Mutant apartheid Genosha is located off the east coast of
Africa, to the north of
Madagascar, and boasted a high standard of living, developed economy, and freedom from the political and racial turmoil that characterized neighboring nations. However, Genosha's prosperity was built upon the enslavement of its
mutant population. Mutants in Genosha were the property of the state and children who were positively identified with the mutant gene were put through a process developed by
David Moreau, commonly known as the Genegineer, stripped of free will and made into "mutates" (a term for those who gained superpowers from external sources rather than possessing them innately). The Genegineer was also capable of modifying certain mutant abilities to fulfill specific labor shortages. Citizenship in Genosha is permanent and the government does not recognize any emigration. Citizens who attempt to leave the country are tracked down and forcibly brought back to the island by the
Press Gang, consisting of Hawkshaw, Pipeline, Punchout, and
Wipeout. Mutant problems are handled by a special group known as the Magistrates. In the
X-Tinction Agenda storyline, the X-Men and their allies rescue their teammates
Storm,
Meltdown,
Rictor and
Wolfsbane from Genoshan brainwashing, toppling the government after discovering their alliance with former
X-Factor ally turned mutant hater,
Cameron Hodge, and that
Havok was one of the Magistrates since having his memory wiped by the
Siege Perilous. Havok, woken from his conditioning by his brother
Cyclops, kills Hodge.
Conflict and Magneto's reign A new Genoshan regime that promises better treatment of mutants is put in place after Cameron Hodge's death. X-Factor returns to Genosha to help restore peace between its government and a rogue group of superpowered beings who fled the island. The
United Nations cede control of Genosha to Magneto after he demands to establish a mutant nation. Magneto and his Acolytes reestablish a modicum of peace and stability until civil war breaks out between him and the remaining humans on the island, led by the Magistrates. Magneto eventually defeats the Magistrates and restores order to the island. Genosha had a population of sixteen million mutants and a stable, advanced society. However, the entire island was reduced to rubble and its mutant population murdered by
Cassandra Nova's
Sentinels. There were few survivors, many having been evacuated.
Xavier's leadership Magneto and Charles Xavier join forces to rebuild Genosha, as detailed in the series
Excalibur vol. 3 (2004). This goes badly as foreign military forces have thrown up a cordon around the island; no one is allowed to enter or leave. A few survivors and mutants who wish to help with the rebuilding process remain on the island, including
Callisto,
Freakshow, and
Wicked.
Necrosha and beyond During the 2009 event
Necrosha,
Selene travels to Genosha, having been led there by
Blink and
Caliban. She uses the
Technarch virus to resurrect the millions who died in Cassandra Nova's attack. Selene is eventually defeated and killed, thus ending the effect of the corrupted Techno-organic virus in the bodies she revived and returning Genosha to an empty land. During the "
One World Under Doom" storyline, Genosha is re-established as a republic called Gigosha. ==Other versions==