13 Years Ago, A Controversial X-Men Era Officially Began (But It’s Aged Like Milk)

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The X-Men are consistently one of Marvel’s most popular teams, thanks to a long history of fantastic storylines created by many talented writers and artists. Chris Claremont famously saved the series from cancellation and turned it into a huge success. Grant Morrison then took the team in bold new directions, updating them for the 21st century. More recently, Jonathan Hickman revitalized the entire X-Men universe with a fresh and exciting vision. These storylines are largely considered classics that define key periods in the X-Men’s history, though not every iteration has been a hit with fans.

Today marks the thirteenth anniversary of the first issue of Uncanny X-Men (2013). This series, written by acclaimed author Brian Michael Bendis, began what is considered the most divisive period in X-Men history. It followed the disastrous Avengers vs. X-Men storyline and had the difficult task of revitalizing the franchise. While it succeeded in some ways, it also sparked a lot of debate, and remains controversial even now. The run is a mixed bag – it has moments of brilliance alongside some truly awful parts, and certain choices continue to be criticized. Despite its flaws, however, this era of Uncanny X-Men remains an important and significant part of the X-Men’s overall story.

All the Potential in the World

Brian Michael Bendis took over the X-Men at a crucial moment. Following the death of Charles Xavier at the hands of Cyclops, mutants were deeply divided over the future – whether to uphold Xavier’s vision of peaceful coexistence or prepare for war with humanity. Cyclops believed war was unavoidable and, alongside Magneto and Emma Frost, began assembling a team to fight it. He made Magik a core member of the X-Men and brought in new students like Eva Bell, Triage, Morph, and Goldballs. This group formed the basis of a revamped X-Men, shifting the focus towards a more military-style school.

This series offers a fantastic exploration of Cyclops’s character, completing his development into the reluctant leader mutants needed. He’s deeply opposed to violence and the idea of turning Xavier’s peaceful vision into a war, but feels it’s unavoidable and believes he’s the only one who can take on the responsibility. He’s prepared to use force if necessary, but truly hopes it won’t come to that. The series also finally gives Magik the prominence she deserves, establishing her as a key character. By connecting the X-Men’s history from their beginnings to the present day, it creates a lot of suspense as global opposition to mutants grows. While the series had a lot going for it, it ultimately didn’t quite live up to its full potential.

A Mixed Bag of Brilliant Misses

This comic is classic Brian Michael Bendis – if you already enjoy his style, you’ll probably like this series. However, many feel this isn’t his best work. It has some familiar flaws, like characters who don’t really grow and dialogue that doesn’t always feel natural. The beginning is strong, but the story loses momentum after a few issues, becoming repetitive and ultimately ending without a satisfying conclusion. It’s worth noting that many Marvel stories around this time were cut short by the Secret Wars event in 2015.

While the ‘Cyclops Revolution’ arc initially gave the character a welcome fresh start, it ultimately went too far, almost turning Cyclops into a villain. The plot felt disjointed, with interesting ideas clashing with the overall narrative. The storyline about the X-Men battling over Xavier’s will was compelling, but its ending was unnecessarily complicated and unsatisfying. However, the biggest problem with this comic was its insistence that mutants could only survive by opposing humanity. Though stories about mutant persecution and near-extinction were common, this comic definitively established that peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans was impossible – a theme that continues to resonate in their stories today.

This X-Men story arc marks a particularly low point for the team and kicked off a difficult period. While it has some truly inspired ideas and strong scenes, these are bogged down by underdeveloped characters and a sluggish pace. It’s an okay read, and not among the worst X-Men stories ever told, especially when you consider the stories that came before and after. Ultimately, though, I’m relieved that this direction for the X-Men is over.

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2026-02-13 21:12