Warning! Spoilers to X-Men #1 below!

The X-Men may have chosen the perfect villain for them to fight in their MCU debut. Comic book fans have been eagerly anticipating the famous Marvel mutant superheroes reintroduction ever since 20th Century Fox was purchased by Disney back in 2019. Herbert Wyndham aka the High Evolutionary has proved himself a formidable threat in Marvel Comics, both in power and in his pursuit of experimenting with genetic codes and evolution, making him the perfect enemy to fight an iconic group of superpowered people claiming to be the next stage in human evolution in the MCU.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Thor #134, Wyndham was an English geneticist whose work on a new genetic accelerator took a huge leap when he was given the blueprints for cracking genetic code. Establishing his base of operations on Wundagore Mountain, Wyndham worked alongside other famous Marvel scientists to make radical breakthroughs like his New Men, half-men, half-animal creatures. He eventually used his technology on himself, accelerating his intelligence to near cosmic levels with his advanced cybernetic exoskeleton making him god-like as the High Evolutionary. His work on Counter Earth, a near replica of Marvel's Earth existing on the opposite side of the sun, brought him the attention of cosmic entities like Galactus or the Beyonder. The High Evolutionary has been both an asset to Marvel's science community and a powerful enemy capable of fighting the Avengers, X-Men or other heroes like Spider-Man or the Hulk.

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In X-Men #1 by Gerry Duggan and Pepe Larraz, the latest incarnation of the X-Men make their grand introduction when a meteorite turns out to be an unknown alien lifeform seemingly dedicated to eradicating all life on Earth. Despite the creatures strengths and new abilities, the fan-picked X-Men are able to improvise and work together to defeat the creature, later analyzing it to understand who sent it and what they might anticipate next from this bold, mysterious enemy. It is later revealed the scenario was actually part of a sophisticated game orchestrated by wealthy aliens in an intergalactic casino. In order to win, the participants are tasked with removing the growing threat of Earthlings without damaging the planet in the process, the High Evolutionary intently sipping a drink within the enthusiastic audience.

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X-Men #1 suggests that the X-Men are partly to blame for this attack, their terraforming, renaming and acquisition of Mars upsetting power structures throughout the galaxy whom are already of mixed opinion about Earth and its ambitious heroes. The High Evolutionary has only appeared in a handful of T.V. shows, his biggest role being the overarching villain in Fox's Spider-Man Unlimited despite having appeared or played a role in a number of Marvel Comics storylines. His presence here amongst these creative and gambling aliens with their eye on Earth and its X-Men prove he is a threat ready for the big screen. The X-Men have often found themselves victims of genetic experimentation by those interested in their powers or potential for whatever agenda or schemes their unsympathetic wardens have planned. The High Evolutionary is a superpowered scientist with a god complex, capable of creating new species or a new planet entirely with enough power to fight any who oppose his plans regardless of their consequences.

Instead of rehashing classic X-Men villains who've been portrayed before, the High Evolutionary's debut in the MCU could not only introduce him to an audience unfamiliar with the character but make him powerful or dangerous enough to bring the X-Men out of the shadows and into the public spotlight. His place suggests that Marvel may be shifting him toward the X-Men's side of things which could be a sign of good or horrible things to come, should they survive the experience.

NEXT: Marvel is Setting Up An Epic Avengers vs. X-Men Rematch