Best X-Men #1 Issues in Marvel History, Ranked

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This superhero team is a true legend in the world of comics. First appearing in the early 1960s, they’ve grown from a relatively unknown group to one of Marvel’s biggest successes. As a major franchise for Marvel, they’ve been relaunched and spun off into countless different series – it’s hard for even long-time fans to keep up!

Reboots of the X-Men comics have had mixed results – some have failed to attract readers, while others have been instant hits. The successful ones clearly establish the new direction of the series, keeping fans engaged and attracting newcomers. These standout runs are fondly remembered by longtime X-Men fans and serve as excellent starting points for those just discovering the team.

The Krakoa era was a high point for the X-Men, even if it wasn’t without its disagreements. Following such a successful period, it was a challenge for writer Jed McKay to create a compelling future for the team. However, the latest run of X-Men, with art by Ryan Stegman, has successfully done just that.

The first issue introduces an Alaskan police officer visiting the X-Men’s new base, which is built inside an old Sentinel factory. At the same time, Cyclops and his team rescue Wolverine from a group connected to Orchis. It’s a fast-paced start that establishes an interesting new direction for the series. However, due to its significant changes, it might not immediately appeal to longtime X-Men readers, making it the weakest of the recent releases.

The X-Men found themselves in trouble again after a new attack by the Hellfire Club, one of their earliest enemies. Their base, Utopia, had been hit, and public fear of mutants was at an all-time high. For Cyclops, this meant it was time to assemble a new team…

The team, known as Cyclops’ Extermination Team, faced an immediate and overwhelming challenge. After Mister Sinister obtained the power of a Celestial, he used it to turn an entire city into duplicates of himself. The story cleverly makes this powerful team seem outmatched, despite their abilities. The issue concludes with a compelling cliffhanger, leaving readers eager for the next part.

After abandoning their base in Utopia, Marvel revamped the X-Men with the series Wolverine and the X-Men. The story featured several original team members returning to their iconic headquarters to establish a new school. Wolverine and Kitty Pryde, two of the X-Men’s longest-standing members, took on the roles of headmasters at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.

The first issue of Wolverine and the X-Men is a whirlwind of energy. The artwork feels dynamic, with characters almost jumping off the page, and the story is packed with fun, lighthearted action. It’s clear even now why this issue captured so many readers’ imaginations right from the start.

After the first X-Men movie became a hit in the early 2000s, Marvel briefly changed the comic books to match the film’s look and feel. Grant Morrison’s run on New X-Men featured the team wearing black leather uniforms and focusing on secret missions. However, Marvel eventually returned the X-Men to the kind of classic superhero stories fans had been waiting for.

The comic series Astonishing X-Men starts with Kitty Pryde returning to the team as they welcome a group of new mutants. However, the first issue isn’t about training these new recruits; it’s about re-establishing the X-Men as a major superhero force, alongside teams like the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. Despite the trend towards longer, more detailed storylines, Astonishing X-Men #1 successfully makes the X-Men feel like a powerful and exciting super-team again.

The first issue of X-Factor essentially continued the story of the original X-Men team. Marvel had long wanted to reunite the five founding members, who hadn’t been together in years. It was a challenge, though – Cyclops had retired, Jean Grey was presumed dead, and Iceman, Angel, and Beast were already part of a different team. However, Bob Layton and Jackson Guice successfully brought them back together.

Although the comic slightly reverses some of the characters’ growth, it’s still a fantastic first issue. It clearly explains why the original five members reunite: anti-mutant feelings are reaching a fever pitch, and a new group is turning mutants into fugitives. The story moves quickly, allowing the team to come together by the issue’s end – a refreshing change of pace compared to some other recent comics.

After creating the critically acclaimed miniseries House of X and Powers of X, Jonathan Hickman briefly wrote the main X-Men comic series in 2019. The first issue was a huge success, starting with an attack on the final Orchis base and then showcasing the Summers family’s life powered by the technology of Krakoa.

Jonathan Hickman’s first issue of X-Men is packed with ambitious, science-fiction concepts and incredibly detailed world-building – it’s clear a lot of thought went into it. Despite all the grand ideas, the story remains true to the core of what makes the X-Men special. It only gets a five-star rating instead of higher because the overall storyline didn’t quite conclude as originally planned.

Kieron Gillen excels at writing the X-Men, and he clearly enjoys it. He’s particularly good at making villains compelling, and he’s done that with Mr. Sinister, turning him into one of Marvel’s most charismatic antagonists. This is especially evident in Immortal X-Men #1, where Sinister essentially takes center stage as the main character.

When Magneto and Xavier’s plans fell apart, the Council needed to choose a new member. Surprisingly, the candidate they rejected triggered a fresh attack on the island of Krakoa. Meanwhile, Mr. Sinister had been secretly using Moira’s ability to see the future, learning all of Krakoa’s secrets just for his own enjoyment. Though not a traditional X-Men story, this issue is simply too fun and engaging to leave out of any discussion about great first issues.

It’s no surprise that Al Ewing and Stefano Caselli are creating a fantastic comic – they’re both incredibly talented. However, their X-Men Red is unlike any X-Men story fans have seen before. The entire series is set not on Earth, but on the transformed planet Mars, now called Arakko.

Okay, so I’m playing as Storm, and it’s seriously tough trying to build something new with a bunch of mutants who’ve only ever known fighting. It’s not just me though – a lot of old X-Men are trying to start fresh on Arakko, but quickly find out there’s always someone else trying to take control. Honestly, this X-Men Red comic isn’t your typical X-Men story, but the whole space politics thing is surprisingly interesting and makes the first issue really stand out.

New X-Men: Academy X was a fresh start for the ideas behind the original New Mutants and Generation X comics, aimed at a modern audience. Instead of just a small team, this series featured a whole high school full of teenage mutants, creating a more realistic and expansive take on the super-teen experience.

Academy X is a fantastic starting point for new X-Men readers. It introduces a fresh cast of characters, so you don’t need to know years of backstory to jump in. The comic also perfectly captures the original idea behind Xavier’s school – a place where young mutants learn to manage their abilities. While still offering superhero action, Academy X primarily focused on relatable teenage experiences.

Man, the X-Men were HUGE back in the day, and Marvel decided they needed another ongoing series. They paired up Chris Claremont, who was already a legend, with Jim Lee, who was blowing everyone away with his art, and the result was X-Men #1. Seriously, that comic sold over seven million copies – it’s still the best-selling single issue ever! Looking back, it doesn’t surprise me at all that two of the biggest names in comics at the time made something so popular, it’s still talked about today.

X-Men Vol. 2 #1 introduces a dramatically expanded team, bringing together characters from different generations. The issue focuses on a conflict with Magneto, who has reverted to being a villain due to the schemes of both mutants and governments. While a bit lengthy, the story successfully establishes a fresh direction for the X-Men within its first 40 pages and remains a good starting point for new readers.

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2026-05-23 21:12