7 Iconic Characters Introduced In X-Men Comics

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The X-Men first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1963, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Unlike earlier teams like the Fantastic Four and Avengers, the X-Men were unique: they were heroes born with powers who were taken in by the powerful psychic Professor X. He taught them to control their abilities and use them for good. This eventually led to stories about humans fearing mutants because of their differences, and later, under Chris Claremont, the X-Men became a powerful representation of societal minorities. Throughout their history, they’ve also introduced many of Marvel’s most famous characters.

Here is a look at seven iconic Marvel Comics characters who debuted in X-Men comics.

7) The Stranger

As a longtime comic book fan, one character’s appearance in the early X-Men issues always struck me as really odd – the Stranger. He just seemed to come out of nowhere! He wasn’t a mutant at all, but this incredibly powerful cosmic being who first showed up in X-Men #11 back in 1965. Basically, he’s a scientist with no real ethics who loves to study weird phenomena, and he was initially interested in the X-Men because he wanted to understand mutants. Interestingly, he went to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants first! He’s one of these beings called a Gigantian Eternal, so he usually hangs out in the wider cosmic Marvel universe, and that first issue was pretty much his only connection to the X-Men. It’s a weird little footnote in X-Men history, honestly.

6) Lilandra

Lilandra was the ruler of the powerful Shi’ar Empire and became a close ally and romantic interest of Professor X. However, their relationship started off rocky. She first appeared in X-Men #97, but is best known for initially bringing the Shi’ar to Earth to put Jean Grey on trial for the actions of the Phoenix Force. This caused a major conflict with the X-Men, but eventually, they learned to work together. As the X-Men began exploring space more often, Lilandra and the Shi’ar Empire frequently assisted them on their adventures.

5) Quicksilver

Quicksilver first appeared in X-Men #4 as part of Magneto’s original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Initially presented as the brother of the Scarlet Witch, and later believed to be one of Magneto’s children, their true origins were eventually revealed. It turned out they were actually orphans given their powers by the High Evolutionary, who then masked their history to appear as mutants. Though he’s since fought with the Avengers and even turned villainous at times, Quicksilver’s story began in the X-Men comics.

4) Ka-Zar

A surprising early appearance in X-Men comics was that of Ka-Zar, a character from the Savage Land. This happened in issue #10, when the X-Men traveled to the Savage Land hoping to find out if Ka-Zar was a mutant. There, they discovered him fighting and killing sabretooth tigers, even the mate of his companion, Zabu, and the X-Men assisted him. This introduction helped launch Ka-Zar into the wider Marvel universe, and he later gained his own dedicated fanbase and comic series.

3) Gladiator

Gladiator originated from the Shi’ar Empire and first appeared in X-Men #107, shortly after the introduction of Lilandra. He’s an incredibly powerful alien, often compared to Superman in terms of strength, and is considered the strongest member and top military leader of the Shi’ar. He frequently came across as a villain, most notably when he tried to kill Jean Grey during the Dark Phoenix Saga. Since then, he’s become a significant character in Marvel’s cosmic storylines, including events like the Annihilation Wave and the recent Imperial arc.

2) Magneto

As a longtime comic book fan, I remember when Magneto first appeared alongside the X-Men way back in their very first issue. What started as a straightforward villain-hero dynamic has become incredibly complex. He’s evolved into arguably their greatest foe, but also a surprisingly frequent ally. And let me tell you, the power this guy wields is terrifying – we’re talking about complete control over magnetism, to the point where he’s demonstrated the ability to literally shift the Earth! He’s easily one of the most powerful mutants on the planet, and his actions have had a huge, often devastating, impact on the Marvel Universe – he’s done just as much harm as he has good.

1) Scarlet Witch

The Scarlet Witch first appeared in Marvel’s X-Men #4, alongside her brother, Quicksilver. Like Quicksilver, she initially believed she was a mutant and the daughter of Magneto. However, it was later revealed that she was an orphan who gained her powers through the High Evolutionary on Mount Wundagore, and was then influenced by the demon Chthon. Her daughter inherited the mantle of the Scarlet Witch, wielding chaos magic, and Wanda remains one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes, now serving as the Sorceress Supreme.

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2026-02-10 21:16