Introduction
Squads:
Advocates - Alpha Squadron - Chevaliers -
Corsairs - Excelsiors - Exemplars - Hellions -
New Mutants - Paladins - Paragons - Storm's Squad -
Lower (Junior) School
Miscellaneous Students:
A-C, D-H, I-R, S-Z
Non-Mutant Students
Unknown Students
Classes, Faculty
Hellions Squad
The Hellions were one of the more prominent squads at the Xavier Institute and won the first Field Day competition. They were advised by the Institute’s headmistress, Emma Frost. Several members of this squad had other faculty advisors before requesting to be transferred to Emma’s group. The squad’s colors were red and white with black accents. Following Yost/Kyle's hiring, the Hellions took a more prominent role, specifically Hellion, Mercury and Rockslide. They won the field day competition in New X-Men (2nd series) #15.
First appearance: New X-Men: Academy X #2 (squad officially announced)
Instructor:
White Queen (Emma Frost)
First appearance: New X-Men (1st series) #133
Powers: telepathic abilities, transform her body into indestructible organic diamond
Notes:
- Emma Frost previously led a team of Hellions in the 1980s. The majority of them were killed by Sentinels.
- Emma was joint headmistress following Charles Xavier's sabbatical
Members
Former Members: Icarus (see New Mutants)
Dust (Sooraya Quadir)
First appearance: New X-Men (1st series) #133
Powers: convert herself into a destructive sand blast by simultaneously transforming the substance of her body into loose silicon particles and creating an explosive release at her center, expelling her sandy mass at high velocity in all directions, then cause her particles to reassemble themselves back into her human form
Notes:
- Sooraya is an Afghani mutant who was rescued by Fantomex and Wolverine from a slave ring.
- She is called Dust because the only word she at first said was “turaab,” which translates from her language as “dust.”
- Sooraya wears an abaya with a niqab veil for her face rather than an assigned team uniform. Her face was first shown in New X-Men: Academy X #2.
- When Dust first arrived at the Xavier Institute, she was assigned to Xorn’s “Special Class” to help her integrate into Western society. When Xorn revealed his true colors, Dust was the first of his students to oppose him.
- Dust was part of the spin-off team Young X-Men.
- She also later joined the teen superhero group the Champions.
- She was voted most mysterious by her classmates in the yearbook. At this time she was very much a fish out of water and said her likes were getting to know American music and dislikes were crowds.
Hellion (Julian Keller)
First appearance: New Mutants (2nd series) #2
Powers: telekinetic, able to levitate and manipulate physical objects, project blasts of psychic force, lift himself off the ground, and create force fields to protect himself and others from harm
Notes:
- He was attracted to Sofia but believed her roommate, Laurie, was a “freak among freaks,” which is why Sofia initially rejected his affections.
- Julian’s original advisor was Northstar but he requested a transfer. He specifically sought out Emma Frost as his advisor. Despite his personality clash with Northstar, he was quite upset when he was killed by a Hand possessed Wolverine.
- Julian chose his codename in honor of Emma Frost’s late students, the Hellions.
- Julian became the current squad leader of the Hellions.
- During the events of Messiah Complex, Hellion's hands were blown off and he was given mechanical replacements that he had to levitate. His hands have been restored in the Krakoan age.
- Hellion had a romantic interest in both Wind Dancer and X-23.
- Hellion is from a very wealthy background and, while not outright estranged from his parents, the relationship is strained.
- Hellion was voted “most likely to be an X-Man” by his classmates.
- An arrogant character, especially after his debut, he said his likes “were getting the respect he deserves.” In his dislikes, he told the reader to figure it out!
- Hellion had a poster of the Fantastic Four in his bedroom. [New X-Men (2nd series) #32]
- Hellion claimed he was once given detention by Jean Grey by trying to use his telekinesis to unbutton her blouse. [New Mutants (2nd series) #7]
- After Wind Dancer turned him down, Hellion took all three Stepford Cuckoos to the Prom in New X-Men (2nd series) #14.
Mercury V (Cessily Kincaid)
First appearance: New Mutants (2nd series) #2
Powers: composed of a non-toxic liquid metal, allowing her to alter her shape by collapsing into a featureless mass, extending blades from her skin, or molding herself into different forms, molecular adhesion power gives her the ability to cling to solid surfaces and move her body at will even without overt locomotive features
Notes:
- Cessily initially was interested in Wither and apparently was the only person he could touch. However, in later years, she has explored her sexuality and has been involved with Bling!.
- Cessily’s unique body composition makes her immune to some types of powers, such as Wither’s “death touch” and Wallflower’s pheromones. Her peers voted her “coolest powers” in her yearbook.
- Cessily was once roommates with Laurie Collins, aka Wallflower. The two had a serious falling out.
- Cessily was intended to be Irish-American by her creators. However, her surname is actually Scottish.
- During the World War Hulk event, Mercury saved Professor X by admonishing the Hulk for his attack, essentially telling him just how bad their lives were and that they deserved to be left alone.
- Mercury was temporarily kidnapped and her “skin” was used in the creation of the Predator X monsters.
- In her yearbook entry, she said her likes were English class, movies (but not scary ones) and shopping. She also said she disliked snobs.
Rockslide (Santo Vaccaro)
First appearance: New Mutants (2nd series) #3
Powers: made of solid and animated rock, giving him superhuman strength, endurance, a highly dense and extremely durable body, and the ability to detach or launch pieces of his body as projectiles that must be physically retrieved and reattached
Notes:
- After being seen frequently among the collective student body, Santo was identified in New Mutants (2nd series) #8, and given a last name and codename in #10.
- Santo’s original advisor was Iceman but changed to Emma Frost in New Mutants (2nd series) #9.
- Santo is Italian-American. His family was seen in the background in New Mutants (2nd series) #8, so presumably he was accepted after his powers developed.
- Rockslide has a good friendship with Anole and Loa.
- Rockslide became the heart of the spin-off team Young X-Men.
- During the Krakoan age, he was murdered during a mission on Otherworld. He was resurrected but the resurrection was corrupted and the Rockslide that was reborn (dubbed Wrongslide) was a new incarnation.
- Rockslide was clearly very popular amongst his classmates and voted most likely to be famous.
- In his yearbook, he listed his likes pro-wrestling, pizza and French pastries and his dislikes are vegetables, weaklings and homework.
Tag (Brian Cruz)
First appearance: New Mutants (2nd series) #10
Powers: pariah effect enables him to "tag" himself or others with a unique psi-signal, then mentally make other nearby people receptive to the signal, which overwhelmingly compels them to get away from the broadcaster
Notes:
- Tag is Puerto Rican. Brian’s first name was revealed in his initial appearance.
- He was depowered during M-Day and murdered on the bus explosion by William Stryker's bombing.
- His death had a big impact on his friend Hellion.
- He was revived in the Krakoan age.
- His powers were voted most confusing by his peers in the yearbook.
- Tag is really a social butterfly. In his yearbook entry, he said his dislikes were being alone and his likes were hanging out with friends and junk food.
Wither (Kevin Ford)
First appearance: New Mutants (2nd series) #3
Powers: destabilize the binding forces of organic molecules upon physical contact, making them shrivel up and lose their health, and eventually turn to dust if exposed to his touch for too long
Notes:
- Kevin’s mother died when he was born. When his powers manifested, he accidentally killed his father, who tried to comfort him.
- He is from Atlanta, Georgia.
- He is an accomplished industrial artist. He was voted most artistic by his peers in the yearbook and listed art and sculpture as his likes and poseurs and bigots as his dislikes.
- Kevin showed romantic interest in Wallflower when he first arrived at Xavier’s school.
- Kevin was prosecuted for the death of his father but was remanded to the custody of the Xavier Institute. The charges were dropped.
- Danielle Moonstar was originally Kevin’s advisor and he was part of the New Mutants squad. He requested a transfer to the Hellions after a falling out with Moonstar, who advised him to face the legal charges over his father’s death.
- In New X-Men (2nd series) #3, it was implied that Wither was testing his powers on animals before Emma Frost convinced him to come back to the school.
- Kevin's most significant storyline was Necrosha. He was seduced by the villainous Selene and attacked his former friends. He was ultimately killed by his rival Elixir and resurrected on Krakoa.
- Wither had posters of Drax the Destroyer and Spider-Man on his wall. [New X-Men (2nd series) #20.]