Jean Grey

SECURITY CLEARANCE ACTIVATED..

[NAME] Jean Grey

[FIRST COMIC BOOK APPEARANCE] Uncanny X-Men #1 (1963)

[MUTANT ABILITIES] Telepathy; Telekinesis

…ACCESSING…

PERSONAL NOTES OF CHARLES XAVIER

“Jean Grey, a name synonymous with both unparalleled potential and profound tragedy, has always been at the heart of the X-Men. From the moment she first entered my care as a young girl struggling with the overwhelming onset of her telepathic and telekinetic abilities, I knew her path would be unlike any other. Her raw power was both a marvel and a challenge, a force that, even at an early age, hinted at a destiny far greater than any of us could have foreseen.

As one of the original members of the X-Men, Jean quickly became the linchpin of the team, earning the respect and admiration of her peers through her unwavering compassion and quiet strength. Her bond with the team was undeniable, none more so than her connection with Scott Summers, with whom she shared a love that became an anchor for both of them. Yet Jean was more than just a partner or a friend – she was a leader in her own right, a voice of reason and empathy amidst the chaos that so often surrounded our missions.

Jean’s struggles, however, extended far beyond the battlefield. The discovery of the Phoenix Force within her – a cosmic entity of immeasurable power – became a turning point in her life. While the Phoenix amplified her abilities to godlike levels, it also magnified her fears, desires, and vulnerabilities. The battle for control over this force was a struggle that tested her resolve and, at times, overwhelmed her. It was during these moments of turmoil that Jean’s humanity shone brightest. She bore the weight of unimaginable power with dignity, even as it brought her to the brink of destruction.

Her past, too, shaped her in ways that even she did not fully understand. The trauma of her childhood and the early loss of a close friend, combined with the ethical dilemmas posed by her own abilities, left Jean with a deep well of self-doubt. Yet she never allowed these challenges to define her. I always stood by her, reminding her—and others—that she was not merely a vessel for extraordinary power but a person deserving of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. Jean’s determination to reconcile her dual nature became an inspiration to us all.

Her relationships, particularly with Logan and Scott, revealed different facets of her character. With Logan, she found an unspoken understanding, a connection forged through mutual respect and admiration. With Scott, she shared a bond that was as steadfast as it was complex, their partnership evolving in tandem with the challenges they faced. Jean’s dynamic with her teammates, her ability to lift others even when she herself was faltering, underscored her unique role within our family.

Jean Grey’s story is a reminder of the delicate balance between power and humanity, a tale of strength and sacrifice that continues to resonate within all of us who had the privilege of knowing her. Her legacy is not merely one of extraordinary feats but of the courage to confront her fears, the grace to embrace her flaws, and the resilience to rise above them. In Jean, I see the embodiment of what it means to be both extraordinary and profoundly human. It has been one of my life’s greatest honours to witness her journey and to call her my student, my peer, and my friend.”

IN OTHER MEDIA

APPEARANCES ON-SCREEN (Television)

APPEARANCES ON-SCREEN (Movies)

X-MEN

FIRST APPEARANCE: Night of the Sentinels (Part 1)
VOICED BY: Catherine Disher (X-Men); Jennifer Hale (X-Men ’97)

Jean Grey was one of the oldest students at Xavier’s school, having been by the Professor’s side since she was a young girl. Charles once described her as the ‘first in his heart’ [Graduation Day]. Her relationship with Cyclops was established before the series began and they were aware of Wolverine’s feelings for her, feelings he pushed aside. When Scott and Jean were captured by the Morlocks, Jean psychically took the Morlocks on by her self before calling aid – a sign of her relative control over her powers [Captive Hearts].

When the Professor went missing after Scott and Jean’s first wedding attempt [Till Death Do Us Part (Part 1)], Jean stepped up, using Cerebro to try and locate her mentor [Repo Man]. She was investigating his disappearance when she was captured by Sinister, who was determined to gain her genetic material to secure the future of his experiments. In the Savage Land, following a climatic battle, Jean telekinetically scattered Sinister’s shattered body throughout the Savage Land, although he would eventually reform [Reunion (Part 2)].

While on a mission to outer space, Jean used her telekinetic shielding to protect herself from solar radiation while piloting the shuttle carrying her and her teammates home [Sacrifice]. Jean was possessed by the cosmic force known as the Phoenix, greatly enhancing Jean’s natural abilities. She stopped the destruction of the universe whilst the Phoenix, taking the fantastically powerful M’Kraan Crystal into the burning heart of the sun [Child of Light]. The X-Men believed her dead after this mission. Several weeks later, a still-possessed Jean Grey arrived back on Earth and was taken to Muir Island Research Centre to recover [No Mutant Is An Island].

Jean was still possessed months later when the Inner Circle decided to use her to gain more power for themselves [Dazzled]. Controlled by Mastermind’s illusions, Jean joined the Circle, but the manipulation of the Phoenix was not strong enough and Phoenix evolved into a being of pure anger and sensation, now calling herself the Dark Phoenix [The Inner Circle].

The X-Men only managed to stop Dark Phoenix with subterfuge and Jean’s control [Dark Phoenix]. Before another solution could be found, Lilandra, Empress of the Shi’ar and Xavier’s lover, captured the X-Men who dedicated themselves to fighting for their ally’s life. During the battle between the Imperial Guard and the X-Men to decide her fate, Jean chose for them and destroyed herself. The Phoenix Force, impressed by her courage and realising it’s corruption, used parts of the X-Men’s spirits to resurrect and heal their beloved Jean [The Fate of the Phoenix].

Returning to normal duties, Scott and Jean finally got married, but not without problems [The End of Time]. Jean was abducted by Mr. Sinister as part of Apocalypse’s plan to rule all of time. It is speculated that at some point during this mission, Jean’s genetic material was taken from her and molded into a clone of her who was secreted back amongst the X-Men, with no memory of being a clone. The real Jean remained Sinister’s captive for quite some time [Fire Made Flesh].

The clone naturally fell in love with Scott and became pregnant with his child [To Me, My X-Men]. The clone, unaware of her true nature, gave birth to little Nathan and when the real Jean emerged, she was horrified to realise that she wasn’t real [Mutant Liberation Begins]. She turned against the X-Men using unnatural powers, and declared herself the Goblin Queen. After the X-Men were able to save baby Nathan from Sinister, they realised he had been infected with a virus that could only be cured in the future, and the clone sent him away with Bishop to heal [Fire Made Flesh]. The clone chose the name Madelyne Pryor and the left the Institute while the original Jean remained with the X-Men, although intense questions still needed answering between Scott and the real Jean, who was now unsure which memories were real or implanted. This brought her closer to Logan and, at one point, they shared a kiss [Remember It].

Rallying against Bastion and his anti-mutant forces, Jean and the rest of the X-Men, donning their old uniforms, invaded Asteroid M and battled Bastion and were all presumed dead when the station was destroyed.

In actuality, Jean and Scott found themselves thousand of years in the future – in front of the Mother Askani and their teenage son, Nathan… [Tolerance is Extinction (Part 3)].

To be continued.

FILM SERIES

FIRST APPEARANCE: X-Men
OTHER APPEARANCES: X2; X-Men: The Last Stand; The Wolverine; X-Men: Days of Future Past; X-Men: Apocalypse; X-Men: Dark Phoenix
PLAYED BY: Famke Janssen (X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Wolverine, X-Men Days of Future Past); Sophie Turner (X-Men Apocalypse, X-Men: Dark Phoenix)

Jean Grey Jean is a key member of the X-Men, a mutant with telekinetic and telepathic abilities, and a medical doctor. She shares a romantic relationship with Cyclops (Scott Summers) and finds herself caught in a subtle emotional tension with Wolverine (Logan). She is a voice of reason and a vital ally in the battles against threats like Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants. During the battle at the Statue of Liberty, Jean uses her powers with greater control than before [X-Men].

Jean begins to exhibit a significant increase in her powers, which hints at the inner struggle between her conscious mind and a dormant, more destructive personality known as the Phoenix. Her powers culminate in her heroic yet devastating sacrifice at Alkali Lake, where she saves her friends by holding back a flood with her telekinesis, only to seemingly perish in the process [X2].

It’s revealed that Jean survived by cocooning herself in telekinetic energy. However, this resurrection unleashes the Phoenix, a darker, instinct-driven alter ego born from psychic barriers that Professor X had placed in her mind to contain the vast, uncontrollable scope of her powers. As the Phoenix, Jean is drawn to Magneto but remains conflicted. Her immense power proves catastrophic, leading to the deaths of Professor X and others. Ultimately, Wolverine is forced to make the heartbreaking decision to kill her in order to stop the Phoenix’s destruction, marking a tragic end to her journey in the original timeline [X-Men: The Last Stand]. For years later, Logan had realistic dreams about being with her [The Wolverine].

The time-travel events of X-Men: Days of Future Past alter the course of history, creating a new timeline where she is a younger, less experienced mutant struggling with her burgeoning abilities and the fear of the uncontrollable Phoenix force within her. Under the guidance of Professor X, she begins to unlock her potential, playing a pivotal role in the defeat of the ancient mutant, Apocalypse, by fully embracing her powers [X-Men: Apocalypse]. The complexities of Jean’s character take centre stage as she becomes the host for an immensely powerful cosmic force during a mission in space. While this amplifies her abilities, it also fractures her psyche, bringing the Phoenix to the forefront once more. Her struggle between maintaining her humanity and succumbing to the Phoenix becomes the core conflict, leading to confrontations with her allies and foes alike. In the end, Jean sacrifices herself to save her friends and the world, fully embracing her identity as the Phoenix and transcending into a being of cosmic energy [X-Men: Dark Phoenix].

X-MEN: EVOLUTION

FIRST APPEARANCE: Strategy X
VOICED BY: Venus Terzo

Jean possesses telekinesis, the ability to move objects with one’s mind as well as limited telepathic ability. One of Xavier’s first and most powerful mutants, Jean often struggled to control her powers and becomes a danger to those around her [Strategy X; Mutant Crush]. After completely losing all control, Scott managed to get her to focus all her attention on him, and Xavier managed to repair her shattered mind. Realising that she has a special connection with Scott, the two became best friends whilst she dated Duncan [Power Surge].

After mutants were revealed to the public, Duncan tried to exploit Jean’s powers and she dumped him [The Stuff of Heroes]. After months of avoiding the situation and denying all feelings for each other, when Scott was abducted by Mystique, it was Jean and her link to Scott that found him and the two finally began dating [Blind Alley].

After graduation, they became instructors at the Institute, and tried to help the disobedient new recruits learn how to control their powers.

The vision of the future that Charles saw after the defeat of Apocalypse indicated that Jean’s powers would continue to grow and she would become the Dark Phoenix at some point [Ascension].

WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN

FIRST APPEARANCE: Hindsight (Part 3)
VOICED BY: Jennifer Hale

Jean Grey was a long-time member of the X-Men, whom Charles Xavier had met at a young age at the behest of her parents. Jean’s burgeoning psychic powers were formidable even then and Jean joined the original team battling Magneto [Breakdown]. Her relationship with Scott Summers grew into love, despite the feeling between Logan and Jean, which frequently caused the two men to butt heads [Hindsight (Part 1)].

One day, Jean’s mutant powers of telekinesis caused an explosion that resulted in her disappearance. Cyclops left the X-Men, but returned when Wolverine recruited him. Using Emma Frost’s mutant powers of telepathy, Scott dug through his memories to discover that Jean had caused the explosion.

Unbeknownst to the X-Men, Jean was amnesiac in a local hospital [eXcessive Force]. When Mr. Sinister discovered this he sent Archangel to capture her, but he was thwarted by Cyclops and the White Queen. Jean was further captured by the Inner Circle, who planned to use her to summon the Phoenix force into their own vessels, the Stepford Cuckoos [Shades of Grey]. They were successful and Jean later watched as Emma shattered to contain it and sacrificed her life. Her memories fully restored, Jean was seen reconciled with Scott as Charles informed them that the future had once again changed [Foresight (Part 3)].