Meet Cassandra Nova, Professor X’s terrifying twin

WHO IS CASSANDRA NOVA?

Cassandra Nova, the evil twin sister of Professor X, debuted in NEW X-MEN (2001) #114 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. Despite her human appearance, Nova is a Mummudrai, a psychic parasite in Shi’ar mythology that acts as a dark reflection of a person.

While Xavier was in the womb, Nova used her immense latent power to create a body for herself from her brother’s DNA. Sensing his innate curse, Xavier fought Nova and defeated her in utero, cementing his lifelong obsession with defeating him. Despite this early loss, Nova survived and slowly developed a new physical body over several decades.

Since copying Xavier’s genetic code, Cassandra Nova has had all of his immense telepathic and telekinetic power, making her one of the most powerful psychics in the universe. She has been able to use her powers in ways Xavier has not, surpassing even telepathic powerhouses like Xavier, Jean Grey, Rachel Summers, and Emma Frost.

Nova also possesses her Mummurdrai DNA manipulation powers, which allow her to duplicate or alter the genetic codes of others. With these powers, Nova can move her molecules to pass through solid matter, and she can break down the DNA of others at the molecular level.