7 Great X-Men You Forgot Were Awesome

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The X-Men first became hugely popular in the late 1970s and remained the most beloved team in comics for over two decades, until the mid-2000s. They introduced iconic characters like Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and Jean Grey, who became household names. While the most famous members often received the most attention, the X-Men’s strength always came from the entire team. Even lesser-known members consistently added unique qualities and were vital to their success, though they aren’t always the ones people remember.

Marvel’s X-Men started as a small part of its larger universe, but have grown into a huge world with many fantastic characters. While some X-Men are incredibly popular, others deserve more recognition. Here are seven often-overlooked members who were truly exceptional.

7) Bishop

Bishop first appeared in *Uncanny X-Men* #282 and quickly became a prominent character in the X-Men comics of the 1990s. He’s a mutant police officer from a bleak future where the X-Men were wiped out by a hidden traitor, and he traveled back in time to stop Trevor Fitzroy. His ability to absorb energy proved to be a valuable asset to the team. However, after the truth about his future was uncovered, Bishop struggled to find a consistent role. Writers experimented with different storylines, trying to find the right fit for him. He’s played both heroic and villainous parts, and surprisingly, he’s good at both. This period of experimentation ultimately made Bishop a more complex and versatile character, giving writers a wide range of possibilities for his stories.

6) Warpath

Warpath is the brother of Thunderbird, one of the X-Men’s earliest losses, and became a member of X-Force in the early 1990s. He shares his brother’s powers – incredible strength, speed, stamina, and heightened senses – but often served as the team’s powerhouse. He eventually joined the main X-Men team in the late 2000s during the “Rise and Fall of the Shi’Ar Empire” storyline, receiving vibranium knives from Storm and taking on a role similar to Wolverine: a tough, independent fighter with impressive weapons. Although his potential wasn’t always fully utilized on the X-Men, he later moved to Wolverine’s X-Force. Warpath is a compelling character who brings strength and a warrior spirit to any team, and his relatively undefined personality allows writers a lot of creative freedom.

5) Darwin

While Marvel has introduced several overpowered characters, Darwin’s abilities are particularly remarkable. As a mutant, Darwin’s body automatically adapts to overcome any threat, essentially making him invulnerable. He isn’t a deeply developed character beyond his powers, but those powers are incredibly versatile. Darwin could fill almost any role a writer needs, and it’s surprising he hasn’t been explored more fully. He represents a huge amount of untapped potential, and many fans hope a writer will soon give him a more prominent role.

4) Monet

Monet St. Croix, also known as M or Penance, is one of the X-Men’s most powerful and confident members. From the start, back in her debut with *Generation X*, she’s never been shy about her incredible abilities – which include super strength, flight, invulnerability, telepathy, and a diamond form with deadly claws. Though she hasn’t been on many X-Men teams, Monet is consistently a standout character and a joy to read. She has the potential to be a core member of any team, and it’s time writers fully utilized her skills.

3) Rachel Grey-Summers

While Jean Grey is known as the Phoenix, Rachel Grey-Summers is a more compelling character to wield such immense power. Originating from the dystopian future depicted in “Days of Future Past,” Rachel was sent back in time to prevent that grim reality. Since then, she’s gone by several names – Phoenix, Marvel Girl, Prestige, and Askani – and has been a member of various X-Men teams like Excalibur, X-Factor, and X-Force. Rachel’s complex backstory, jumping from one difficult future to another, often makes her a confusing character, but it’s also what makes her interesting. She pioneered the idea of bringing X-Men from the future to the present, and is a significant figure in X-Men history. Unfortunately, many writers seem hesitant to fully explore her unique circumstances, which is a missed opportunity. Rachel deserves better than being relegated to a supporting role, like simply being Captain Britain II’s girlfriend – she’s a classic X-Man in her own right.

2) Cable

Nathan Summers, known as Cable, is the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor. He became a fan favorite X-Man in the 1990s. Sent to a dystopian future ruled by Apocalypse, Cable learned to cope with a dangerous techno-organic virus infecting him. Returning to the present, he became a key soldier for the X-Men, even creating the team X-Force before embarking on many solo missions. Though he officially joined the X-Men in 2000 and has been a member several times, Cable is often overlooked. Despite his skills with weaponry, he’s also a powerful psychic with strong telepathic and telekinetic abilities, most of which he uses to control the virus. It’s a recurring mistake that Cyclops doesn’t include his son when assembling teams of mutant fighters.

1) Cannonball

Sam Guthrie, known as Cannonball, has had a long and varied career with the X-Men. He started as one of the original New Mutants and later became Cable’s right-hand man in X-Force, eventually leading the team himself. While leading X-Force, the team operated in secret and weren’t fully trusted by the main X-Men, but Cannonball eventually earned a place on the core team after the ‘Age of Apocalypse’ event. He remained with the X-Men for years before rejoining Rogue’s team. More recently, he’s returned to both the New Mutants and X-Force, and even served with the Avengers. Currently, he’s married to Smasher, a Shi’Ar Superguardian, and they live together on Chandrilar with their child. Cannonball’s powers – including kinetic energy-based flight and a powerful force field – make him a formidable fighter, and his history highlights the value of the New Mutants. Many fans hope to see him lead his own X-Men team someday.

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2025-10-12 19:12