10 Biggest Milestones That Defined X-Men History

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The X-Men have had a long and interesting journey. When they first appeared in comics during Marvel’s popular Silver Age, they didn’t initially connect with readers the way other young heroes like Spider-Man and the Human Torch did. But things turned around in the 1970s, and the X-Men eventually became one of the most successful teams in comic book history. Since then, they’ve expanded beyond comics to become a major part of popular culture, appearing in cartoons, movies, and video games.

The X-Men are known for their incredible stories, and over the years, certain events have become truly defining moments for the team. These milestones have shaped the X-Men into who they are today, and the ten listed here are the most significant, providing some of the most memorable scenes in comic book history.

10) The End of Krakoa

For five years, the Krakoa Era revitalized the X-Men, but all good things must come to an end. While fans enjoyed the status quo, large-scale changes are rare in modern superhero comics, particularly with the need to align with movies and other media. The era concluded with the “Fall of X” storyline, which spanned all the X-Men titles from late 2023 into the summer of 2024. Specifically, issues X-Men #35 and Uncanny X-Men #700 marked the end of the Krakoa Era and repositioned the team within the Marvel Universe.

9) Avengers vs. X-Men

The 2012 event Avengers vs. X-Men is often overlooked, but it was a pivotal moment in Marvel Comics. Created by a team of writers and artists including Brian Michael Bendis, Jonathan Hickman, and John Romita Jr., it concluded a storyline called ‘Schism’ and led to Bendis becoming the primary writer for the X-Men. More importantly, the event restored the mutant population’s powers after they had been diminished in the House of M storyline. Though the X-Men later faced challenges again, Avengers vs. X-Men established the foundation for their current prominence in the Marvel Universe.

8) House of X/Powers of X

Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz, and R.B. Silva’s House of X/Powers of X launched the incredibly popular Krakoa Era for the X-Men. After years of Marvel downplaying the mutants due to film rights issues, this storyline became the biggest event for the X-Men in a long time. It brought fresh ideas to the comics, established a sovereign nation for the mutants, and revitalized lesser-known characters. The Krakoa Era has now become a cornerstone of Marvel’s mutant universe and a defining part of X-Men history.

7) House of M

Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel’s House of M dramatically reshaped the X-Men comics for years to come. Released in 2005 as a crossover event featuring both the Astonishing X-Men and New Avengers, the story transported readers to a reality warped by Scarlet Witch, where mutants were incredibly powerful and Magneto governed a mutant nation. The story culminated in Scarlet Witch stripping most mutants of their powers, an event that became central to all X-Men narratives between 2005 and 2012. This pivotal moment paved the way for a fresh direction in X-Men comics, delivering compelling stories for years afterward.

6) “Age of Apocalypse”

“Age of Apocalypse” is one of the most beloved stories in the history of the X-Men. It’s easily the most beloved Marvel alternate universe and has had a huge impact on the team over the last 30 years. The story took the team into an alternate universe where Xavier had been killed before he could found the X-Men. This led to Apocalypse attacking the world, with Magneto forming the X-Men to battle against the ancient mutant dark lord. The story, told over two bookends, nine four-issue miniseries, and two two-issue miniseries, was a watershed moment in the group’s history, and its impact is still felt today in stories like “Age of Revelation”.

5) New X-Men #114

Grant Morrison’s run on New X-Men is considered a high point for the series. Over 40 issues, Morrison revitalized the team, building on what made the X-Men unique while also introducing bold new ideas. This fresh approach truly began with New X-Men #114, where Morrison and artist Frank Quitely modernized the mutants for a 21st-century audience. The issue showcases everything great about the X-Men, with imaginative storytelling and a striking new visual style, and is a landmark moment in the team’s history.

4) X-Men (vol. 2) #1

As a huge X-Men fan, I always say Chris Claremont is the one who really made the team famous. His run on Uncanny X-Men turned it into one of the biggest comics of the eighties! And his final story, with art by Jim Lee, was a total game-changer. It basically relaunched the whole team and set them up for even bigger success. In fact, X-Men (Vol. 2) #1 is still the best-selling comic book of all time – it sold eight million copies! You can even find copies in shops today. Seriously, if you grew up loving X-Men: The Animated Series or are enjoying X-Men ’97 now, you really need to check out that first issue – it’s where a lot of that magic started.

3) “The Dark Phoenix Saga”

“The Dark Phoenix Saga” is a landmark story in Marvel history. Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, it originally concluded the story of Jean Grey and her Phoenix persona – or so it seemed. This saga sparked many ideas that continue to shape the X-Men today. It fundamentally changed Jean Grey’s character, establishing death as a recurring theme in her stories, and altered the team’s overall purpose. Beyond that, it introduced key characters like Kitty Pryde, Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost, and the Hellfire Club. The story is both incredibly well-written and deeply influential to the X-Men’s ongoing narrative.

2) “Days of Future Past”

“Days of Future Past” is a groundbreaking X-Men story that revolutionized comics, though it’s often overlooked. If you enjoy stories set in bleak, alternate futures, this classic by Claremont and Byrne is a must-read. It introduced the dark, Sentinel-dominated future to the X-Men universe, and created the origins for beloved characters like Rachel Summers, as well as memorable villains like Ahab. Its popularity led Claremont to revisit the storyline, and it’s one of the few X-Men tales directly adapted into a major motion picture. This two-part story perfectly captures everything fans love about the X-Men, and remains a significant piece of both X-Men and Marvel history.

1) X-Men (Vol. 1) #101

X-Men #101, created by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, is a surprisingly overlooked story when fans discuss the most significant X-Men issues. This issue introduces the Phoenix Force, which would become central to the team’s history and the broader Marvel Universe. It’s hard to imagine the X-Men, or even Marvel itself, without the Phoenix Force, as it influenced nearly every major storyline from its debut through “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” This issue is a hidden gem and deserves more recognition for its lasting impact on the team and its characters.

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2026-01-12 02:43