The comic series has always been a definite allegory on racism. Professor Charles Xavier, head of the X-Men, played in the films by Patrick Stewart (in the wheelchair), is a believer of tolerance. Metaphorically parallelling Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Xavier preaches tolerance and protection towards mankind.

And then there's the Magneto school of thought. Assumed to be inspired from Malcolm X, Magneto believes in the mutants as clearly the more powerful species: homo superior over home sapiens. Denying all need for tolerance, Magneto, played by Sir Ian McKellen (in the helmet), believes mutants should take over the world.

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