5 Great X-Men Rosters Nobody Talks About

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Everyone seems to think the Avengers are Marvel’s most popular team these days, and they’re definitely up there, but when you look at the bigger picture, the X-Men have actually been more popular for a long time. Since the late 1970s, the X-Men have consistently delivered fantastic comic book stories, largely because of the team’s dynamic rosters. The various lineups, like the iconic Blue Team from the 90s, have captured the public’s imagination and allowed for incredible storytelling. There have been many other popular X-Men teams over the years as well.

Throughout X-Men history, several incredible team lineups have been overlooked. These rosters were behind some of the most memorable and impactful stories, providing creators with fantastic material. Here are five teams that deserve more recognition for their contributions.

5) The Ellis Astonishing X-Men Team

Warren Ellis’s run on Astonishing X-Men is often overlooked, but its team lineup was a major highlight. It built on the previous roster – Cyclops, Emma Frost, Wolverine, Armor, and Beast – by adding Storm. This team had a great dynamic: Wolverine and Armor played the roles of tough mentor and witty student, Emma and Storm constantly traded barbs, and Beast and Cyclops acted as the team’s voice of reason. They were a powerful and entertaining group with a perfect blend of personalities, capable of tackling any challenge. It’s a team I highly recommend!

4) The Faulty and Students of Wolverine’s Jean Grey School

The comic series Wolverine and the X-Men delivered some of the most unique and enjoyable X-Men stories since Grant Morrison’s run on New X-Men, largely due to its large and diverse cast. Wolverine ran a school with a memorable faculty including Beast, Kitty Pryde, Iceman, Husk, Toad, Doop, Rachel Summers, and Dani Moonstar, and a student body featuring characters like Temper (who went by Oya at the time), Quentin Quire, Broo, Kid Gladiator, Evan Sabah Nur, and Anole, among others. The series was so successful because writer Jason Aaron expertly used the interactions between these characters to create a truly entertaining experience for readers.

3) Rogue’s Rapid Response Team

The short-lived Rogue’s team was a particularly memorable concept following the House of M event. It was a fascinating mix of heroes – including established X-Men like Cable, Cannonball, and Iceman – and villains like Mystique, Lady Mastermind, and Sabretooth, plus the powerful Omega Sentinel. The team dynamic, built on existing relationships and rivalries, provided writer Mike Carey with plenty of compelling story possibilities during his run on X-Men. While the team’s inherent conflicts ultimately caused problems for the X-Men, that unpredictability was also what made it so engaging.

2) The Joe Kelly/Steve Seagle Run

When Joe Kelly and Steve Seagle took over the X-Men comics in 1997, the team had a huge number of members. After ten issues, they streamlined the lineup, creating a core group of eight X-Men. This team included established heroes like Colossus, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Storm, Wolverine, and Rogue, alongside the newer addition of Marrow. Gambit later joined the mix. This roster was known for being effective and had a good history of teamwork, with Marrow bringing a bit of unpredictability. They remained the main X-Men team throughout the late 1990s, appearing in memorable storylines like “Hunt for Xavier” and “The Magneto War,” as well as the acclaimed run by Alan Davis. It’s a shame this particular team is often forgotten, as they were truly excellent.

1) Morrison’s New X-Men Team

Grant Morrison’s New X-Men is considered the high point of the X-Men franchise in the 21st century, largely due to its incredible team lineup. The series began with a powerful core group – Xavier, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Wolverine, and Emma Frost – whose clashing personalities and histories immediately created compelling drama. Later additions like Beak, Angel Rodriguez, Xorn, and Fantomex further expanded the possibilities, allowing Morrison to explore fresh storylines and directions that captivated readers. This team was ideal, letting the writer reinvent classic X-Men themes while still embracing the soap opera-like elements that have always made the books so enjoyable. It was a truly formidable and entertaining group of heroes.

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2025-11-30 16:14