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Cerebro (; ; ) is a fictional device appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the device first appeared in X-Men #7 (September 1964). Cerebro is a device used by the X-Men, primarily by their leader, Professor Charles Xavier, to detect and locate humans, particularly mutants. It was originally created by Professor X and Magneto, and later upgraded by Hank McCoy / Beast.

Concept and creation

thumb|upright|Cerebro in X-Men #7 (September, 1964 Marvel Comics). Art by [[Jack Kirby.]]

Cerebro first appeared in X-Men #7 (September 1964), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Professor Jeffrey J. Kripal, in his 2011 book Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal, calls Cerebro "a piece of psychotronics" and describes it as "a spiderlike, Kirby-esque system of machines and wires that transmitted extrasensory data into Professor Xavier's private desk in another room". Kripal notes that Cerebro made multiple subsequent central appearances, including Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975), where Cerebro senses and locates a supermutant across the globe, resulting in the recreation of the X-Men team.

Cerebra is destroyed during a battle between the X-Men and Inhumans over the remaining Terrigen Mist cloud. After discovering her body, the X-Men determine that Cerebra's body is beyond repair and upload her into a new body.

At the start of the Krakoan Age, it is revealed that Forge created a version of Cerebro that not only was capable of merely detecting mutant minds but also creating a copy of each mutants' mind. This version of Cerebro is portable and can be worn as a helmet. Xavier has five working Cerebro Cradles: one main unit, three backup units, and one additional backup unit.

Other versions

In Chris Claremont's X-Men: The End storyline, which takes place some 20 years ahead of standard X-Men continuity, Cerebro has been replaced in turn by the disembodied brain of Martha Johansson.

In the universe of Marvel Zombies, zombified versions of Beast and Mr. Fantastic reprogram Cerebro to help them and the other zombies track down the last remaining humans on Earth. Cerebro locates many in the European nation of Latveria, but all escape. In Marvel Zombies Return, the surviving zombies escape to another world where many of them restart the original infection, this time permanently fusing Professor X's partly zombiefied body with Cerebro so that he can find humans for them.

In the MC2 universe, the X-People carry "mini-cerebros", that can detect mutants just as well as the full-size version.

In other media

Film

thumb|200px|right|Cerebro, as seen in the X-Men films.

  • Cerebro appears in Generation X (1996). This version is a desktop personal computer with a few custom peripherals.
  • In the films X-Men and X2: X-Men United, Cerebro is a device that fills a massive spherical room in the basement of Xavier's School. The helmet interface is similar to the version seen in the comics, although the bulk of Cerebro's machinery is contained in the surrounding walls. While in use, three-dimensional images of the humans whose minds are being scanned by the device appear around the interface bridge. Unlike the comics' version of Cerebro, the film version can detect both human and mutant minds with ease.
  • In X-Men: First Class, an early version of Cerebro exists in an unnamed CIA science facility, built by Hank McCoy to amplify brainwaves. In a slight departure from the source material, its creation and design is attributed to McCoy rather than Charles Xavier. Cerebro is later destroyed by Riptide.
  • In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Cerebro appears in the future X-Jet as a built in extension to Xavier's hoverchair and is made up of three sensor-pads and a 3D holographic projector. In the past, it appears as it did in X-Men and X2, albeit dusty from neglect.
  • Cerebro appears in X-Men: Apocalypse where Xavier uses Cerebro and sees Moira MacTaggert searching for Erik. Xavier tells Havok to destroy Cerebro after Apocalypse takes control of Xavier's powers through Cerebro.
  • In this alternate timeline of Logan, Cerebro has become a covering at Logan and Charles Xavier's home at an abandoned smelting mill in Mexico.
  • Cerebro appears in Deadpool 2 when a depressed Wade Wilson/Deadpool is trying to use the Cerebro at the X-Mansion to "look into the future."
  • Cerebro appears in Dark Phoenix when Xavier uses it to navigate Jean Grey's mind and later to locate Grey, Magneto, and Beast.

Television

  • Cerebro appears in X-Men: The Animated Series. It is primarily used by Professor Xavier and he was shown to use it in various ways, such as detecting mutants, increasing his powers, and even understanding Shi'ar technology. The X-Men's Blackbird jet is equipped with a version of Cerebro.
  • Cerebro appears in X-Men: Evolution. This version is initially a computer console with custom peripherals that came out of a hidden wall component in the mansion. Cerebro is later destroyed by Juggernaut; after it rebuilt, Cerebro is given a dedicated room. A portable version of Cerebro is also constructed for travel and field missions.
  • Cerebro appears in Wolverine and the X-Men. In a potential future, Professor X recovers the remnants of Cerebro and uses them to send messages to the past X-Men. In the present day, the X-Men repair Cerebro with help from Forge and Angel.
  • In the 2010 series Black Panther, Storm uses Cerebro to locate Juggernaut in Wakanda.
  • An early version of Cerebro appears in the Legion episode "Chapter 22".
  • Cerebro appears in the M.O.D.O.K. episode "The M.O.D.O.K. That Time Forgot!", where it is found by MODOK in a S.H.I.E.L.D. storage facility.
  • Cerebro appears in X-Men '97.

Video games

  • Cerebro appears in X-Men Legends. This version is modeled after the device's film incarnation.
  • Cerebro appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
  • Cerebro appears in Marvel Puzzle Quest.
  • Cerebro appears as a playable card in Marvel Snap.
  • Cerebro is referenced as a four-part event titled "Cerebro Database" in Marvel Rivals.

Merchandise

  • In 2025, Lego released a Cerebro toy as part of the "LEGO X-Men X-Mansion" set.

References