7 Lost X-Men We Still Want Back

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The X-Men are now Marvel’s most popular team. While being an Avenger used to be the fastest way for heroes to become famous, the Uncanny X-Men comic became Marvel’s leading title – driving sales and shaping the entire publishing line. This made the X-Men the place where characters truly became stars. Heroes like Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Gambit, Rogue, and Jubilee became more popular than even the classic heroes from Marvel’s early days, thanks to their time with the team. Being an X-Man became the best way to gain widespread recognition, and it’s significantly boosted the careers of many heroes.

As a huge X-Men fan, I’ve noticed something interesting over the years. There are always a few core members, but some characters pop up, become really popular, and then… vanish! They bring this special something – that cool, mysterious vibe – to whatever X-Men storyline they’re in (seriously, I love how they can just tack an ‘X’ onto anything and it works!). There are seven X-Men in particular that I’d be thrilled to see make a comeback. It would give the writers so many fresh options and new stories to tell!

7) Quicksilver

Okay, so everyone usually thinks of Quicksilver as an Avenger, which is fair, but he was part of X-Factor for a while, and it’s easy to forget that. After the “Onslaught” event, he was practically the last Avenger standing on our Earth (616!), and he briefly hung out with the X-Men. It wasn’t a long stint, but it was fun having him around, and honestly, I’d love to see him stick with them for a good run. Everyone always focuses on Scarlet Witch, but I think Pietro is the more interesting character—I even think the ‘Son of M’ storyline was stronger than ‘House of M,’ and I wish more people agreed! The good news is, he’s actually coming back to ‘Uncanny X-Men’ (Vol. 6) with a new girlfriend, Monet, and I’m really hoping this time he’ll stay with the team for a long time.

6) Polaris

I remember when Polaris first joined the X-Men way back in the Silver Age! She was a part of the team until they revamped everything with the All-New, All-Different lineup. Chris Claremont, who I think is a brilliant writer, brought her and Havok back in the mid-80s, and she’s been on and off the team ever since, most recently during the Krakoa era in X-Men (Vol. 6) #1-12. Honestly, I wasn’t too upset when she left and kind of faded into the background – I didn’t really like how Gerry Duggan handled her character. But I really think it’s time for her to return. She’s one of the classic, dependable X-Men, and someone who understands that being a hero isn’t always glamorous. They could really use that perspective right now.

5) Northstar

Northstar started his career as a superhero with Alpha Flight, where his and his sister Aurora’s abilities – super speed, flight, and control over light – made them a formidable duo. He later joined the X-Men in the early 2000s and quickly became a standout member, known for his witty and confident personality. Sadly, he was killed by Wolverine while under mind control, but was brought back to life by the Hand. Eventually returning to his normal self, he rejoined the X-Men before moving on again, and later appeared in the X-Factor team during the Krakoa era. Northstar is incredibly powerful, capable of moving at the speed of light, and he’s well aware of it. His confident attitude makes him a fun teammate, and the X-Men could benefit from his charm. And, his husband, Kyle, is a great guy too.

4) Thunderbird II

Chris Claremont’s return to the X-Men in 2000 didn’t go well, and it marked the introduction of the character Thunderbird II. Neal Shaara, a mutant with fire-based powers, was originally intended to be named after a Hindu deity, but the editorial team mistakenly believed that all people of Indian descent were the same and instead gave him the name Thunderbird II. Neal was a promising character who deserved more development, and it’s unfortunate he didn’t get it. Because so little of his story was explored, bringing him back could be a great opportunity. It would be fantastic if a writer – perhaps Ram V, if he were to return to Marvel – could give him a proper, culturally relevant Indian superhero name and storyline.

3) Chamber

Chamber first appeared in the Generation X comic series. He was presented as the team’s central male figure—a British mutant with incredible psychic energy contained within his body. This energy tragically burst forth, destroying part of his face and granting him the ability to project powerful energy blasts and communicate through telepathy. While he briefly joined the main X-Men team in 2001, he hasn’t been prominently featured since, mostly appearing in later volumes of Generation X and New Mutants. The original Generation X series was excellent, and Chamber was a standout character, but he hasn’t reached his full potential. It’s time for him to return to the team and get a significant storyline.

2) Sage

Although Sage recently appeared in X-Force during the Krakoa era and at the start of the current X-Men run, it’s been a long time since she was a core member of the X-Men. Originally recruited by Professor X as a powerful telepath and computer expert, she worked undercover for him within the Hellfire Club as Tessa. She also played a role on the X-Treme and X.S.E. teams in the early 2000s. After about twenty years, it’s definitely time for Sage to rejoin the main X-Men team and put her tech skills to work as a vital support hero.

1) Warpath

I’ve always been a huge fan of Warpath! He’s such a powerful and skilled mutant, truly one of X-Force’s most dangerous members. It was great seeing him come into his own with the X-Men in the mid-2000s, especially after being recruited by Emma Frost. His history is fascinating – being the brother of Thunderbird and inheriting the same abilities, then going from battling the New Mutants to joining them and eventually X-Force. I particularly loved his run when John Francis Moore teamed up with Adam Pollina on X-Force – those issues are a little hard to find, but they really showcased his potential. Getting those vibranium knives from Storm in 2006 was a perfect moment, and it felt right when he joined the main X-Men team. While he was around during the Utopia era, he never quite got the spotlight he deserved, but it was cool to see him rejoin the New Mutants in the Krakoa age, and more recently in Weapon X-Men. He hasn’t been gone long, but I really think Warpath deserves a permanent spot as a core muscle on one of the main X-Men teams – he’s just that good!

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2026-06-06 17:14