Hank & Early Girlfriends

Before he joined up with the X-Men, Hank had at least two short-term girlfriends in high school.

Jennifer Nyles

At some point, Hank had a friend/girlfriend named Jennifer Nyles in high school.

X-Men Origins: Beast. Issue #1

In Marvel Comics Presents #85-, we learn that Charles Xavier mind-wiped Jennifer Nyles, and Hank loses his shit.

Marvel Comics Presents #85

marvel comics presents #86

Jennifer, as we learn, was the girl that Hank completely confided in. She even ditched her junior prom date to go find Hank - going as far as renting him a tux for the night.

It looks like in earlier comics, Jennifer was depicted as having blonde hair, while the version of her in X-Men Origins shows her with red hair.

Continuing with Marvel Comics Presents, we learn that Jennifer stood up for Hank. His parents were pretty certain that he was in love with her. Hank, though, states that they were "just friends" and best friends.

When Hank does get to see her again, it's because she is a keynote speaker at a conference in Belgium on mutant research. Dr. Jennifer Nyles.

marvel comics presents #86

Dr. Jennifer Nyles, as it is revealed, is involved in a Belgian Ministry of Defense project involving "techno-organics" and genetic reprogramming called Project Were-Borg. Jennifer's main role was to reprogram the human mind for the project. Running the project was Victor Von Doom, Henry Gyrich, Madison Jefferies, and Tony Stark.

There is a big skirmish and Jennifer almost dies. Hank's quick thinking saves her, but at the cost of losing her recollection of him again. He does manage to give her a mind-jolting kiss before almost losing her.

Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #92

Mindy

Mindy went on a date with Hank in high school to a county fair.  We learn about this date when Mindy meets up with Dark Beast, who she believes to be her version of Hank.  She recounts the group date just before Dark Beast kills her.

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X-Men Unlimited issue #10

Uncanny X-Men. Issue #50

Is this Mindy or Jennifer from early Uncanny X-Men comics? We don't know for sure, but general thought is that this is Jennifer.

Source:

• Beast (Henry McCoy). Marvel Comics. (2026). https://www.marvel.com/characters/beast-henry-mccoy

• Carey, Mike. (Nov 2008) X-Men Origins: Beast. Issue #1. (Illustrator ). Marvel Comics.

• Drake, Arnold. (Nov 1968) "--Hail Queen of Mutants!" Uncanny X-Men. Issue #50. (Illustrator J. Steranko). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (July 1991) "Just Friends Part One." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #85. (Illustrator R. Liefeld and J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (Aug 1991) "Just Friends Part Two." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #86. (Illustrator R. Liefeld and J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (Sept 1991) "Just Friends Part Three." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #87. (Illustrator J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (Oct 1991) "Just Friends Part Four." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #88. (Illustrator J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (Nov 1991) "Just Friends Part Five." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #89. (Illustrator J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (Dec 1991) "Just Friends Part Six." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #90. (Illustrator J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (Jan 1992) "Just Friends Part Seven." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #91. (Illustrator J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Lobdell, Scott. (Feb 1992) "Just Friends Part Eight." Marvel Comics Presents. Issue #92. (Illustrator J. Lee). Marvel Comics.

• Waid, Mark. (Mar 1996) "Beast vs Beast: Meet The Real McCoy." X-Men Unlimited. Issue #10. (Illustrator F. Toscano and N. Gnazzo). Marvel Comics.