History AbusiveParents / XMen

* [[Characters/MarvelComicsLogan Wolverine]] had an abusive mother. Elizabeth Howlett [[spoiler:Hudson]] was neglectful of her son as she became mentally ill after witnessing her firstborn son John's claws emerge for the first time, leading to her scarring (her absences were to the asylum); in her few visits to the Howlett Estate, she isn't seen interacting with James. However, after history repeated itself with her youngest son (who had just witnessed his [[spoiler:step]]father murdered and had just slain his [[spoiler:biological]] father in his rage), her response was to smack her son across the face with her lover's rifle and disown him, calling him an 'animal' as he fled the estate.
* Wolverine's [[spoiler:biological]] father [[spoiler:[[Characters/WolverineRoguesGallery Thomas Logan]]]] was also never a saint, although [[spoiler:not abusive to John specifically]]; he regularly beat and abused [[spoiler:his other son, Dog]], and introduced the boy to alcohol while encouraging the boy's sociopathic tendencies.

* [[Characters/MarvelComicsLauraKinney X-23]] can certainly be considered a victim of this trope, depending on how you define "parents". Zander Rice was one of the lead scientists involved in her creation, and the abuse he leveled at the poor girl was outright ''horrific''. Her mother, Dr. Sarah Kinney, (who provided the surrogate womb and some genetic material) was under the orders of Rice and project leader Martin Sutter to deny X-23 an emotional connection. To her credit, though, Kinney defied those orders whenever she could, but couldn't prevent the emotional damage the young Laura sustained before she could be freed from the Facility's control. And let's not even get into what [[AxCrazy Kimura]], her ''other'' primary adult "role model", [[ColdBloodedTorture did to her]]...

** Despite tossing him as a baby and frequently fighting him, [[DependingOnTheWriter numerous writers]] have ''tried'' to make amends between the blue mother and son. Mystique has hesitated when given a chance to stab Kurt, begged him for forgiveness and even sacrificed herself for him, but the rest of the time, she just manipulates him for personal gain or takes out her rage for Azazel (Kurt's dad) on him. The fact that Nightcrawler is willingly to be kind to her, protect her and even reluctantly accept her into X-Men speaks more about Kurt's [[NiceGuy compassion]] than it does about her. Averted in ''ComicBook/{{Axis}}''; due having her morals flipped, Mystique loves Kurt unconditionally and does everything in her power to make sure he doesn't do anything he'll regret while he's evil, [[SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming she even grabs onto him while he tries to bamf away from her saying that she loves him]]. However, this is actually more upsetting, as it proves Mystique has the capacity to be good mother but just chooses not to.

* [[Characters/WolverineJamesLoganHowlett Wolverine]] had an abusive mother. Elizabeth Howlett [[spoiler:Hudson]] was neglectful of her son as she became mentally ill after witnessing her firstborn son John's claws emerge for the first time, leading to her scarring (her absences were to the asylum); in her few visits to the Howlett Estate, she isn't seen interacting with James. However, after history repeated itself with her youngest son (who had just witnessed his [[spoiler:step]]father murdered and had just slain his [[spoiler:biological]] father in his rage), her response was to smack her son across the face with her lover's rifle and disown him, calling him an 'animal' as he fled the estate.

* [[Characters/X23LauraKinney X-23]] can certainly be considered a victim of this trope, depending on how you define "parents". Zander Rice was one of the lead scientists involved in her creation, and the abuse he leveled at the poor girl was outright ''horrific''. Her mother, Dr. Sarah Kinney, (who provided the surrogate womb and some genetic material) was under the orders of Rice and project leader Martin Sutter to deny X-23 an emotional connection. To her credit, though, Kinney defied those orders whenever she could, but couldn't prevent the emotional damage the young Laura sustained before she could be freed from the Facility's control. And let's not even get into what [[AxCrazy Kimura]], her ''other'' primary adult "role model", [[ColdBloodedTorture did to her]]...

* [[Characters/EmmaFrostWhiteQueen Emma Frost]]'s father was cold and emotionless and encouraged his children to play mindgames with each other. Her mother was a neglectful drug abuser.

* ComicBook/EmmaFrost's father was cold and emotionless and encouraged his children to play mindgames with each other. Her mother was a neglectful drug abuser.
* ComicBook/{{Magneto}} especially in his [[CharacterizationMarchesOn early days]] dips into this in regards to his children as his life as a father has been far from spotless. ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} has gotten the brunt of his cruelty, as apart from rarely giving Pietro [[WellDoneSonGuy affection or praise]], Mags nearly killed him in ''ComicBook/HouseOfM'' as ComicBook/ScarletWitch pleaded with him to stop. Wanda herself also got plenty of manipulative emotional abuse from him and her unstable nature can definitely attributed to his upbringing. He’s also come into conflict with his biological daughter ComicBook/{{Polaris}} who fairly [[CallingTheOldManOut points out]] how much he sucks at parenting. Thankfully most comics have [[DownplayedTrope toned this down]], with Magneto being presented as a [[PapaWolf protective]] and caring father and grandfather. Mostly to Lorna, Wanda and her sons Wiccan and Speed, but even then he’s far from perfect and often puts his own schemes over them.
* Many fans forget but ComicBook/{{Mystique}} is a terrible, terrible '''downright awful mother''' let's start with her biological son Kurt Wagner aka ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} when he's born she was cast out by the village by a mob. At first she [[BaitTheDog seems]] like a MamaBear protecting her baby from harm until she realizes she can use [[VoluntaryShapeShifting her powers]] to make a new life and there’s only one thing that's holding her back and she tosses little baby Kurt [[https://marswillsendnomore.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/uncanny-x-men-428-nightcrawler-023.jpg off a cliff]]. Mystique says she doesn't regret it when confronted by her son and even flashes him [[SlasherSmile a grin]] as she says so [[note]] Keep in mind this was the original telling of Kurt’s origin, ''X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler'' [[{{retcon}} retcons]] the events having Mystique tie baby Kurt to a log and sending him down the river before collapsing in exhaustion, perhaps in an effort to make Mystique less monstrous [[/note]].
** Despite tossing him as a baby and frequently fighting him, [[DependingOnTheWriter numerous writers]] have ''tried'' to make amends between the blue mother and son. Mystique has hesitated when given a chance to stab Kurt, begged him for forgiveness and even sacrificed herself for him. But the rest of the times she just manipulate him for personal gain or takes out her rage for Azazel (Kurt's dad) on him. The fact that Nightcrawler is willingly to be kind to her, protect her and even reluctantly accept her into X-Men speaks more about Kurt's [[NiceGuy compassion]] than it does about her. Averted in ''ComicBook/{{Axis}}'' due having her morals flipped Mystique loves Kurt unconditionally and does everything in her power to make sure he doesn’t do anything he’ll regret while he’s evil, [[SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming she even grabs onto him while he tries to bamf away from her saying that she loves him]]. However this is more upsetting as it proves Mystique has the capacity to be good mother but she just chooses not to.
** There's also Mystique's treatment of ComicBook/{{Rogue}} her surrogate daughter, and if you thought Nightcrawler got the worst from her boy you'd be wrong. Raised from a young age with the worst anti-human teachings, Rogue [[DaddysLittleVillain took after]] Mystique and also received abuse from her and was abandoned (she really has a knack for it) leading to Rogue finding the X-Men and raised in [[RaiseHimRightThisTime a better fashion]]. Like with Nightcrawler the writers bounce back and forth with Mystique's care for Rogue sometimes she’ll be a MamaBear and willingly to sacrifice anything to protect her daughter. But at other times she has [[https://uncannyxmen.net/sites/default/files/images/spotlight/mystique38.jpg slapped her daughter]], [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/99/76/f2/9976f290fa8b4936694705681164bfe7--parental-advisory-xmen.jpg stabbed her in the gut]] and [[https://i.stack.imgur.com/2roBS.jpg shot her]]. If that weren't bad enough, there are Mystique's "attempts" to look after Rogue like turning into her to seduce her boyfriend ComicBook/{{Gambit}} to see if he'd be faithful to her daughter and even kept up her record of [[WouldHurtAChild terrible baby handling]] as she tried to use ComicBook/HopeSummers, to try [[TouchOfDeath revive Rogue from Strain 88 virus]] and gets TheReasonYouSuck speech from Gambit. When Rogue wakes up and learns from a overjoyed Mystique what she tried to do, Rogue wastes no time giving her mother a [[ExtremeMeleeRevenge beatdown]].
** We also can't forget to mention Graydon. It's sad when Mystique is a worse parent than [[ComicBook/{{Sabretooth}} Victor Creed]]. She & Victor were lovers for a while, and Mystique faked her death to run out on him, and didn't bother to ever tell him she was pregnant with his baby. When said child was born, Mystique kept an eye on him until she found out he wasn't a mutant, then lost all interest in him, describing him as boring. Graydon sometimes snuck away from the orphanage to spy on her, where he discovered her true form. After finding out who she really is, Graydon is shocked & Mystique proceeds to taunt him about it, then reveals Sabretooth is his father, rather than a bond trader like she said. Even into Graydon's adulthood, Mystique cares nothing for him and mentions abandoning him because a kid would've cramped her style. Not to mention she was the one who assassinated him. But prior to the assassination, is it any wonder he has a low opinion of mutants?
** Amazingly, Sabretooth, unlike Mystique, did seem to have respect for their son after seeing how ruthless Graydon could be. Victor teases Graydon, but seemed genuinely fond of him, to the point wishing him luck on his campaign & asking his son to remember him when he becomes president. He also claims Graydon as his son, given he frequently calls him "son" whenever he addresses him. When Victor & Mystique come to blows in X-Factor, Mystique shape-shifts into Graydon as a way to distract (or possibly hurt) Victor, as she did earlier when she morphed into his dead mother to upset him. Only this time, Sabretooth was beyond pissed and wasted no time clobbering her for it. During their stint in Hell during ''ComicBook/WeaponX2017'', Sabretooth is horrified to find Graydon in Hell and ''immediately'' tries to save him. [[EvenEvilHasStandards He is visibly appalled]] when he pleads with Mystique to help him save Graydon, and she coldly tells him to just leave Graydon in Hell.
*** You could even argue Sabertooth's abuse was his twisted way of caring. When we do see him given a flashback his parents are cruel, but with good intentions, honestly thinking Victor was possessed. His kid would have to be tough to survive such a world and to already have no powers as a handicap.
** Mystique poor treatment of her children likely comes from her own father as "Don't let Papa get you" is her SurvivalMantra at one point.

* Wolverine's archenemy {{ComicBook/Sabretooth}} had an abusive father. Part of Sabretooth's mutant powers is his canines growing into fangs and fingernails into claws. After his powers manifested, his father chained him up in the basement and pulled those out with pliers. And since rapid healing is part of Sabretooth's powers, they had grown up by the next day, so his father repeated it again and again and again and again. In addition to physical torture, Creed was psychologically abused as well, with his father calling him a monster & even saying he's glad his own father is dead so he doesn't have to see what kind of monster his son gave him for a grandson. He would bring Creed food like a dog & make him beg for it like a dog while calling him a monster. Is it any wonder when Creed finally got loose, his first order of business was to murder his father.
** Though he won't win father of the year, Sabretooth was a considerably better father than his own. As noted in Mystique's section, he did have some respect & fondness for his own son after seeing that Graydon was just like him in terms of ruthlessness & vindictiveness.
* ''X-Men'''s Tabitha Smith/Boom-Boom was abused by her father until she ran away from home. This is a pretty commonplace trope for their [[ComicBook/XMen mutant]] characters.
* Wolfsbane's father helped a group of religious fanatics brainwash his daughter into a programmed killer to be sent after her teammate, Angel. [[KarmicDeath It blows up in his face in an ironic way.]]
** Given the level of emotional abuse he subjected her to growing up (his hiding the fact that it was he that sired her upon her supposed harlot of a mother being the least of it) ''and'' his leading the mob that shot her and tried to burn her at the stake when her powers kicked in, the above shows that he's nothing if not consistent.
* Comicbook/{{Wolverine}} from the X-Men had an abusive mother. Elizabeth Howlett [[spoiler: Hudson]] was neglectful of her son as she became mentally ill after witnessing her first born son John's claws emerge for the first time, leading to her scarring (her absences were to the asylum); in her few visits to the Howlett Estate she wasn't seen interacting with James. However after history repeated itself with her youngest son (who had just witnessed his [[spoiler: step]] father murdered and had just slain his [[spoiler: biological]] father in his rage), her response was to smack her son across the face with her lover's rifle and disown him, calling him an 'animal' as he fled the estate.
** His [[spoiler: biological]] father was never a saint; he regularly beat and abused his son, Dog, and introduced the boy to alcohol while encouraging the boy's sociopathic tendencies.
* ComicBook/{{X 23}} can certainly fall under this trope depending on how you define "parents." Zander Rice was one of the lead scientists involved in her creation, and the abuse he leveled at the poor girl was outright ''horrific''. Her mother, Dr. Sarah Kinney, (who provided the surrogate womb and some genetic material) was under the orders of Rice and project leader Martin Sutter to deny X-23 an emotional connection. To her credit, though, Kinney defied those orders whenever she could, but couldn't prevent the emotional damage the young Laura sustained before she could be freed from the Facility's control. And let's not even get into what [[AxCrazy Kimura]], her ''other'' primary adult "role model," [[ColdBloodedTorture did to her]]...
** Hints dropped throughout ''ComicBook/InnocenceLost'' (including a copy of an actual ''police report'') and ''Target X'' reveal that Sarah herself was abused by her father, which neither her mother nor sister would corroborate, ultimately resulting in Sarah cutting off contact with her family and only briefly reconnecting with her sister before her death.

* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''

** In ''Film/TheWolverine'', Shingen Yashida is seen slapping his daughter early on, and [[spoiler:later tries to kill her.]]

* Found in ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' one episode, where we learn that Tabitha/Boom Boom's father was a con man who routinely pressured her into using her powers to help rob banks and/or run scams.

!!Comic Books

** There's also Mystique's treatment of ComicBook/{{Rogue}} her surrogate daughter, and if you thought Nightcrawler got the worst from her boy you'd be wrong. Raised from a young age with the worst anti-human teachings, Rogue [[DaddysLittleVillain took after]] Mystique and also received abuse from her and was abandoned (she really has a knack for it) leading to Rogue finding the X-Men and raised in [[RaiseHimRightThisTime a better fashion]]. Like with Nightcrawler the writers bounce back and forth with Mystique's care for Rogue sometimes she’ll be a MamaBear and willingly to sacrifice anything to protect her daughter. But at other times she has [[https://uncannyxmen.net/sites/default/files/images/spotlight/mystique38.jpg slapped her daughter]], [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/99/76/f2/9976f290fa8b4936694705681164bfe7--parental-advisory-xmen.jpg stabbed her in the gut]] and [[https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/4226/161134-48307-rogue.jpg shot her]]. If that weren't bad enough, there are Mystique's "attempts" to look after Rogue like turning into her to seduce her boyfriend ComicBook/{{Gambit}} to see if he'd be faithful to her daughter and even kept up her record of [[WouldHurtAChild terrible baby handling]] as she tried to use ComicBook/HopeSummers, to try [[TouchOfDeath revive Rogue from Strain 88 virus]] and gets TheReasonYouSuck speech from Gambit. When Rogue wakes up and learns from a overjoyed Mystique what she tried to do, Rogue wastes no time giving her mother a [[ExtremeMeleeRevenge beatdown]].

* Many fans forget but ComicBook/{{Mystique}} is a terrible, terrible '''downright awful mother''' let's start with her biological son Kurt Wagner aka ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} when he's born she was cast out by the village and her lover. At first she [[BaittheDog seems]] like a MamaBear protecting her baby from harm until she realizes she can use [[VoluntaryShapeShifting her powers]] to make a new life and there’s only one thing that's holding her back and she tosses little baby Kurt [[https://marswillsendnomore.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/uncanny-x-men-428-nightcrawler-023.jpg off a cliff]]. Mystique says she doesn't regret it when confronted by her son and even flashes him [[SlasherSmile a grin]] as she says so [[note]] Keep in mind this was the original telling of Kurt’s origin, ''X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler'' [[{{retcon}} retcons]] the events having Mystique tie baby Kurt to a log and sending him down the river before collapsing in exhaustion, perhaps in an effort to make Mystique less monstrous [[/note]].

* Many fans forget but ComicBook/{{Mystique}} is a terrible, terrible '''downright awful mother'''. Let's start with her biological son Kurt Wagner aka ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} when he's born she was cast out by the village and her lover. At first she [[BaittheDog seems]] like a MamaBear protecting her baby from harm until she realizes she can use [[VoluntaryShapeShifting her powers]] to make a new life and there’s only one thing that's holding her back and she tosses little baby Kurt [[https://marswillsendnomore.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/uncanny-x-men-428-nightcrawler-023.jpg off a cliff]]. Mystique says she doesn't regret it when confronted by her son and even flashes him [[SlasherSmile a grin]] as she says so [[note]] Keep in mind this was the original telling of Kurt’s origin, ''X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler'' [[{{retcon}} retcons]] the events having Mystique tie baby Kurt to a log and sending him down the river before collapsing in exhaustion, perhaps in an effort to make Mystique less monstrous [[/note]].

* Many fans forget but ComicBook/{{Mystique}} is a terrible, terrible '''downright awful mother''', let's start with her biological son Kurt Wagner aka ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} when he's born she was cast out by the village and her lover. At first she [[BaittheDog seems]] like a MamaBear protecting her baby from harm until she realizes she can use [[VoluntaryShapeShifting her powers]] to make a new life and there’s only one thing that's holding her back and she tosses little baby Kurt [[https://marswillsendnomore.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/uncanny-x-men-428-nightcrawler-023.jpg off a cliff]]. Mystique says she doesn't regret it when confronted by her son and even flashes him [[SlasherSmile a grin]] as she says so [[note]] Keep in mind this was the original telling of Kurt’s origin, ''X-Men Origins: Nightcrawler'' [[{{retcon}} retcons]] the events having Mystique tie baby Kurt to a log and sending him down the river before collapsing in exhaustion, perhaps in an effort to make Mystique less monstrous [[/note]].

* ComicBook/{{X 23}} can certainly fall under this trope depending on how you define "parents." Zander Rice was one of the lead scientists involved in her creation, and the abuse he leveled at the poor girl was outright ''horrific''. Her mother, Dr. Sarah Kinney, (who provided the surrogate womb and some genetic material) was under the orders of Rice and project leader Martin Sutter to deny X-23 an emotional connection. To her credit, though, Kinney defied those orders whenever she could, but couldn't prevent the emotional damage the young Laura sustained before she could be freed from the Facility's control. And let's not even get into what [[AxeCrazy Kimura]], her ''other'' primary adult "role model," [[ColdBloodedTorture did to her]]...

* Many fans forget but ComicBook/{{Mystique}} is a terrible, terrible '''downright awful mother''', let's start with her biological son Kurt Wagner aka ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} when he's born she was cast out by the village and her lover. At first she [[BaittheDog seems]] like a MamaBear protecting her baby from harm until she realizes she can use [[VoluntaryShapeShifting her powers]] to make a new life and there’s only one thing that's holding her back and she tosses little baby Kurt [[https://marswillsendnomore.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/uncanny-x-men-428-nightcrawler-023.jpg off a cliff]]. Mystique says she doesn't regret it when confronted by her son and even flashes him [[SlasherSmile a grin]] as she says so.

*** You could even argue Sabertooth's abuse was his twisted way of caring. When we do see him given a flashback his parents are cruel, withgood intentions, honestly thinking Victor was possessed. His kid would have to be tough to survive such a world and to already have no powers as a handicap.

!!''Franchise/XMen''

** Kimura was also the result of a neglectful mother and abusive father. Her grandmother attempted to undo the damage, but by then it was too late, and Kimura used the abuse and bullying she suffered as a child as an excuse to do it back to others when she grew older, ''particularly'' Laura.

** Despite tossing him as a baby and frequently fighting him, [[DependingOnTheWriter numerous writers]] have ''tried'' to make amends between the blue mother and son. Mystique has hesitated when given a chance to stab Kurt, begged him for forgiveness and even sacrificed herself for him. But the rest of the times she just manipulate him for personal gain or takes out her rage for Azazel (Kurt's dad) on him. The fact that Nightcrawler is willingly to be kind to her, protect her and even reluctantly accept her into X-Men speaks more about Kurt's [[NiceGuy compassion]] than it does about her. Averted in ''ComicBook/{{Axis}}'' due having her morals flipped Mystique loves Kurt unconditionally and does everything in her power to make sure he doesn’t do he’ll regret while he’s evil, [[SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming she even grabs onto him while he tries to bamf away from her saying that she loves him]]. However this is more upsetting as it proves Mystique has the capacity to be good mother but she just chooses not to.

** There's also Mystique's treatment of ComicBook/{{Rogue}} her surrogate daughter, and if you thought Nightcrawler got the worst from her boy you'd be wrong. Raised from a young age with the worst anti-human teaching, Rogue [[DaddysLittleVillain took after]] Mystique and also received abuse from her and was abandoned (she really has a knack for it) leading to Rogue finding the X-Men and raised in [[RaiseHimRightThisTime a better fashion]]. Like with Nightcrawler the writers bounce back and forth with Mystique's care for Rogue sometimes she be a MamaBear and willingly to sacrifice anything to protect her. But at other times she has [[https://uncannyxmen.net/sites/default/files/images/spotlight/mystique38.jpg slapped her daughter]], [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/99/76/f2/9976f290fa8b4936694705681164bfe7--parental-advisory-xmen.jpg stabbed her in the gut]] and [[https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/0/4226/161134-48307-rogue.jpg shot her]]. If that weren't bad enough, there are Mystique's "attempts" to look after Rogue like turning into her to seduce her boyfriend ComicBook/{{Gambit}} to see if he'd be faithful to her daughter and even kept up her record of [[WouldHurtAChild terrible baby handling]] as she tried to use ComicBook/HopeSummers, to try [[TouchOfDeath revive Rogue from Strain 88 virus]] and gets TheReasonYouSuck speech from Gambit. When Rogue wakes up and learns from a overjoyed Mystique what she tried to do, Rogue wastes no time giving her mother a [[ExtremeMeleeRevenge beatdown]].