CRYPTID
Real Name: Andy Hartnell
Identity/Class: Human mutant
Occupation: Student
Group Membership: Xavier Institute student body (Carter, Devon, Eve, Jane, Jenna, Melissa, Robert, Susan, Tommy and three unidentified others)
Affiliations: Amanda, Sue, X-Men (Beast/Henry McCoy, Cyclops/Scott Summers, Emma Frost, Iceman/Bobby Drake)
Enemies: kidnappers
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Rat Boy" (nickname by bigots)
Base of Operations: Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Westchester County, New York
First Appearance: X-Men Unlimited II#1/2 (February, 2004)
Powers/Abilities: Cryptid was a young mutant with a physical mutation that gave him an oversized beast-like appearance with green/greyish fur and hoofed feet. His appearance granted Cryptid increased strength and speed, able to chase a van and rip the van's doors off its hinges. While in a feral state his eyes apparently glow bright yellow.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 235 lbs.)
Eyes: Yellow
Hair: Black
History:
(X-Men Unlimited II#1/2 (fb) - BTS) - Upon manifesting his mutant abilities Andy became an easy target of several bigots, often calling him names like "freak", "monster" or "Rat Boy". It was then decided it would be in Andy's best interest to enroll at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Once enrolled he received the codename Cryptid named after an animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the yeti.
(X-Men Unlimited II#1/2 (fb) - BTS) - Andy quickly felt at home at Xavier's, enjoying classed and his new friends. But great as things were at Xavier's, Andy still missed being out in the real world and thoroughly hoped Xavier's dream of mutant/human coexistence would soon come to fruition.
(X-Men Unlimited II#1/2) - Andy was overjoyed it was Halloween, the one day he could pass for a normal kid. Andy and several of his fellow students prepared for a night out on the time, trick-or-treating and dressed in a wide variety of costumes ranging from pirates and clowns to Punisher and Thor. The group of students were split into three and were overseen by senior X-Men Beast, Iceman, Cyclops and Emma Frost who took the students to the crowded streets of Westchester. As such Andy was seen trick-or-treating alongside three other mutants dressed as Captain America, a fireman and a cowgirl. Visibly enjoying his night, Andy quickly made friends with the attractive Amanda and her younger sister Sue whom he helped pick up candy after some kids knocked over her bag. Taking a liking to Amanda, Andy was able to join the girls as they believed he was merely wearing an amazing Halloween-costume. However, sometime later that night tragedy struck as the young Sue was pulled into a dark van by a group of kidnappers. Enraged by this Andy hurled towards the van and successfully made his way inside after which he attacked the kidnappers. However, just before one of them could shoot and kill Andy they were stopped by senior X-Men Emma Frost and Cyclops. However, both his feral chase and the presence of known X-Men blew Andy's cover causing Amanda and others to realize he was a mutant. Although the young Sue had been rescued, Andy was met with disgust as Amanda took her little sister away while other humans called him disgusting. Saddened by what had transpired, Andy returned to Xavier's.
Comments: Created by J.T. Krul and Tom Mandrake.
In the actual comics, Cryptid was only ever called Andy. His last name and codename "Cryptid" have been revealed in the Xavier Institute entry of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z HC#13 (April, 2010).
Cryptid is an animal (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist. Although obviously in the Marvel Universe such creatures DO exist!
It seems likely Cryptid was one of the millions mutants who was depowered during M-Day.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
Cryptid has no known connections to
Amanda and her younger sister Sue were out trick-or-treating in Westchester where they met the young Andy Hartnell who helped them pick up candy after some kids knocked over Sue's bag. Although being a mutant, the girls merely believed him to have an amazing Halloween-costume. Taking a liking to Amanda, Andy joined the girls. However, sometime later that night tragedy struck as the young Sue was pulled into a dark van by a group of kidnappers. Enraged by this Andy hurled towards the van and successfully made his way inside after which he attacked the kidnappers. However, just before one of them could shoot and kill Andy they were stopped by senior X-Men Emma Frost and Cyclops. However, both his feral chase and the presence of known X-Men blew Andy's cover causing Amanda and others to realize he was a mutant. Although the young Sue had been rescued, Andy was met with disgust as Amanda took her little sister away while other humans called him disgusting.
--X-Men Unlimited II#1/2
Three unidentified kidnappers decided to make their move on Halloween while many young children were out unsupervised in the dark, making them easy prey for the group of kidnappers. Dressed in dark clothing, the kidnapers made their way yo a Westchester neighborhood in a dark van where they quickly pulled the young Sue into their van, unaware the X-Men and many of their young mutant students were present as well. The young Cryptid witnessed the ordeal, determined to save the young girl he hurled towards the van and successfully made his way inside after which he attacked the kidnappers. However, just before one of them could shoot and kill Cryptid they were stopped by senior X-Men Emma Frost and Cyclops. Having saved the young Sue the X-Men presumably turned the kidnappers over to justice.
--X-Men Unlimited II#1/2
Carter, Devon, Eve, Jane, Jenna, Melissa, Robert, Susan, Tommy
and other unidentified X-Students
The sixteen Xavier's Institute students who were taken trick-or-treating in Westchester by the X-Men. It's been unrevealed who's who are what their mutant abilities would entail.
Tommy, Melissa, Jenna and Eve were escorted by Beast.
Susan, Jane, Devon and Carter were escorted by Iceman.
Andy Hartnell and three unidentified students dressed as Captain America, a fireman and a cowgirl joined Cyclops and Emma Frost.
That leaves four unidentified students unaccounted for.
--X-Men Unlimited II#1/2
images: (without ads)
X-Men Unlimited II#1, p19, pan1 (main image)
X-Men Unlimited II#1, p12, pan3 (closeup)
X-Men Unlimited II#1, p22 pan4 (Amanda and Sue)
X-Men Unlimited II#1, p19, pan5 (kidnappers)
X-Men Unlimited II#1, p13, pan1 (Xavier Institute students)
Appearances:
X-Men Unlimited II#1/2 (February, 2004) - J.T. Krul (writer), Tom Mandrake (pencils, inks), Teresa Focarile, Mike Marts, Stephanie Moore, Cory Sedlmeier (editors)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z#13 (April, 2010) - Jeff Christiansen, Mike Fichera, Stuart Vandal, Sean McQuaid, Ronald Byrd, Mike O'Sullivan, Michael Hoskin, Madison Carter, Markus Raymond, Rob London, Jacob Rougemont, Chris Biggs, Jeph York, David Wiltfong, Kevin Garcia, Mark O'English, Eric J. Moreels, Chad Anderson, Al Sjoerdsma, Anthony Flamini, David Sexton, Jonathan Couper-Smartt, Bill Lentz, Barry Reese (writers), Jeff Youngquist, Jennifer Grunwald, Mark D. Beazley, John Denning, Alex Starbuck, Brian Overton (editors)
First Posted: 08/19/2023
Last Updated: 08/19/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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