Beast is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a founding member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men. When he was first introduced, the Beast is a mutant who possesses ape-like superhuman physical strength and agility and oversized hands and feet, though he otherwise appears to be a normal human being. Throughout his history, the Beast undergoes progressive transformations to his physiognomy, permanently gaining increasingly animalistic physical characteristics. These include blue fur,feline facial features, pointed ears, fangs, and claws. His physical power increases to even greater levels, as do his senses.
Despite his inhuman appearance, he is a brilliant man of the arts and sciences; he is a world authority on biochemistry and genetics, the X-Men'smedical doctor, and the science and mathematics instructor at the Xavier Institute (the X-Men's headquarters and school for young mutants). He is also a mutant political activist. Fighting his bestial instincts and fears of social rejection, the Beast dedicates his physical and mental gifts to the creation of a better world for man and mutant. He also has a witty sense of humor.
One of the original X-Men, the Beast has appeared regularly in X-Men-related comics throughout the years. He has also been a member of the "all-star" teams the Avengers and Defenders. In X-Men: The Last Stand, he was played by Kelsey Grammer, and in X2, Steve Bacic portrayed him in a very brief cameo in a newscast scene as a human. Nicholas Hoult portrays the younger version of the character in the 2011 prequel X-Men: First Class, and the upcoming 2014 sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past.
