The X-Babies are a group of Mojo

Mojo (comics)

Mojo is a Marvel Comics supervillain, primarily an enemy of the X-Men and one of its members, Longshot. Mojo is one of the "Spineless Ones," an alien race that is immobile without advanced technology. He is a slaver who rules the Mojoverse, a dimension where all beings are addicted to his...

-manufactured child clones of the X-Men

X-Men

The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...

. They first appeared in Uncanny X-Men Annual #12 and were created by Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...

 and Art Adams

Art Adams

Arthur "Art" Adams is an American comic book artist and writer. He first broke into the American comic book industry with the 1985 Marvel Comics miniseries Longshot...

.

Appearances

In Uncanny X-Men Annual #10 (also by Chris Claremont and Art Adams), Mojo had de-aged the X-Men into children; this is what most likely inspired the creation of the X-Babies.

In Uncanny X-Men Annual #12, the X-Men are assumed to be dead (having died in Dallas, only to be resurrected by the goddess Roma

Roma (comics)

Roma is a fictional character featured in numerous Marvel Comics titles. She is the daughter of Merlyn. Roma is the Omniversal Guardian, charged with the safety of the Omniverse...

). Mojo, missing his greatest rating generators, had his people try to recreate his own version of the X-Men. After many unsuccessful attempts, the X-Babies were created. They soon rebel against Mojo. Mojo was about to kill them when he was told that their instant ratings were the highest ever recorded.

There have been several incarnations of the X-Babies over the years, usually resembling whatever the current team of X-Men is. There has also been a similar team instead based on the Avengers, called the Mitey 'Vengers, who appeared in the X-Babies Reborn one-shot. There have also been several X-Babies villain teams including the "Brotherhood of Bullies" based on the Brotherhood of Mutants

Brotherhood of Mutants

The Brotherhood of Mutants, originally known as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, is a fictional Marvel Comics supervillain team devoted to mutant superiority over normal humans. They are among the chief adversaries of the X-Men...

 (X-Babies Murderama, 1998).

In Excalibur

Excalibur (comics)

Excalibur is a Marvel Comics superhero group, an off-shoot of the X-Men, usually based in the United Kingdom. Conceived by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer Alan Davis, the original Excalibur first appeared in Excalibur Special Edition , also known as Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn.The...

: Mojo Mayhem (1989), Kitty Pryde

Kitty Pryde

Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 and was created by writer-artist John Byrne....

, interrupted on a train trip, helps a team of X-Babies flee from a Mojo enforcer who is intent on getting them back by tricking them into signing contracts. In this incarnation, the children's child-like faults and crushes on each other are cruelly exploited by their adversary. Kitty, with backup, ends up saving the day.

Several incarnations of the X-Babies are friendly with Ricochet Rita, the good past-self of the villain Spiral

Spiral (comics)

Spiral is a fictional character, a supervillainess in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared in the Longshot miniseries by Ann Nocenti and Art Adams.-Fictional character biography:...

. Due to Spiral's time travel abilities, Rita, the babies and Spiral can all exist at the same period simultaneously.

In X-Men #46-47 (1995), an X-Babies team is on the run from Mojo's hunters. Gambit and Bishop try to keep them alive.

In Exiles

Exiles (Marvel Comics)

The Exiles are a group of fictional characters that feature in three Marvel Comics series, Exiles, New Exiles, and Exiles vol. 2. The Exiles consists of characters from different dimensions, or realities, which have been removed from time and space in order to correct problems in various alternate...

#8, it is shown that the reality-hopping Exiles encountered a version of the X-Babies. It is not stated whether these X-Babies are the creation of Mojo or the X-Men of the reality in question. In fact, no further details are given except for the narrative commentary "The less said about this, the better."

Dazzler

Dazzler

Dazzler is a Marvel Comics superheroine, associated with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 ....

 would encounter juvenile versions of the four main villains from the Age of Apocalypse

Age of Apocalypse

"Age of Apocalypse" is a 1995 - 1996 comic book crossover storyline published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. The Age of Apocalypse briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616, although it was later retconned as having occurred in the alternate universe of Earth-295, it had...

 timelines. These entities would cause major death and destruction throughout Mojoworld.

The X-Men were once again reduced to infancy by Mojo during Uncanny X-Men #461 (2005). As kids, they were able to defeat the villains, parody lawyer-versions of the Exiles. and restore their rightful ages. Juggernaut had second thoughts about returning to adulthood but was convinced to go through with it.

In the X-Babies four issue limited series (2009/2010) the X-Babies discover their position as Mojo's number one rating grabber had been usurped by the newer, cuter, but more shallow in personality 'Adorable X-Babies.'

Influences

In line with Mojo being a parody of network executives, the X-Babies parody the modern trend of creating younger and junior versions of cartoon characters which began in the 1980s with Jim Henson's Muppet Babies. In comics Superbaby and Wonder Tot had appeared in Superboy

Superboy (Kal-El)

The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...

 and Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....

 comics from the 1950s and 1960s respectively.

Current members

• Colossusus
  Colossus (comics)
  Colossus is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Len Wein and illustrator Dave Cockrum, he first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
  
  
• Creepy Crawler
  Nightcrawler (comics)
  Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
  
  
• Cyke
  Cyclops (comics)
  Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
  
  
• Shadowkitty
  Kitty Pryde
  Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 and was created by writer-artist John Byrne....
  
  
• Psychild
  Psylocke
  Psylocke is a fictional character depicted in comic books published by Marvel Comics, most notably those comics featuring the superhero team the X-Men. The character has also appeared in licensed adaptations. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Herb Trimpe, she first appeared in the UK...
  
  
• Shower
• Sugah
  Rogue (comics)
  Rogue was first slated to appear in Ms. Marvel #25 , but the book's abrupt cancellation left her original introduction story unpublished for over a decade, before seeing print in Marvel Super Heroes #11 in 1992. Rogue's first published appearance was in Avengers Annual #10...
  
  
• Wolvie
  Wolverine (comics)
  Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
  
  

Former members

• Archangel*
• Bishop
  Bishop (comics)
  Bishop is a fictional comic book superhero, appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular the X-Men family of books...
  
  *
• Boyo
  Banshee (comics)
  Banshee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero who operates as a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth, Banshee first appeared in X-Men #28 ....
  
  
• Charlie X
  Professor X
  Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
  
  
• Dazzler
  Dazzler
  Dazzler is a Marvel Comics superheroine, associated with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 ....
  
  *
• Gambit
  Gambit (comics)
  Gambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
  
  *
• Havok*
• Iceman
  Iceman (comics)
  Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
  
  *
• Longshot
  Longshot
  Longshot is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero best known as a member of the X-Men. He was created by writer Ann Nocenti and artist Art Adams.-Publication history:...
  
  *

* Those without nicknames sometimes were referred to with "Lil'" in front of their names.