I’ve been on a huge X-Men kick recently. I’ve gone back to watch the 90’s animated series, X-Men Evolution, rereading old comics and reading the new ones. I love the X-Men, I really do. I grew up with the X-Men and the X-Men have had some rough years, but I’m glad that it seems like, at least in the comics world, that the X-Men are finally getting back to how they were. Today, I want to count down my favorite X-Men out of all of them. There are tons of mutants out there with such a diverse pool of mutant powers in the world that were or are still part of the X-Men.
10. Broo
Mutant Power: Compassion
The Brood is a hivemind of an alien race that cannot feel compassion or kindness, they go to other planets to destroy them and use their resources. The Brood are naturally known to enjoy causing suffrage among their prey. Broo is a mutant among his race because Broo feels kindness and compassion, he was born separately from the Brood hivemind and doesn’t just follow the Queen without question and can make his own decisions. I love this play off of the mutant race in the Marvel universe because Broo is considered a mutant among his own kind and that’s so cool. Even though Broo can look terrifying, I think he’s absolutely adorable when he’s his normal self. Broo did get shot and almost died at one point which is sad, however he did live but with the repercussion of him becoming feral for a time like a normal Brood. Broo is okay now and has become adorable again and is even an Agent of Wakanda.
9. Moira X (Moira Kinross/MacTaggart)
Mutant Power: Reincarnation, Undetectability
It’s only really in recent issues of the X-Men that I really like Moira. Throughout most of Moira’s publication history, she was not a mutant. Moira was an ally and researcher of mutants and would do everything she can to help mutants. However, it’s found out in recent publications that Moira has been a mutant all along and has the power or reincarnation where once she dies she is born again as long as her mutant gene is active. She’s been able to regain consciousness in the uterus as well. Due to this, Moira has actually lived through several different timelines, most of the time trying to figure out how to keep the mutant population alive as most of the futures look extremely grim for mutantkind. Destiny told Moira that these reincarnations only last for a certain amount of times and that she needs to be more careful in the future timelines she’s going to live through. It’s cool that Moira, who has been a power player of a supporter of the X-Men is actually incredibly important for the mutant’s futures and has been trying to figure out a way for mutants to be saved and okay and not face extinction.
8. Polaris (Lorna Dane)
Mutant Power: Magnetic Field Manipulation
Polaris is known as Magnet’s daughter and she has powers just like him though she’s not as powerful. Polaris started off as a villain, but joined the X-Men after being saved from the brainwashing of Mesmero. She played an important part in helping defeat Krakoa by launching the living island into space with Storm’s help. Though Polaris doesn’t quite stay with the X-Men for too long at a time, it is really cool that she’ll help her fellow mutants if they ever need her. She’s had a long relationship with Havok and a semi-distant relationship with her father. Though Lorna tries to be a relatively kind and peaceful person, she has had several moments where she mentally breaks down and will stop at nothing to destroy her enemies.
7. Rogue (Anna Marie)
Mutant Power: Power Absorption
Many know who Rogue is and her powers. Rogue is a super cool character as this Southern Belle is a hard hitter. A fact that some people might not be aware of, Rogue absorbed Carol Danvers, the now Captain Marvel, powers and held onto her for so long that Rogue had her powers for many years. Currently, Rogue might actually have Wonder Man’s powers permanently due to the same incident. Rogue has always been an interesting character to me because even though her powers hinder her from touching people, she still tries to maintain a pretty optimistic and happy demeanor. If you’re only familiar with Rogue through the movies, then this might sound off because in the movies she’s very sad at all times. Sure, she falls into a slump sometimes, especially during the early days of her time in the X-Men, but she does her best to still be a positive person and that’s something really cool about Rogue. Though I think she deserves to be with someone better than Gambit, I’m glad she’s happy with him.
6. Mirage (Dani Moonstar)
Mutant Power: Telepathy, Empathetic Illusion Casting
Mirage is probably more known now due to the New Mutants move that had come out. Mirage is such a cool character. Her powers are so interesting and I love how they grew throughout the years. So at first, Mirage was only able to cast these illusions that would embody the nightmares of whoever she was trying to summon the illusion for. These illusions looked and felt really real. In more recent years, after she got her powers back because she was depowered during House of M, she’s able to cast illusions of anyone’s desires which makes her powers more pleasant than the used to be, but she can still cast illusions of nightmares if she wants to. A fun fact about Mirage is that she used to be a valkyrie for Asgard. She once found an injured pegasus and nursed it to health. Mirage has an affinity with animals having empathy toward them. Due to this and helping the pegasus that was from Asgard, she was granted the powers of valkyrie at one point and was such a bad ass. The pegasus she helped became her pegasus named Brightwind that she still has to this day.
5. Storm (Ororo Munroe)
Mutant Power: Atmokinesis
Storm is a classic X-Men. When people think of the X-Men, Storm is definitely one of the first characters that people will think of. Storm is by far one of the greatest characters in the Marvel universe, let alone the X-Men. She’s one of the leaders and has been a consistent figurehead for the X-Men. It’s even speculated that she might be a Goddess, for real, and not just the Goddess of Thunder. Storm is a really well composed character and keeps calm. She has to for the most part because her weather powers are connected to her emotions, so if she were to become upset, the weather around her would become devastating. Storm is an Omega-Level mutant which is already an indication of how powerful she is. Storm was also once married to Black Panther, it’s unfortunate that their marriage was annulled because I found their relationship with each other to be quite good. Regardless, Storm is a fantastic character and a wonderful X-Men.
4. X-23/Wolverine (Laura Kinney)
Mutant Power: Bone Claws, Healing Factor
X-23 got the Harley Quinn treatment meaning that she first originated in a cartoon series and gained so much popularity that she was created into a character in the comic books. X-23 originated in X-Men Evolution. Her history in both X-Men Evolution and the comics are really similar as she was created as a clone of Logan. X-23 is a tragic character, she grew up abused in a lab with only one person that cared for her that got murdered. It took a long while for X-23 to become the character she is today who took up the mantle of Wolverine after Logan had died at one point. She’s been doing an amazing job as well, even having a sidekick that she regards as a younger sister. X-23 is a character that some people overlook especially ever since she became the Wolverine because she’s not the Wolverine that people are familiar with. Laura is Wolverine and as someone who was created as a living weapon it’s amazing that she would cast away her lab name and take up the mantle of her father figure.
3. Psylocke (Elizabeth Braddock)
Mutant Power: Telepathy, Telekinesis, Psionic Weaponry
Psylocke is actually quite a strange character in terms of who she is. For those who don’t know, Elizabeth Braddock is the Psylocke many people know, but it’s actually her consciousness that is in the body of a Japanese assassin Kwannon who also has similar powers as a mutant. Betsy is currently Captain Britain, and is the sister of the former Captain Britain and had a very long history before having her consciousness swapped with Kwannon. With this strange history, it’s really no surprise that anyone would get lost in the details. With that aside though, Psylocke is an amazing character to read. She’s really powerful since she can create these psionic weapons. Her telepathy and telekinesis is quite powerful as well, but she’s mostly known for her martial prowess than anything else. Psylocke is also known to have bloodlust, she’s pretty prone to killing people because it satisfies her. She’s a relatively dark character that people don’t quite seem to notice.
2. Marvel Girl/Phoenix (Jean Grey)
Mutant Power: Telekinesis, Telepathy
Jean Grey has had a long history in the Marvel universe, being the first female student of the Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and becoming one of the most dangerous and powerful characters. Jean Grey is most notoriously known as the Phoenix as she was once the Phoenix Avatar. She was able to connect with the Phoenix Force, which is a cosmic entity of life and death, which gave her cosmic levels of power. There’s a whole saga dedicated to this character in the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix saga which gave her amazing character development. The sad thing about Jean Grey is that there are so many retcons and different interpretations of her and the Phoenix Force that it’s honestly really hard to tell which is canon at this point and which isn’t. Regardless, Jean Grey is a fascinating character and definitely a character that has grown a lot over the years. She’s developed into a character that many could enjoy reading about.
1. Colossus (Piotr Rasputin)
Mutant Power: Organic Steel, Super Strength, Super Stamina, Super Durability
If you were to ask me who my favorite superhero is, I would tell you it’s Colossus. Hands down, Colossus is my boy. This guy is the embodiment of the gentle giant trope as he is such a huge guy, but such a softie at heart. Though he wouldn’t hesitate to throw down, he would much rather paint and be a pacifist. He’s had a history of changing teams due to things that have happened to him as he was once part of Magneto’s Acolytes at one point. However, Colossus’ heart is always in the right place as he wants to do the right thing. The guy sacrificed himself to get rid of the Legacy Virus and will almost always shield his comrades with his mutant power. Even when he didn’t have his mutant power for a little while after the events of Avengers vs. X-Men, he would still throw himself in front of his comrades like a shield. Colossus also had the powers of the Juggernaut and the Phoenix at one point which gives him even more cool points in my book since it’s not every hero out there that you would know that has had 2 powerhouse superhero powers or names. Currently, however, Colossus has practically retired on fighting and has taken up a more peaceful life of farming on the island nation of Krakoa with other mutants. Even though I would love to see him in action some more, only time will tell if he starts getting into a scrap again.
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