10 most disliked X-Men characters, ranked
4. Mystique/Raven Darkhölme
Mystique, the shape-shifting enigma of the X-Men universe, has had quite the rollercoaster ride across the silver screen. Initially introduced as a cunning and ruthless antagonist, she was the epitome of the phrase "keep your friends close and your enemies closer," constantly keeping the X-Men on their toes.
Portrayed by the talented Rebecca Romijn and later by Jennifer Lawrence, Mystique was a character that fans loved to hate and hated to love. She slinked through the shadows with a mischievous grin, always one step ahead, making her a fascinating foil to the X-Men's more straightforward heroism. Her complex nature, combined with Romijn and Lawrence's charismatic performances, made her an unforgettable part of the franchise's early and middle phases.
But then, as the series evolved, so did Mystique, but perhaps not in the way everyone expected.
The later films took a sharp left turn, transforming her from the blue-skinned master of espionage into a more heroic figure, fighting alongside those she once sought to defeat. This sudden shift in allegiance left many fans scratching their heads, wondering if they missed a memo. While change can be good, Mystique's metamorphosis felt more like a betrayal of the character's essence than an evolution. It's like if Wile E. Coyote suddenly decided to be best buds with the Road Runner, leaving audiences to ponder, "What's up with that?"
This character 180 not only diluted the delicious complexity that made Mystique so intriguing but also seemed like a missed opportunity to explore the darker, more nuanced corners of her personality. So, while Mystique remains a visually stunning and powerful character, this jarring pivot from villain to hero places her among the ranks of the X-Men's most polarizing figures.