Polaris

Few mutants in Marvel’s pantheon wield power as mesmerizing—or as misunderstood—as Polaris. Lorna Dane, the magnetic force who can bend metal and defy gravity, is a symbol of latent potential and the tangled legacy of identity. From her first appearance in *Uncanny X-Men* #49 (1968), she has embodied the duality of a hero shaped by trauma, manipulation, and the weight of a father’s shadow. Her journey—from a child who accidentally destroyed a plane to a leader in the Acolytes and Defenders—has made her a cornerstone of Marvel’s mutant lore, a character who thrives in the gray spaces between loyalty, rebellion, and self-discovery.

Lorna’s origin is a tale of tragedy and manipulation. As a child, she accidentally tore apart a plane mid-flight, her latent magnetic powers erupting in a catastrophic burst of energy. Her parents died in the crash, leaving her orphaned and haunted by a genetic secret: Magneto, the self-proclaimed king of mutants, was her biological father. He orchestrated her rescue, using Mastermind to erase her memories and rewrite her past. Decades later, Mesmero’s psychic devices would reignite her powers, drawing her into a web of conspiracy that tied her to Magneto’s grand designs. Yet Lorna’s story is not just one of victimhood—it’s a testament to resilience, as she navigates a world that sees her as a pawn, a weapon, or a threat.