7 Marvel Villains Who Became X-Men

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The X-Men have become Marvel’s most successful team, rising from humble beginnings to achieve huge popularity in both comic books and broader pop culture. Over time, the team has evolved significantly, and its success has influenced many other creators. While the X-Men were often innovative, they weren’t entirely original and sometimes borrowed ideas from other superhero groups. One particularly successful concept they adopted was the idea of villains becoming team members. Although not the first to try it, the X-Men have perfected this approach.

The X-Men are known for having incredible villains, and surprisingly, some of their most famous enemies have actually joined the team. These villains were so well-received by fans that they earned a chance to be explored further – and that exploration happened by making them members of the X-Men. Seven Marvel villains have become X-Men over the years, and each had a distinct experience as part of the team.

7) Cyclops

Cyclops is often considered the X-Men’s strongest leader, filling a similar role to Captain America. Though he’s primarily known as a hero, he has also acted as a villain, most famously during the Avengers vs. X-Men storyline. He briefly gained power from the Phoenix Force, which corrupted him and ultimately turned him into the Dark Phoenix. This forced the Avengers and X-Men to fight him together. After being defeated and losing the Phoenix Force, he was imprisoned but later escaped. Interestingly, he then formed his own new team of X-Men, essentially becoming a villain-turned-hero, or at least a complicated one.

6) Lady Mastermind

Mastermind was an early X-Men villain, known for using illusions to control minds as part of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. His daughter, Lady Mastermind, inherited his powers. After the events of House of M, she briefly joined Rogue’s X-Men team, but secretly worked for Mister Sinister with the goal of sabotaging them from the inside. Ultimately, she betrayed the team and aligned herself with the new Marauders, becoming their enemy.

5) Kid Omega

Quentin Quire first came to the Xavier Institute when his psychic abilities emerged. Feeling like an outsider and then learning he was adopted, he rebelled and formed a group focused on mutant power. He launched an attack on humans during the school’s open house, but was stopped by the Stepford Cuckoos – a battle that hurt both him and a girl he liked, Sophie. This led to him temporarily becoming pure psychic energy before being stabilized. Later, he attempted to attack the UN, but Cyclops and Wolverine intervened. Eventually, Wolverine forced him to enroll at the Jean Grey School. Since then, he’s become a student and a member of teams like Generation X and X-Force, even working alongside the main X-Men. While he still has a rebellious streak, he’s matured over time.

4) Mystique

Mystique is often overlooked, but she’s a surprisingly important character with a long history. Throughout the 1980s, she was a primary villain, leading the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (along with its iteration, Freedom Force) with key members like Destiny, Blob, Pyro, and Avalanche – and sometimes Rogue, Sabretooth, Crimson Commando, and Spiral. In the 1990s, she faced personal struggles, briefly joined a government-run version of X-Factor, and continued to clash with the X-Men. She even infiltrated the team once, disguising herself as a mutant created to manipulate Gambit. Later, she joined a rapid response team before ultimately betraying them for Mr. Sinister. More recently, during the Krakoa era, she functioned as an X-Man, and it was revealed she’d been secretly working for Xavier for years – even during the present day of the Krakoa era. Considering all this, you could argue she’s been connected to the X-Men for longer than she’s been anything else.

3) Sabretooth

Sabretooth actually has a long history with superhero teams, appearing with the Avengers very early on, which makes his later role as an X-Man less surprising. He fought the Avengers for years, primarily targeting Wolverine and causing widespread destruction. He eventually teamed up with the telepath Birdy, whose powers strangely both fueled his violent tendencies and made him less of a monster. After Birdy was killed by her and Mystique’s son, Graydon Creed, Sabretooth went into a rage, and the X-Men took him into custody to help him cope. This happened when Wolverine had lost his adamantium, so he wasn’t present. Interestingly, Marvel used Creed as a stand-in for Wolverine during this storyline. He was restrained with special cuffs to prevent him from harming the X-Men, but later assisted them in fighting the Phalanx. In the alternate “Age of Apocalypse” timeline, he was a member of the X-Men. He joined X-Factor in the 1990s and briefly joined a rapid response team, but left after a conflict with Wolverine, missing a key betrayal. He was temporarily turned heroic during the AXIS event, joining Magneto’s team of X-Men during a conflict with the Inhumans, but has since returned to his villainous ways.

2) Rogue

Rogue’s mutant abilities first appeared when she kissed her boyfriend, accidentally putting him into a coma and forcing her to leave town. She was then taken in and trained by Mystique and Destiny, who helped her join the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Early in her career, she even defeated the Avengers by turning their own powers against them, though a prolonged attempt to absorb Ms. Marvel’s memories severely damaged her mind. The X-Men stepped in to help her recover, and she eventually became a prominent leader – not only among the X-Men, but also as a leader of the Avengers. Today, Rogue is one of the most beloved and recognizable X-Men.

1) Magneto

Magneto’s beliefs have evolved significantly over time, making him a fan-favorite character among the X-Men. Initially introduced as the team’s primary antagonist and the leader of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, his view of humanity’s potential for cruelty sharply contrasted with Xavier’s. However, he eventually embraced Xavier’s teachings and became an X-Man. He first stepped in to lead while Xavier sought treatment with Lilandra, mentoring the New Mutants. After a period of renewed villainy following the loss – and later restoration – of his powers (taken during the House of M event), he rejoined the X-Men to protect mutantkind under Cyclops’ command. Since then, he’s consistently been part of various X-Men teams, often taking on a leadership role and even becoming a world leader on two different planets during the Krakoa Era.

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2025-12-10 18:15