BELOW: Charles Xavier contemplates a newspaper headline touting Bolivar Trask's anti-mutant warnings about future mutant supremacism: Dr. Bolivar Trask, a prominent anthropologist, has gone to the news media to issue his warnings about the "mutant menace" which he predicts could lead to a future in which mutant supremacists rule over non-mutant humankind. Trask's predictions may have little basis in reality, but Professor Charles Xavier worries that such pronouncements could lead to widespread anti-mutant sentiment.
[Charles Xavier reads a newspaper article under the headline: "Mutant Menace! Eminent anthropologist says mankind faces gravest danger from hidden mutants who wait for their moment..." The article is accompanied by illustrations accompanied by the caption: "Artist's interpretation of fate of mankind if mutants are not driven out -- as predicted by Dr. Bolivar Trask."]
Charles Xavier (reading the news article, thinking): "So! It has finally begun! The one thing I always feared-- a witch-hunt for mutants! The feature writers must have loved this, considering the way the played it up! 'Dr. Trask warns that the superior abilities and supernatural powers of the hidden mutants will enable them to enslave the human race, replacing our civilization with their own! According to the anthropologist's startling prediction, it is even possible that the superior mutants will consider normal men as little more than savages, suitable only for forced labor and gladitorial sport!' I cannot let this go unchallenged! It could cause panic thruout [sic] the world! Even now it may be too late to stop the wheels of persecution that have been set in motion--but I must make the attempt! The strange theories of Dr. Trask are a greater threat to my X-Men than any foe they have ever faced before!"
Source: The X-Men (vol. 1) #14 (Nov. 1965): "Among Us Stalk...The Sentinels!", pg. 6, panels 1-4. Written by Stan Lee. Art by Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Werner Roth. See also: mutant supremacist; anti-mutant; Professor X (Charles Xavier); Bolivar Trask
BELOW: Tony Stark (Iron Man) contemplates the dark "secrets" of his fellow Ultimates:
Then again it wasn't like Banner was the only one whose character could be considered . . . murky. They all had secrets... And Janet, ah, Janet. Darling, Tony thought, nobody likes a mutant. Yet here you are.
Source: The Ultimates: Against All Enemies (2007), pg. 7. Written by Alex Irvine. See also: prejudice; anti-mutant; The Wasp (Janet van Dyne)