5 Best Things 2020s X-Men Comics Brought To Marvel’s Mutants

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The X-Men started the 2020s strong. A 2019 reboot by writer Jonathan Hickman with the House of X/Powers of X series led to exciting new runs of titles like X-Men, Excalibur, X-Force, Fallen Angels, and the introduction of books like Marauders. These comics were incredibly popular, and fans were really enjoying them. Looking back five years later, things haven’t been quite as consistently positive, though fans have still been treated to many excellent comics created by top talent.

The X-Men have faced a lot of challenges recently, and with their introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe still to come, big changes are happening. Despite the uncertainty of the last few years for the team, these five ideas have generated the most excitement and positive attention.

5) Ultimate X-Men

Few predicted the return of the Ultimate Universe at the start of the decade, but 2023 changed everything. The new Ultimate line has become a fan favorite at Marvel, especially for X-Men readers who have embraced Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men. This series has been a standout success, offering a unique horror manga take on the X-Men with a story centered around Japanese mutant schoolgirls. It’s been a truly exciting series, standing apart from most American superhero comics thanks to Momoko’s captivating storytelling and beautiful artwork, making it a real treat for fans of the mutant team.

4) The Cyclops Push

Cyclops is a core X-Men character, though he hasn’t always been the most prominently featured. Over the past two decades, however, he’s experienced a resurgence in popularity and is once again a central figure in the X-Men universe, making it a fantastic time to be a fan. Since his return in 2019, he’s been a leading character in the main X-Men comics, often portrayed as a mutant version of Captain America – but with even more depth. The 2020s have been a particularly strong period for the character, and if you’re not already a Cyclops fan, now’s the time to become one!

3) The “From the Ashes”/”Shadows of Tomorrow” Solo Books

The ‘From the Ashes’ era hasn’t been perfect, but the new direction after the Krakoa period has some clear benefits. A major success has been the launch of solo character books – and there are more on the way with ‘Shadows of Tomorrow’. We expected a Wolverine series, but it’s great to see books dedicated to Storm and Phoenix right away, followed by Laura Kinney: Wolverine, Psylocke, and Magik. Cyclops and Rogue are each getting their own limited series, and that’s likely just the beginning. While not every series was a huge bestseller, they performed well enough to warrant continuations. Marvel took a risk by focusing on characters who haven’t always had their own books, and fans have really responded positively.

2) Gail Simone On Uncanny X-Men

Gail Simone has become a celebrated figure in the comic book world. Starting as a blogger, she’s created many fantastic series for readers over the years. Recently, she took on the Uncanny X-Men title as part of the “From the Ashes” relaunch, and her work has been incredibly strong with each issue. The series feels reminiscent of classic X-Men stories by Chris Claremont, focusing deeply on characters and emphasizing the team’s family dynamic. Simone has also introduced some of the most compelling new mutants in recent memory with the Outliers. She’s delivering a team book that’s easily the best Marvel has to offer, consistently satisfying fans every month. This run is already becoming legendary, and it keeps improving.

1) The Krakoa Era

The Krakoa era of X-Men wasn’t without its flaws – many fans had criticisms. But overall, it was a remarkably strong period for the franchise. Spanning four major storylines – “Dawn of X”, “Reign of X”, “Destiny of X”, and “Fall of X” – it detailed the entire story of the mutant nation of Krakoa, from its hopeful beginnings to its eventual decline. The era allowed many characters to take center stage and produced fantastic series like Immortal X-Men, X-Men Red, Hellions, Wolverine, and the A.X.E. Judgment Day event, along with memorable stories like “Sins of Sinister”. It was a genuinely exciting time for the X-Men, and for a while, it felt like anything was possible, with fans consistently finding something to love.

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2026-01-01 21:16