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) for the exact same reasons as his comic counterpart: his traumatic experiences during the Holocaust and his belief in mutant supremacy. The film X-Men: First Class (2011) depicts the origin of this conflict, showing Erik's friendship and eventual schism with Charles Xavier. At the film's climax, after Xavier is accidentally paralyzed, Erik embraces his militant philosophy. He offers a choice to the assembled mutants, declaring, “I don't want you to join me. I want you to stand with me.” He is joined by Mystique, Azazel, Riptide, and Angel Salvadore, forming the first on-screen iteration of the Brotherhood. Throughout the Fox film series, Magneto's Brotherhood acts as the primary antagonist group. The roster fluctuates, featuring iconic members like Toad, Pyro, Juggernaut, and Sabretooth. Their goals range from using a machine to forcibly mutate world leaders (X-Men, 2000) to attempting to assassinate anti-mutant politician Bolivar Trask, an act that would inadvertently create a dystopian future (X-Men: Days of Future Past, 2014). The key adaptation in this universe is the deeply personal and central relationship between Erik, Charles, and Raven (Mystique), which serves as the emotional core for the entire saga. Mystique, in particular, is elevated from a loyal subordinate to a founding member and a pivotal figure whose allegiance often sways the balance of power.
The Brotherhood's mandate has always been the advancement of mutant rights, but the methods and immediate goals have varied dramatically depending on the leader. It is less a single, continuous organization and more a recurring revolutionary concept, a banner for disaffected mutants to rally under.
The history of the 616 Brotherhood can be divided into its major incarnations.
^ Member ^ Powers & Role ^
| [[quicksilver|Quicksilver]] (Pietro Maximoff) | Superhuman speed. Served as the team's swift attacker and reconnaissance, though he was a reluctant member. | | [[scarlet_witch|Scarlet Witch]] (Wanda Maximoff) | Probability-altering "hex" powers. The team's most unpredictable and powerful weapon, also a reluctant member. | | [[mastermind|Mastermind]] (Jason Wyngarde) | Master of illusion. Used his powers for deception, infiltration, and psychological warfare. | | [[toad|Toad]] (Mortimer Toynbee) | Superhuman leaping, prehensile tongue, paralytic resin secretion. Served as Magneto's groveling, but surprisingly resilient, lackey. |
^ Member ^ Powers & Role ^
| [[destiny|Destiny]] (Irene Adler) | Precognition. Mystique's confidante and the team's strategic advisor, guiding them with her visions of the future. | | [[pyro|Pyro]] (St. John Allerdyce) | Psionic control over fire (pyrokinesis), but cannot generate it himself. The team's primary offensive weapon. | | [[blob|The Blob]] (Fred Dukes) | Superhuman mass, strength, and durability; generates a gravity field that makes him immovable. The team's immovable brute force. | | [[avalanche|Avalanche]] (Dominikos Petrakis) | Generation of powerful seismic waves from his hands, causing earthquakes and disintegrating objects. Used for large-scale destruction and disruption. | | [[rogue|Rogue]] | Power/psyche absorption via physical contact. A temporary but powerful member who famously absorbed [[captain_marvel|Captain Marvel]]'s powers permanently. |
^ Member ^ Powers & Role ^
| //(All previous members of Mystique's Brotherhood)// | ::: | | [[spiral|Spiral]] (Rita Wayword) | Six-armed cyborg with mystic abilities, teleportation. A powerful and enigmatic enforcer from the Mojoverse. | | [[spider-woman|Spider-Woman]] (Julia Carpenter) | Superhuman strength, speed, and agility; psionic "web" generation. A government-appointed member to keep the former villains in line. | | [[crimson_commando|Crimson Commando]] (Frank Bohannan) | Peak human physical condition, cybernetically enhanced. A veteran vigilante who joined the team. | | [[stonewall|Stonewall]] (Louis Hamilton) | Superhuman strength and invulnerability when in contact with the earth. Another veteran added to the roster. | | [[super_sabre|Super Sabre]] (Martin Fletcher) | Superhuman speed, similar to Quicksilver. A former member of the Invaders. |
In the Fox X-Men films, the structure is more fluid. Magneto is the undisputed leader, and members come and go based on the needs of the plot.
^ Member ^ Powers & Role ^
| [[magneto|Magneto]] (Erik Lehnsherr) | Near-limitless control over magnetism. The founder, leader, and ideological heart of the Brotherhood. | | [[mystique|Mystique]] (Raven Darkhölme) | Shapeshifting. A founding member, second-in-command, and a key emotional link to Charles Xavier. | | [[sabretooth|Sabretooth]] (Victor Creed) | Superhuman strength, speed, and a powerful healing factor. A savage enforcer and Magneto's muscle. | | [[toad|Toad]] | Prehensile tongue, superhuman agility, paralytic slime. A scout and versatile fighter. | | [[pyro|Pyro]] (John Allerdyce) | Pyrokinesis. A former X-Men student who defected to Magneto's more aggressive ideology. | | [[juggernaut|The Juggernaut]] (Cain Marko) | Mystically-endowed unstoppable momentum and invulnerability. A powerhouse recruited by Magneto. | | [[blob|The Blob]] (Fred Dukes) | Superhuman mass and durability. A formidable brawler. | | [[multiple_man|Multiple Man]] (Jamie Madrox) | Creates kinetic duplicates of himself. Used for strategic diversions and creating an instant army. |
True “allies” are rare for a group defined by its radicalism. Most alliances are temporary and based on mutual convenience or a shared enemy.
The Brotherhood's most significant affiliation is with the nation of Genosha. Under Magneto's rule, this island nation became a sovereign mutant homeland, the ultimate realization of the Brotherhood's goals. While Magneto had ostensibly moved beyond the “Brotherhood” name at this point, Genosha became the de facto sanctuary for any mutant who believed in his cause, attracting many former members of both the Brotherhood and the Acolytes. Its tragic destruction by Cassandra Nova's Sentinels remains a pivotal moment in mutant history.
This is the original story arc that introduced the team. Magneto and his Brotherhood seize control of the nation of San Marco, declaring it a mutant-only state. The fledgling X-Men are sent to intervene, leading to their first epic confrontation. The arc establishes the core dynamics: Magneto's overwhelming power, the X-Men's teamwork, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch's moral ambiguity, and the deep philosophical chasm between Magneto and Xavier. It's the foundational text for the entire X-Men vs. Brotherhood conflict.
Arguably the most famous storyline involving the Brotherhood. In a dystopian future, mutants are hunted to near extinction by Sentinels. The consciousness of an adult Kitty Pryde is sent back in time to the present day to prevent the event that triggered this timeline: the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly by Mystique's new Brotherhood. The story masterfully interweaves the desperate future battle for survival with the present-day X-Men's race against time to stop Mystique, demonstrating how the Brotherhood's radical actions, even when aimed at a villain like Kelly, could lead to catastrophic consequences for all mutants.
A major 1993 crossover event where Magneto returns more powerful and militant than ever. He re-establishes a sanctuary in space, Avalon, and issues a call to all mutants on Earth to join him, effectively declaring war on humanity. This event features one of the most shocking moments in X-Men history: Magneto violently rips the Adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton. In retaliation, a furious Charles Xavier launches a powerful psionic attack that shuts down Magneto's mind, leaving him catatonic. However, this act of aggression allows the darkest part of Magneto's psyche to merge with Xavier's, creating the monstrous psychic entity known as Onslaught.
In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, the “Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy” is a far more brutal and widespread organization. Founded by Magneto, it is a massive, well-funded terrorist army responsible for devastating attacks, including the destruction of the Brooklyn Bridge. This version of Magneto is an unapologetic mass murderer, and his Brotherhood includes a cannibalistic Blob and a fanatically loyal Sabretooth. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are also members, but their incestuous relationship and unwavering devotion to their father's cause make them far darker characters than their 616 counterparts.
In this dark reality, created when Xavier was killed before forming the X-Men, Apocalypse rules North America. There is no formal “Brotherhood,” as Magneto himself leads the X-Men in this timeline, fighting a desperate war against Apocalypse. However, many characters who would normally be in the Brotherhood, like Sabretooth, become heroic members of Magneto's X-Men, while traditionally heroic characters may become villains, showcasing the fluidity of these allegiances under different circumstances.
This popular animated series presents a unique take. The Brotherhood is initially formed by Mystique under Magneto's orders. She recruits a team of teenage “problem” mutants—Avalanche, Toad, Blob, and a volatile Quicksilver—who act as rivals to the X-Men at Bayville High. They are portrayed less as hardened terrorists and more as social outcasts and delinquents who find a sense of belonging in their group. Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) is introduced later as an immensely powerful and unstable mutant with a deep grudge against Magneto, making for a very different team dynamic.