Marvel Is Missing Out on a Major X-Men Team, And It Could Solve an MCU Problem

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Over the years, the X-Men have become one of Marvel’s most beloved groups, and a big reason for their success is their ability to change and evolve. The X-Men haven’t stayed a single type of team; instead, they’ve launched many different versions. We’ve seen covert teams like X-Force, groups of young heroes such as the New Mutants, Generation X, and the New X-Men, a pirate crew called the Marauders, and the dangerous Hellions. X-Factor has also taken on many forms, functioning as a government task force, a detective agency, and even a corporate entity. This flexibility has allowed both the X-Men and its individual members to play a wide range of roles within the Marvel Universe.

The X-Men are known for having diverse teams, but they haven’t often focused on cosmic adventures. While they’ve ventured into space and had the SWORD program, dedicated teams of mutants exploring the cosmos have been rare. Currently, the potential is there to create a strong cosmic mutant team, and it could become a significant part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the future.

The X-Men Have a Lot of Cosmic Experience

Chris Claremont dramatically reshaped the X-Men, and a key part of this was creating unique alien civilizations for them to interact with. He introduced the Shi’Ar Empire in Uncanny X-Men, filling a similar role to the Kree for the Avengers and the Skrulls for the Fantastic Four. The X-Men fought against the emperor D’Ken for control of the powerful M’Kraan Crystal, clashed with the Imperial Guard, and have repeatedly saved the Shi’Ar Empire from dangers like the Brood and internal power struggles.

The X-Men’s history is filled with powerful forces and conflicts. Beyond their usual battles, they’ve faced cosmic threats like the Phoenix Force and fought against groups such as the alien pirates known as the Starjammers, and the Technarchy – a race of techno-organic beings. The Phalanx are similar, combining the Technarchy with elements of other dangerous alien forces. The X-Men have also dealt with planet-destroying threats like the Breakworld, working with the alien defense team SWORD. In the mid-2000s, a conflict with the Shi’Ar Empire arose, and since regaining the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey has been exploring space. Adding to the mix is Manifold, a mutant with a unique connection to the universe itself.

Marvel attempted to create a cosmic team with the S.W.O.R.D. comic during the innovative Krakoa era, but the series didn’t fully succeed, often getting bogged down in larger storylines and serving primarily to advance the Krakoa plot. Currently, the Marvel Universe is undergoing a shift. The Imperial series has revamped cosmic Marvel, effectively sidelining the Guardians of the Galaxy. With Phoenix exploring the cosmos and using her immense power for good, the timing is ideal for a new X-Men team focused on cosmic adventures.

Jean Grey has a strong history of leading the X-Men, making her a natural choice to assemble a team to handle dangers in outer space. Characters like Manifold would be a great fit, and Northstar’s super-speed would be incredibly useful for space travel. There are many other powerful mutants who could easily join the team. With Professor X and Lilandra already exploring the cosmos and the mutant nation of Arakkii established on Mars, all the elements are in place for a mutant version of the Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s surprising Marvel hasn’t created this cosmic X-Men team yet, especially since their space-based stories haven’t been getting much attention lately – a team of mutants venturing into space could really change things up.

A Cosmic X-Men Team Could Fill a Variety of Roles

Marvel’s space-based stories could really use a refresh, and an X-Men team focused on cosmic adventures would be a great way to do it. The X-Men have a rich history of battling threats in space, and several current members would fit perfectly on a team similar to the Guardians of the Galaxy. This is particularly important now, as the MCU doesn’t currently have a dedicated cosmic team – the Guardians’ story effectively ended with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Marvel’s cinematic universe could use a team focused on cosmic adventures, and with the X-Men joining the MCU, now is the perfect time to introduce a cosmic mutant team. Mutants are poised to be a major focus for Marvel Studios, and their diverse powers make them ideal for many different roles. While there have been various mutant teams in the comics, bringing a lesser-known cosmic team to the big screen would be a great fit, and the sooner Marvel establishes one, the better.

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2025-11-10 00:13