Mutant Town
From Marvel Database
Contents |
History
Mutant Town, also known as District X or the Middle East Side, is a fictional location in Marvel Comics. It is a neighborhood in New York City, first seen during Grant Morrison's run on the series New X-Men in New X-Men #127, which was primarily populated by mutants. The ghetto was established in Alphabet City, Manhattan[1] (also known as Loisaida), a region in the East Village (Avenues A to D, between Houston and 14th Streets)[2]. According to the front cover of X-Factor #31, it had a population of 743, but was almost certainly more populated prior to the Decimation.
The rise in Manhattan's mutant population, coupled with racism among normal humans, led to mutants forming their own community in Manhattan's Middle East Side. Although humans lived in this neighborhood as well, they were in a minority. NYX established that District X is an official title for the region; however, the region is generally referred to as 'Mutant Town' in titles outside the series District X.
The neighborhood was poor, overcrowded and violent, with a high crime rate and warring mutant gangs. Most of the residents regarded it as a ghetto. It was described in District X as having the 'highest unemployment rate in the USA, the highest rate of illiteracy and the highest severe overcrowding outside of Los Angeles', even though New York City as a whole had seen a decrease in violent crime. (These figures would suggest a large population.) It also had the highest crime rates in the country for narcotics, prostitution, and burglary. Many of its inhabitants had mutations more akin to curses than gifts, further exacerbating the neighborhood's poverty and disadvantage. It also had a large 'underground' population, inhabiting tunnels beneath the neighborhood.
There were also a range of mutant-owned businesses, clubs and restaurants, as well as a burgeoning mutant subculture. Bands such as 'Sentinel Bait' and 'Juggernauts' were mentioned as parts of this subculture, while mutant fashion designers like Jumbo Carnation and nightclubs such as Daniel's Inferno created a vibrant, mutant-oriented nightlife. In this respect, District X may be considered a Marvel Universe analogue to Harlem or Little Italy, as a cultural center and population hub for a disenfranchised minority.
District X's highest point came during the House of M storyline, when it was transformed into a rich, exclusively mutant neighborhood named Mutopia X (during the same storyline, Hell's Kitchen was transformed into a human ghetto called Sapien Town). After this story, however, the residents suffered the 'Decimation', and most of them were stripped of their mutant abilities. Many remaining mutants were moved to a relocation camp on the grounds of the Xavier Institute. The former mutants remained in District X, with many -- like Quicksilver and Rictor -- suffering from depression and alienation. After the Decimation, the district became the Middle East Side, losing many of its distinctive characteristics. It became increasingly depopulated as former mutants sought to live normal lives.
The former ghetto was the base of operations for X-Factor Investigations, who frequently dealt with the aftermath of the Decimation and its effects on the local community. In the Civil War storyline, Jamie Madrox and his team declare that 'Mutant Town' will be a sanctuary for superheroes being pursued by the government. This brings them into physical combat with the regular X-Men team, who eventually decide to let them have their way. Later in the series, 'Mutant Town' is besieged by X-Cell, a terrorist group composed of former mutants who blamed the United States government for the loss of their powers.
After the events of X-Men: Messiah Complex, the neighborhood is briefly taken over by Arcade, who was working for an ex-Purifier, Taylor.
Mutant Town was destroyed in X-Factor #31, 'The Middle East Side is Burning', as a 'back-up' plan by Arcade following his defeat. A series of explosions incinerated much of the neighborhood, with Arcade's force fields preventing fire fighters from entering the area until the entire district had been destroyed. In X-Factor #32, Valerie Cooper announced that the ruins would be demolished and replaced with suburban housing, and that 'in a few decades, no one will even know that this used to be called Mutant Town.'
Notes
The neighbourhood's actual location is ambiguous. In New X-Men #127, policemen refer to 'militant mutants setting up flags in Alphabet City'; additionally, the promotional information for District X #3 specifically located Mutant Town in Alphabet City, and District X #8 includes a scene in Tompkins Square Park, a park located within Alphabet City. In Uncanny X-Men #450, the neighbourhood was described as part of the Lower East Side, south of Alphabet City; at other times, such as District X #1, the neighbourhood was merely said to be 'in Manhattan'.
Trivia
Alphabet City, and hence Mutant Town, is partially located within New York's 14th congressional district. In the TV series Heroes, Nathan Petrelli is identified in the episode Don't Look Back as a congressional candidate in the 14th district.
See Also
- Appearances of Mutant Town
- Location Gallery: Mutant Town
- Images related to Mutant Town
- Fan Art Gallery: Mutant Town
Links and References
- None.
