The Most Important X-Men Character of the 21st Century Isn’t Who You Think

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Among the numerous renowned characters of the X-Men spanning through the years, one stands out as the most significant X-Men of the 21st Century. Characters like Laura Kinney, who would become the greatest Wolverine, and David Alleyne, Prodigy of Academy X, were introduced at the dawn of the new millennium. Similarly, Emma Frost and Iceman continued to excel in the 21st Century, being part of the older classics. However, it’s a character who was long deceased that truly made an impact during the 2000s and 2010s!

Moira MacTaggert, who was often a supporting character in the X-Men series, was more than just an ally to them; she was their primary human advocate. However, the storylines “House of X” and “Powers of X,” penned by Jonathan Hickman, significantly altered our perception of her. The comics unveiled a surprising truth: Moira had been a mutant all along, working covertly from behind the scenes. Over the millennium, Moira’s character evolved dramatically, with moments of decline and resurgence, even veering into villainy. As the Krakoa era came to a close, her fate remained uncertain and enigmatic. While not every fan embraced this twist in Moira’s origin, her influence on the X-Men comics throughout the 2000s cannot be overstated – she is undeniably one of the most significant characters in the X-Men universe during that period.

Moira MacTaggert Was Great Before the 21st Century

In the X-Men comics, Moira, a Scottish scientist and Xavier’s former love interest, was one of the hidden gems all along. Initially appearing as a caretaker for the X-Mansion, managing the X-Men, she was covertly a character of significant depth. Crafted by the talented duo Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, Moira underwent a transformation and developed a complex history. She gave birth to an omnipotent son named Kevin, who controlled his environment at will. Furthermore, Moira had a long-term relationship with Banshee, a detail that has been less emphasized in more recent storylines.

From the moment she debuted, she was exceptional, long before her identity as a mutant was unveiled. She embodied the perfect ally for mutants, having her own intricate backstory and mythology. She possessed a feisty demeanor, yet was incredibly kind and inviting to others. The X-Men series underwent a significant shift when this character met her untimely end in X-Men vol. 2 #108 of 2001. Her confrontation with Mystique left her wounded, paving the way for an adversarial relationship between them that wouldn’t see resolution until Moira returned in House of X. For almost eighteen years, she remained deceased in the comics, with her demise casting a somber shadow over numerous storylines.

House of X Established Moira As The World’s Most Important X-Men

scarcely has any reimagining of an iconic character been executed as skillfully as it was in the “House of X.” Not only did Hickman bring back the character, but he presented her as a mutant who goes back to the start of her life following every demise. This power allowed her to alter history. She endeavored to aid mutantkind in various ways, yet each life concluded with the mutants experiencing defeat, either against humanity or machinery. In her tenth life, she decided to disregard all the rules, helping establish Krakoa, a new mutant nation where the X-Men could govern and be acknowledged as a significant global force. After the shocking revelation in “House of X,” Moira essentially vanished from the X-Men comics for the subsequent years, save for a few brief appearances.

Moira’s brief comeback in “House of X” solidified her status as a crucial figure within the X-Men universe, making her one of the most significant X-Men throughout the millennium. But Marvel decided to give the character an intriguing twist with the 2021 “Inferno” comic series, where it’s unveiled that Moira intended to strip all mutants on Krakoa of their powers to avoid the species’ future defeat at the hands of machines. Subsequently, she was depowered by Mystique and Destiny and forced into hiding. In a bid to save herself, she joined forces with Orchis, the anti-mutant organization, transforming into a human-cyborg and becoming a significant adversary for the X-Men during the Krakoa era.

Fans were disappointed when Moira made a heel turn and became a supervillain, considering her past as an X-Men character. However, this transformation underscored how crucial she had become within the X-Men universe. As a villain, Moira played a significant role in the series, participating in the attack on Krakoa and killing Jean Grey. Fortunately, Moira’s conscience prevailed, and after speaking with Charles Xavier one last time, she gave her life to help Phoenix, who was resurrected as Jean Grey, locate and defeat the omnipresent Enigma. After resetting once more, Moira no longer possesses her mutant powers, releasing her from the burden. Since the end of Krakoa, fans have been eagerly awaiting Moira’s potential return to the series. When a character is highly anticipated to reappear, it demonstrates their importance within the mythology.

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2025-07-28 01:21