7 Underrated X-Men Heroes

The X-Men are incredibly popular, and that’s largely due to the huge number of characters associated with the team. Almost every mutant has, at some point, been an X-Man or fought against them – often both! The team roster is flexible, changing to fit the needs of each story, and there are usually several X-Men teams active simultaneously with different members. While having so many established characters with dedicated fans is fantastic, it can also create complications.

It’s common for large casts to have some characters get lost or forgotten, especially in the world of superheroes – it’s a problem as old as comics themselves! Fans often lose interest when their favorite characters aren’t featured for a long time. So, to address this, we’re highlighting seven X-Men heroes who deserve more attention and screen time.

7) Darwin

Though Darwin first appeared in the intense ‘Deadly Genesis’ storyline, his power offers incredible possibilities for X-Men stories. He can adapt to any situation, guaranteeing his survival. Whether it’s being burned, sent into space, or even broken down into atoms, he instantly evolves to overcome the challenge – becoming fireproof, breathing in space, or reforming himself. Essentially, Darwin can survive anything, making him a flexible asset for whatever the story demands.

Just because Darwin survives a challenge doesn’t always mean he wins. A good example is his fight with the Hulk – he couldn’t defeat the Hulk with strength, so he developed teleportation to escape. Darwin’s powers are great for imaginative and unusual scenarios, and that’s why he’s often overlooked as a powerful character.

6) Rachel Summers

Many X-Men fans are familiar with the “Days of Future Past” storyline, but some may not know that Cyclops and Jean Grey’s daughter from that future timeline eventually traveled to the present. Though not as powerful as her mother, Rachel possesses strong psychic abilities and a link to the Phoenix Force. Her complicated relationship with her parents in the main X-Men universe has fueled several emotionally resonant stories – and the X-Men are often at their best when there’s plenty of dramatic tension. While Rachel hasn’t been completely forgotten, she often plays a supporting role to other characters like her parents or Captain Britain.

It’s odd how Rachel often steps back from the story, considering her parents are usually so central to the world of mutants, but it kind of makes sense. The Summers family already has a very tangled history, and adding children from the future just makes it even more complex, particularly if Jean and Scott’s other kids get involved. Rachel is a fantastic character, but she’s definitely a challenging one to write into stories.

5) Sunfire

Sunfire has been a part of the Marvel Universe since the early days of the X-Men, first appearing in 1963. Originally, he was presented as a villain motivated by resentment towards the West due to the damage suffered by Japan in World War II. His ability to control solar energy emerged when he visited the ruins of Hiroshima. While he initially clashed with the X-Men and other heroes, believing he was acting in Japan’s best interest, Sunfire eventually overcame his animosity. He evolved into Japan’s leading superhero and remains dedicated to protecting both his country and mutant rights.

One of the most compelling things about Sunfire is how much he’s changed as a character. He began as a reckless fighter driven by rage, but he eventually found a way to control his anger and grow as a person. He realized that true heroism wasn’t just about getting revenge. Sunfire transformed from a flawed and angry man into someone better, all while still holding onto the fire that defined him – and that makes him a character audiences will always want to see more of.

4) Omega Sentinel

Karima Shapandar, also known as Omega Sentinel, is unique among the X-Men because she wasn’t born with mutant abilities. Instead, she was created to eliminate mutants. She began as a human-Sentinel hybrid, a product of Bastion’s Operation: Zero Tolerance, which aimed to turn ordinary people into sleeper agents programmed to kill mutants. Fortunately, the X-Men were able to restore her mind, saving her humanity and freeing her from the genocidal programming that defined her creation. Essentially, she became a Sentinel with a conscience, no longer a threat to mutants.

Karima, now a Sentinel who’s also an X-Man, faces a huge internal conflict. She’s caught between her human life, her time as a machine, and finding a place among the X-Men, which deeply impacts how she sees herself and the world. Things became even more complicated when an evil version of herself took control, leading her to spend years trying to destroy the X-Men. Though recently freed from that control, the emotional consequences of what happened haven’t been fully explored, and could lead to a compelling story arc for her character.

3) Domino

Domino is a mutant with a fascinating ability: she can subtly influence luck. She doesn’t create miracles, but she drastically improves the chances of success for herself and her friends, while simultaneously making things go wrong for her enemies. Her power works by turning unlikely outcomes into certainties, but it requires her to be proactive. If she just stood there, bad things could happen. However, if she tries to avoid danger, luck will often swing in her favor – for example, an enemy’s attack might miss and accidentally cause a structure to collapse on them instead.

Domino naturally draws everyone’s eye when she enters a scene. She’s incredibly charismatic and always makes a strong impression, which is a great reason to feature her in a story. She feels like a character on the verge of becoming a huge star, and with the right storyline, she could truly break out in the current X-Men comics.

2) Banshee

Banshee is a surprisingly overlooked hero, especially considering his crucial role in revitalizing the X-Men and preventing the team’s cancellation. He debuted with the new X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1 and quickly became a central figure in the team’s popular reboot. Often acting as an older brother to the younger members, Banshee eventually retired to be with Moira, a long-time X-Men friend. Though tragically killed in the Deadly Genesis storyline and remaining dead for years – despite a couple of attempts to bring him back as a villain – Banshee still hasn’t received the recognition he deserves, even after a full resurrection.

Banshee is a long-standing member of the X-Men, but he hasn’t received the same recognition as many of his teammates. He’s often been underutilized, which is unfortunate, as he’s just as capable. Being physically older than most mutants adds a unique dynamic to his relationships with the younger team members, creating both challenges and strengths. His power, while straightforward, is incredibly adaptable, and he’s a talented detective – a skill set not commonly found among the X-Men. Banshee has a lot of potential that hasn’t been explored; he just needs an opportunity to prove himself.

1) Mirage

Danielle Moonstar, also known as Mirage, is our top choice on this list because she possesses all the qualities of a truly great character. While her mutant ability to read minds, project thoughts, and create psychic illusions is impressive, it’s her personality that truly stands out. As an original member of the New Mutants, she stepped up as a leader when Karma went missing. Mirage is a natural leader who genuinely cares about helping others overcome their fears and heal from past trauma.

Dani is a deeply compassionate person who genuinely cares for others and dedicates herself to helping them heal – she even worked as a trauma counselor for mutants on Krakoa. She inspires the best in people, earning their unwavering loyalty. Dani has the potential to become a major leader and inspirational figure for mutants and heroes, much like Captain America, embodying both courage and kindness. She’s a resilient character, and she’ll ultimately demonstrate her strength to the world.

We’ve highlighted seven X-Men heroes who don’t get nearly enough recognition. Who’s your favorite from this list, and which other X-Men hero do you think deserves more attention?

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2025-11-08 19:11