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The following article contains spoilers for X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 by Gerry Duggan, Kris Anka, Russell Dauterman, Matteo Lolli, C.F. Villa and VC's Cory Petit, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
The newly-published X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 seems to suggest that late rock icon David Bowie may have actually been a mutant in the Marvel Universe.
At one point in Hellfire Gala #1, Spider-Man tries to make conversation with Doctor Doom at the titular event. "So, Doom... which mutant are you most looking forward to getting resurrected? Maybe Jimi Hendrix or David Bowie?" Spidey asks. Before long, Doom gets fed up with Spider-Man's questions and not-so-politely asks him to go away. Once on his own, though, the ruler of Latveria -- one of the smartest characters in the Marvel U, mind you -- starts to seriously consider if Spidey was onto something and Bowie was indeed a mutant. (He doesn't seem especially convinced about Hendrix, though.)
This is certainly not the first time an official piece of X-Men media has postulated that a figure from outside of comics actually carried the X-Gene. For instance, the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past basically confirmed that late United Stated President John F. Kennedy was a mutant in 20th Century Fox's X-Men movie universe, revealing that Magneto even tried to prevent his assassination. As far as Marvel's main comic book universe is concerned, Immortal X-Men #1 recently and strongly implied that Jesus of Nazareth was canonically a mutant as well.
Born David Robert Jones, David Bowie is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Following an unparalleled career, Bowie passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69. His influence and legacy extend well beyond the world of music, with the rock legend having even inspired major comic book characters, such as The Sandman's Lucifer Morningstar, not to mention Frank Miller and Grant Morrison's respective takes on Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker. Furthermore, BOWIE: Stardust, Rayguns, & Moonage Daydreams -- a biographical graphic novel by Mike Allred, Steve Horton and Laura Allred -- was published in early 2020 as a tribute to the man also known as Ziggy Stardust.
Written by Gerry Duggan, illustrated by Kris Anka, Russell Dauterman, Matteo Lolli and C.F. Villa and lettered by VC's Cory Petit, X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel Comics