I've looked at it this way. There's two types of mutation in the MU
Type 1: Artificial/External Mutation. This is the power origin for heroes such as the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Spider-man, Captain America, T'Challa and a few dozen others. Some kind of external substance, stimulus or energy affects the body, which then adapts itself to prevent injury. The A-Gene.
Type 2: Natural/Internal Mutation: This is the X-Gene. This is what causes mutants to manifest their powers around puberty [whether due to stress or not]. It may activate in the womb, however. See, Beak, his kids, Prof. X/Nova womb-fight, Squidboy etc.
see, i've always looked at it this way:
there's only one primary source of superhuman powers in the MU, and that's the X-gene. some people are X-gene positive, and when they hit puberty, they start to express powers.
some people are X-gene recessive or latent or something, and under normal circumstances would never have powers. sometimes, though, they get exposed to something weird which triggers the X-gene. so, in other words, most people exposed to massive amounts of gamma radiation would just get cancer and die, but Bruce Banner was genetically different enough that the radiation turned him into the Hulk, though he never would have gotten powers on his own.
as far as Hank goes, i have always thought he would have turned blue and furry anyway at some point, but he sped it up by experimenting on himself. |
