Dr Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, also known as Xavier Institute for Higher Learning is the school right out of your childhood fantasy. A fantastic school set in a gothic English mansion where gifted mutants could flex their abilities, the school was first introduced in the mid-‘60s, and has went on to become an iconic children’s fantasy school. It is located at the private estate of the telepathic professor Dr Charles Xavier aka DR X. It has featured in hundreds of X-Men comics and movies, but how much do you really know about Dr X’s school? Let’s have a look at some interesting details about the school.
Dr X’s school is not just a really advanced prep school but also a research school, where all kinds of experiments are undertaken in a lab. Since DR X is a scientist himself, the laboratory at the lab is swanky and high-end. Since it makes everything from space suits to Cerebro, the lab is obviously an advanced and a futuristic one.
Image Source: www.pinterest.com
The school motto is simple and deep. It is Mutatis Mutandis which roughly translates to “that having been changed which needed to be changed.” Since the school stands for the underdogs and the misfits, the motto is deeply significant.
Image Source: lockerdome.com
It’s the place where the fallen mutant heroes are buried and it is a truly haunting place. DR X’s students often visit the cemetery to learn about the earlier mutants. The cemetery is situated within school grounds.
Image Source: www.quora.com
If you thought the Hogwarts letter was interesting, you should check out the enrolment pack the students get from Dr X’s school. It has campus flyers, schedules, guidelines and even a pamphlet about the school’s history.
Image Source: www.pinterest.com
Dr X, accompanied by one of his loyal students Banshee aka Sean Cassidy to set up another school in Massachusetts, also called the “School For Gifted Youngsters.” The school found its headmasters in Sean Cassidy and Emma Frost, formerly known as White Queen of the Hellfire Club.
Image Source: www.tumblr.com
Did you know that the school which is a mutant stronghold was once turned into a holocaust style concentration camp? Magneto, who is a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp, once saw his daughter Scarlet turn Dr X’s mansion into a similar centre meant to de-power mutants. The story was found in the M-Day Comics, which was a huge hit.
Image Source: www.gamesradar.com
If you did a Google Map search for Dr X’s school, you’ll see the Canadian heritage site Hatley Castle, popping up on your phone. It is a mini castle, which is a part of the Hatley Park National Historic and also houses a functioning university. In fact, the castle was once used in the popular Marvel show Arrow.
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org
The school’s real address is said to be 1407 Graymalkin Lane, in Westchester, New York. Graymalkins was a clan, with a dark connection to the birth of the mutant species. In the comics Manifest Destiny, Beast discovers an ancient mutant creature which he claims is over 2000 years old. It just happens to be the son of a Charles Graymalkin, Jonas, who was buried alive by his father, when he found out his son was a homosexual. The school’s mansion originally belongs to their family.
Image Source: www.kotaku.com.au
Did you know the mansion has been in Dr X’s family for ten generations after it was inherited by Dr X? Since, he never had a family of his own, except Raven, he set up his family mansion as a school.
Image Source: www.kotaku.com.au
The gothic style mansion was originally built in 1700 but was rebuilt several times after it was attacked and almost left devastated after facing wars by fellow mutants. According to Marvel Comics, the mansion had to be rebuilt at least 10 times.
Image Source: www.abebooks.com
The first of the two generation of mutants like Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Jean Grey and Lorna Dane were trained there.
Mirage, Sunspot, Magma, Magik, and Warlock along with Shadowcat, are some of the other names trained there.
Image Source: www.hypable.com
The most established mutant to ever come out of the school was Jean Grey, also referred to as her alter ego Dark Phoenix. Her powers were unparalleled and only matched up to Dr X, and she acquired tremendous abilities to control and manipulate her powers.
Image Source: comicvine.gamespot.com
In the middle of the school’s main courtyard, there is a statue in the memory of Jean Grey, the first mutant to have passed out of the school and do great things.
Image Source: hqbr.com.br
Besides a cemetery, courtyard and labs, the school also has a basketball court, an expansive garden, a Danger Room which houses the Cerebro, and of course a helipad.
Image Source: www.megabearsfan.net
In the comic edition #2, the X-Mansion is turned into an orphanage for disturbed children and is run by Professor X with help from Storm and Beast. Some of the students are future superheroes Deadpool, Wolverine and Scott Summers.
Image Source: www.denofgeek.com