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AtomicStudios101 — M015 - Beast
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Published: 2025-05-07 03:00:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 7864; Favourites: 30; Downloads: 1
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Description
Beast
Real Name: Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy
Codename: Beast
Aliases: Agile Avenger, Dr. M, Henry, Mutate 666
Nicknames: Beast Boy, Hanko, Kreature, Magilla Gorilla, Monkey, Monkey Man, Professor Cookie Monster, Wildlife
Affiliation: X-Men (founding member), Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., X-Factor (by association); formerly Brand Corporation
Relatives: Norton McCoy (father); Edna McCoy (mother)
Relationship Status: Involved with Trish Tilby
Gender: Male
Height: 5'11" (1.8 m)
Weight: 402 lbs (182.34 kg)
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blue; formerly Black with Blue highlights
Origin: Human Mutant (Homo superior)
Status: Active
Reality: Earth-PRN101
Place of Birth: Livermore, California
Citizenship: American
Occupation: Teacher, Researcher, Biochemist, Licensed Doctor, Instructor at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
Education: MD from NYU, PhDs in Physics, Genetics, Chemistry, and Robotics. Nobel laureate.
Base of Operations: Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, Westchester County, New York
Mutation Class: Class III (Gamma-Level Mutation)
Mutant Abilities: Dr. McCoy possesses an Anthropoid/Simian-like physique that gives him an ape-like demeanor. Originally had a more human disposition, but an adverse reaction to a serum caused additional manifestations that gave him full-bodied blue fur and ape-like physiology. Mutant morphology also grants him above-average strength, speed, reflexes, agility, flexibility, coordination, balance and endurance--not at superhuman levels, but certainly peak of human condition. Hank's more suited towards acrobatics and gymnastics than long-distance running; indeed, he moves faster on four limbs than two. His feet are also extremely dexterous and when barefoot, he can climb nearly any surface with hand/footholds available. Also possesses a genius level IQ, but does not stem from his mutation.
Creators: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
First Appearance: The X-Men #1"X-Men" (July 1963)
Not all of the original members of the X-Men started out as students--Dr. Henry "Hank" McCoy, call sign "Beast" was actually among the Xavier Institute's original faculty. Hank was born in Livermore, California in a comfortable, middle-class home. His parents often called him their "miracle baby" as he was born to them long after doctors had thought it possible that they might ever have children. After decades of longing, the bouncing baby boy was the answer to all his parents' wishes, even if they were mistaken for his grandparents whenever they would take him out in public. Hank's father, Norton McCoy, was a prominent scientist at the world-renowned Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and his mother, Edna, was a homemaker. Much of Hank's early upbringing centered around the scientific community that was so prominent in the area. As a hotbed for advanced technological research, the young boy was immersed in the world of science and showed an early interest in wonders of the natural world.
Throughout his childhood, his parents nourished his innate curiosity. It wasn't long before Henry showed a profound talent for reason. By the time he was ten, he was scoring genius level results on IQ tests. He skipped several grades and frequently accompanied his father on research assignments for Livermore. Around this time, it was noticed by his family and peers that his appearance seemed a bit unusual. He developed a stocky, muscular demeanor that seemed more like an ape. It was subtle at first, but Hank himself quickly determined that he was a mutant. It was his first major discovery and despite the shock of his peers, it expanded his hunger for new knowledge.
Unfortunately, the knowledge he got from his father was cut off when Norton McCoy was fired. His superiors wanted him to start on a new project that involved chemical and biological agents that could potentially be used in war. He refused out of principle and because of this, he was cast out from both the community and the organization he dedicated his life to. This impacted Hank and his family profoundly, not just in terms of money but in ethics as well. His father's morality gave Hank a profound new insight on his world and would use this inspiration later in life.
After losing his job at Livermore, Norton McCoy moved his family to New York City where he accepted a low-paying teaching position. For a time, the McCoys lived meagerly, but Hank used his brilliance to push ahead. He graduated high school early at age 16 and started working odd-jobs to help his family. As he did this he developed his ape-like reflexes. He became more and more physically endowed and at times he appeared to become more ape than man. This caused a fair amount of ridicule and scorn from his peers that threatened his potential. Not wanting to see his son's potential go to waste, Norton McCoy called upon an old college associate in Charles Xavier. He was able to meet with his son and help him manage his animal instincts through psychic training and will-power. Once he had control, Hank was back on track.
By age 18, he obtained a scholarship from New York University, thanks in large part to Charles Xavier's influence. Once there, he excelled both in the classroom and on the field. Emboldened by his new control, he became a star football player and set several major rushing records. By the time, he graduated NYU with a doctorate, he was one of the youngest and most acclaimed graduates in the school's history. Slowly but surely, he became one of the most well-renowned researchers on mutation alongside Professor Xavier, who was currently fighting cancer at the time, and Dr. Moira MacTaggart. Much of his work along with Xavier's would set the tone for mutant policies as the mutant population continued to grow.
Hank was also offered an instructor role at Professor Xavier's new prestigious school in Salem Center, Westchester County: the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, where he was part of the founding class of X-Men alongside John Proudstar, Sean Cassidy, Kevin Sydney, Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Warren Worthington III, and later on, Bobby Drake, Lorna Dane, and Alex Summers-Masters, who he all made long-lasting friendships with. Not only serving as the original team's muscle, but Hank was also its adult voice of reason whenever Professor X wasn't in contact. While his passion was in genetics, he was also a leader in robotics, and much of the Danger Room and various of the X-Mansion's other high-tech facilities were his doing. During this time, he even gained a romantic partner in the form of pro-mutant activist and reporter Trish Tilby. Eventually, Hank retired from the team and left the Xavier Institute on good terms, moving into his girlfriend Trish's apartment in North Salem and continuing his work as a genetic researcher at the Brand Corporation, a subsidiary of the global energy conglomerate Roxxon Energy.
While with the Brand Corporation, Dr. McCoy was able to isolate the hormonal extract that created mutation. The resultant serum acted as a catalyst for countering the effects of mutation by blocking their physical manifestation. Hank hoped to use the serum to help less-fortunate mutants who can't fit in with the rest of humanity, however, one of his colleagues, Dr. Carl Maddicks, grew increasingly envious of Hank's new discovery.
Hank didn't the resources or support to work on the serum properly and so it took over a year to synthesize something that he thought might be a viable product. Of course, tests on flatworms and mice could only prove so much: he required a human subject. Development stalled as Hank debated with his superiors whether to take his serum into further testing. One night, when Hank went back to his lab to continue work, he discovered that his colleague, Carl Maddicks, had plotted to steal his research. It was revealed that Maddicks was a top-secret operative working for a mysterious criminal organization calling themselves "the secret empire", who sought to use Hank's serum for their own nefarious purposes, though Maddicks had an ulterior motive, wanting to take the serum for himself to help his mutant son, Artie Maddicks, who was left disfigured and mute after his mutation manifested.
After failing to stop Maddicks from taking some of his research, Hank loaded up a syringe and injected himself with the serum in hopes of disguising his appearance while foiling Maddicks' theft. But in his anger, he acted brashly and failed to think about the consequences as the serum wasn't ready yet. The resulting effects activated his secondary mutation. His body became covered in blue fur, his bulk further increased as his face and posture became permanently ape-like, and he gained feral characteristics including fangs and claws. Dr. Hank McCoy was now a beast, in body as well as in name. In a feral state, Hank attempted to exact revenge on Maddicks, but stopped short of mauling him, horrified at what he has become.
Because of his new appearance, Hank could no longer teach and his research at the Brand Corporation was severely curtailed. Devastated, he tried several times to reverse the process, almost killing himself several times. It was only a promise extracted by his girlfriend Trish that prevented him from trying any more, and he sank into a deep depression. Fortunately, his girlfriend, his parents back home, and even his old friends from the Institute supported him through this trying period and he eventually was able to continue his career, albeit much subdued and self-conscious about his appearance. It was around this time, he created the Image Inducers that projected a hologrammatic image of himself to the world; these devices were frequently used in the X-Mansion by students with obvious mutations that made them unsafe.
Hank maintained his links to the Xavier Institute, frequently reappearing as a medic, engineer, teacher, and advisor on mutant powers and training, as well as an X-Man. However, his responsibilities to his research frequently took precedence, and he was an intermittent presence at best. With S.H.I.E.L.D. and other U.S. government agencies breathing down the X-Men's necks, Dr. McCoy took it upon himself to take to the world of politics, to serve as both as a voice for mutantkind in the public domain, but also as a liaison between the Institute and S.H.I.E.L.D.
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Maybe he'll even join the Avengers like he did in the comics back in the seventies? I dunno, but regardless if he's full time or part time, he's always on call to the X-Men in case they need him.
Originally, I wanted to split this entry into two varieties with one showcasing his original no fur phase, but I decided not to do it because no one these days cares about Beast unless he's blue and furry, really. Speaking of blue and furry, it's a result of an unintended secondary mutation from an experiment gone wrong like in the original comics, possibly involving the Secret Empire to tie it in with future entries as we go forward with Extraordinary Marvel. His X-Men uniform is heavily based on that football player-like costume that Kelsey Grammer's Beast wore in X-Men: The Last Stand, but instead of yellow, the highlights are now red as a homage to the red and black costume that Beast wore in the late sixties and early seventies before he got his fur. I also gave him reading glasses to make him look smart. Other than that...I got nothing else, it's just Beast. What else did you expect?
Also, Happy US Teacher Appreciation Day everybody! And I thought that this particular entry was suitable for today. No matter what universe he's in, Beast is a gentle and endearing man who has striven for mutant equality by teaching at universities and going into politics, showing that mutants and humans can co-exist in peace. While he initially had self-doubt over his mutant appearance, but with the help of his friends, he has learned to move pass it. A highly-learned man of science and a fun teacher, he has played a major role in teaching the next generation of mutants who will eventually become X-Men.
See the original design here: https://www.deviantart.com/atomicstudios101/art/M015a-Beast-Human-Form-966615220
