SAVAGE LAND MUTATES

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Last Updated: 
3rd December 2014

Creator : Magneto

Leader : Magneto > Sauron > Zaladane > Sauron > Brainchild

Membership :
Amphibius, Barbarus, Brainchild, Equilibrius, Gaza, Lupo, Piper I, Lorelei, Vertigo II, Whiteout, Worm, Lupa, Leash

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62
Reverted back to savages : X-Men (1st series) #63

Reappeared : Avengers (1st series) #105 (most probably re-evolved by Magneto)

Before

  • See Brotherhood of Evil Mutants I for Magneto, all other characters are new. In Avengers (1st series) #53 Magneto fell into the ocean and did not reappear.

Chronology

X-Men (1st series) #62: Amphibius discovers Angel, who has crashlanded in the Savage Land, and brings him to the Creator. Once revived, the Angel is introduced to the other Mutates: Barbarus, Lupo, Gaza, Brainchild, Piper and Equilibrius. The Creator claims to seek out and train these mutant from the tribes of the Savage Land. Mutancy occurs here more often due to higher radiation levels. Unknown to the Angel, though, the Creator is none other than Magneto, who survived his last last encounter with the X-Men by discovering caves beneath the ocean floor that led to the Savage Land.   
X-Men (1st series) #63: The Savage Land Mutates follow Angel when he searches for his teammates, who have actually team-up with Ka-Zar. When a battle starts between the two groups, Angel flies back to the Creator to tell him to stop the battle, only to witness the Creator designing another mutate - Lorelei. Magneto reveals himself to the Angel and then uses Lorelei's powers to paralize all of the X-Men, save for Jean, since Lorelei's power works only on males. Jean telekinetically grabs holds of Cyclops's visor, opens it and destroys the citadel and the machines inside. Magneto is buried under the debris and the Mutates revert back to mere swamp savages.
X-Men: The Hidden Years #1,3: Magneto uses his radiation amplified psi-powers to talk to Amphibius, who tells him that the X-Men are again in the Savage Land.
X-Men: The Hidden Years #10-12: Amphibius watches a fight between Sauron and Magneto, the latter of whom is seemingly lost in an explosion. Afterward, Amphibius reverts back to his savage state and reveals it was Magneto's power that held him in Mutate form.
Avengers (1st series) #105: Searching for the missing Quicksilver, the Avengers follow a false lead into the Savage Land. There they encounter the Savage Land Mutates.
Avengers (1st series) #110-111: It seems Magneto himself re-evolved the Savage Land Mutates since he and Piper not only capture the X-Men but half of the Avengers as well. In his arrogance, Magneto ignores the non-mutant half of the Avengers and is defeated.

In-between

  • Magneto returns to the Savage Land to take Lorelei with him to join his new line-up for the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants I. [Defenders (1st series) #15]
  • There was another Piper among the Morlocks who could be the same, though Thor writer Walter Simonson said that it was not intended.
  • Sauron is a very old X-Foe. He appeared in many stories with the Savage Land theme. Examples are X-Men (1st series) #59-63, the above mentioned X-Men: The Hidden Years #6-7, 9-12 and X-Men (1st series) #115-116. His origin was in X-Men (1st series) #60.
  • Zaladane appeared as a high priestess in various stories around the Savage Land like Astonishing Tales (1st series) #3-5 and X-Men (1st series) #115-116.

Chronology continued

Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #1-2: The Angel and Spider-Man travel to the Savage Land, searching for Karl Lykos aka Sauron. They are attacked and captured by some of the Savage Land Mutates (Gaza, Barbarus, Vertigo, Amphibius and Brainchild), led by Brainchild. Having mastered the machine that created them, Brainchild can now use it to devolve as well as evolve  and uses the machine on their captives. Ka-Zar and Lykos come to the rescue. Karl siphons the mutagenic energies out of Angel and Spider-Man, returning them to normal, but also turning him into Sauron again.
Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #3-4: The Angel alerts the X-Men of Sauron's return and together the team heads for the Savage Land. Unknown to them, Sauron has begun working with Zaladane and the Mutates and together they take the X-Men prisoner. Again, due to the help of Ka-Zar, they are freed and Sauron is reverted back to Karl Lykos, apparently permanently this time.

In-between

  • Vertigo appears as one of Sinister's Marauders. How this came to be is yet unknown.
  • The Savage Land is destroyed by the world-razer Terminus when he damages the alien technology keeping it tropical. Many residents are transported to safety by the United Nations or escape into a pocket dimension.

Chronology continued

Uncanny X-Men Annual #12: Zaladane and the Savage Land Mutates are plotting behind the High Evolutionary's back when he restores the Savage Land.
Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #249-250: Attempting to contact Polaris in South America, the X-Men have to face the Savage Land Mutates (with new member Whiteout), who arrived before them. After Polaris is kidnapped, Havok follows disguised as a savage soldier. Once in the Savage Land, Zaladane claims to be Polaris's sister and steals her powers via a mechanical device designed by Brainchild after plans from the High Evolutionary. Havok is easily discovered and the arriving X-Men are captured by another new Mutate named Worm. Polaris suddenly develops super-strength as an after effect of the power transfer and saves the day.
Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #274-275: The energy readings from the South magnetic pole go haywire. This is Zaladane's doing, who tries to gain more and more energy with Polaris' powers. Magneto, Rogue, Ka-Zar and S.H.I.E.L.D. investigate and have to face the Mutates and Zaladane's forces. It seems that Barbarus and Whiteout share a relationship. After capturing Magneto, Zaladane wants to siphon his energies as well, but Rogue and S.H.I.E.L.D. rescue him only to witness as he kills Zaladane in cold blood.

In-between

  • Karl Lykos was living a happy life with his girlfriend Tanya Anderssen until the day Toad came and forced him to become Sauron again. He then worked for a time with the Toad's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants IV until he returned to the Savage Land.

Chronology continued

Wolverine (2nd series) #69-71: Logan, Rogue and Jubilee travel to the Savage Land and try to find traces of Magneto. Instead, they discover that Sauron has not only taken charge of the Savage Land Mutates again, but has also united the variant savage tribes. After long fights, the three X-Men win, but out of morality they choose not to reverse Sauron to Karl Lykos.
X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6: Sauron needs more and more energy. Since it was touching Havok that triggered his transformation the first time [way back in X-Men (1st series) #60], he sends Worm and Whiteout to kidnap him, while Brainchild works on machines that would regulate the energy transfer when they return. When Cyclops, Phoenix and Polaris arrive to rescue Havok, Sauron manages to hypnotize the X-Men, making them battle each other. In the end, however, Sauron is defeated when Phoenix enters his mind and turns him into a mindless creature.
X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #1-4:

Brainchild becomes aware of the X-Treme X-Men helping a race of Saurids to resettle into the Savage Land. Wanting revenge for earlier defeats, Brainchild orchestrates multiple attachs. After triggering a flood to separate the X-Men, he captures Storm and turns her into a mindless savage, while new members Lupa and Leash use their manipulative powers on some of the other X-Men. Finally, the Savage Land Mutates attack the community where Saurids and humans are trying to live together. The tide turns when the strong-willed Sage manages to reflect Leash’s power onto herself, thus taking control of her. Now defeated, the Mutates' lives hang in the balance as various people of the community demand their death,. However, as the X-Men do not allow murder, they are instead arrested.

In-between

  • Sauron's mind of course reemerged and he came back to bother the X-Men again. [Ka-Zar: Lord of the Savage Land #1, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #354-355]
  • Vertigo being back with the Savage Land Mutates is left unexplained. As part of the Marauders, she was killed and cloned various times. It's doubtful that Sinister lets one of his clones return to the Savage Land, though it’s possible that the original Vertigo never left and Sinister always has been working with clones of her.
Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459: When sentient evolved dinosaurs called the Hauk’ka took control of the Savage Land, the Savage Land Mutates were freed from custody so that they could work with Ka-Zar and other Savage Landers to end the reign of the Hauk‘ka. Several of the X-Men are in the Savage Land and the two groups form an uneasy alliance. The Hauk’ka manipulate both Storm and Rachel Grey, resulting in Storm freezing the Savage Land and causing weather troubles across the planet. The Hauk’ka are defeated and the Savage Land Mutates are once again placed in custody.  
New Avengers (1st series) #5 After a breakout at the super-villain prison called the Raft, the newly-formed New Avengers learn that the main target of the breakout was Sauron. Unaware that it was the Hand who hired Electro to break Sauron out, they suspect the Savage Land Mutates and travel to the Savage Land, where they learn from Wolverine that the Mutates tried to convince Scorcher to break Sauron out, but he turned them down. The Mutates capture the New Avengers, but the heroes free themselves and the Mutates are defeated. 
Sentinel Squad O*N*E* #3-4 Brainchild began experimenting on the brains of Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaurs, giving them additional abilities. With the other Mutates, Sauron planned to use the dinosaurs to conquer the Savage Land, and then the world. Operating from a new complex in the Savage Land, the Mutates didn’t count on the newly formed Sentinel Squad O*N*E* making a visit to the Savage Land. Two of their number were captured and Brainchild’s master plan was put to an end when other members of the Sentinel Squad arrived, defeating Brainchild and the Mutates and destroying their new base. During this adventure, several previously unknown Mutates were seen working with Brainchild, Amphibius, Vertigo, Barbarus, Leash and Lupo. 
Cable and Deadpool #49 In need of a new headquarters, Brainchild, Lorelei, Amphibius, Piper and Barbarus took over Magneto’s old base in the Savage Land. Brainchild planned to use the technology within the base to extend the Savage Land across the world. Thanks to Piper, the Mutates had several dinosaurs under his control and Lorelei manipulated Ka-Zar into assisting the Mutates. However, Deadpool and two of his allies had been sent to the Savage Land to obtain the technology within the base and a subsequent battle caused Lorelei and Piper to lose their control over both the dinosaurs and Ka-Zar. When the Mutates fled, Brainchild, Lorelei and Piper escaped on a pterodactyl, only to be shot out of the sky by Deadpool and into the waiting mouths of dinosaurs below.  
Marvel Comics Presents (2nd series) #6-7 Brainchild survived the fall and was forced to ally himself alongside Ka-Zar and Stegron for the good of the Savage Land when Roxxon and several criminals invaded their homeland. Although reluctant at first, Brainchild, Lorelei, Barbarus and Amphibius were convinced after Ka-Zar made the point that the inhabitants of the Savage Land would rather fight each other than work together. Along with Stegron and his dinosaurs, Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy, the Mutates worked alongside Ka-Zar to repel the invaders and keep the Savage Land safe. 
New Mutants (3rd series) #10 Believing the sea spoke to him, Amphibius convinced Worn, Lupo, Barbarus and Sauron that Magneto had returned for them. The group subsequently took control of a Japanese ship off Antarctica and set forth for the newly created Utopia. They believed that Magneto had raised Asteroid M and wanted to seek out their old master. The New Mutants squad was sent to investigate the approaching Mutates and, after a battle, the Mutates were convinced that Magneto had not returned to lead them to victory, as Worm believed. The Mutates agreed to return to the Savage Land to avoid an international incident. 

Afterward

  • Vertigo was bitten in half by Predator X in New X-Men (1st series) #46. Presumably this is the clone of Vertigo that is being used by Sinister as a Vertigo returned in X-Force (3rd series) #9-10.  

 

Members

Magneto (Max Eisenhardt)

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #1
First Savage Land Mutates appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #62-63, X-Men: The Hidden Years #1,3, 10-12, Avengers (1st series) #110-111

Powers : manipulate magnetic currents to gain total control over all forms of electromagnetism

Amphibius

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #62-63, X-Men: The Hidden Years #1,3, 10-12, Avengers (1st series) #105, Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #1-4, Uncanny X-Men Annual (1st series) #12, #249-250, 274, Wolverine (2nd series) #69-71, X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #3-4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459, New Avengers (1st series) #5, Sentinel Sqaud O*N*E* #3-4, Cable & Deadpool #49, Marvel Comics Presents (2nd series) #6-7, New Mutants (3rd series) #10

Powers : frog-like appearance, breathes underwater, superhuman leg muscles enable him to leap great distances, command all forms of aquatic life, talon glove

Barbarus

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #62-63, Avengers (1st series) #105, Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #1-4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) Annual #12, #249-250, 274, Wolverine (2nd series) #69-71, X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6, X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #3-4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459, New Avengers (1st series) #5, Sentinel Sqaud O*N*E* #3-4, Cable & Deadpool #49, Marvel Comics Presents (2nd series) #6-7, New Mutants (3rd series) #10

Powers : four arms possessing augmented physical strength, endurance, and resistance to all forms of physical injury

Brainchild

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #62-63, Avengers (1st series) #105, Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #1-4, Uncanny X-Men Annual (1st series) #12, #250, 274-275, Wolverine (2nd series) #69-71, X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6, X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #1-4. Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459, New Avengers (1st series) #5, Sentinel Sqaud O*N*E* #3-4, Cable & Deadpool #49, Marvel Comics Presents (2nd series) #6-7

Powers : augmented cranium and brain size give him genius level intelligence, advanced deductive skills, and the psychic ability to draw forth phantoms from the minds of others

Equilibrius

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #62, Avengers (1st series) #105, Wolverine (2nd series) #69-71

Powers : release waves of psionic energy from his optical nerves that upset equilibrium and cause vertigo

Gaza

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #62-63, Avengers (1st series) #105, Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #1-4, Uncanny X-Men Annual (1st series) #12, #249, 274, Wolverine (2nd series) #69-71, X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6, X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #3-4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459

Powers : augmented strength, endurance and resilience, radar sense compensates for his blindness

Lupo / Timberius

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #62-63, Avengers (1st series) #105, Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #3-4, Uncanny X-Men Annual (1st series) #12, #250, 274-275, X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459, New Avengers (1st series) #5, Sentinel Squad O*N*E* #4, New Mutants (3rd series) #10

Powers : augmented strength, speed, agility, endurance, and reflexes, hyper keen senses, razor edged talons, command animal life, especially dogs, through high-pitched yelps

Note : at first he had pointed ears, fangs, little bits of fur and was in contact with certain animals, later he himself had an animalistic appearance and agility

Piper I

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #62

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #62, Avengers (1st series) #110-111, Cable & Deadpool #49

Powers : psionically control animals using his flute

Lorelei

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #63

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Men (1st series) #63, Avengers (1st series) #105, Cable & Deadpool #49, Marvel Comics Presents (2nd series) #6-7

Powers : hypersonic frequencies produced by her vocal chords affect men's sex drives so that they fall under her control or are paralyzed in place

Vertigo II

First appearance : Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #1

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #1-4, X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459, New Avengers (1st series) #5, Sentinel Squad O*N*E* #4

Powers : project swirling mental waves that distort the equilibrium of others, causing them to experience hallucinations and vertigo

Sauron (Karl Lykos)

First appearance : X-Men (1st series) #59
First Savage Land Mutates appearance : Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #2

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #2-4, Wolverine (2nd series) #69-71, X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6, New Mutants (3rd series) #10

Powers : drain the lifeforce of others to feed himself, mutant energies cause him to metamorphesize into a human pterodactyl with augmented strength, speed, aerial agility and reflexes, a hypnotic stare, razor sharp talons, large leather wings, and the ability to absorb energy and rechannel it through his hands

Zaladane

First appearance : Astonishing Tales (1st series) #3
First Savage Land Mutates appearance : Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #3

Last appearance : Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #275 (killed by Magneto)

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : Marvel Fanfare (1st series) #3-4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #249-250, 274-275

Powers : none, started as a Savage Land Priestess, later claimed to be the sister of Polaris and used a technical device to steal her magnetic powers
bend magnetic force to levitate herself and other objects, project energy bolts and force fields, sense electromagnetic fields

Whiteout

First appearance : Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #249

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #249, 274, X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6, X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #3-4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459, New Avengers (1st series) #5

Powers : project a brilliant flash of white psionic energy that affects the minds and optic nerves of others, blinding them

Worm

First appearance : Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #250

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #250, 274-275, X-Men Unlimited (1st series) #6, New Avengers (1st series) #5, New Mutants (3rd series) #10

Powers : secrete a liquid that coats his victims with a slimy film, which enters through the pores and adheres to the brain tissue, forcing that person to think and do whatever he wants, suction cup fingertips, worm-like lower body

Lupa

First appearance : X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #2

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #2-4

Powers : heightened strength, speed, agility, and reflexes, night vision, enhanced animal senses, finger talons, pheromone emissions enable her to influence bestial creatures

Leash

First appearance : X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #3

All Savage Land Mutates appearances : X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land #3-4, Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #457-459, Sentinel Squad O*N*E* #4

Powers : summon the astral form of another out of their body, then snare them in mental bindings that place the person under her thrall