10 Worst Things To Happen to the X-Men

As a die-hard comic book fan, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the X-Men. They’ve stood tall, shielding a world that often rejects and fears them, earning their place at the pinnacle of superhero lore. Even as the Avengers took center stage in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the X-Men have maintained a prestigious presence, embodying the timeless charm that only “old money” can possess.

You see, the X-Men’s cultural dominance in pop culture was established back in the ’90s, well before the Avengers could match their feat. It’s like they paved the way for the rest of us to enjoy these epic stories. Marvel has been generous enough to gift us with some of the greatest superhero comics ever written, featuring the X-Men and their unique universe. And over the years, this franchise has expanded, carving out its own niche within the broader Marvel universe.

Over time, the X-Men have faced their fair share of challenges rather than just smooth sailing as a longstanding fictional franchise. The high points have been exhilarating, but the deep valleys have left lasting impacts on the X-Men. Occasionally, the troubles originate from behind the scenes, while other times they are evident in the comics themselves. Let’s delve into the 10 most detrimental incidents affecting the X-Men, five from internal conflicts and five storyline decisions that have negatively impacted the franchise.

10) The Image Exodus

During the late ’80s and early ’90s, the X-Men experienced unprecedented success, a significant factor being their striking artwork. Marc Silvestri came on board as penciler for Uncanny X-Men in the late ’80s, and the comic’s visuals were nothing short of breathtaking. This was soon followed by artists such as Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio, and Rob Liefeld taking up the X-Men pen, offering a golden era of art for Uncanny X-Men readers. The artists increasingly influenced the narrative direction of the books, but this came with its pros and cons. As their work became essential to the overall storyline and they gained more creative freedom, they also sought higher remuneration and recognition from Marvel. Marvel was unwilling to grant them ownership rights over the characters they were creating, leading Silvestri, Lee, Portacio, Liefeld, along with Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, and Jim Valentino, to depart from Marvel and establish Image Comics. This mass exodus left Marvel scrambling to keep up. While opinions on the quality of their art may vary, there’s no denying the sales figures they generated. The departure of these artists caused long-term damage to the X-Men books and Marvel, prompting them to adopt a similar emphasis on style over substance approach that the Image founders had exploited financially.

9) Chris Claremont Leaving the X-Men

Chris Claremont significantly elevated the X-Men to iconic status. After the acclaimed launch of Giant-Size X-Men #1, he took charge of the series and crafted some of the finest stories ever written. His unique style combined elements of soap opera character development with captivating sci-fi/fantasy/superhero action. Claremont not only delved into the social themes of the X-Men, addressing civil rights issues in an engaging manner, but also created many of the franchise’s most memorable villains. His reinvention of Magneto transformed the villain into a major character; some might even argue that he redefined the modern interpretation of the character. Most of the successful X-Men concepts originated from Claremont. He penned the series from 1975 to 1991, a remarkable run that is unlikely to be repeated. However, as artists gained more influence over storytelling, Claremont parted ways with the book. This departure was a significant loss for the X-Men’s creative direction. Claremont had numerous ideas for future X-Men comics, many of which surpass Marvel’s offerings in the ’90s. If Claremont had continued on the series during the early ’90s, readers might have been treated to even more exceptional stories, possibly preventing Marvel from adopting a style that prioritized spectacle over substance, which caused substantial harm to the company.

8) Chuck Austen’s Run on the X-Men

During the 2000s, Marvel Comics experienced an intriguing phase. Joe Quesada assumed the role of editor-in-chief, and he introduced fresh talent into the company. One such creator was Chuck Austen, a writer/artist who had previously been a secondary-tier artist, best known for his work on Miracleman with Alan Moore. In the 2000s, Austen’s career took a new turn as he collaborated with Brian Michael Bendis on an Elektra comic and produced a highly praised War Machine series. Marvel, impressed by these accomplishments, promoted him to a prominent position within the company, assigning him Uncanny X-Men. However, his tenure resulted in several years of poorly received X-Men stories.

Although Austen’s story concepts were not necessarily flawed-many of his stories contained an element of intrigue-the execution was lacking. Austen favored the edgy style popular in the early 2000s, but it didn’t resonate well. This was particularly problematic since Grant Morrison was simultaneously producing a critically acclaimed run on New X-Men, setting high standards for X-Men narratives. As a result, Austen’s work was often criticized by fans, yet sales remained steady, allowing him to maintain his position even beyond when it should have ended. If you’re curious about the quality of Austen’s work during this period, you can explore stories like “She Lies With Angels,” “The Draco,” or “Reloaded.

7) Grant Morrison’s Departure from New X-Men

Obtaining Grant Morrison was a brilliant move for Marvel Comics. After disputes with Warner Brothers, Morrison departed from DC Comics, and Marvel seized this opportunity. He took over the X-Men series and transformed it into a contemporary representation of the team. The 40-issue run of “New X-Men” became an exceptional X-Men saga, modernizing classic elements while introducing something fresh – hence the addition of “new” in the title. This run is widely considered the best X-Men storyline of the 21st century. Morrison’s unconventional creativity greatly benefited Marvel’s mutant characters, yet editorial disagreements led to his departure and return to DC Comics. Morrison had numerous X-Men tales he wished to tell, but regrettably, readers missed out due to persistent interference from Marvel editors. The departure of Morrison from the X-Men was a significant loss for both the team and Marvel; we missed the opportunity to see Morrison’s unique take on characters like the Avengers.

6) Jonathan Hickman Leaving the X-Men Before Finishing His Story

Jonathan Hickman is often considered the top comic book writer of the 21st century in the Marvel universe. His work on series such as The Ultimates, Secret Warriors, S.H.I.E.L.D., Fantastic Four, Avengers, and New Avengers, along with event books like Avengers Vs. X-Men, Infinity, and Secret Wars, are widely regarded as some of the best Marvel comics ever produced. When Marvel regained the film rights to the X-Men, Hickman was assigned the X-Men titles and launched the critically acclaimed Krakoa Era. He steered the X-Men in fresh directions and had a clear vision for the series. However, his collaboration with other creators altered his original plan, ultimately leading him to leave the books.

Hickman’s work during the Krakoa Era, as seen in House of X/Powers of X and X-Men, showed promising developments for the series that might have continued if he had remained. Unfortunately, his departure led to a mixed bag of results – while there were some exceptional books following his departure, there was also a lot of poor quality content. It’s impossible to know what could have been if Hickman stayed on board, but it’s certain that the outcome would have been better than what eventually transpired.

5) Graymalkin Prison

The conclusion of the Krakoa Era introduced the new X-Men publishing project, titled “From the Ashes.” While this initiative has shown some inconsistencies, one element in particular highlights its main issue – Graymalkin Prison. After seizing control of the former Xavier Institute’s grounds, the government transformed it into a detention center for mutants, with Warden Ellis carrying out suspicious activities on the imprisoned mutants. The concept of turning the X-Men’s former home into a prison for mutants is intriguing but has thus far only served as material for two underwhelming crossovers – “Raid on Graymalkin” and “X-Manhunt.” Unfortunately, the X-Men have yet to treat this threat with the seriousness it deserves, allowing the government to continue using their old home to commit atrocities against mutants on what should be sacred ground for mutantkind. The X-Men’s complacency in this matter is certainly one of the most problematic aspects of “From the Ashes,” and its existence casts a blemish on the X-Men’s very identity.

4) Evil Charles Xavier

The mentor of the X-Men team, Professor Charles Xavier, has been instrumental in shaping their identity and has long been admired as an advocate for harmony between mutants and humans. However, his image wasn’t always saintly – he devised the Xavier Protocols to annihilate the X-Men, harbored Onslaught within him, and had a romantic connection with young Jean Grey. Despite these flaws, readers and creators held Xavier in high regard.

However, around the mid 2000s, Marvel Comics decided to introduce shades of grey into Xavier’s character. This transformation led to revelations that he had enslaved the sentient Danger Room computer and dispatched a team on Krakoa, erasing their existence from memory before the All-New, All-Different team. As a result, Xavier was portrayed as a villain, with his ideals driving him to extreme measures that damaged his character significantly.

While introducing complexities into characters can be beneficial, Marvel’s decision to change Xavier in this way has been criticized as a mistake. It now seems challenging to restore the respect and admiration once held for Xavier, given the drastic changes to his character.

3) The End of Krakoa

As a passionate admirer of the cinema world, let me share my perspective on the intriguing saga of Krakoa: It stood as the beacon of hope for the mutant kin, offering them sanctuary and safety after centuries of hardship. The mutant nation was formidable, and while their actions were often haughty, it’s challenging to refute their logic given the relentless hostility from humans towards mutantkind. Thus, establishing Krakoa as a sovereign state was indeed a wise move.

However, with the emergence of Krakoa, humanity retaliated through the Orchis Initiative, leading to a frosty standoff between the two entities. This simmering tension culminated at the third Hellfire Gala, where Orchis launched a coordinated strike, effectively dismantling Krakoa in a single swift blow. The fearsome Sentinel Nimrod led this onslaught, resulting in a devastating battle that took the life of Iceman. Jen Grey (Jubilee), Cannonball, Dazzler, Prodigy, every human at the Gala, and Xavier were either killed or captured, forcing Xavier to capitulate. In the blink of an eye, Krakoa was annihilated, leaving the mutant race grappling with the consequences ever since. That fateful night marked a significant loss for the mutants, as they not only lost their home but also their power and security. Despite managing to eventually vanquish Orchis, the reality remains that they have yet to regain all that they once held dear.

2) The Terrigen Mist Clouds

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’d rephrase that captivating comic book event like so:

During Hickman’s epic saga of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, titled “Infinity”, Black Bolt unleashed a formidable weapon, the Terrigen Mists, into our atmosphere. These Mists were the driving force behind the transformations of the Inhumans. However, we soon discovered that these Mists were lethal to mutants. At best, they rendered them infertile; at worst, they snuffed out their lives. This shift in power dynamics was a crushing blow for the X-Men, and Emma Frost capitalized on it by staging Cyclops’s death, which she blamed on Black Bolt.

The X-Men were then compelled to relocate the Jean Grey School into a mystical realm known as Limbo. They evacuated as many mutants as possible, aiming to preserve their species from extinction in this hostile environment. It was an incredibly dark chapter for both the mutant community within the comics and us, the ardent X-Men fans. This unfortunate turn of events marked yet another instance of the world conspiring against mutants.

This tragic state of affairs eventually culminated in a war between the X-Men and the Inhumans, with the Inhumans ultimately choosing to destroy the very Terrigen Mist clouds that had caused so much distress.

1) Scarlet Witch Saying, “No More Mutants.”

In the opening years of the 21st century, the number of mutants significantly increased, giving rise to a fresh cultural movement on Earth. This era was thrilling for fans of X-Men as events unfolded in unprecedented ways. However, the narrative took a dramatic turn with the emergence of “House of M.” The Avengers and X-Men found themselves compelled to address Scarlet Witch following her attack on the Avengers. Quicksilver managed to convince her to establish a world where mutants were supreme. Unfortunately, this plan went awry as anticipated, leading the heroes to work together in an attempt to reverse it. However, Scarlet Witch’s emotional turmoil escalated. Her companions rejected the world she had created, and she attributed her problems to the existence of mutants. This culminated in her proclaiming the fateful phrase, “No More Mutants,” which would reverberate through time. As a result, the mutant population was reduced to just 198, and no new mutants were born. The mutant race found itself in greater peril than ever before, with the X-Men standing as their sole protection against total eradication. This situation brought about numerous unwelcome transformations within the team, pushing them towards a more militant stance than ever before. This event had a lasting impact on the history of the mutant race, shaping every subsequent development in the X-Men comics.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/10-best-x-men-stories-20s-marvel-comics/embed/#

2025-09-05 18:12