Mister Sinister(X-Men: The Animated Series)

**Nathaniel Essex,** also known as **Mister Sinister,** is the secondary antagonist of *X-Men: The Animated Series*. He appears as a minor antagonist of Season One, the main antagonist of Season Two, a cameo antagonist of Season Three and the secondary antagonist of Season Four. He is a villainous mutate who seeks on controlling the next generation of the world's population through a being of genetic perfection. He is the arch-nemesis of Cyclops, a dangerous foe of the X-Men and arguably their most recurring one.

He was a doctor who granted himself powers through experiments based on Charles Darwin's evolution theory, enabling him to live for centuries as he continued his research. In the 21st century, he found the mutant Morph near death and healed him, brainwashing him to do his bidding. He then kidnapped Morph's X-Men teammates Jean Grey and Cyclops, intending to study their offspring, but was interrupted by the arrival of the rest of the X-Men and defeated. He retreated to the Savage Land, where he was ruler, and lured Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. He captured them and lured the rest of the X-Men there, resulting in a fight. Eventually, Morph broke free of his brainwashing and helped Cyclops in destroying Sinister. Sinister managed to resurrect himself and allied himself with the powerful mutant Apocalypse, aiding him in his quest to end all of time by helping him in kidnapping the world's psychics. When the X-Men and their allies intervened and gained the upper hand in the battle for all of time, Sinister retreated upon seeing all was lost.

### **Biography**

Nathaniel Essex was a doctor who lived in Victorian London, married to Rebecca Grey, who became victim to a serious illness. Essex's friend and family physician was unable to cure her. Essex began studying Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and believed humanity must expand in their genetic evolution. He began kidnapping mutants from the local asylum he owned and performed "sinister" experiments on them. He also granted himself numerous powers and, unknown to her, cured Rebecca. James discovered his true nature and freed his captives. A vengeful mob drove Essex away and Rebecca also abandoned him. Naming himself Mister Sinister, he began travellling the world. He also met members of the Summers and Grey bloodline.

He began examining the bloodline until in the late 20th century, Scott Summers(Cyclops) and Jean Grey took lead under James' descendant Charles and started the mutant team known as the X-Men. During their battle at the Mutant Registration Agency, member Morph was badly wounded but Sinister took him to his base in the Savage Land and nursed him back to health, brainwashing him to destroy the X-Men. Morph poses as the reverend at Cyclops and Jean's marriage, and as the two are on their honeymoon they are kidnapped by Sinister and his mutant team known as the Nasty Boys. He reveals to them that he plans to use their DNA to make a being of genetic perfection and control the next generation of the world's populace. The X-Men arrive and fight the Nasty Boys. Morph gets back control of his mind for a short moment and shoots Sinister, but this has no affect on him. Cyclops breaks free and overpowers Sinister with his optical beams, forcing him and the Nasty Boys to escape. Returning to the Savage Land, he witnessed Morph trick Xavier and Magneto into coming there and robbed them of their powers. He sent his forces to kidnap them, and had the creature Sauron manipulate Xavier into summoning the X-Men. After robbing them of their powers, Sinister captured them as well but Wolverine and the rebel Ka-Zar attacked and freed them. Cyclops faced off against Sinister. Sinister's concussive blasts and Cyclops' beams clashed until Morph broke free of Sinister's command once and for all and shot the villain with a laser. Combined with Cyclops' power, it disintegrated him. The heroes leave victorious but Sinister's ashes begin reforming in the sand and he evilly laughs.

Apocalypse hires Sinister, the Nasty Boys and many other villains to gather the world's psychics for him so he can use them to destroy all of time. The Nasty Boys ambush Jean and Cyclops' wedding while Sinister attacks the X-Mansion. After shaking Jubilee's attacks, he destroys Xavier's hoverchair and carries him away when the time-traveller Shard emerges and shoots Sinister in the chest. As he reforms, he returns fire and retreats into the mansion where he rendezvouses with the Nasty Boys and Jean. They manage to escape but as Sinister is escaping to the Axis of Time Rogue snatches Xavier out of his hands. Gambit and Storm are guarding a psychic when they abandon their posts to help Psylocke, allowing Sinister to kidnap him and return. Once Apocalypse collects all psychics, he begins to put his plan into motion. Magneto and Mystique betray Apocalypse and free Wolverine, who attacks the Nasty Boys. He throws all the Nasty Boys on top of Sinister and redirects one of the villain's blasts onto Apocalypse's orb, freeing the remaining psychics. Seeing all is lost, Sinister and the Nasty Boys escape through a portal.

### **Powers and Abilities**

#### Powers

* **Genetic Enhancements Using DNA:** After gaining his powers, Sinister was able to absorb the genetic material of other mutants into DNA.
	+ **Endopathy:** Sinister can control every molecule inside his body and can deviate his genetic structure.
		- **Celluar Shape-Shifting:** Sinister can take the form of anyone or anything, and can also reduce his body into a both liquid and rock form.
		- **Regenerative Healing Factor:** Sinister is able to reconstruct any damaged of part of his body at an incredible speed, to the extent he does not require his brain or organs to exist.
	+ **Superhuman Physical Condition:** Sinister has an immense collection of physical attributes.
		- **Superhuman Strength:** Sinister is quite physically strong, surpassing beings like Cyclops and Sabretooth and being rivalled of the likes such as Wolverine and Beast. His strength is surpassed by those such as Apocalypse and Juggernaut. He can lift 2 to 10 tons of weight.
		- **Superhuman Durability:** Sinister's body is highly durable and can withstand immense forces of pressure.
		- **Superhuman Reflexes:** Sinister has enhanced reflexes.
		- **Superhuman Stamina:** Sinister can function for several days at full strength before beginning to feel fatigued.
		- **Superhuman Speed:** Sinister can run at fast speeds, surpassing those such as Wolverine and and Cyclops and rivalled by the likes of Beast. He is surpassed by beings such as Quicksilver and Apocalypse.
	+ **Telepathy:** Sinister can read the minds of other and projects thoughts into them. He is surpassed by the likes of Charles Xavier, Jean Grey and the Shadow King.
		- **Telepathic Cloak:** Sinister can mask himself from the detection of other telepaths.
		- **Mind Link:** Sinister can form a mind link with anyone and absorb their brain.
		- **Telepathic Illusion:** He can project fake illusions in the minds of other to make them seem real.
		- **Telepathic Blasts:** Sinister's telepathic blasts can seriously harm and kill someone, as well as take control of their mind.
		- **Telepathic Detection:** Sinister can detect another mutant within a certain radius near him.
		- **Telepathic Shield:** Sinister can form a telepathic shield around him and others to block mental attacks.
		- **Dilate Power:** Able to paralyze any opponent he touches mentally and deactivate their power.
	+ **Telekinesis:** Sinister can levitate beings and objects around him.
		- **Concussive Blasts:** Similar to his telepathic blasts, he can fire his concussive blasts with a destructive outcome, and shown to be able to match Cyclops' optical beams.
		- **Force Fields:** Sinister can summon force fields to deflect incoming attacks.
		- **Telekinetic Flight:** For a short amount of time, Sinister can levitate himself into the air.
	+ **Teleportation:** Sinister can teleport himself across large distances.
	+ **Immortality:** While Sinister can be killed, he is prone to injuries, illnesses and old age.

#### Abilities

* **Genius Intelligence:** Sinister possesses a high level of genius concerning fields of science, specifically genetic mutation, and is one of the most intelligent beings on Earth. He is rivalled by beings such as Beast and surpassed by those such as the High Evolutionary, Apocalypse and Mister Fantastic.
* **Master Manipulator:** Sinister is skilled in areas of psychology and a master strategist, such as his plans for the Grey and Summers bloodline and his role in Apocalypse's attempt of destroying all of time.

### **Trivia**

* *Comic Book Resources* ranked Mister Sinister third in their top ten villains of the series, praising his personality and alternate origins story.