KLEINSTOCK BROTHERS

 

KLEINSTOCK BROTHERS

Real Name: Eric, Harlen, and Sven Kleinstock

First Appearance: The Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #298, March 1993

Powers: The Kleinstock Brothers were identical triplets with independent and gestalt mutant abilities. Though never explicitly stated, each man may have possessed an individual mutant energy power: Eric demonstrated the ability to fly thanks to a bio-kinetic propulsive field, however all three demonstrated superhuman strength, the ability to project explosive plasma blasts from their hands, also pyrokinetic powers enabling the projection of high-temperature flames.

When touching each other, the Kleinstocks could share and amplify each other's powers, i.e. Sven and Harlen joining hands and both projecting flames at twice the temperature one could produce alone. They could also physically merge into a single Kleinstock body, either double or triple the normal size, with a similar increase in terms of strength and resistance to physical injury. After Eric Kleinstock's death, though, the remaining Kleinstocks were markedly different. Neither demonstrated flight or pyrokinetic powers again, did not join into a giant Kleinstock again, and were both able to project plasma blasts. Furthermore, Sven and Harlen were both notably larger from their second appearance on. This change may have occurred if Sven and Harlen used their powers to absorb Eric's body into a triple Kleinstock as he was dying; instead of saving their brother's life, this action divided Eric's mass permanently between the two, making each 50% taller, stronger, and more muscular than before. This altered their powers, though, leaving them with only the plasma blasts of their three original powers.

Later still, the Kleinstocks for some reason merged halfway with each other, becoming a single pair of legs supporting twin torsos growing out from them. No explanation was given for this change, so it remains possible that Eric's split mass may have been involved, and somehow necessitated Sven and Harlen merging in order to sustain themselves.