Marvel Finally Changed John Greycrow's Racist Codename In Hellions

For years, a recurring core theme among X-Men comics has been one of acceptance and the fair treatment of disenfranchised groups. Created by the legendary team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby during the Civil Rights Movement, the X-Men have consistently been depicted as a group of mutants who are hated by the world around them from the constraints of prejudice and bigotry, yet who continuously strive to create a world where they are accepted and free. But years after their creation, a character was introduced into the world of the X-Men whose very name was an ill-conceived reminder of racism and the horrors of war.

The villain John Greycrow was introduced in Chris Claremont and John Romita Jr.'s Uncanny X-Men #210 in 1986 as a member of Mister Sinister's group of mercenary assassins known as the Marauders. This Native American of unspecified descent used his mutant power to alter and reconfigure machinery during the "Mutant Massacre," a storyline where the Marauders slaughtered many of the sewer-dwelling Morlocks. During this time, Greycrow adopted the codename "Scalphunter," which remained his primary identifier for many years. But starting in Hellions #2 (by Zeb Wells and Stephen Segovia,) which was released in 2020, Marvel seemingly retired that codename and started referring to the character as Greycrow.

Updated on April 22, 2024 by Jennifer Roy: Greycrow's original codename remains a dark part of Marvel's history. While the quiet change of his codename does represent an important step forward for Marvel, there is still more work to be done. This article has been updated to include more information on the history of these murders and the efforts of the Penobscot Nation to make sure the genocide of Native American people through government-mandated murder is no longer buried. The article has also been updated to include more information on Greycrow's character arc in Hellions.

The Problematic Nature of Greycrow's Original Codename Would Never Pass Today's Ethical Standards

"Scalphunter" Is Derogatory and Whitewashes the U.S. Government's Sanction of Native American Genocide

The term "scalping" refers to the practice of cutting off the top of a person's head -- the scalp, which was traditionally done to enemies who were defeated. Although the practice did not originate in America, it is known to have existed during the days of the American Frontier, and "scalp hunters" were fighters who took the scalps of their enemies and victims as trophies. While some Native American tribes engaged in the ritual, the practice was also widely used against Native Americans by European colonizers and their descendants, who themselves were generally the ones posting bounties for scalps.

These government-sanctioned murders for profit of Native Americans have been buried and ignored, but these murders need to be reckoned with, especially within the context of how American history is taught. The Penobscot Nation has created a documentary, Bounty, bringing to light the history of these murders while also showcasing the resilience of the Penobscot people despite these atrocities. The documentary website also includes a teaching guide placing these murders in context with other genocides.

These murders also extended beyond the colonial period. In an article for PBS, many historians discuss the "Act for the Government and Protection of Indians" during the California Gold Rush. The Act's benign name hides more cruelty as the act was used to disenfranchise Native American people while many state governments still had active bounties for the murder of Native American people. In the article, April Moore from the Nisenan Nation explains these bounties, but she also explains modes of resistance amongst the Nisenan and Maidu tribes in the face of these murders. Moore shares a heartbreaking story of how her own grandmother escaped from one of these raids, and she also explains how communities began to have runners to warn other villages about impending attacks.

Thus, the implication in attributing the name to a modern Native American character -- especially a violent one -- is racist and portrays Native Americans in an unfavorable light, while also contributing to the whitewashing of crimes committed against Native Americans throughout the colonial period and beyond. Much like the Kiowa DC hero who shares Greycrow's former codename, Greycrow continued to use that codename in almost all of his subsequent appearances, which frequently found him acting as an assassin with his fellow Marauders.

The sole exception to this was in Matt Fraction and Jamie McKelvie's "Migas" story in 2008's X-Men: Divided We Fall #1, wherein the character seemed to be shying away from his life of violence and seeking redemption. Following the formation of the mutant nation called Krakoa, Greycrow joined the Hellions, a group of mutants with violent histories. In Hellions #1, Greycrow was explicitly identified by his old codename in the list of characters that were included in the comic. However, Hellions #2 only identified the character as Greycrow in its roster.

The X-Men Character Greycrow Moved Away From His Old Codename

Greycrow's Hellions' Character Arc Followed His Path toward Redemption

Throughout Hellions, Zeb Wells shows Greycrow's road to redemption through his evolving relationship with his teammates. In Hellions #8 (by Zeb Wells, Stephen Segovia, David Curiel and VC's Ariana Maher), when the team faces Cameron Hodges robots, Psylocke must destroy the robots to stop their attacks on mutants. Greycrow offers to be the one to push the button, but Psylocke refuses. She tells Greycrow that she sees him, and "you don't have to be the killer." While earlier issues of Hellions hinted at Greycrow's regrets and complicated feelings about his past, this moment is a turning point for him on his path to heroics.

This character development continues throughout the series. Hellions #10 (by Zeb Wells, Stephen Segovia, David Curiel and VC's Ariana Maher) reveals that above all else, Greycrow desires absolution, both for his actions during World War II and his later crimes. However, Greycrow is one of the first to break through the illusion of Arcade's Murderworld and answer Psylocke's call to the team. Greycrow becomes the main team member to reach out to the others when they are struggling and forms some of the strongest bonds with his teammates. After the Hellions are disbanded in Hellions #18 (by Zeb Wells, Zé Carlos, Stephen Segovia, Rain Beredo, and VC's Ariana Maher), the series ends with Psylocke and Greycrow on a beach, with Greycrow stating that Psylocke's belief in him has helped change him for the better. The two hold hands and watch the sunset as Greycrow contemplates a more peaceful life.

Wells also makes this deeper turn for Greycrow clear with Greycrow's changed codename. While Greycrow was identified by his former codename in both the roster for Hellions #1 and promotional material for the series, it's worth noting that he was primarily addressed as "John Greycrow," "John" or "Greycrow" throughout the actual events of the Hellions series. Traditionally, Greycrow has been a fairly minor character within the X-Men's wider world, and the name-change coincided with his first regular role on a heroic team.

However, it also took place in the context of a societal reckoning with racial injustice and inequities, especially in America. At a time when multiple sports teams have been reassessing the racist terminology and images associated with their franchises, this name change reflected an awareness of harmful and hurtful language that perpetuates negative stereotypes. It reflected Marvel's willingness to address past oversights and help move towards the intentional and inclusive future that still sits at the core of the X-Men's world. While this movement forward is also seen in the recent Marvel's Echo's portrayal of Choctaw culture, Marvel still can do more to address the wrongs of their past and create more diverse, captivating stories.