Sunday, July 30, 2023

Character Analysis: Jean Grey

 

In case you were wondering…

  • Obviously, the Phoenix Force has had a variety of hosts. Feats and abilities shown by all of them (with the obvious exception of host-specific abilities, such as Emma’s diamond form or Illyana’s sorcery) will be taken into account for this blog, as it will be focusing on 616 Jean Grey, who is the “perfect” host for the Phoenix and thus the most powerful, as well as the one with the broadest control over the Phoenix’s powers.

  • The Dark Phoenix that appeared in the original Dark Phoenix Saga was technically not Jean nor any other Phoenix host, but rather the Phoenix Force itself mimicking Jean’s appearance and personality. The Phoenix manifesting on its own is typically referred to in the comics as “the Phoenix Entity”. Since the Phoenix is explicitly weaker without a host than with one, feats and abilities from the Phoenix Entity can be applied to Jean.

  • In New X-Men (2001) Issues 151 - 154, an alternate future timeline was depicted in which Jean becomes White Phoenix of the Crown, and demonstrates several new feats and abilities. Though this technically isn’t the main timeline, the only difference is the events that occur, and as such feats and abilities from this timeline can be applied to Jean’s own version of the White Phoenix (which appears briefly in Phoenix Endsong Issue 5).

  • In the mid to late 2010s, a version of Jean from the X-Men’s early days was displaced from her time period and spent an extended period operating in the modern day. When relevant, this version will be referred to in this blog as “Teen Jean”. While she did develop applications for her powers that original Jean never had, and received unique training, Teen Jean’s memories were transferred to regular Jean when she was sent back to the past. As such, any feats, abilities, and knowledge that Teen Jean possessed should be available to regular Jean.

  • As the Phoenix, Jean’s psionic powers are greater than or equal to every other telepath and telekinetic on Earth, and as such, telepathy and telekinesis feats from other characters (including but not limited to Professor X, Emma Frost, Psylocke, Rachel Summers, Cable, X-Man, Quentin Quire, and the Stepford Cuckoos) can be scaled to her. Showings taken from other characters will be denoted under “Scaling” in their corresponding abilities section.

Background

  • Full Name: Jean Elaine Grey-Summers

  • AKA: Phoenix, Marvel Girl, Jeannie

  • Height: 5’6” | 1.68 m

  • Weight: 130 lbs | 59 kg

  • Groups: X-Men, X-Factor, Hellfire Club

  • Married to Scott Summers

  • Days Since Jean Grey Died: 4

Born and raised in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, young Jean Grey’s life would be changed forever on one fateful day, when her friend Annie strayed into the path of oncoming traffic. While her friend lay dying in her arms, Jean’s mutant powers manifested, and she telepathically linked her own mind with Annie’s. Seconds later, Jean experienced the death of her friend as though it was happening in her own mind. Naturally quite traumatized by this, Jean became reclusive and nearly catatonic, so much so that her parents sought help from the world’s top expert on matters of the mind: Charles Xavier.

Professor X began to counsel Jean, helping her to overcome her trauma and repressing her telepathic abilities, until a time when she was better suited to handle them - leaving only her less-remarkable telekinetic abilities. Over time, Jean improved and eventually became a functioning member of society once again, at which point Xavier made her an offer: to enroll in his School for Gifted Youngsters, and learn to control her mutant powers among peers. Jean accepted, and soon enough became a founding member of the X-Men alongside fellow mutants Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, and Angel.

As one of Marvel’s premier crime-fighting teams, the X-Men soon became great heroes who fought on behalf of mutants everywhere. Coming into conflict with villains like Magneto, the Juggernaut, and many more, Jean did her part as one of the team’s core members, her telekinesis - and eventually telepathy - developing greatly all the while. She even fell in love with her teammate Scott Summers, AKA Cyclops, though their relationship over the years has been… tumultuous.

However, as is the case with everyone in Marvel’s revolving door of tragedy and status quo, Jean’s happiness would not last forever. On one mission, she and the X-Men found themselves trapped piloting a ship through a solar storm. Caused by a group called the Knights of Hykon, this storm would change Jean’s life forever, as she found herself face to face with a cosmic being of infinite energy. She made a deal with the creature, and her friends were saved; in return, Jean was placed in a healing capsule at the bottom of a river, and the Phoenix emerged to take her place - appearance, personality, and all.

Though the Phoenix was an invaluable asset to the X-Men’s cause, absolute power by nature corrupts absolutely. Even programmed with Jean’s kind heart and outstanding morals, the Phoenix Entity was eventually corrupted by its own power, mutating into Dark Phoenix and becoming one of the greatest threats the world had ever known. It tore through the X-Men with ease, and even annihilated a faraway solar system, killing billions in its quest for sustenance. Over time, however, even the Dark Phoenix began to change. It truly believed that it was Jean Grey, and after some telepathic pacification from Xavier, ultimately gave its own life in order to end its rampage.

Years later, Jean was found in her capsule, and returned to the X-Men, having gained the Phoenix’s memories of its time in her place. With her desire to do good reinvigorated, Jean became a founding member of X-Factor, married Scott, had some children (sort of, it’s complicated, do not ask, I won’t explain), and began to walk the path of a hero once again.

Buuuuuuut, you know how it goes. Eventually, she started to hear a voice in her head, and the psychic constructs she created began to take a familiar, avian shape. The Phoenix was back with a vengeance, and this time would operate from within Jean for real, having manifested as an alternate personality. Then she died. Then she came back. And then she accepted the Phoenix and turned white. And then she left for a decade (she went to the White Hot Room, I’ll explain what that is later). And then she came back again. And then she convinced the Phoenix to leave her, determined to live her life healthily, away from the fiery space parasite.

Around this time, a version of her from the past (Teen Jean) was displaced to the present. She was involved in a variety of incidents, and even had her own encounters with the Phoenix, though luckily never became its host the way Jean did. Eventually, Teen Jean and the other time-displaced X-Men returned to the past, and their memories were merged with their present-day selves, including Jean.

From this point onward, Jean would once again rejoin the X-Men and dedicate her life to protecting the world, currently as a member of the nation of Krakoa. She may have enough relationship drama and a complicated enough family tree to fill a series of novels, and she may have been killed about as much as Optimus Prime, but through it all, Jean has become a symbol throughout the Marvel universe of kindness and perseverance. She stands firmly as the heart and soul of the X-Men, and will continue to pursue a peaceful future for mutants and humankind alike, alongside her surrogate family. Even when the Phoenix inevitably returns one day, or when she inevitably perishes yet again (it is literally a plot point that she is always destined to die), Jean Grey will always have the strength and the will to get up and keep fighting.

Experience

Jean has spent decades as both a member and leader of the X-Men, though she was dead for large portions of her history, and Marvel’s sliding time-scale makes things a bit wonky. At the very least, she has years of experience fighting against basically anybody you can think of, and was trained in the use of her powers by Charles Xavier. She is established to be one of (if not THE) most skilled telepaths on the planet, beyond characters like Emma Frost and rivaling Professor X. She also gained all of Teen Jean’s memories, which includes some minor formal training from Emma and Psylocke.

Though she typically relies more on her psionic abilities than hand-to-hand, one of her notable skills is that she can essentially telepathically “download” anything she wants to know from experts across the planet. She has used this to instantly acquire the skills of Misty Knight and Colleen Wing, two expert martial artists, so she is no slouch in hand-to-hand when the situation calls for it. She is also a fairly good tactician, having spent years fighting, leading, and teaching. 

Phoenix Force

Overview

  • AKA Void Falcon, Phal’kon, World Destroyer, Tiphareth

  • Other Notable Hosts:

    • Rachel Summers, Scott Summers, Hope Summers, Emma Frost, Quentin Quire, Stepford Cuckoos, Piotr Rasputin, Illyana Rasputin, Namor McKenzie, Firehair, Cosmic Ghost Rider, Thane, Marc Spector, Maya Lopez, technically most of the Avengers

  • Born from the Big Bang

  • Possibly Thor’s mother

    • Definitely did the naughty with Odin

  • Once empowered Howard the Duck

Born at the dawn of creation from the fires of the Big Bang itself, the Phoenix Force is a godlike entity of cosmic proportions, typically taking the form of either a human, or a giant falcon made out of fire. It is life itself, and its singular purpose is to destroy, burning down planets and civilizations to make way for new things. The Phoenix is parasitic, however, and so to do this, it seeks out a host through whom it can act, corrupting them to its whims. Though it has taken many hosts over the years, it always seems to eventually return to Jean Grey, whom it believes to be the perfect host. Together with Jean, the Phoenix is an unstoppable force, consuming entire solar systems and more in its quest for sustenance. Over time, however, Jean was able to convince the Phoenix that their… er, relationship was unhealthy, and that they needed to part ways. Now on the search for a new host to facilitate its cosmic destruction, it is believed that the Phoenix’s fire will one day consume the last remnants of the cosmos, bringing an end to all that is.

Higher Forms

Dark Phoenix

The Dark Phoenix is a form assumed when the mind of a host gives way to the Phoenix’s corruption, going insane and becoming obsessed with destruction and consumption. As the Dark Phoenix, Jean’s powers are tempered by neither joy nor love, and as such they are much more powerful than her normal Phoenix state.

White Phoenix of the Crown

Though it has few appearances in the comics, the White Phoenix of the Crown is the Phoenix’s ultimate state of being. Jean originally achieved it by connecting with the minds of all her loved ones, allowing her to receive their emotions and use them to stabilize herself. In this state, she regains her sanity and becomes much more powerful, to the point of holding entire universes in her hands, and being able to make minor alterations to the past to change the course of reality.

White Hot Room

The White Hot Room is a plane of existence that the Phoenix has access to and control over. This plane of reality is “dimensionally transcendental”, and simultaneously exists within the Phoenix, within the M’kraan Crystal, and beyond the Far Shore (one of the furthest edges of Marvel’s creation). The Room has been described as the Phoenix’s heart and mindscape, and whilst in the Room, the Phoenix has extensive control, able to manipulate its surroundings as it pleases. This control can be disrupted, as has been done by Teen Jean and the Adversary, but it has always returned to the Phoenix eventually. In the event that the Phoenix dies, the White Hot Room will be unaffected, and eventually the Phoenix will be reborn from the Room.

Kirbons & Mysterium

Within the interior of the White Hot Room exist primordial elemental particles called kirbons, which can be condensed into a miracle metal called mysterium through a process called “mutant technology”, which refers to the coordination of multiple mutant abilities to achieve a specific purpose. A group of mutants called The Six were able to condense kirbons from the White Hot Room into mysterium (further elaboration on the method by which they did so), which they then harvested en masse for Krakoa’s purposes. Notably, mysterium has anti-magic properties which allow it to nullify the abilities of even entities such as Dormammu or the Scarlet Witch.

However, do keep in mind that the anti-magic properties of mysterium are NOT an inherent property of unaltered kirbons, as kirbons are fundamental particles that control the size, mass, and density of objects, and are present in both physical matter and different types of radiation. As such, without the mutant technology used to produce mysterium from the kirbons within, the White Hot Room’s interior does not nullify the magic of those who enter automatically, as seen by the fact that magical entities such as The Adversary can still use their powers unimpeded whilst inside it. Neither Jean nor the Phoenix have ever personally weaponized mysterium.

Arsenal

Uniform

Standard X-Men costumes are made of unstable molecules, allowing them to withstand extreme temperatures and serve as an insulator. Jean’s costumes are unique to her, but they should at least have all the features of a standard one.

Image Inducer

Has an image inducer with which she can alter her physical appearance.

Magneto Helmet

Has a Magneto-esque helmet which can be used to block out mental attacks.

Powers

Phoenix Avatar

The Phoenix possesses the ability to manifest a bird-shaped avatar out of fire, and use it to fight. This avatar can grow to inconceivable sizes, and attacks via fire and physical strikes. Jean can also produce limbs of the Phoenix Avatar to attack with just those.

Pyrokinesis

Naturally, the Phoenix also possesses immensely powerful fire manipulation, attacking with flames hotter than a supernova and as radiant as a neutron star. She can also make constructs out of fire, and incinerate people from the inside out.

Telepathy

Though Jean possesses telepathy as one of her standard mutant abilities, it becomes massively enhanced with the Phoenix inside of her. Her mental abilities at their peak are considered to be nearly without limit, and grants her a broad variety of applications in combat, which will be listed below. Compared to other characters in Marvel, base Jean is typically considered to be the second best telepath after Professor X, while Phoenix Jean surpasses him and as such is the strongest. In any case, she far surpasses other telepaths like Emma, Psylocke, etc.

Scaling

Telepathic Communication

Jean can communicate telepathically with others, which she most commonly uses to maintain a mental rapport between all the X-Men in combat. As the Phoenix, her range is at minimum great enough to encompass the entire planet’s population, scaling off of other Phoenix hosts.

Scaling

Mind Reading

Reading minds and memories is also an ability that Jean possesses, allowing her to gain insight into an opponent’s tactics and abilities. It is worth noting, though, that she consistently tends to have difficulty handling “larger” or “eviler” minds, and her mind reading can be ineffective on certain types of opponents.

Scaling

Mental Manipulation

Jean can also use her telepathy in a more offensive manner, outright affecting, dominating, and even shutting down an opponent’s mind. She has various methods of doing so, some of which are fairly brutal and difficult to defend against.

Scaling

Memory Manipulation

Jean can manipulate and erase memories. She can do this to both short-term and long-term memory, and to either an individual or to large crowds. The Phoenix is also noted to be able to give people new memories.

Scaling

Illusions

She can create illusions, fooling people’s senses and making them believe that they see or hear something that they do not.

Astral Projection

Jean has occasionally shown the ability to project a mental construct of herself out of her body, allowing her to transfer her mind to different places or enter the astral plane. She can also forcibly do this to others, though any injuries inflicted upon an astral projection are reflected onto the body, so it’s important that she chooses her battles wisely.

Extrasensory Perception

Jean possesses sensory abilities which allow her to detect things that cannot be seen. This is fairly useful in combat, when avoiding things that would otherwise surprise her.

Sleep Manipulation

Jean can telepathically force people to sleep or wake them up. This has even worked on the Incredible Hulk and Legion, both of whom possess mental defenses.

Pain Manipulation

Jean is capable of telepathically inducing or negating a person’s pain, typically via messing with their nerve endings or pain receptors. She rarely uses this ability offensively, likely because it is fairly cruel, but she can do so.

Sensory Manipulation

Jean has the ability to alter the senses of herself and others, on the occasion where it is tactically useful. She can also tap into the senses of other people and use those in place of her own.

Telepathic Amps

Jean is capable of using her telepathy to greatly amp the powers of other people, and even herself on rare occasions.

Miscellaneous

Jean has shown several other miscellaneous applications of telepathy.

Telekinesis

The second primary ability that Jean possesses naturally without the Phoenix, she can mentally manipulate objects and people around her with telekinesis. Normally, she is only an Alpha-level telekinetic, meaning that while she is powerful, her abilities can be surpassed in some measurable fashion, unlike her Omega-level telepathy, which cannot. However, as the Phoenix her telekinesis becomes much more powerful and versatile, to the point where she likely can be considered an Omega-level telekinetic.

Scaling

Barriers

Jean can use her telekinesis to create energy barriers, protecting herself and those around her from oncoming attacks. These can be small or omnidirectional, and Jean can create them both around herself and from a distance. They are not passively maintained, however, so she must always dedicate some degree of concentration toward keeping them in place.

Matter Manipulation

As the Phoenix, Jean’s telepathy becomes enhanced to the point of manipulating matter on an atomic level. This can be used offensively to affect her opponents, or for more mundane tasks such as changing outfits.

Scaling

Transmutation

Likely an extension of her matter manipulation, Jean can turn solid mass into something completely different. This has shown to affect living beings as well, so she can use it offensively in combat.

Scaling

Energy Constructs / Weapons

From Psylocke, Teen Jean learned how to create weapons out of psychic energy for use in combat. The extent of what she can create is likely limited only by her imagination.

Biological Manipulation

Jean can use her telekinesis in order to alter not only her own body, but the bodies of others as well, disrupting their cell structures or altering their biological functions in a variety of helpful or harmful ways, depending on what the situation calls for.

Scaling

Immortality

As the Phoenix, Jean becomes much harder to kill, to the point where she could be considered immortal. The Phoenix itself is impossible to permanently destroy, and so long as it is not incapacitated, it can use its powers to keep Jean alive.

Regeneration

The primary means by which the Phoenix can protect the survival of its host; it grants Jean powerful regenerative abilities, and can mostly let her come back from nearly any level of physical destruction so long as the Phoenix itself is not compromised.

Resurrection

Though it typically takes a relatively long time, if the Phoenix is destroyed beyond its ability to regenerate, it will eventually be reborn from the White Hot Room in the form of an egg.

Flight

Jean possesses high-speed flight. Originally, she needed to use telekinesis in order to levitate herself, but as the Phoenix, she can fly unaided.

Energy Manipulation & Absorption

As the Phoenix, Jean possesses nearly limitless energy manipulation and absorption capabilities. This can be used for energy attacks, or to siphon power from other sources. Notably, the Phoenix is made of nearly-infinite energy, and requires energy to survive (hence its constant quest to consume things like stars, in order to replenish itself).

Possession

As evidenced by its need for a host, the Phoenix is capable of possessing and empowering just about anybody that it wants to. While it prefers Jean and as such will not leave her for anyone else, it has shown to be capable of using its possession offensively, leaping into a new host and attempting to burn them from the inside out.

Life Manipulation

Though the Phoenix is an entity of destruction, it is also one of creation and life, and as such has control over the life force of living things. It can drain the life force of others and even bring back the dead.

Cosmic Awareness / Senses

Though this is only occasionally mentioned and never elaborated on entirely, it is indicated that the Phoenix possesses an extensive (possibly total) awareness of the cosmos. It also possesses some degree of precognition, though this has never been used in combat and it is unclear whether the Phoenix has control over what it sees.

Portal Creation / BFR

The Phoenix is capable of creating holes through space-time, allowing it to traverse large distances instantly, and escape from spatial imprisonment. It also has a form of BFR in which it can transfer people to the White Hot Room, though this is difficult to do with a living target.

Time Stop

The Phoenix Force has demonstrated the ability to stop time, though has never done so in combat.

Time Travel

Though Jean has never personally shown this ability, the Phoenix Force has shown to be capable of moving Rachel’s body through time. Though Rachel naturally possesses the ability to project her consciousness through time, it is established that physical time travel is only possible due to the Phoenix Force.

Soul Manipulation

There are a few instances throughout the Phoenix’s history where it demonstrates the ability to affect souls. Some statements of such are worded in a way that could be interpreted as figurative or metaphorical, but others are likely more legitimate.

Scaling

  • Psylocke using her telepathy to imprison the Shadow King’s soul

    • Note: While Jean is established to be a more skilled telepath than Psylocke, she does not necessarily know all of the same applications of her powers that she does. For instance, creating psionic weapons is something that Psylocke taught her how to do. As such, it is debatable whether Jean would be able to replicate this ability.

Miscellaneous

Random miscellaneous abilities that Jean has shown.

Hax Resistances & Vulnerabilities

NOTE: If a hax ability is not listed here, that simply means that neither Jean nor the Phoenix has ever encountered it.

Mind Manipulation

Soul Manipulation / Possession

Transmutation

Power Nullification / Removal

Energy Absorption

Existence Erasure

BFR

Life Force Draining

Sealing

Phasing

Antimatter

Feats

Overall

  • Omega-level mutant

  • Founding member of the X-Men and X-Factor

  • The world’s most powerful telepath at her peak

  • Saved the universe from the M’kraan Crystal

  • The Phoenix is considered to be a counterpart and equal to Scarlet Witch’s Chaos Magic

  • Jean has defeated Professor X, Emma Frost, Justice, Galactus, Terrax, Firelord

  • In an alternate timeline, defeated Sublime as White Phoenix of the Crown and subsequently fixed reality

  • Teen Jean defeated Xorn, The Blob, Ronan the Accuser

  • Rachel with the Phoenix defeated Necrom

  • Maya with the Phoenix defeated the Adversary

Strength

Base

The Phoenix

Dark Phoenix

White Phoenix of the Crown

Phoenix Force

Speed

Base

The Phoenix

Dark Phoenix

White Phoenix of the Crown

  • None notable

Phoenix Force

Durability

Base

The Phoenix

Dark Phoenix

White Phoenix of the Crown

  • None notable

Phoenix Force

Scaling

Weaknesses

  • The Phoenix Force is reliant on energy to live, and will die if it runs out without being able to consume more (though at full power its energy is nearly infinite)

  • Sufficient damage to the Phoenix host has a tendency to expel the Phoenix Force from their body

  • Sufficient damage to the Phoenix Force itself will require it to resurrect via the White Hot Room, which takes time

  • Though the White Phoenix largely mitigates this, the Phoenix is largely difficult to control and will affect Jean’s mind to varying extents in her different forms

  • Control over the White Hot Room can be taken from the Phoenix, though only temporarily and always somewhat circumstantially

  • Complete annihilation of the host’s mind and soul is something that the Phoenix has never shown to be capable of repairing
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