Jimmy in the film, and code named Leech on a file handed to Beast) is a child, however, unlike the comics, he speaks normal English and has no outward physical mutations, but he does have an absence of hair. His power automatically cancels the mutation of any mutant that comes within an area of only a few feet around him, even including reversing physical mutations such as Hank McCoy's blue fur: when Hank reaches out to shake Jimmy's hand, his own hand loses its furry blue appearance; the mutation returns once he pulls it away. Leech plays a pivotal role in the film as the source of a newly-created "cure" for the mutant X-Gene, the cure being a sort of retroviral gene therapy using Leech's DNA, that allegedly permanently cancels the mutation of any mutant. Magneto plans to kill Leech, who is being kept at the cure-producing facility, set up in Alcatraz, thus destroying the cure's source and effectively preserving the mutant species. Magneto and his newly expanded Brotherhood of Mutants attack the facility, which is defended by federal troops before they are joined by the X-Men. During the X-Men's fight against the Brotherhood, Juggernaut is sent in to kill Jimmy and Kitty Pryde races to save Jimmy from him. She reaches Leech before Juggernaut (who is also a mutant in the film), and defeats him by using Leech's nullification power against him, taunting him into charging right at them, and then moving them both out of his way as he comes close enough for his power to be canceled, causing him to knock himself out against a wall. Kitty and Jimmy then escape the building through the holes that Juggernaut smashed on his way in. Later, Jimmy is seen evacuating Alcatraz Island with the help of Pryde, and they receive further help from Bobby Drake. At the end of the film, Jimmy is seen as a member of the Xavier Institute with a full head of hair and is received by the new leader, Storm. The effects of the cure were later proved to be temporary as the powers of Magneto and Rogue returned at a later point. References External links Leech at Marvel.com Cerebro's Files: Leech Characters created by Chris Claremont Comics characters introduced in 1984 Fictional illeists Marvel Comics film characters Marvel Comics male superheroes Marvel Comics mutants Marvel Comics orphans X-Factor (comics) Fictional characters with anti-magic