Marvel Comics are full of many incredibly powerful teams of superheroes, but the X-Men stand out as some of the most resilient fighters in the universe. They have had to overcome a number of threats, both foreign and domestic, but one of the most problematic villains for the group is the parasitic alien race known as the Brood.
The Brood aren’t always in the spotlight when it comes to the X-Men, but they can be a dangerous and overwhelming threat. They’ve stuck around for so long because they’re such a curious type of enemy, but there’s still a lot about these invaders that many fans don’t know.
10 They're Millions Of Years Old
The Marvel Universe is very old, but it's been explained that the parasitic Brood are actually one of the original predators and the first natural evil. Originally coming from a different universe after its collapse, the Brood invaded this world with hopes of satisfying their insatiable hunger.
Back in the days of Ancient Egypt, the Brood did massive damage in 2620 BC. They went as far as turning a Pharaoh into one of their own and it wasn't until En Sabah Nur, otherwise known as Apocalypse, intervened to stop the invasion.
9 The Brood Are Inspired From Alien's Xenomorph
It's always fascinating to see when larger pop culture touchstones influence comics and cause major changes. Ridley Scott's Alien has left an undeniable mark on cinema, but Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum thought the disturbing design and intention of the film's Xenomorph would be perfect for Marvel's X-Men.
Not only are the Brood parasitic aliens that come from the dark recesses of space, but their anatomy is very close to the Xenomorph. They even lay eggs in their targets that eventually hatch and burst out, which is an obvious nod to the iconic film.
8 They've Been Used By The Kree To End The Shi'ar Empire
There are many cosmic feuds that fill the Marvel Universe. It makes sense that alien races would be at each other's throats for millions of years and locked in combat. When the Brood first invade Earth-616, it's the Kree that first intercept them. The Kree understands the Brood’s volatile nature, but they still decide to weaponize the species and use them to take down the Shi'ar Empire. The Kree don't rush into this decision and it's not after millions of years of experimentation with the Brood that they're comfortable launching their plan into action.
7 They Prey On Fear And Amplify It
Just one look at the Brood and it's hard to not be terrified by their grisly and demonic appearance. The Brood like to go one step further, though, and actually amplify their enemies' fears and manipulate them through them.
The Brood are able to create illusions while they're implanting their victims, which carefully obscure the truth and keep them compliant. Additionally, they also operate with advanced psi-scream weapon technology, which specifically weaken the mind and attack the subconscious fear and worries within. It’s the perfect way to devastate the enemy.
6 There Are Mutant Brood That Feel Emotions
The Brood all have a one-track mind that's focused on consuming as much as possible. However, there are cases where Mutant Broods are discovered and are seen as a threat to the race. Mutant Brood are supposedly "benign," which means that they're capable of actually feeling emotions, humanity, and an empathy towards others. These are seen as liabilities, so normal Brood execute these Mutant Brood upon birth, viewing them no differently than a deadly disease. The explanation for their mutations isn't clear, but they continue to manifest in different ways and could lead to a turning point for the species.
5 Their Biggest Threat Is The King Egg
The Brood operate under a threatening hive-mind mentality that allows them to work as an efficient unit, but they're also able to infect and turn others into their unwitting slaves. The Empress Brood is the species that's ultimately in charge and calls the shots with the Brood, but the antithesis of her is the King Egg. This is a powerful item and whoever swallows it becomes able to control the Brood. As a result, protecting and securing the King Egg is their main goal and if it falls into the wrong hands, they’re finished.
4 They're Resistant To Healing Factors
The Brood can seem somewhat invincible with their large numbers and the efficient way in which they invade their enemies’ minds and implant them with embryos. It's very difficult to survive such a procedure, but it's been proven that characters with a healing factor can actually repel these egg embryos due to the advanced nature of their bodies. Wolverine succeeds in this process, which allows him to save the rest of the X-Men. And both Deadpool and Gabby Kinney are able to survive Brood attacks due to their resilient DNA.
3 The Brood Take Over Their Prey With The Slaver Virus
The Brood are known for taking over their prey and turning them into more of their own kind. They can go about this in various ways, whether it's laying embryos within their targets or unleashing a powerful force known as the Slaver Virus. The Slaver Virus is devastating because it dismantles the cores of reasoning within the target's brain. The sources of self-awareness and the conscious mind are shut down by the virus, turning prey into faithful zombies.
2 There Are Different Types
All of the Brood are terrifying in nature, but they're even more frightening when it's realized that they have a deep ecosystem and hierarchy among their kind. They can be divided into four different groups, all of which are mildly different. The Brood Queens and the Empress Brood are at the very top of the chain of command, but there are also the Firstborn, who are the biological children of the Empress Brood. The weakest are the "sleazoids," who are smaller than the rest of the Brood, but also have wings and are more mobile.
1 They Have A Fascination With Genetic Experimentation
The Brood are a race that need to infect other bodies in order to survive and perpetuate their race. Their kind doesn't discriminate whom they take over, whether they're aliens or humans. However, the Brood have shown an interest in improving their kind through this process, if possible. These experiments have led to Brood versions of Krakoa, Skrulls, and Man-Thing, all to disturbing effect. This has also led to the Brood’s heavy fascination with Carol Danvers, due to her hybrid status between human and Kree.