Marvel Database
Marvel Database

Ladies and gentlemen, the truth is that mutants are very real. And they are among us. We must know who they are, and above all, what they can do!

Senator Kelly[source]

History

Senator Kelly was a staunchly anti-mutant United States Senator. He argued that mutants made normal people afraid and that mutants should be registered in order to know who they were and what they could do. He believed the American people had a right to decide if they wanted to send their children to school with mutants or to be taught by mutants, and thus was a key proponent of the Mutant Registration Act. During a senate conference, he publicly rebuked Jean Grey during her lecture explaining the actual situation of mutants, and riled up the crowd in support of his ideals.[1]

While leaving a conference via helicopter, Kelly further expressed anti-mutant sentiments, first to a wary colleague over the phone, and then to who he believed to be his aide Henry Guyrich. In reality, it was Mystique of the Brotherhood of Mutants, who alongside Toad kidnapped him and brought him before Magneto. Magneto proceeded to use a device on Kelly that forcibly mutated his genes, giving him jellyfish-like malleable and aquatic abilities. He used these abilities to escape his prison, but unbeknownst to Magneto, the process was ultimately fatal due to his body not being accustomed to his unnatural genes.

Fearing persecution should he check in to a normal hospital, and knowing no one else who could help him within the mutant community, Kelly absconded to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters to seek Grey's help. She and the rest of the X-Men soon discovered his fatal condition, which became crucial to them figuring out how to defeat Magneto. Knowing his time was up, he briefly talked with Storm and learned of her mistrust of humans. Kelly momentarily expressed some regret to her before his abilities eventually liquified and killed him.[1]

Following his death, Mystique stole his identity and withdrew his support of the Mutant Registration Act.[1] She continued to impersonate him for a long time afterwards,[2] but it likely became public knowledge sometime afterwards, especially after Mystique lost her powers as a result of the Mutant Cure.

Attributes

Powers

Robert Kelly was a human turned into a mutant:

  • Jellyfish-like form (these powers were unsuccessful and proved fatal)

Abilities

Kelly was a persuasive public speaker

Notes

  • Bruce Davison portrayed Senator Kelly in the film X-Men and made a brief appearance in X2, as one of Mystique's transformations.

See Also

Links and References

References