Destiny (Irene Adler)

Destiny is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141, published on October 21, 1980.

Destiny's civilian identity is Irene Adler, a blind mutant with precognitive abilities that allow her to accurately predict future events. Initially, Destiny was depicted as an adversary of the X-Men and member of the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by her wife Mystique, the two having raised Rogue together. Although originally portrayed as one of the X-Men's enemies, in other storylines Destiny has functioned as an ally.

Decades after her death, Destiny was resurrected by Mystique during the Krakoa Age of X-Men in 2021. In this era, it was revealed that Destiny was the Irene Adler featured in Sherlock Holmes stories, her rivalry with Moira MacTaggert was established, and the pivotal role she plays in the history and future of mutantkind. A 2023 storyline revealed it was actually Destiny who gave birth to the X-Men superhero Nightcrawler, rather than Mystique; the two conceived him after Mystique used her abilities to take on a male form. In 2024, Destiny and Mystique will renew their vows, marking the first depiction of a female-female wedding in Marvel Comics.

Destiny has received significant attention, particularly for her relationship with Mystique, being one of Marvel's earliest queer characters; their relationship has often received praise. Destiny also received attention for the revelation of her status as Nightcrawler's mother, which was praised for adhering to Claremont's original design for the characters.