8. The Comics Introduced The First Non-Human Mutants
Just as well, since the original New Mutants line-up is a perfect balance of familiar mutant powers and cool new ideas that would work wonders on the big screen. Case in point is Warlock, an alien from a far-off techno-organic called the Technarchy, who is recruited early on in the first New Mutants series. Warlock is the first main character in an X-Men book who joins a mutant team despite not strictly being a mutant himself. In fact he kind of was, since he resisted his races need to infect other beings with his techno-organic being and sap their life energy. He was dubbed a mutant in spirit thanks to his unique display of empathy for a member of the Technarchy. Seeing Warlock being brought to life in the New Mutants film would be a real treat, the character being a speciality of Bill Sienkiewiczs scratchy style, able to transform himself into all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes. Plus his friendship with fellow team member Cypher - who can speak any language - is one of the strongest in superhero comic history.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
