Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison

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Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison

Latest update: 15th of March (added more to the list)

Ok, so I have been watching the show called "Heroes", which in short terms is a TV-version of X-Men with a few important differences.

Heroes vs X Men

In X-Men, the various abilities like flying, telekinesis and regeneration are explained by mutation.
In Heroes, that distinction is explained by natural selection.
Although these 2 angles is more or less the same foundation - it is at least layed on us viewers differently.

Another difference is, that none of the 'heroes' seem to know about the others (and their abilities) to begin with. They are not funded and living at some fancy mansion either. It's just regular people, with no spandex uniforms or cool gadgets.
Most of them having a whole lot of personal problems haunting them to top it off.

What makes Heroes interesting as a show, is how it's all connected. The variuos people are scattered all over the world - yet they seem to cross each others path unknowingly.

Anyways - what I really wanted to do, was to create a list of the Heroes characters and their abilities - vs the X-men ditto.
So without further ado, heres a current list of comparisons (seen over a broad scale). Of course they are not 100% the same, but close - at least they share a certain amount of comparable abilities.

Hero character (role)	Ability	X-Men character / alter ego
Claire Bennett (Cheerleader)	Regeneration / invulnerability	Logan / Wolverine
Peter Petrelli (Male nurse)	Copy other abilities	Marie D'Ancanto / Rogue
Nathan Petrelli (Congress candidate)	Flying	Warren Worthington III / Angel
D.L. Hawkins (ex-con, married to Niki Sanders)	walk through walls / phasing	Katherine Pryde / Kitty Pryde
Micah Sanders (Niki and DL's son)	Technopathy
Meredith Gordon (Claires real mom)	Fire maker / psionic ability to manipulate flame	John Allerdyce / Pyro
Hiro Nakamura (office worker)	Teleportation / chronokinesis	Kurt Wagner / NightCrawler & Suzanne Chan / Sway
Isaac Mendez (painter / artist)	Paints the future aka precognition	Irene Adler / Destiny
Matt Parkman (police officer)	Hears what people thinks	?
Agent supervisor (played by Eric Roberts)	Evil agency agent (no ability)	William Stryker / military agent
Niki Sanders & Jessica Sanders	Dual personality / unhuman strength	~ Jean Grey & Dark Phoenix
Candice Wilmer	Shape Shifting	Raven Darkholme / Mystique
Zane Taylor	Melts metal	~ Eric Lensherr / Magneto
Hana Gitelman (Former Mossad agent)	Electronic Data Transception	Tessa / Sage
Theodor Sprague	Induced Radioactivity	?
Simone Deveaux	?	?
Charlene "Charlie" Andrews (diner waitress)	Eidetic memory
Claude (former company agent)	Invisibility	?
The Haitian (company agent?)	suppression, Memory alteration	?

Feel free to correct me if im wrong. (i will keep updating this post)

More comparisons to follow...

Other cool sites about the NBC series "Heroes":
- Heroes on NBC @ Just Jared
- Heroes official site @ NBC
- Heroes the series @ heroestheseries.com
- NBC's own list of abilities @ NBC

Thanks to "El Guapo" @ Connery for adding to the list.

Print | posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 11:06 PM

Feedback

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/2/2007 10:31 PM Vikkel

Added a few more comparisons. Although not as 'clear' as the previous ones - they still to some extenct fit together.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/7/2007 9:40 PM Vikkel

Added the curious new character "Candice" to the list...

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
10/2/2007 5:28 AM Zac

dude, you got shit mixed up,
Candice Wilmer is more like mastermind, she can create illusions, the The Haitian is a lot more like Leech, Theodor Sprague is a lot like magma, and Hiro is a mix of Nightcrawler and Bishop mixed together.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
10/18/2007 3:04 PM Phil

Hears what people thinks

How about Xavier ;)

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
10/19/2007 10:52 PM Rich

I agree, The Haitian is definitely Leech

Hiro is a combination of a few characters: Nightcrawler (teleportation), Bishop (praise for former heroes), and especially CABLE
(His use of the space-time continuum, born of the noble family (Cable is the Son of Scott Summers and Madeline Pryor)

Isaac may be compared to Franklin Richards, the son of Reed and Susan Richards, aka Tattletale (he was able to see the future through dreams)

Noah is directly taken from Cypher (Douglas Ramsey,once part of The New Mutants)

Ted Sprague is a close match to Sunspot, a/k/a Robert Da Costa, also once a member of the New Mutants, and X-Force

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
10/31/2007 10:18 PM Chris

Kitty Prydes X-men name is Shadowcat. Cable in x-men can also time travel.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
11/2/2007 4:25 PM natos

candice wilmer isnt a shape shifter, she is an illusionist so therefore different to mystique

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
11/5/2007 4:39 AM Jai

Micah ==> Doug Ramsey, can 'talk' to computers.
==> he does like to tinker with stuff like Forge as well...

Parkman, Nigtmare Man, Haitian ==> Prof X

Parkman can read people's minds, like Prof X. Also, Nightmare Man said reading people's minds are just the beginning of their power (presumable both Parkmans have the same ability.)

We also saw that Prof X can mess with people's minds and alter their awareness, like The Haitian

Too bad we don't have a mutant that goes invisible, but Marvel does have the Invisible Woman where Heroes have the Invisible French Man!!

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
11/7/2007 4:45 AM James Idaho

Micah Sanders
(Niki and DL's son) is Forge

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
4/11/2008 4:57 AM Josh Peters

I don't know why the online Marvel Universe doesn't have him listed but there was a mutant named Preacher who painted the future. Except unlike Issac he didn't have to get high to paint it.

His last appearance was in the giant sized Uncanny X-men '96 where him, Bishop, and Bishops sister Shard are hunted down by a special ops group from Operation Zero Tolerance. You should put Preacher in as the X-Men character / alter ego for Issac Mendez.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
7/12/2008 5:14 AM LuisCtba(Luis10_7 in neopets)

X-Men is so much better as Heroes,2 much

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
8/21/2008 12:02 PM Ishizusv

Well, I have to say that I was thinking to do something like this in my blog, but better look how other people had done it before posting it.

About lot of powers can be covered by Newsun a Gambit alternate universe version that can do lot of things. The first I would compared him to would be Theodor Sprague, not exactly the same but in the end the same effect.

Here a list of his powers/abilities: complete control of kinetic energy in all its forms. This translates into flight, explosion of matter, and manipulation of time and space, including travel to alternate realities

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
8/21/2008 12:05 PM Ishizusv

Me again, forgot to say that Sage has a great memory and learning skills just like the waitress girl.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
9/23/2008 3:49 AM macmethos

michah can be compared to forge from x-force as a technopath

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
9/23/2008 8:23 PM vp

matt is kind of like professor X, reads minds....

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
9/27/2008 4:00 AM Grace

I think Candice compares to Jason, the illusionist from X-2. (William Stryker's son, the one in the wheelchair and hospital gown).

You should put Elle Bishop and Storm up there too.

# Heroes vs X-men
9/27/2008 10:16 AM

Heroes vs X-men

# Where Have All the Heroes Gone?
9/29/2008 9:51 PM

Where Have All the Heroes Gone?

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
10/25/2008 7:29 AM Robert

The Xmen are overpowered compared to the Heroes. Magneto's powers are way to powerful for the heros characters. He could take over there world ,and rule it. Magneto's powers are earth shakingly powerful.He if he was real could probably destroy the planet himself. The heroes characters have powers but alot of them are to weak. In The xmen comics Magneto was considered to be one of the most powerful mutants on earth ,he doesn't just control Electro magnetism he is master of it ,and also he can control gravitons that's what gives him the ability to levitate.His forcefield doesn't just protect against metal either.
the Xmen characters powers are more destructive than the heroes characters powers.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
11/11/2008 9:54 PM Jonz

If U read the Xmen Comics, nearly all of their characters also had normal lives, but has passed through difficult pasts, way much interesting than characters of heroes, the thing is that all of those histories have never been played by actors on a series, like heroes does. Storm used to be a thief, cyclops was rejected, jean grey lost her best friend after being hit by a car (she felt her dead due to her power), theres a good site for viewing individual histories and past from xmen... www.marveldirectory.com

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
11/12/2008 1:10 PM Vikkel

Re: Jonz

Thanks for the feedback. Of course the 2 dimensions each have their weaknesses and I knew even before I started comparing the two 'worlds', that I would get some remarks from xmen fans. But then again, you probably found my site by searching for that very thing ;-)

Thanks for the link, and please add to my list if you have the time.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
12/15/2008 8:44 PM verlane

Parkman has a part of professor x'power, no ? (Sorry for my english) I agree vp and Jai.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
1/13/2009 12:48 PM JAMES!

heroes have better abilites but x-mens abilites are more for attaking

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
1/14/2009 5:04 PM Juan

Here's a little update of your interesting post: Ando - Bucky
Noah Bennet - Cyclops / Cypher
Elle - Electro
Angela Petrelli - White Queen
Arthur Petrelli - Rogue / Xavier
Tracy Strauss - Iceman
Mohinder Suresh - Beast / Spiderman (Shanti / Legacy Virus)
Sylar / Gabriel Grey - Forge
Matt Parkman - Nightmare Man ?
The German - Magneto
Flint - Pyro
Jessy - Banshee
Knox - Mr. Fear
Precog - Destiny / Leech
Molly Walker - Qiuicksilver / Flash
Briggitte - Rogue

On the 3rd season there's a reference to the Marvel's event prior to the Civil War, that was the massive explosion and destruction of a city by a mutant group (The New warriors)!!!
That's more than a simple coincidence!

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
1/28/2009 10:31 AM JAMES!

my fave hero character is d.l. and my fave x-men character is kitty pride wat a cowisdenice

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
2/25/2009 8:53 AM Dru

I agree with Phil, Parkman is much like prof. X

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
2/28/2009 2:28 AM nomailx

that one is a killer:

Matt Parkman
(police officer) Hears what people thinks ?

Dude, did u ever watched a X-men? or read the comic book once? the most important character is Professor X (Charles Xavier).

Never start such blogs before a good study about your subject or u'll look confused like that.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/6/2009 7:30 AM abilitysun

to the original post...do you know anything about xmen or heroes? or did you get tired half way through so you just put question marks

peter is more like mimic not rogue,nathan is more like cannonball not angel,nikki is more like legion (split personalities),candice is like mastermind,matt is like charles xavier but not as powerful,zane is nothing like magneto they have completley different powers,charlie the waitress is like sage because sage can remember everything,ted is like radioactive man (marvel)
hation is like postman but charles xavier can also delete memories, merideth can create fire like rusty collins or phoenix or legion they have pyrokenisis, hiro is sway (you got that one)

and to Juan
how is noah like cyclops or cypher?
how is angela like emma frost?
how is briggete like rogue?
good job on pointing out how sylar is more like forge than micah...sense forge isnt a technopath

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/6/2009 7:37 AM abilitysun

i hate it when people who no nothing about a subject actually go out of there way to make a post about that subject they dont know about,and i also dont like it when people leave comments on the post who also know nothing about the subject,

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/7/2009 12:01 AM jean grey

doug ramsey of the new x-men had "technopathy" to a certain degree

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/7/2009 8:01 AM Mr. Mister

i always thought cypher had the ability to understand any language including computer languages, i never thought he could actually talk to them and control them like micah does on heroes

i think sage has technopathy aka cyberpathy

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/28/2009 6:42 PM Juan

how is Angela like Emma Frost? Angela has (mind)control over everyone and knows whats happening around the world.

how is Briggite like Rogue? She absorbed powers by touching!

how is noah like cyclops or cypher? I though he could be the leader of the mutants but, in the last season, it wasn't so. Although he can do anything for her daughter (just like Cyclops for Phoenix). His eyes became red in one episode...

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
3/29/2009 9:00 AM abilitysun

what do you meen by "(mind) control",are you just saying shes manipulative,is the comparison on abilities or personality traits...because angela and emma dont have the same powers,
is this the bridget your saying takes people powers... http://heroeswiki.com/Bridget_Bailey
because if it is shes nothing like rogue,shes the one angela had sylar kill and take her power so he could find someone with it...i think it was peter they were looking for,
i guess if this is a comparison on personality traits noah could kindof be persieved as a team leader even though he had plenty of people above him in the company and his team was just him and the haitian or cluade or elle or sylar at that one point..not really a team like the x-men,and he will do anything for his daughter, but still he doesnt have powers so even though you said his eyes became red in one episode it still doesnt make him have optic blasts...
and why did you say he was like cypher?i hope its not because hes been seen speaking more than one language,

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
4/1/2009 2:08 PM Tactile_tele

Abilitysun, Ignore Juan, his facts are as good as his English.

Juan, i assume you had someone even less competent watch heroes for you, and had them explain it back to you (with effort), coz you had EVERYTHING mixed up, which makes your argument a failure.

And the noah with cyclops/cypher thing, is just plain stupid.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
4/10/2009 6:27 PM T.Rod

The Kid from the X-men... The Cure I think is like The Haitian.

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
4/23/2009 3:25 AM BDiddy

Storm = Angela Petrelli's character
The sentinels = Agent Danko's org
Beast = Dr. Suresh
Moira MacTaggert = Dr. Suresh Senior

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
4/25/2009 7:14 PM Aj

OK......so, how is Angela like Storm?
Her sister Alice can control the weather (Coyote Sands) Angela Petrelli can dream the future..but only in dreams. There's no controlling other people.

And Cypher (being able to understand any languages) would be the Traveler.

And, to a degree, Sage would be Baby Matt Parkman, they can jump start mutant abilities(even if thats not the main attribute of their ability)

# re: Heroes vs X-Men - an ability comparison
6/1/2009 10:45 PM TH

Bridget Bailey can see past of any object (clairsentience)she touch. Molly can find people (Clairvoyance) and Angela can see future drough her dreams. Reason why Angela gave Bridget to Sylar was "appologize".

Siren = Echo

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Hi there, as you may have guessed, I am Vikkel. More specifically, my name is Martin Vikkelsø. For the unknowing visitor, I am 28 years old and living in Copenhagen. I have worked with IT on and off for 10+ years. Currently employed at the Content Management System vendor Sitecore.

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