I love cat Beast

[Podmark]

I just have to say that I've really come to love Beast's cat form. I know it will probably happen eventually, but I'm in no hurry to see the ape form return.

[BentonGrey]

You know, it sort of creeps me out, but hey, I'm not reading the modern books, so I'm glad that you like it. ^_^  Did they ever explain why or how the change happened?

[bredon7777]

Secondary mutation, IIRC.

[Podmark]

Sage did it.

[murs47]

I've grown quite fond of it as well, used to hate it at first, but I hope it never goes back.

[BentonGrey]

Have his powers changed any?

[murs47]

Have his powers changed any?

Not really, still the same old Beast, he just "purrs" and plays with a ball of yarn. ;)

That's weird, the forum won't let me use the plural form of ball, it replaces it with the word "jimmies."

[detourne_me]

i second the love for the cat beast!!   and i doubt that he'll return to ape-form,  dark beast is still around, and i think he may be taking a more active role after messiah complex.

[The Hitman]

Not a fan. I don't know why. I think it has something to do with Marvel's facination with "Feral Characters." But, then again, I'm not a "cat person." Or a "Beast person," for that matter. But I am a "Kelsey Grammar person." Weird, huh?

[Podmark]

When I was first told Kelsy Grammer was playing Beast I thought it was a prefect choice...if he got in shape ;)

[BentonGrey]

Ditto Pod, he really was the perfect choice.  I rather wish there was time in the movie to give him a bigger role.

[lugaru]

I really love Cat beast too, I was thinking about it the other day. I think they have stepped up the fact that he has instincts that drive his actions and that he can only overcome them through science, poetry and art. He would be some fleabag ferral villain a la sabretooth if he wasent pretty much one of the smartest and most articulate guys on earth. Also with Grant Morrisons "let's make the Beast into Oscar Wilde" fase subsiding I think he's emerging more as 'the beast' from beauty and the beast, charming in a totally bizarro way.

[Klauser]

Not a fan either.

I know some of it stems from me being an "old-school" XMen fan.  I have to admit I wasn't too impressed when Hank made his first transformation to "blue and furry".  I eventually warmed up to it after Perez's run in the Avengers, and Claremont/Byrnes Dark Phoenix arc.

The retro XMen:Hidden Years was a real treat for me as I got to see the Hank McCoy I remember again.  I cut my teeth on the XMen  Thomans/Adams/Palmer XMen run (56-63).

[SingleMalt]

Have his powers changed any?

Feline physique
After being critically wounded (X-Treme X-Men #2-#4), Hank's body undergoes a secondary mutation, jumpstarted by Sage. The result is a more feline appearance. His strength, speed, and senses increase further with this change. He gains cat-like reflexes and agility, and his senses of sight and smell are enhanced. In addition, Beast develops an accelerated healing factor that allows him to repair mild to moderate injuries within the span of a few hours.

This is from Wikipidia. I've read at other boards that his strength has increased too, along with his new retractable claws. Before in ape form he had sharp nails or talons that where not retractable.

[BlueBard]

I'm not a fan of it, either, but I can live with it.  It's the other things they've done to (ahem!) monkey around with the character that I object to more strongly.

[Figure Fan]

I've pretty much loved Beast in all of his incarnations. Kelsey playing him in X3 was a dream come true for me.

[Protomorph]

I'm fine with it. If he ever loses his furred form again, would he become a bald cat?

[Uncle Yuan]

I'm waiting for mustilid Beast!

[Panther_Gunn]

I'm waiting for mustilid Beast!

Is that anything like Mueselix Beast?  ;)

[doctorchallenger]

Have to say I'm not a fan, but for purposes of full disclosure, I have thought the X-Men franchise has been overextended for years now.

Have his powers changed any?

Feline physique
After being critically wounded (X-Treme X-Men #2-#4), Hank's body undergoes a secondary mutation, jumpstarted by Sage. The result is a more feline appearance. His strength, speed, and senses increase further with this change. He gains cat-like reflexes and agility ...

Question: How are these different from his earlier (apparently ape-like) powers?

Have his powers changed any?

...and his senses of sight and smell are enhanced. In addition, Beast develops an accelerated healing factor that allows him to repair mild to moderate injuries within the span of a few hours.

This is from Wikipidia. I've read at other boards that his strength has increased too, along with his new retractable claws. Before in ape form he had sharp nails or talons that where not retractable.

I think I've heard this one before... rings a bell somehow...

[BlueBard]

Yeah, why not paint Wolverine blue and call it a day, eh?  ;)

In the end, though, it's Hank's intellect that gives him the edge no matter what his powers happen to be.  He could be Weasel Beast (LOL, love that, UY!) and he'd still be a hero.  That's what should define him and make him something besides Wolverine-Lite.

However, having mutated him in this way, it would feel like an extreme cop-out and strain credulity to revert him back.  Unless of course, they reverted ALL of the extra mutations and restored him to something resembling Classic Beast.  Or, possibly, extend his mutation even further to allow him to morph into or otherwise combine different animalistic forms.

Though that would be somewhat messy.  I'm picturing cats' eyes, catlike reflexes and retractible foreclaws, bat-like ears (complete with echolocation), true canine teeth and a canine nose to match, a prehensile tail, ape-like muscles and strength, feet with opposable thumbs, etc.  Won't do anything to cure his social ills.