Ms. Marvel #16
Ms. Marvel #16 marks the cameo debut of Raven Darkhölme — the shapeshifting mutant who would become one of Marvel's most enduring antagonists under the name Mystique. Writer Chris Claremont slipped the character into the background of what was ostensibly a Tiger Shark rescue story, disguised as the German agent Leni Zauber, planting a seed whose full payoff would come in subsequent issues and then in years of X-Men stories. That quiet, blink-and-you'll-miss-it introduction is a textbook example of Bronze Age long-game storytelling: a villain introduced in one hero's corner of the Marvel Universe before migrating to become a central figure in another's, and eventually a recognizable face across more than half a dozen major X-Men films.
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Mystique originated as a visual concept sketched by artist Dave Cockrum — a blue-skinned, alluring figure drawn without a specific story in mind. When Chris Claremont saw Cockrum's design, he immediately claimed it, coined the name 'Mystique,' defined her shapeshifting power set, and with Cockrum's blessing wrote her into Ms. Marvel #16, which was edited by Archie Goodwin and went on sale in early 1978. The cover was penciled by Cockrum with inks by Terry Austin, while interior art was handled by Jim Mooney with Frank Springer inking — meaning the character's visual creator drew the cover of her debut issue but did not draw her actual appearance inside it. When the Ms. Marvel series was cancelled shortly after, Claremont carried Mystique over into Uncanny X-Men, where she would find her permanent home.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First (cameo) appearance of Raven Darkhölme / Mystique, disguised in-story as German agent Leni Zauber — she does not appear in her recognizable blue-skinned form, which was not revealed until Ms. Marvel #18.
- Created by artist Dave Cockrum (visual design) and writer Chris Claremont (name, powers, and story integration); Claremont placed her in the issue with Cockrum's permission after seeing the sketch.
- Written by Chris Claremont; interior pencils by Jim Mooney, inks by Frank Springer; cover pencils by Dave Cockrum, cover inks by Terry Austin; edited by Archie Goodwin; cover-dated April 1978.
- Main story: Ms. Marvel seeks help from the Avengers — specifically Beast (Hank McCoy) and Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) — to develop underwater-breathing technology in order to rescue Namorita from Tiger Shark (Todd Arliss), whom she ultimately defeats in hand-to-hand combat on a sunken naval destroyer.
- Supporting and flashback characters include Annie Christopher, Arabella Jones, and Wundarr; Mystique observes Ms. Marvel's pursuit of Tiger Shark from the shadows, establishing her as an intelligence-gathering adversary rather than an action threat in this issue.
- Claremont had long intended Mystique and Destiny to be Nightcrawler's biological parents, but that storyline was blocked for decades by Comics Code Authority and Marvel editorial restrictions on LGBTQ+ content; it was finally made canonical in November 2023.
- The story has been reprinted in Essential Ms. Marvel Vol. 1 (2007, black and white), Marvel Masterworks: Ms. Marvel Vol. 2 (2016), Ms. Marvel Epic Collection Vol. 2: The Woman Who Fell to Earth (2019), and the Captain Marvel: Ms. Marvel — A Hero Is Born Omnibus (2018).
- Mystique's first cover appearance came years later, in Avengers Annual #10 (1981); her first full, unmasked appearance in her natural blue-skinned form occurred in Ms. Marvel #18.
Cast · 16 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
After getting a little water-breathing help from the Avengers, Ms. Marvel takes to the sea to try and rescue Namorita from Tiger Shark.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).