Religion: Hindu 
Name: Kali
Classification:
villain
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: X-Men (vol. 2) #81 (Nov. 1998): "Jack of Hearts, Queen of Death!"
Creators: Joe Kelly, Andy Kubert, Mark Farmer
Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes
Number of Appearances: 1
Gender: female
The woman known only as "Kali" (presumably named after the Hindu goddess) was clearly paranormal and had super-powers, but it was never clear whether she was a mutant or not. It is quite possible that Kali is not a mutant. A number of sources identify her as a "paranormal," but not a mutant.
Kali attacked the mutant X-Men named Rogue and Gambit in the Mapparium (headquarters of the Christian Science Monitor in Boston, Massachusetts).
Kali had enhanced physical abilities, including the ability to release destructive energy.
As Rogue and Gambit battled Kali, it became clear that she was litening to voices in her head. Was she insane? Was she imagining these voices? Or was she actually obeying promptings from a Hindu deity, perhaps the original Kali herself?
Kali appears on the cover of X-Men (vol. 2) #81, the story in which she is introduced, battling Rogue and Gambit. The cover blurb clearly alludes to the role of Kali in the Hindu pantheon as the goddess of death: "Rogue and Gambit Reunited--But Will It Be In Death?" The title of the story, as given on the interior title page, also alludes to Kali's role in Hinduism: "'Jack of Hearts, Queen of Death!"
This was the only story in which Kali appeared. Much about this woman, including her origin, background, and motivations, remains a mystery? Is she truly a Hindu? This would seem to be the most reasonable way to classify a woman who names herself (or was named) after a Hindu goddess and to a large extent patterned her actions and speech after Hindu theological concepts associated with Kali (or at least a popular Western notion of Kali). But there may not be internal verification within the story itself that the woman known as "Kali" identifies herself as a Hindu or worships as a Hindu in any formal way. On the CBR scale, one might regard Hinduism as this character's "defining" characteristic, or one might think of it as "unconfirmed/uncertain." But on balance, it might be ridiculous to ignore the obvious Hinduism of this character regardless of whether or not the "H" word ("Hindu") was used in this story.
Kali was very clearly religious in her motivations and worldview. When she first encountered Rogue and Gambit, she proclaimed that She proclaims that she is Kali, and that the time had come for her to "rain death on the Earth," and that this was an event that had been foretold by "the prophets."
When Kali was injured after battling Rogue and Gambit, she mumbled to herself, "This... this was supposed to be my day... the day I became a Goddess...." So not did she see herself as fulfilling the will of (presumably Hindu) prophets, she believed that she was meant to become a goddess.
Perhaps Kali was simply a deranged Hindu woman who happened to be a mutant. Or perhaps there was something much more going on behind the scenes.
X-Men (vol. 2) #81 (Nov. 1998): "Jack of Hearts, Queen of Death!"
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=28347
- http://marvel.wikia.com/Kali_(Paranormal)
- http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1008
- http://www.marvunapp.com/master/kalkam.htm
- https://www.comics.org/issue/84824/
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=4203
- http://marvel.wikia.com/X-Men_Vol_2_81