BEAST (COMICS)

'Beast,' (or 'The Beast') ('Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy'), is a fictional character and Marvel Comics superhero who is a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in ''X-Men'' #1 (September 1963).
A mutant, Beast possesses ape-like physical strength and agility and oversized hands and feet. After latent transformations to his physiology were activated, he has gained increasingly animalistic physical characteristics, extending to blue fur, feline facial features, pointed ears, fangs, and claws, and enhanced physical power and senses.
Despite his savage appearance, he is a brilliant man of the arts, literature, and science; he is a world authority on biochemistry and genetics, the X-Men’s medical doctor, and the science and mathematics instructor at the Xavier Institute (the X-Men's headquarters and school for young mutants). He is also a mutant political activist. Fighting his feral urges and fear of rejection, Beast dedicates his physical and mental gifts to the creation of a better world for man and mutant. He also has a witty sense of humor.
One of the original X-Men, Beast has appeared consistently in X-Men-related comics throughout the years. He has also been a member of the "all-star" teams The Avengers and The Defenders.

Contents

Publication history

Fictional character biography

With the X-Men

After the X-Men

With the Avengers

With the Defenders

With X-Factor

Back with the X-Men

X-Treme X-Men

Beast's return

Powers and abilities

Anthropoid physique

Feline physique

Genius intellect

Other versions

1602

Amalgam Comics

Dark Beast

Here Comes Tomorrow

House of M

Mutant X

Shadow-X

Ultimate Beast

X-Men Fairy Tales

In other media

Television

Films

X-Men

X2: X-Men United

X-Men: The Last Stand

Video games

Toys

Print

Quotes

References

Footnotes

References

Publication history

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created Beast. Stan Lee writes in the Foreword to ''X-Men: The Ultimate Guide'' that he made Beast the most articulate, eloquent, and well-read of the X-Men to contrast with his brutish exterior. Further, the book opines that the Werner Roth-Roy Thomas team garnered admiration for their "appealing and sensitive characterizations of the original X-Men." Roth (under the alias Jay Gavin) had taken over for Kirby fully by issue #18 and Thomas was a new talent. Beast was given an individualized colorful new costume with the rest of the X-Men by issue #39 under them in order to attract new readers. After Jim Steranko's tenure, which supposedly added "exciting art," the book continues that Roth returned, working with Neal Adams, who blended Kirby's style with "realism, idealized beauty, and epic grandeur," making the ''The X-Men'' (later named ''Uncanny X-Men'') series one of the most popular super hero comics by the late 1960s. In ''Amazing Adventures #11'', 1972, Beast underwent a radical change in appearance, mutating into the familiar furry creature. Over the next decade he would appear on the roster of several teams in titles ranging from ''Avengers'' to ''Defenders'' to ''X-Factor''. It wasn't until 1991, in ''X-Factor'' #70/''X-Men'' #1, that Beast finally returned to the X-Men. In ''Uncanny X-Men'' #390, 2001, Beast cured the Legacy Virus and in ''X-Treme X-Men'' #3, 2001, Beast experienced a further mutation into a feline being. As evidenced on the back cover of ''X-Treme X-Men'' Vol. 1, writer of that series in addition to both ''Uncanny X-Men'' (for sixteen consecutive years) and ''X-Factor'', Chris Claremont, contributed much to Beast's characterization.

Fictional character biography

Henry Philip McCoy was born in Dunfee, Illinois, in the United States, to Norton and Edna McCoy. His father, Norton McCoy, was employed at a local nuclear power plant before McCoy's birth and was once exposed to intense nuclear radiation which appears to have caused his son's mutation. Hank was born with a vast intellect and unusually large hands and feet for a human; in fact, his body's proportions were comparable to those of a gorilla and later stories reveal his nickname in school was "Magilla Gorilla".

With the X-Men

Henry's mutation more fully manifests during adolescence, providing greater strength and agility, and although his powers allow him to briefly excel in athletics during his remaining time at school, he soon attracts the animosity of his fellow students and other non-mutant humans. As he seeks refuge, he is approached by Professor Charles Xavier, who invites him to study at "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters".
Henry recognizes the opportunities that such an institution can afford him and accepts the offer. He finds the school both a font of scientific knowledge and a place of sanctuary and is there introduced to the X-Men, who accept him into their ranks and give him the codename Beast.
Alongside workouts in the Danger Room, he studies subjects ranging from differential equations to Proust under Xavier's tutelage.

After the X-Men

Hank leaves the X-Men shortly after his twentieth birthday, claiming that he is no longer one of the "strangest teens of all." In ''Amazing Adventures'' (vol. 2) #11, he becomes a research scientist at the Brand Corporation, a genetics research facility. His assistant, Linda Donaldson, quickly becomes his girlfriend. Hank isolates a "hormonal extract" that allows anyone to become a mutant for a short period of time, and uses it on himself to disguise his appearance while foiling an attempt to steal his research. However, he waits too long to reverse the process, leaving him permanently transformed. He has grown gray fur (which later turns blue) all over his body and acquired sharp ears, elongated canine teeth, claws, the ability to run on walls and ceilings like a spider, enhanced senses, an accelerated healing factor, and a feral side he struggles to control. He briefly joins the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants when Mastermind wipes out his memory, but quickly recovers. Back at Brand Laboratories, he discovers his girlfriend Linda Donaldson is a Communist spy, and the confrontation, though heartbreaking, is inevitable.

With the Avengers

Not long after this transformation, he is recruited to join the Avengers, in which he remains a member for many years, becoming a close friend of Wonder Man. He leaves the team at times to rejoin his friends in the X-Men in times of need (such as the ''Dark Phoenix Saga''). He returns to the Avengers each time, but eventually leaves so that the team (which has a six-member limit at the time) could be filled out by new recruits.

With the Defenders

He later joins the Defenders and is one of the final surviving members at the time of its first disbandment. He and fellow surviving Defenders Angel and Iceman are contacted shortly after by Cyclops and Jean Grey to form a new group, X-Factor.

With X-Factor

With X-Factor, Beast starts out in his furred-form, but on their second mission, Beast is captured by Carl Maddicks and used in an attempt to develop a cure for mutancy, which had rendered his son Artie mute. He develops a serum and tests it on the Beast. X-Factor arrives on the scene and saves Hank, but not after he had been injected with the serum. When the bandages around his face are removed, he is revealed to have lost his blue fur. This helps in X-Factor's cover as normal humans who are mutant hunters for hire, though they actually help the mutants they capure. When they see the need for their powers they don new costumes similar to their old X-Men costumes, and call themselves the X-Terminators, posing as renegade mutants. Beast wears a mask like he used to since he now looks human again.
Eventually, X-Factor clashes with the ancient mutant Apocalypse after Angel loses his wings in a battle and shortly after turns up missing. Apocalypse turns Angel into Death, the most powerful of his four Horsemen of Apocalypse. During the battle Beast is touched by the Horseman Pestilence, whose touch usually causes incredible pain and virus infection. The battle is finally won and Apocalypse retreats, leaving his spaceship behind. However, this victory comes at the cost of Angel's humanity, and with Beast infected by Pestilence. The infection interacts with the recent serum treatment of Maddicks, and instead of killing him, Hank is affected in such a way that every time he uses his superhuman strength, his intelligence decreases. Hank’s condition worsens for weeks and he gets progressively dumber. He even openly talks to Trish Tilby, a reporter, not realizing that she might use the information on TV. Out of respect for Hank’s situation, Trish does not mention his name when she reports about X-Factor’s recent battles, only that one of them lost his intellect while heroically defending New York. The Beast is still hurt by her using the information at all, but she is able to convince him that she meant well.
X-Factor finally ends their act and are hailed as heroes, and they then don costumes similar to their previous X-Terminator costumes. When Hank’s mind is nothing more than that of a child, he intercepts a mutant called Infectia, who is trying to kiss Iceman. Infectia has the ability to manipulate molecular structures through touch, creating mutated "monsters." When she kisses Beast, he becomes feverish and begins switching back and forth between his normal and furred-forms. Finally, he stabilizes in his furry appearance, keeps his intelligence, and has more strength than ever. Things heat back up again when the event Inferno takes place, where Cyclops' wife Madelyne Pryor attempts to sacrafice her and Cyclops' son, Nathan, in order to keep the portals of Hell and Earth open. She attempts this after learning she is Jean Grey's clone created by Mister Sinister, and begins to lose her mind. She finally kills herself when Sinister tells her she is nothing more than a brood mare to create what he is really after — Nathan, so he could overthrow Apocalypsse. X-Factor is left to raise the child and once again peace is restored for the most part.
Only short months later, Apocalypse learns of this treachery and seeks to kill Nathan, and the baby is once again in danger. Beast and the rest of X-Factor team up with the X-Men and other superheroes as they did earlier in Inferno, and fight Apocalypse on the moon. Although he himself is killed, he manages to infect the infant with the Techno-Organic Virus , and with no other option Cyclops allows a woman from the future named Askani to take Nathan when he is told he can become cured and be the savior of the future. Towards the end of X-Factor's career they end up battling the Shadow King during the Muir Island Saga. The final battle leaves Professor Xavier crippled again and this results in X-Factor rejoining the X-Men.

Back with the X-Men

One of Beast's greatest challenges emerges with Stryfe's fatal techno-virus. Hank is already despondent, as he is turning thirty and questions his life accomplishments. His frustrations become further compounded when Professor Xavier and Moira MacTaggert don't ask for his assistance with the Legacy research, but it turns out Xavier is just giving him his privacy. Perusing through their data, he learns that the problem is more difficult than he had initially imagined. Hank always believed that, given time, he could solve any problem; the Legacy Virus has become his obsession. He goes as far as making an unethical decision in giving Sinister information on the virus, since he has more resources and less morals to inhibit him.
A turning point comes when Dark Beast finishes some of the formulas, occasionally prying more information from Hank, whom he imprisons and replaces for a while. The most critical step toward a solution (other than when Beast individually solved the problem), though, was when Dr. MacTaggert discovers a cure due to Mystique's irresponsible manipulation of a virus strand. This is still incomplete and it takes Beast to design the cure. Based on Moira's notes, Beast concocts the antivirus to much elation, but it soon is repaid with a heavy toll — Colossus has to sacrifice his life to release the remedy.

X-Treme X-Men

After mourning the loss of a teammate, Hank briefly leaves the school with Storm and her X-Treme team in search of Destiny's diaries. After an attack by Vargas that leaves Psylocke dead, Beast is gravely injured and returns to the Institute.

Beast's return

As the world experiences a mutant baby boom, much of the mutant community seemingly begins experiencing "secondary mutations", often taking the form of additional or enhanced abilities. After being brutally attacked, Beast's secondary mutation is "jumpstarted" due to the powers of fellow teammate Sage. The further mutation causes Beast to develop a more feline physique, which he initially has some trouble adapting to. A psychic attack by the genocidal Cassandra Nova leaves Beast humiliated, badly beaten (by the controlled body of his friend Beak) and haunted by the possibility that his new form is simply a step in a continuous state of devolution. Additionally, the alteration in form causes his long-time girlfriend, Trish Tilby, to break up with him after being accused of bestiality in the media. Over time, Beast strikes up a strong friendship with Emma Frost, in one incident, bringing her flowers to cheer her up. He finds her diamond form shattered into thousands of pieces and spends some time putting her back together. With a final jolt from Jean Grey, Frost returns to life.
Beast later uncovers what seems to be a female mutant with feline features, like his situation. This raises hopes for him, until he discovers it's not a mutant female that looks like a cat, it's a mutant cat who looks like a human. Either way, the creature is at the limit of her life and Beast allows her to leave the X-Mansion to pass away quietly in a spot she finds comfortable.
When news of a "cure" that would reverse mutations suddenly arises, Beast finds himself seriously considering taking it so he can once again appear human. Hank eventually decides against it after vigorous "urging" by fellow team member Wolverine, as it would send out a negative message to other mutants if an X-Man were to take the cure. After learning that the cure was developed by fellow geneticist Kavita Rao through experimentation on mutant corpses - as well as on the X-Man Colossus - Beast helps take down Rao's operation. When the villainous Hellfire Club attacks the X-Men, Cassandra Nova telepathically strips away Beast's higher human consciousness, leaving him with only his animal instincts. After hunting Wolverine around campus (and even eating his leg), a student named Blindfold faces him down with a device he and Xavier had built in case his consciousness was ever lost. The device is a high-powered sensory stimulant in the form of a ball of string, which Beast had alluded to as being his greatest fear. Once restored, he is quick to put on a suit and tie and save Wolverine with a hyper-magnetic device. He, along with his teammates, are taken from the Mansion by the government agency S.W.O.R.D. and airlifted to the alien Breakworld.
During the Civil War waged between Marvel's heroes, Beast, along with the other X-Men, assumes a neutral stance. However, Beast is not a particular fan of the policy and secretly violates his stance by providing Spider-Man with a holographic disguise to enable him to continue teaching at Midtown High after his secret identity has been exposed. Despite his personal feelings about the Superhuman Registration Act, Beast enlists his services to the Initiative program after the war's end, to assist in the training of the next generation of superheroes.^[1] It is currently unknown whether his new position within the Initiative will affect his obligations to both the X-Men and the Xavier Institute.

The X-Men and various other mutants attend the funeral of a young mutant boy named Landru who has been killed in a road traffic accident and muse on what this means for mutantkind. Beast plans to find a way to reverse M-Day. After he is unable to attain a solution with the help of Reed Richards, Henry Pym, and Tony Stark, he offers to "sell his soul" to nine of the world's most dangerous villains (Pandemic, MODOK, Kavita Rao, Spiral, Sugar Man, Mister Sinister, the High Evolutionary, Arnim Zola, and Doctor Doom) in exchange for their assistance. Rebuffed by most, Beast travels to Transia in search of the High Evolutionary, whose cryptic comments aroused Beast's curiosity. Scaling Mount Wundagore, he and his group of travelers are confronted by the Knights of Wundagore.
The High Evolutionary briefly entertains Beast's pleas and discusses the possibility that science cannot undo something that magic ultimately caused, but seems ultimately uninterested in helping and turns out to not even be there in person. He does, however, hint that Beast is not the first person to travel to Wundagore looking for a solution to the M-Day problem, nor the first to be dissatisfied with his answers.
Looking for help, he receives an offer from Kavita Rao: with mutants as an endangered species, her research into depowering mutants has become pointless. She has taken tissue samples from all the mutants she depowered, all of which turned to dust on M-Day. After a debate about her ethics, she gives McCoy her notes and lab and announces her plan to return to India. Working in her notes, Beast sees a file he recognises: "Neverland". After a debate with the X-Men about the Neverland facility, he goes there to search for information. He is shocked by the inhumanity of the notes and the grafitti, but is hopeful when he sees notes about a mass grave in the yard. Going through the yard, he discovers that the bodies have been moved, and he is ambushed by the Dark Beast...
===World War Hulk===
Beast is training with The New X-Men, when the Sentinels fly off. Beast tries to find out what is happening and he sees the Hulk on TV. Then The Hulk arrives at the mansion. Beast sends a mayday to the other teams who are currently in the field. Beast tells the New X-Men that they might have to fight and they agree. Beast goes to meet The Hulk who demands to see Xavier. Beast tells him he can't so Hulk attacks him. The New X-Men then attack the Hulk and pin him down. Beast then carries Elixir towards The Hulk so he can use his powers on him. Beast makes several attempts to attack the Hulk and all do nothing. He is about to be smashed by the Hulk but the Astonishing X-Men arrive and Professor X comes out from the mansion and looks into Hulk's mind. Charles shows them what he saw and Beast is shocked and apologizes to Hulk.
^[2]
In issue 2 Beast again takes part in the fight against Hulk with his fellow teammates. While fighting he is knocked out and healed by Elixir but more X-Teams turn up to help in the fight.

Powers and abilities

It is possible that Beast's mutation is a result of genetic atavism. However, he also possesses neotenous characteristics, which may explain him having a highly developed brain despite his animal physique.

Anthropoid physique

Originally, Hank McCoy retains the basic features of a normal human alongside a generally simian physiology (e.g., elongated limbs and oversized extremities). This mutation gives him superhuman strength, speed, agility, and coordination. He can perform many tasks with his feet as easily as with his hands. Because of his gifts and training, Beast can outperform any Olympic-level athlete, contorting his body and performing aerial feats gracefully. Later, Hank mutates further (from drinking an experimental solution), first through the growth of grey - then blue - fur covering his entire body. He gains sharp nails and fang-like teeth, and his overall appearance becomes more bestial. With this physique, Beast uses his claws to climb vertical surfaces (though, he has been depicted performing this feat prior to his furry transformation). Beast gains the ability to emit mood altering pheromones, causing sexual attraction in women, and he becomes strong enough to withstand falls that would crush the bones of a normal human. Beast develops extremely powerful limbs, allowing him to make astounding leaps and to run at great speeds for a short duration.

Feline physique

After being critically wounded (''X-Treme X-Men'' #2-#4), Hank's body undergoes a secondary mutation, jumpstarted by Sage. The result is a more feline appearance. His strength, speed, and senses increase further with this change. He gains cat-like reflexes and agility, and his senses of sight and smell are enhanced. In addition, Beast develops an accelerated healing factor that allows him to repair mild to moderate injuries within the span of a few hours.

Genius intellect

Hank is doubly gifted, not only having the fantastic abilities granted by his mutation, but also possessing a brilliant intellect. He is a world-renowned biochemist, and the man who cured the Legacy Virus. His intelligence and expertise in genetics rival that of Professor X. Despite this, he has never received a Nobel Prize or been elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences, as his colleagues see him for his beastly appearance, rather than for the gentle scientific genius he is. A Renaissance man, McCoy is well-versed in linguistics (he is fluent in at least German, Latin, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian), literature, philosophy, history, art, and music, with a special affinity for science and technology and a penchant for quoting literary classics.

Other versions

1602

In ''Marvel 1602'', Beast is known as Hal McCoy and retains his original appearance of a human with enormous hands and feet. He is well spoken and eloquent, and a member of Carlos Javier's (Professor X) group of "witchbreeds." When several soldiers stare at him, he glowers and attributes his appearance to his origin as an Orkneyman.

Amalgam Comics

''Beastling'' was an Amalgam Comics superhero and member of the X-Patrol and appeared in both X-Patrol series during the Amalgam Comics run. Beastling is an amalgam of Beast of Marvel Comics and Changeling of DC Comics. Beastling tends to keep his familar X-Men shape, but with green coloring.

Dark Beast

:''See also: Dark Beast''
An evil doppelgänger of Hank McCoy, Dark Beast learns biochemistry and genetic engineering from his timeline's version of Mister Sinister. He escapes from the Age of Apocalypse into the past of Earth 616.
He also is directly responsible for the creation of the original Morlocks. The Dark Beast has all of the powers and intelligence of Hank McCoy, but none of his ethics. In one incident, the Dark Beast kills many of Hank's childhood friends, but for some reason, spares his parents.
However, due to Hank McCoy's recent feline mutation which increased his strength, agility, and speed, and granted him more feline-like senses, the Dark Beast is no longer as powerful as his counterpart. Dark Beast appears as a boss in ''.

Here Comes Tomorrow

In the "Here Comes Tomorrow" story arc (set 150 years in the X-Men's future), Beast takes on the role of Headmaster of the Xavier Institute after the death of Jean Grey and the retirement of Charles Xavier and Scott Summers. Unable to cope with the pressures of this position and trying to find a cure for the looming extinction of the human race, Beast turns to the power-enhancing drug Kick. Unbeknownst to him, Kick is an aerosol form of an entity known as Sublime. Sublime takes over Beast's body, relegating him to a passenger in his own form. 150 years after the death of Jean Grey, Sublime is finally purged from the aged, white-furred Beast, who is seconds later beheaded by Sublime's champion Appolyon.

House of M

In the House of M reality, Beast appears as a scientist working alongside Hank Pym and Forge, all of whom work for Tony Stark. Here, he retains his human appearance similar to when he first joined X-Men. Beast assumes he is superior to humans, simply because of his mutations.
===Marvel Zombies===
In this reality, zombie Beast works with zombie Reed Richards to rewire Cerebo to detect humans. Many are detected at Doctor Doom's castle and Beast participates in the multi-zombie attack upon it.
Later Beast is shown arguing with Colonel America , but then gets his head blown off by Cap's New "Cosmic Powers".

Mutant X

In ''Mutant X'', Beast has a counterpart that goes by the name Brute. Brute has an amphibious appearance with goat-legs. His intelligence is vastly diminished due to sabotage, making him child-like and eager to please. His courage is still the same, as in once incident, he is willing to fight his friends for the life of Alex Summers, a child he loves.

Shadow-X

New Excalibur battles an evil counterpart of the Beast who is a member of the Shadow-X, the X-Men of an alternate reality in which Professor X was possessed by the Shadow King. They are brought to Earth-616 as a result of M-Day.

Ultimate Beast

:''Main article: Ultimate X-Men''

Henry "Hank" McCoy is born a visible mutant, his giant ape-like hands and feet causing the boy to be met with much bigotry and prejudice. With his own parents denouncing him throughout his childhood for his genetic status, he chooses to hide his immense intelligence to avoid further complications. Hank becomes a founding member of the Ultimate X-Men taking the codename Beast. He also takes on the role of the team's elite engineer, frequently upgrading the X-Men's Blackbird X-Jet and Danger Room sequences.
Beast begins an on again/off again relationship with Storm. Storm loves him very much because of his intelligence, but Beast's inferiority complex often gets in the way of their relationship. He becomes convinced that Storm only loves him because Professor X is using mind control on her. Beast starts an online relationship that eventually leads to the Ultimate War debacle, when he lets it slip that Magneto is still alive (the supposed mutant "supermodel" Naomi he is chatting with is actually The Blob phishing for information).
Hank has a genius level IQ. His mutant biophysiology grants him a simian appearance with superhuman strength, speed, endurance, reflexes, and manual and pedal dexterity so great he can write with both hands at once and tie knots with his toes. The Weapon X program mutates Hank further, causing him to evolve into a more animalistic form with claws, enhanced senses, and thick, blue fur covering his entire body.
Beast dies in ''Ultimate X-Men'' #45, crushed under the rubble of a Sentinel attack. While his death is felt by all of the X-Men, it has had the greatest impact upon Storm. However, in issue #81, it is revealed that the Beast is revived at the hospital. Xavier and Nick Fury keep his survival a secret, Xavier making Beast believe he is regularly visiting his family and the X-Men in order to keep him occupied. Having reversed himself back to his normal human appearance, Hank is now working on a cure to a "Legacy Virus", created by an anti-mutant government conspiracy led by Admiral Stryker, that threatens mutants. The apparent death of Xavier (actually time travel) breaks the mental holds on him so he knows that everyone thinks he is dead and is not happy being forced to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. As of ''Ultimate X-Men'' #85, he has escaped S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and is heading towards Xavier's Institute.

X-Men Fairy Tales

In ''X-Men Fairy Tales'' #1, Beast appears as the monkey, Aoi (Japanese: "blue"). Aoi appears younger and more monkey-like than the 616 version of Beast, although he retains his blue fur. Unlike the studious and intellectual Beast, Aoi is playful and mischievous. After being outwitted, Aoi joins Hitome (Cyclops).

In other media

Television

★ Beast made his first ever animated appearance on the 1966 ''Marvel Super Heroes'' episode of ''The Sub-Mariner'' with the original X-Men line-up (Angel, Cyclops, Iceman, and Jean Grey).

★ Beast appeared, alongside the other original X-Men, in the episode called, " The Origin of Iceman" of the animated television series ''Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends''. He was seen only in a flashback in his original form and had no lines.

★ Beast was a regular in the original ''X-Men'' animated series and, from the second season onwards, in ''. In ''X-Men'', the character was voiced by George Buza. Buza had a small cameo as the truck driver who brought Anna Paquin's Rogue to the bar in the first ''X-Men'' film.

★ Buza also voiced the Beast in two episodes of the ''Spider-Man'' animated series, in which he aided Spider-Man in seeking a cure for his mutagenic disease, and uncovered a plot by the Brand Corporation to eradicate mutants.

★ For a brief moment, during the episode "Remnants" of the animated series '', Beast's picture is seen hanging on the wall during a meeting of the Avengers. However, Beast is never actually seen on the show, nor is it actually mentioned he was a member of the team in the past.

★ In '', Hank McCoy attended Bayville school in Bayville, New York, and was even approached by Professor Xavier when he was a teenager. At the time, though, Hank turned down Xavier's offer of help and went on to become a chemistry and gym teacher. During the years, Hank had managed to control his mutation through a serum he developed. The serum starts to fail however and he eventually loses control and mutates into the "Beast." As the "Beast", he causes massive destruction and is now a wanted fugitive. After his first transformation he is able to regain control, but he has now become permanently trapped in the physical form of the "Beast", though he manages to have his intelligence overcome the hostility caused by the transformation, thanks to Spyke's help. Unable to return to his life as Hank McCoy he chooses to join Xavier's school and now helps to teach the New Mutants. He was voiced by Michael Kopsa.

★ In the ''Robot Chicken'' episode "Sausage Fest," Beast was among the featured X-Men who died in battle against a Sentinel.

★ Beast is confirmed to appear in the upcoming TV series ''Wolverine and the X-Men'' voiced by Richard Doyle.

Films

X-Men

Beast was set to appear in ''X-Men'', but was taken out due to make-up problems. His doctor persona was transferred into Jean Grey's character.

X2: X-Men United

In the movie '', Dr. Hank McCoy is seen in his normal human appearance in a small cameo played by Steve Bacic. He appears on the television in the bar scene as an authority on human mutation. A deleted scene during the sequence in which Dark Cerebro is set to kill all mutants shows Hank McCoy affected by the machine, causing him to take on his blue-furred simian appearance seen in the next movie.

X-Men: The Last Stand

'']]
In '', Kelsey Grammer portrays him. Beast was one of the earlier X-Men, and after he graduated from the academy, he left and became involved in politics, becoming Secretary of Mutant Affairs. He is also confirmed to be a brilliant scientific researcher with great insight into mutant genetics on the official website. [1] This is never explicitly revealed in the film, though there are hints that Beast is a scientist, e.g. Beast having a doctorate (he is referred to by the President as Dr. Hank McCoy near the end), his reading of ''Scientific American'', and his interrupted correction to Storm's words, "Well, scientifically speaking ..." After the cure is released, he contacts Xavier and informs him of the situation, saying he can understand why some mutants would want to be free of persecution. When the Brotherhood makes a move on the lab which created the cure, Beast joins the X-Men, donning his old uniform (commenting on how it feels smaller than before), and helps to hold the Brotherhood back. He seems to revert to a more primal nature in the fight, often roaring as well as defeating his opponents with a savage fighting style. He ultimately injects Magneto with the cure. After the incident, he is made United States Ambassador to the United Nations. In the of the film, and in an alternate ending on the , he turns this position down and remains at the school as a teacher.

Video games

★ Beast has appeared in ''.

★ Beast appeared in the ''X-Men: Mutant Academy'' series, ''X-Men: Mutant Academy'' and ''.

★ Beast also appeared in ''.

★ In the game ''X-Men vs. Street Fighter'' in a certain stage you can see Beast and Blanka in the background.

★ Beast also appeared in the game ''X-Men 2: Wolverine's Revenge'', giving Wolverine a watch which would tell him how much time he had to get an antidote for the Shiva Virus before it killed him.

★ Beast also appeared in the Super Nintendo Game '' as a playable character.

★ Beast also appears in the first level in '' voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.

★ Beast appeared in the ''X-Men Legends'' games as a playable character, ''X-Men Legends'' voiced by Richard Doyle. In '', he appears as a merchant and villain after Apocalypse kidnaps and brainwashes him into "Dark Beast."

★ Beast is one of the X-Men that gets taken out by Dr. Doom in the '' Doom's Day cut-scene. Weasel refers to him as "the blue ape" during his stay at the X-Mansion.

★ Beast is shown in ''X-Men: The Official Game''. He is first mentioned when Xavier notes that he promised Henry that he would find Magneto. He is shown when Xavier questions him about the Sentinels after the fight with Multiple Man on Brooklyn Bridge.

Toys

★ Beast has appeared in the Marvel Legends toy line in series 4 and in the X-Men Legends box set (with a lab coat and glasses).

★ Beast is in the Marvel Icons twelve-inch action figure line in series 3 with grey fur and a variant blue-furred figure with a lab coat and glasses exists.

★ When Hasbro took over Marvel toys in 2007, the company released an '' (Kelsey Grammer) Beast as part of the Annihilus build-a-figure series.

Print

★ In the Marvel magazine, ''Marvel Vision'', for most of the series Beast was the supposed author of his self-titled "Beast Files". This series of 2-page articles was perhaps the first time a character in any comic universe was depicted to be keeping detailed profiles on other heroes and villains. This format has been adopted since by many other books, including most notably the Alex Ross series, ''Justice'' (DC Comics) which had 2 profiles in each issue during the mini-series' 12 issue run. The files appeared for over 2 years, and the column was voted the fan-favorite. "Beast Files" was actually written by Benny R. Powell.

★ In the online writing community Subreality, Hank McCoy occasionally appears as the assistant manager of the Writers' Café. ^[3]

Quotes

★ ''Oh my stars and garters!''

★ ''There comes a time 'twixt life and death''
::''When all men stop to catch their breath.''
:''We ask the stars 'Why?', we question our lot,''
::''The heavens open wide and reply, 'Why not?'' (''X-Men #11'')

★ 'Cecilia Reyes:' ''Theoretical physics and basic anatomy. I'm impressed.''
:'Beast:' ''You should see me play Pictionary.''
:'Cecilia Reyes:' ''Sure, maybe after we get it ou --
★ gasp
★ You -- You're an animal...?''
:'Beast:' ''It's not 'animal,' miss, it's 'Beast' ... a 'Beast' which happens to know a thing or two about the dynamic application of nano-effusive devices. Animal is a Muppet.'' (''X-Men #70'')

★ 'Banshee:' ''Hard to believe th' boyo's got a doctorate in biophysics.'' (''The Uncanny X-Men #308'')

References

★ ''Beast'' [2]

★ ''The Xavier Files'', 1st edition paperback, 1994. Justine H. Korman, ISBN 0-679-86177-7

★ ''The Uncanny X-Men #308''

★ ''Ultimate X-Men Vol. II''

★ ''X-Men: The Ultimate Guide'', 2nd edition hardback, 2003. Peter Sanderson, ISBN 0-7894-9258-X

★ ''Science of the X-Men'', 1st edition paperback, 2004. Linc Yaco, Karen Haber, ISBN 0-7434-8725-7

★ ''X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse Hero Handbook''

★ ''Allies: Beast'' [3]

★ ''The Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game'', 1st edition hardback, 2003. Marvel Entertainment, ISBN 0-7851-1028-3
'Essential readings'

★ ''Avengers: The Morgan Conquest TPB''

★ ''Uncanny Essential X-Men Vol. I''

★ ''New X-Men: E is for Extinction TPB''

★ ''New X-Men: Imperial TPB''

★ ''New X-Men: Here Comes Tomorrow TPB''

★ ''X-Men: Fall of the Mutants TPB''

★ ''X-Men: Inferno TPB''

★ ''X-Men: Mutant Massacre TPB''

★ ''X-Men: X-Tinction Agenda TPB''

★ ''X-Treme X-Men Vol. I TPB''

★ ''X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land TPB''

Footnotes

1.
2. Mondo Marvel Panel Live! From LA
3. "The Writer's Cafe, Subreality"

References

★ UncannyXmen.Net's Spotlight on Beast