Thanks to her comic, cartoon, and movie appearances, Storm is easily one of the X-Men’s most recognizable and iconic characters. With her ability to completely control the weather and atmospheric changes, she easily holds her own with other teammates, and is deemed by most as one of Marvel’s most powerful mutants. But that’s where the fans have to ask: is Storm truly a mutant, or is she actually a Goddess?
Who is or isn’t considered a “god” in the Marvel Universe can definitely be a fluid distinction, since so many of our favorite superhumans are constantly messing with (and being transformed by) magic and cosmic power. When Thor is or isn’t a god depending on who you ask, the term may even lose much of its meaning. But while it’s true that Storm has been worshipped as a goddess… it doesn’t necessarily make her one.
Ororo Munroe, best known by her X-Men name Storm, first appeared in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men No. 1, written by Len Wein. In the special isdue introducing a ‘next generation’ of X-Men, Storm is described as the descendant of an ancient line of African priestesses, all of whom have white hair, blue eyes, and the potential to wield magic (in Storm’s case, her abilities extend to comprehensive control over the weather). Her mother N’Daré was the princess of a tribe in Kenya, who married an American photojournalist named David Munroe. N’Dare moved with him to Manhattan which is where Ororo was born.
Through the course of her history, Storm has been worshipped as a goddess many times, and in Uncanny X-Men #10, Storm attacks X-Men by famoulsy boasting that she’s “been a goddess longer than he has been alive.” But it isn’t until Black Panther Issue 172, where Storm is able to tap into her gift of Godhead, powered by the belief of Wakanda, that she actually cements her status. According to her former lover T’Challa, the godhead was passed down from Ororo’s ancestors and is “more than a mutation,” essentially putting rest to the debate. To make it even clearer, the issue ends with T’Challa telling Ororo he always knew she was a Goddess… but she only needed to believe in herself.
If that wasn’t enough to convince people of Ororo’s goddess-hood, they need only read the X-Men Gold series that made Storm a new Thor with her own Mjolnir, proving she’s worthy of the power of the god of thunder. Sure, the hammer Stormcaster is an Asgardian weapon similar to Thor’s Mjolnir, but it’s a feat not achievable by just any mutant or hero. So if the line of god or not-god puts Thor on the divine side of things, Storm has just as much of a case based on wielding Stormcaster alone.
Whether fans believe Storm is a true goddess or just a badass mutant may depend on definition. But either way, fans have gotten to enjoy seeing her evolution. What is certain is that she will continue to play an important role in the future of the X-Men Universe.
