5 ‘00s X-Men Stories You Can’t Miss

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The X-Men have a long and storied past, and many fans consider the 1980s their peak. While the 1990s were also a successful period, the writing wasn’t quite as strong. The 2000s were still an enjoyable time to be an X-Men reader, starting with a welcome return by Chris Claremont. The decade then saw contributions from acclaimed writers like Grant Morrison, Joss Whedon, Ed Brubaker, and Mike Carey, alongside artist John Cassaday. Though there were some missteps (let’s not dwell on the Chuck Austen years!), the 2000s produced some excellent X-Men stories. It was also during this time that Marvel began to sideline the X-Men, arguably culminating in the events of House of M.

The 2000s were a mixed bag for Marvel’s X-Men, with some fantastic stories and a few misses. While many focus on the all-time greats, there are some underrated gems from that decade. Here are five X-Men stories from the 2000s that every Marvel fan should experience, showcasing why it was a strong period for the team, despite the challenges that would come later.

5) Uncanny X-Men #383

Look, Chris Claremont’s return to the X-Men didn’t quite live up to expectations overall, but there were definitely some gems in that short run. For me, Uncanny X-Men #383, with art by Adam Kubert, really stands out. The story throws the team into a dangerous situation in Russia – they’re kidnapped by this new type of mutant called Neo while helping out a Russian military contact, and Storm is the only one who escapes to try and rescue them. It’s a really fun, fast-paced, over-sized issue, mostly set in a Russian nightclub, and honestly, it’s better than it has any right to be! Kubert’s art is just stunning, and Claremont really nailed the character work. I thought the Neo were a cool addition, and the flashbacks added a lot to the story. I loved it so much back in 2000 that I literally read it to pieces – the cover fell off! It doesn’t get talked about enough, so do yourself a favor and find a copy – you won’t regret it.

4) “Rise and Fall of the Shi’Ar Empire”

Ed Brubaker gained widespread recognition in the 2000s due to his popular work on Captain America. In 2006, he turned his attention to the X-Men, starting with X-Men: Deadly Genesis, which introduced the new character Vulcan, the third Summers brother. He continued this storyline in Uncanny X-Men with a twelve-issue epic called “Rise and Fall of the Shi’Ar Empire,” created with artists Billy Tan and Clayton Henry. This story follows Havok and Xavier leading a team of X-Men in pursuit of Vulcan, who is seeking revenge against the Shi’Ar Empire. It significantly developed Vulcan’s character, reintroduced the Starjammers, and kicked off nearly two decades of complex storylines surrounding the Shi’Ar throne. While Brubaker’s overall run on Uncanny X-Men had its ups and downs, this twelve-issue arc is considered a standout achievement. It’s a thrilling story that consistently impresses readers and is widely regarded as the best Shi’Ar storyline not written by Chris Claremont.

3) “Supernovas”

Mike Carey began his long run on X-Men with the storyline “Supernovas” – the longest run since Chris Claremont. While it’s considered one of the best X-Men stories of the 2000s, it doesn’t get discussed as much as it should. Carey, alongside artists Chris Bachalo and Clayton Henry (who frequently filled in on X-Men in 2006-2007), gave Rogue a second chance to lead a team. She assembled a unique rapid response unit – Iceman, Cannonball, Cable, Omega Sentinel, Sabretooth, Mystique, and Lady Mastermind – to protect mutants after the events of House of M. Their mission: to fight the Children of the Vault, a group of posthumans determined to wipe out what’s left of mutantkind. “Supernovas” is a thrilling story that really establishes the personality of this new team. I particularly enjoy Bachalo’s artwork from this period, though the switch to Henry’s style can be a bit noticeable. Overall, “Supernovas” is excellent and worth checking out if you enjoy unconventional Marvel teams.

2) New X-Men #132

As a huge X-Men fan, I’m telling you, Grant Morrison’s New X-Men run is the best the franchise has seen this century. Seriously, I could have filled a whole list with just those issues! But if I had to pick one to highlight, it’s New X-Men #132. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, honestly. The story takes place after the destruction of Genosha, and things get weird – people are reporting ghosts are haunting the island where they’re trying to build a monument to Magneto. Xavier, Jean Grey, Storm, Quicksilver, and even Toad head over to investigate. It’s a really touching, but also unsettling story, and it grabs you immediately. Morrison really leaned into a darker, almost Vertigo-esque vibe here. And Phil Jimenez’s artwork? Absolutely stunning. It perfectly captures the mood of the script. It’s a shame this issue gets overlooked, especially with the bigger reveals later in the run about Magneto, but it’s easily one of the best single-issue X-Men stories ever.

1) “Ghost Box”

When X-Men fans discuss Astonishing X-Men, they often refer to the popular run by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. However, I’m highlighting the briefer, but equally compelling, run by Warren Ellis, which began with the fantastic story “Ghost Box.” The X-Men have relocated to San Francisco, and Cyclops’ team now includes Storm, Emma Frost, Wolverine, Armor, and Beast – following her marriage to Black Panther. The discovery of an unknown mutant’s death leads the team on a quest to find the killer, uncovering a hidden multiversal conflict between their ally Forge and mutants from an alternate reality. Ellis, alongside artist Simone Bianchi, delivers a truly imaginative story that blends the grand scope of Grant Morrison’s X-Men with the strong character work of Whedon’s run. It’s exceptional. I highly recommend the collected edition, which also includes the two-part series Astonishing X-Men: Ghost Boxes. While it’s out of print and can be difficult to find, it’s well worth the effort.

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2025-11-21 19:17