31 Years Ago, Marvel Introduced the Underrated X-Men Team They’ve Never Used Properly Since

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While not the very first superhero team to get its own spin-offs, the X-Men have definitely had the most success with them. The first of these was the New Mutants, a group of young mutants learning to control their abilities and navigate the challenges of being superheroes. Teen superhero teams have a long history, going back to groups like the Young Allies in the Golden Age and even the original X-Men and Teen Titans in the Silver Age. New Mutants quickly became popular with fans and paved the way for other teen mutant books, including X-Force. However, X-Force was different – it wasn’t a training group. In 1994, Marvel decided to create a new, updated version of the team for a ’90s audience.

The comic series Generation X launched after the peak popularity of the X-Men. Though interest in mutants had cooled slightly from the hugely successful 1991 reboot, a dedicated fanbase remained. While often compared to a ’90s version of the New Mutants, Generation X offered something unique. Throughout the years, it’s consistently been one of the most overlooked X-teams, despite introducing fantastic characters and a truly underrated story arc, Generation Next. Marvel hasn’t fully capitalized on the potential of this team, even with its strong foundations.

Generation X Introduced Classic Characters and Gave Readers Something Special

Scott Lobdell’s Generation X immediately stood out. Having been the lead writer on Uncanny X-Men since 1992, after the original Image founders departed, Lobdell is a somewhat divisive figure in ’90s X-Men lore – capable of brilliant work, but also occasionally uneven. Generation X is widely considered one of his successes. He was joined by a distinctive art team: Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham, who had previously collaborated at DC on titles like Shade the Changing Man, Death: The High Cost of Living, and Death: The Time of Your Life.

The art by Bachalo and Buckingham perfectly complemented Lobdell’s vision for the comic. Generation X embraced the idea of mutants as outsiders, which fit right in with the grunge, goth, punk, and alternative culture of the 1990s. While the team included conventionally attractive mutants like Jubilee, Synch, and Monet, it also featured characters with strikingly unusual appearances. Chamber’s powers had destroyed his jaw and chest, Skin was covered in extra skin resembling melting wax, and Penance was a silent, wild girl with diamond-hard red skin. Adding to the team’s unique look were Husk, who peeled off her skin to transform, and Mondo, who was essentially made of living earth. This made Generation X arguably the most visually unconventional mutant team ever assembled.

The series focused heavily on the emotional lives of teenage mutants as they navigated newfound powers and physical changes in incredibly dangerous situations. Artists Bachalo and Buckingham gave the book a distinctive, gritty visual style that perfectly captured the mood of the 90s. Emma Frost and Banshee led the team, with the story drawing on Emma’s background as a teacher and her dedication to helping mutant children live fulfilling lives. The team dynamics were strong, and villains like Emplate (who reappeared throughout the series, even possessing Synch for a time), a particularly terrifying Black Tom Cassidy, Dark Beast, and Toad provided compelling challenges. Lobdell excelled at writing realistic character interactions, and he created a book that genuinely resonated with me as a 90s teenager – the characters felt relatable and like people I knew.

When Bachalo departed, Tom Grummet took over the art, but Bachalo returned near the end of Lobdell’s time with the series and remained when James Robinson became the writer. While Robinson’s run wasn’t as strong as the initial issues, it still excelled at the book’s signature: unique and compelling character dynamics. The addition of Franklin Richards, Artie, and Leech further enhanced the cast, keeping the series enjoyable. However, a reboot called “Counter X,” featuring writers Warren Ellis and Brian Wood alongside artist Terry Dodson, attempted a dramatic shift in direction. It focused too much on traditional superhero tropes and lost the series’ distinctive strangeness, leading to its cancellation. The team later returned in 2017 with a largely overlooked run by Christina Sprain and Amilcar Pinna, bringing back Jubilee, Chamber, and Husk alongside a new generation of young mutants who echoed the spirit of the original ’90s lineup.

While the New Mutants found success within the broader X-Men universe, only Jubilee from Generation X has become truly popular. Marvel attempted to elevate characters like Chamber and Husk in the early 2000s, but the Uncanny X-Men comic didn’t resonate with readers, and those efforts failed. Monet has also been given opportunities, but hasn’t broken through. For some reason, these characters haven’t found lasting success beyond the unique world of Generation X, which remains a fondly remembered, standalone series.

Generation X Was a Moment that Will Never Be Replicated

When Generation X first launched, it quickly became popular. Its debut issue stood out with a striking, metallic cover and eye-catching red and gold costumes. The first issue was a strong introduction to the characters and the overall story, and the series continued to improve. Unlike previous X-teams like New Mutants or X-Force, Generation X forged its own unique identity and perfectly captured the spirit of the 1990s. Writer Lobdell aimed for a character-driven, mature, and somewhat frightening take on mutant stories, and it was a huge success. The characters were compelling, the artwork was beautiful, and the whole team felt distinctly ’90s.

Looking back, I think the reason this story resonated so much was because it was perfectly timed for the ’90s. It had this raw, almost gritty vibe – think Nine Inch Nails music videos – that really captured the youth culture of the time, and the characters just fit together. When Marvel tried to bring it back in the 2010s, it didn’t really take off, even though they did a lot of the same things. I personally loved it, but it felt like Generation X was always a little too cool for this world, and honestly, that original ’90s run was just magic.

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2025-12-11 22:20