10 Best Things to Happen in the X-Men Comics

The X-Men are known for facing constant hardship, almost as much as Spider-Man. It often feels like they’re battling some new, human-created threat determined to destroy them simply for existing as mutants. While the comics are filled with attempts at mutant genocide, it’s important to remember the team has also had incredible success. At their height, the X-Men were Marvel’s most popular team, and they hold the record for the best-selling single comic issue of all time – X-Men #1 from 1991. You can’t achieve that level of popularity if all your stories are just relentlessly depressing.

Let’s take a look back at the X-Men and highlight ten of their greatest moments! Everyone could use a little positivity, and these heroes deserve it. We’ll be focusing on the most impactful events – those that had the biggest, most uplifting effect on the team, both emotionally and in terms of their overall journey. Let’s dive in!

10) The Krakoan Era

This entry is last on our list because the Krakoa era had both significant strengths and weaknesses. While built on some questionable decisions and a storyline that didn’t quite deliver, it undeniably brought the X-Men back from over a decade of declining popularity, boosted by the success of the movies. Krakoa brought all the different X-Men teams together, giving them a common purpose and a strong sense of identity. It established a new, vibrant mutant community, something the X-Men had been missing for years. Though not flawless, Krakoa was ultimately the revitalization the X-Men needed.

9) New Mutants are Formed

As a huge X-Men fan, I’ve always felt the original New Mutants team was a game-changer. Before them, it was just the core X-Men, but they proved you could have multiple teams of mutants working at the same time – expanding the whole universe in a really exciting way. And it wasn’t just about quantity; it signaled that the X-Men world wouldn’t be limited to that first generation of students. It promised us more mutants, more teams, and a future for the franchise. But honestly, what I loved most was how the New Mutants brought back that teen drama that was so strong in the early X-Men comics. They really focused on what it felt like to be a teenager suddenly discovering you had powers, and the struggles that came with it. Before them, the X-Men had kind of lost touch with that adolescent angle, and the New Mutants really brought it back to the forefront.

8) Kitty Pryde Joins the Team

When Kitty Pryde joined the X-Men, it revitalized the team with relatable teen storylines and paved the way for many future successes. She brought a fresh, youthful viewpoint that nicely balanced the experience of the older members. Fans connected with her journey as she grew up alongside them, offering a unique way to see the world. And, let’s not forget what a fantastic character she is – she gave us the iconic “Professor Xavier Is a Jerk!” issue and meme, which is legendary in itself.

Kitty Pryde pioneered the idea of including a younger, almost apprentice-like character within the X-Men who could eventually become just as skilled as the core team members. Jubilee, for example, wouldn’t exist as we know her without Kitty’s influence. She’s a beloved character and an important piece of X-Men history that fans would be devastated to see disappear.

7) School Expansion in Morrison’s New X-Men

Grant Morrison’s work on New X-Men is highly acclaimed, and one of its most significant achievements was reimagining Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Morrison expanded the school from a place where just a few mutants trained into a full-fledged academy with hundreds of students. This shift meant the X-Men took on teaching roles, demonstrating their growth and forcing them to mature even further. While education was always a part of the X-Men’s story, it was usually secondary to their adventures. This change allowed the series to fully explore the educational side of the X-Men while still delivering exciting superhero action.

6) Cyclops’s Development

Professor X envisions a better future and provides the direction for the X-Men, while Cyclops is the one who takes practical steps to make that vision a reality, even in a difficult world. Cyclops began as a straightforward field leader, but he’s become a central figure for all mutants in the Marvel Universe. He’s a pragmatic character who continues to fight for what’s right, even when he’s lost faith, determined to secure a place for mutants in the world. He’s grown into one of Marvel’s most skilled strategists and leaders, and his journey reflects a significant personal transformation.

Cyclops has consistently been a central figure for the X-Men and the entire mutant community. He’s the person everyone relies on, and remarkably, he’s been able to change and become whatever is needed at the time – from a disciplined leader to a radical revolutionary, and even a symbol of hope like Captain America on Krakoa. Cyclops is the core of the X-Men, and his development as a character is one of their biggest successes.

5) God Loves, Man Kills

This X-Men story perfectly embodies the heart of the team and its core themes, making it an ideal introduction for anyone unfamiliar with the franchise. It essentially defines what the X-Men are all about – a foundational story for the entire series. Remarkably ahead of its time, this comic was both mature and insightful, and its themes remain powerfully relevant today. The conflict between the X-Men and Reverend Stryker is a classic struggle that encapsulates everything that makes the team special.

4) “The Dark Phoenix Saga”

This event is largely responsible for the X-Men’s popularity and success. It fundamentally changed the direction of the team and remains one of their most celebrated stories. Beyond its exceptional quality, it expanded the X-Men’s scope from Earth to the cosmic level, establishing a lasting connection with the Shi’ar Empire. The story also introduced the incredibly powerful Phoenix Force, which has had a huge impact on the entire Marvel Universe. It was a visually stunning, emotionally powerful, and imaginative story that continues to resonate with readers today. It truly stands the test of time.

3) Giant-Size X-Men #1

Before this particular issue, the X-Men weren’t doing well at all. The comic was on the verge of cancellation and was mostly reprinting old stories. But this issue completely changed things, introducing a new team of adult heroes who were diverse, compelling, and exciting. This version of the team remains incredibly popular, and many of these characters have appeared in X-Men comics ever since. It revitalized the series, allowing future stories to fully explore the deeper themes the X-Men represented. This issue essentially launched the X-Men as we recognize them today.

2) Magneto’s Origin Retcon

Magneto is now considered a complex character in Marvel, often blurring the lines between hero and villain. But when he first appeared, he was a typical supervillain focused on taking over the world and eliminating humanity. Learning about his past as a Holocaust survivor dramatically changed him, turning him into one of Marvel’s most relatable villains. This transformation has allowed Magneto to be a central figure in the X-Men’s greatest stories and has enabled his character to truly develop.

As a longtime X-Men fan, I always appreciated how they connected Magneto and Professor X. It wasn’t just about powers; they made them two sides of the same coin – Charles believing mutants and humans could live together, and Magneto convinced mutants needed to take control before it was too late. That central conflict really drove the comics for years, and it’s why those two characters remain so important to the mutant universe. Honestly, Magneto is one of Marvel’s most complex characters, and while he wasn’t initially written that way, that backstory change really unlocked his potential and allowed him to become the compelling figure he is today.

1) Chris Claremont’s Run

Chris Claremont’s work with the X-Men is considered the best in the series’ history. While some of his stories already appear on this list, his entire run as writer is number one because he fundamentally shaped the X-Men into the team they are today. For over fifteen years, he crafted some of the most significant and well-written stories in comic book history, essentially defining the characters and their world. He took a struggling, unpopular team and built them into the most popular in all of comics – a feat entirely attributable to his writing.

It’s impossible to overstate Chris Claremont’s influence on the X-Men. Simply put, the team wouldn’t be what it is today without him. Even if the X-Men still existed, a different writer would have created something unrecognizable, losing almost everything fans cherish. Claremont shaped the X-Men for over fifteen years, and every subsequent writer has built upon the foundation he created.

Here are ten of the most memorable moments in X-Men comic book history. Which one stands out to you the most, or is there another event you’d consider the greatest?

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2025-11-05 22:17