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The term Mutate refers to most non-mutant superbeings in the Marvel Comics universe. See below for other uses.

Mutate is a term used to refer to superhumans who acquired their superpowers by exposure to some mutagenic compound or energy (either accidentally or deliberately). Unlike Marvel's Mutants, Marvel's Mutates require external stimuli to acquire their powers.

• The majority of Marvel's most popular and well-known characters such as e.g. the Hulk, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and the Fantastic Four (possibly also Purple Man) gained their powers after exposure to radiation.
• The first group explicitly called Mutates were the Savage Land Mutates; a group of humans native to the Savage Land, they were genetically altered using technology created by Magneto.
• Wakandan Mutates were created by prolonged exposure to the Great Vibranium Mound.
• Some Mutates were altered by exposure to the Universal Wellspring, such as Midnight's Fire, Speed Demon, Joystick, and members of the Folding Circle.
• Some, like the Grapplers, were mutated by Power Broker, Inc.
• The humans altered by exposure to Terrigen Mists. Terrigenesis was previously used by the Inhuman race.
• On the island nation of Genosha, mutants who were discovered by the government were often genetically altered by the Genegineer into nearly mindless slaves known as Mutates. These Genoshan mutates were permanently sealed into "skinsuits" which recycled bodily wastes into nutrition and prevented sexual contact, and when not working were kept in a concentration camp out of sight of the public. Though these "mutates" started as mutants, they are considered mutates due to the outside alteration of their abilities; for example, the mutate Jennifer Ransome's genetic potential was for healing, but the Genegineer altered her ability to shaping rock and metal rather than flesh, and granted her superhuman strength and durability in the process.
• A few other famous Marvel superheroes are also sometimes controversially included in the "mutate" category, e.g. Ant-Man/Giant Man (permanently mutated by prolonged absorption of "Pym particles") and Captain America (genetically altered by the super-soldier serum).

Mutates differ from "normal" people in the way their bodies responds to the mutagenic influence. While most people would die from gamma radiation (The Incredible Hulk #296), people like Hulk and the Abomination becomes transformed instead. Exceptions occur in more controlled forms such as genetic engineering.

• The term "Mutates" has also been used by the Deviants to refer to those of their race who are considered too severely deformed or otherwise not believed genetically suitable for reproduction. These Deviant Mutates are often sentenced to fight to the death in gladiator arenas for the amusement of the Deviant populace.

• Savage Land Mutates at UncannyXMen.net
• Mutates of Genosha at UncannyXMen.net

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