[Phantasm]

SAVAGE LAND MUTATES

The Savage Land Mutates are a team composed of natives of the Savage Land who have been altered to superhuman – and some of them inhuman – forms by an unknown master to do his bidding (see Savage Land).

In their first recorded exploit, the Mutates attacked the X-Men, who were visiting the Savage Land for other reasons (see X-Men). The Mutates were defeated, but as the Savage Land is not under any one nation's jurisdiction the X-Men let them go.

Some time later, the Mutates – minus Equilibrius and Piper, but with the addition of three new members: Vertigo, Whiteout, and Worm – took control of a crowd of people in Rio Di Jinero, Brazil, during the annual Carnival there (see Equilibrius; Piper; Vertigo; Whiteout; Worm). This drew the attention of the Avengers, who defeated the Mutates and turned them over to the Brazilian authorities (see Avengers).

Apparently the Mutates were deported back to the Savage Land by the Brazilian authorities.

At one point, three of the Mutates – Sauron, Whiteout, and Worm – apparently either left the team or were assigned by their mysterious benefactor to serve the sorceress Zaladane, who was attempting to conquer the Savage Land for herself (see Sauron; Zaladane). This brought them into conflict with Ka-Zar, Shanna the She-Devil, and the Fall People tribe, but the three escaped capture and returned to their benefactor (see Ka-Zar; Shanna the She-Devil).

Some months later, the Mutates came into conflict with the visiting Brotherhood of Mutants while the latter team was separated from their leader, Magneto (see Brotherhood of Mutants; Magneto). At this time, the Mutate Lorelei betrayed the Mutates to join the Brotherhood's ranks (see Lorelei).

Where and when the Mutates will appear next is anyone's guess.