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|powers = Superhuman strength and durability<br>Shapeshifting<br>Flight<br>Fire manipulation<br>Elasticity<br>Invisibility<br>Force field projection
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'''Xavin''' is a [[fictional]] [[superhero]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character appears in the series ''[[Runaways (comics)|Runaways]]''. Xavin is [[gender-fluid]] (made more prominent due to their shape-shifting abilities) with seemingly no preference in which pronouns are used for themselves ("they/them" pronouns are used throughout the article for clarity's sake). They are a [[Super-Skrull#Other Super-Skrulls|Super-Skrull]] in training, created by author [[Brian K. Vaughan]] & artist [[Adrian Alphona]], and debuted in ''Runaways'' vol. 2 #7.<ref name="firstappearance"/> Although Alphona was the series' artist at the time, artist [[Takeshi Miyazawa]] first drew the character on print. When Xavin first appeared to the Runaways, they took on the form of a black male, but changed into a black female just for the sake of [[Karolina Dean]], a lesbian whom they were to marry.<ref name="Vol2#8">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #8. Marvel Comics.</ref> Xavin is often seen as a male, simply to be "intimidating".<ref name="Vol2#25">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #25. Marvel Comics.</ref> Xavin, often called "Xav" for short, is known for their obtuse and warlike personality.<ref name="Vol2#29">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #29. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name="si1">''Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers''. Marvel Comics.</ref> They had originally found it hard to fit in with the Runaways due in part to Xavin's constant gender switching and unfamiliaritystupid withcompared Earthto valuesthe andnormal normshumans on Earth, though through proving their loyalty to the group, found acceptance.<ref name="Vol2#24">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #24. Marvel Comics.</ref> Xavin is the child of the Skrull Prince De'zean.<ref name="Vol2#8"/>
Xavin was portrayed by Clarissa Thibeaux in the second and third seasons of the [[Hulu]] television series ''[[Runaways (TV series)|Runaways]]'' which is set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].
==Publication history==
Xavin first appeared in ''Runaways'' vol. 2 #7 and was created by [[Brian K. Vaughan]] and [[Adrian Alphona]]. They are introduced as a [[Skrull]] prince, the child of De'zean of the Skrull Royal Family on the planet Tarnax VI and they are meant to marry [[Karolina Dean|Karolina]] in order to bring peace to their two warring, alien species.<ref name="Bustle">{{cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-xavin-in-the-runaways-comics-the-new-character-is-the-mcus-first-gender-fluid-superhero-15558189|title=Who Is Xavin In The 'Runaways' Comics? The New Character Is The MCU's First Gender-Fluid Superhero|last=Grubbs|first=Jefferson|website=[[Bustle (website)|Bustle]]|date=December 21, 2018|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413082937/https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-xavin-in-the-runaways-comics-the-new-character-is-the-mcus-first-gender-fluid-superhero-15558189|archive-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
As member of the Runaways, they appeared in the comic book ''[[Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers]]'', it involves both the Runaways and [[Young Avengers]] teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/13/exclusive-secret-invasion-runawaysyoung-avengers-interview|title=Exclusive Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers Interview|last=George|first=Richard|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=March 13, 2008|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813061123/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/13/exclusive-secret-invasion-runawaysyoung-avengers-interview|archive-date=August 13, 2017}}</ref>
==Reception==
In 2008, Xavin was named the fourth (out of ten) best [[Skrull]] characters in an article published on Marvel's official website.<ref name="take10skrulls">{{cite news|url=http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.6273.Take_10~colon~_Skrulls!|title=Take 10: Skrulls|last=Morse|first=Ben|date=2008-12-08|publisher=Marvel|access-date=2009-03-01}}</ref>
==Gender identity==
Due to Xavin often changing through their three main forms, (human female, human male, and true Skrull form) both characters within the series and fans<ref>[http://runaways.mergingminds.org/showarticle.asp?section=10&fldAuto=442 Runaways/Young Avengers #3] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221073928/http://runaways.mergingminds.org/showarticle.asp?section=10&fldAuto=442 |date=February 21, 2009 }}</ref> question the nature of their gender. As a Skrull, a race of shapeshifters, Xavin stated "for us, just changing our gender is no different than changing our hair color",<ref name="Vol2#8"/> implying that Skrulls have fluid gender identities. When asked by Molly about why they don't stay in female form all the time, Xavin replied that it was simply their nature to do so and doesn't see a problem in it,<ref name="Vol2#22">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #22. Marvel Comics.</ref> though it causes Xavin to start questioning their own nature. Although Karolina does truly love Xavin, even so much as to deny Xavin disguised as Nico due to loyalty,<ref name="Vol2#23">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #23. Marvel Comics.</ref> she does become depressed when Nico questions Xavin's true gender. In ''[[Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways]]'', Xavin is mostly male, but female briefly.<ref name="cw1"/> In vol. 3, #1, Xavin is only male, but in vol. 3 #2, Xavin is only female.<ref name="Vol3#2"/><ref name="Vol3#1">''Runaways'': Volume 3, #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> Karolina is fixed on the idea that Xavin is female, and that Xavin isn't pretending to be a woman, just learning to be human.<ref name="Vol2#25"/> During an argument with Karolina, Xavin loses control and changes form into their female form, and Karolina takes that to mean Xavin's true form is a female.<ref name="Vol2#29"/> However, on his blog, the artist [[Humberto Ramos]] notes that he was instructed to draw Xavin taking different genders depending on the situation, even when not plot-necessary.<ref>[http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/5459.htm/ Xavin's true gender on Humberto Ramos' blog] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922195302/http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/5459.htm/ |date=September 22, 2008 }}</ref>
== Relationships with other Runaways ==
Due to their war-like, yet rash attitude,<ref name="Vol2#20"/> Xavin often irritates the other Runaways.<ref name="si1"/> They often believed that Victor was supposed to be hardwired to know everything, due to Viktor being a [[cyborg]]. In their first appearance, they called Victor a "toy".<ref name="Vol2#8"/> Xavin met Karolina after Karolina suffered rejection from Nico, her crush, for some time.<ref name="firstappearance"/> When Xavin expressed no concern about changing physical appearance from male to female to please her, Karolina began a relationship. Xavin once took the form of Nico in order to please Karolina, but Karolina rejected them as Nico because they had earned her loyalty and reassured Xavin that she loved them as they are.<ref name="Vol2#23"/> At times, they still suspect Karolina has lingering feelings for Nico.<ref name="Vol2#30">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #30. Marvel Comics.</ref> Later on, during an argument, Xavin subconsciously reverted to their female human form, which both surprised and pleased Karolina, who had earlier expressed some lingering doubts about Xavin's true gender.<ref name="Vol2#30"/>
Besides Victor, Xavin strongly infuriates Nico and often questions Nico's leadership decisions.<ref name="Vol2#20"/> Xavin grew to respect Nico's leadership, telling her how much they've learned from her.<ref name="Vol2#21">''Runaways'': Volume 2, #21. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name="Vol3#6"/>
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics extraterrestrial superheroes]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics LGBT superheroes]]
[[Category:Skrull]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters who are shapeshifters]]
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