As a X-Men fan, I have my personal favorites when it comes to X-Men. Amongst different personality types, everyone has a varied list of their top 10 from Xavier’s team. Yet, there’s a better way of compiling such a list. We need to look at numbers and analyze story structure and character development. There are few characters over the years who have, to some extent, brought in some decent sales for their respective titles, contributed substantially to their team stories while being interesting characters in both growth and in backstory.
10. Emma Frost
The White Queen appeared first during the Dark Phoenix Saga in Uncanny X-Men #129. As part of the Hellfire Club, she was instrumental in the rise of the Dark Phoenix entity within Jean Grey. Her role as a villain in trying to control the Phoenix force causes the death of one of the Hellfire Club members initially. This Phoenix force eventually goes on to absorb a distant star, and thus killing an entire race of aliens in the wake of the supernova. In an attempt to redeem herself and reflection on her tattered past, she teams up with the X-Men during the Phalanx Covenant series in 1994.
The former member of the Hellfire Club with risqué attire to match eventually traded her skimpy outfit for a less revealing costume. Her role is now to teach the youngsters at the Xavier School, as one of the head instructors. This doesn’t mean that she has done some questionable things as an X-Man. Her actions as a member of the team have always been suspect by other members who remembered her days as a villain. It was this tattered past as well as a burgeoning psychic affair with Cyclops that eventually led her to leave the team. Yet her controversial contributions to the X-Men as well as her eye-candy appeal to avid readers of the comic have not gone unnoticed. Even in considering X-Men: First Class, comic book fans are still campaigning for January Jones to take up the role of the White Queen again in another film. Perhaps in catching more eye-candy or in serving a greater role in the X-Men franchise, comic book fans and film fans want more Emma Frost.
9. Gambit
Remy Etienne LeBeau, a.k.a. Gambit, first appeared in X-Men #8, assisting Storm in her escape from a powerful psychic villain known as the Shadow King. After her rescue, Storm petitioned for Gambit to join the team. LeBeau as a character in the comics has had quite a run as an X-Man with his suave demeanor and sketchy past. He has proven to be a leader during the Age of Apocalypse timeline, in his own title as head of the X-Ternals. He also had a short lived solo series, a number of shared series with Wolverine, Bishop, and Rogue, the latter being shipped by comic book fans even to this day. Much of the popularity of Gambit can be attributed to that unrequited love between the two.
With a solo film coming out and quite a popularity with certain comic book fans, the Ragin’ Cajun has earned a spot on the list. However, the film itself seems to be in a development nightmare, with casting news coming out slower than molasses and even FOX films giving hesitancy to the title. Even amongst fans, there is doubt that the spin-off title will gather as much audience attention as Wolverine had. Whether it be with the casting choice of Channing Tatum or with the overall writing decisions of the FOX-Marvel franchise, it’s hard to pinpoint any specific thing that keeps this project from getting off the ground. Yet, years after it was first announced, the studio is still pursuing the project. Hopefully it will turn more people on to who Gambit is, rather than turn them off.
8. Iceman
Bobby Drake, the Iceman, as a founding X-Men team member who at first was like an anthropomorphic snowman. An original creation by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #1, along with Beast, Angel, Cyclops, and Jean Grey. After his powers begin to evolve, Drake takes on the more recognizable and sleeker ice form. This organic-ice form is how fans of the comic continue to remember him, and a form he continues to adorn in the comics to this day.
There has been a lot of retconning regarding Bobby Drake’s character. He has dated several women in the run of X-Men comic books, and it was only recently revealed that his character was gay. His powers at first were also seen as comical as the first issue of X-Men featured him throwing snowballs at Magneto. His abilities continue to grow and are eventually deemed Omega level. Emma Frost demonstrated this when taking over his body and using his powers in ways he never thought possible. Manipulating temperatures and augmenting his ice form on a molecular level to transport almost instantaneously across large bodies of water, Frost showed Drake just a tip of the iceberg of what he could do (no pun intended).
Iceman’s growth in both abilities and character have earned him a spot on this list. Plus, his portrayal in the X2, X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past by Shawn Ashmore was pretty cool. Fans of the films and of Iceman have been waiting for another film to showcase Bobby Drake. And we’re still waiting.
7. Colossus
Colossus has been a staple X-Men character since ever I first laid eyes on the comic book. Fans of the comic as well as the movies have a hard time putting together a list of X-Men without Piotr Rasputin in its ranks, and for good reason. The Soviet born steel man with a heart of gold is often seen as a cornerstone to who the X-Men truly are. He first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men: #1 as part of a second team put together by Charles Xavier to rescue the original X-Men. He is mostly a steadfast member, providing support for the X-Men both in strength of character as well as brute force. When he is absent from the team, his presence is missed by all the members. And on the other side of the extremes, his one-time antagonism against the X-team is a force to be reckoned with.
Much the X-Men’s roots can be found in Colossus, and much of who he is can be found in them. So much so that Mr. Rasputin appears in four of the six X-Men films. Add to that a notable role in the 2016 film Deadpool via CGI. Fans of the film loved the performance so much that they clamored to see him more on screen. And so, Piotr Rasputin is slated to appear in the Deadpool sequel as well.
6. Nightcrawler
If there was any case for a character who was born out of place in this world, it is Kurt Wagner. The Nightcrawler’s tale is a tragic one, yet he continues to smile and keep his faith despite a world that would have him hide beneath the sewers as a Morlock. Born with blue skin, yellow pupil-less eyes, fangs, three digits to each of his appendages and a tail, he was certainly the most unique character to be introduced in Giant Sized X-Men #1. Since 1985, Wagner was written in a number of solo titles over the years with varying degrees of success.
Nightcrawler has been a favorite for comic book enthusiasts over the years, making top 10 lists in various polls. In the films, the character of Kurt Wagner was originally planned for the original X-Men film. His character was later taken out when the script was scrapped. He eventually appeared in X-2 as the seeming antagonist for the film, attempting to assassinate the President of the United States using his teleporting ability. Played by Alan Cumming, fans were ecstatic at seeing the Nightcrawler finally appear on screen. This though came with some criticism as he doesn’t quite join the team in the end. It wasn’t until years later in X-Men: Age of Apocalypse that we see a younger version of Wagner played by Kodi Smit-McPhee join the X-Men ranks.
5. Storm
No one can think of the X-Men and their place in the world of narrative diversity and not think of Ororo Monroe. Storm, once deemed a goddess in her village because of her ability to bring rain in for their farming and plentiful harvests, left to join the X-Men in hopes of finding out about herself, and those like her. She has taken on roles as part of the diverse lineup of X-Men after the original X-men were abducted. She was teamed up with Nightcrawler (German), Colossus (Russian), Wolverine (Canadian), Thunderbird (Native American), Sunfire (Japanese), Banshee (Irish), under the leadership of Cyclops. Since her introduction in Giant Size X-Men: #1, her role as a member has grown to being one of the most reliable and notable leaders of the team.
While studios are scrambling to find their new Wolverine-esque title to replace the hole left by Hugh Jackman’s absence, they are sitting on a gold mine of a character in Storm. One of the first African American females to grace the comic book scene, it’s a no-brainer that she should have a shot at the big screen in a solo film. In a DC vs. Marvel miniseries in 1996, Storm even won a popularity poll over Wonder Woman, being more recognized amongst readers. She’s been a thief, an X-Man, a capable fighter, and even the queen of Wakanda. Fans saw Ororo as relatable as a minority character and doubly as one who was outside of the norms of society as a mutant. Her reception on film, however, has been scorned because of the lack of writing strength and acting strength behind her character. It will take a good combination of both to bring about the potential hit that Storm can bring to the big screen, as she has to the pages of comics in years prior.
4. Cyclops
As part of the original X-Men team and the team leader, Cyclops has been as much a part of the X-Men more than some of the other team members. One can’t name an X-Man without naming Scott Summers. As a prized pupil of Professor Xavier, “Slim” was meant to carry on the ideal of mutants and humans coexisting. However, comic book fans often disregard Cyclops as just a figurehead with no real authority. His ability to lead was less interesting to readers as his relationship to Jean Grey and the mental anguish his relationships put him through. Insomuch that Cyclops in the X-Men films wasn’t a focus character as much as some of the other team members. Heck, Cyclops was so much of a background character in the movies that some fans even forget that James Marsden from Westworld donned the ruby quartz glasses for four of the X-Men films.
Yet, I have to give it up to Slim at some point. Just speaking from the current run in the comics, Cyclops has really made some interesting growth as a character. The “House of M” series reduced the Mutant population and “Avengers vs. X-Men” put Summers in a bind with how to protect the remaining mutants. For many years in the comics, Cyke is fiercely loyal to Xavier like a son to a father. Yet in these later chapters, he comes out from Xavier’s shell and emerges with his own way of doing things. He even kills Xavier. Given some of the circumstances he is faced with as a leader, a lot of comic book fans sided with his decisions. Many others in his own team criticized him for his actions, retaliating against those that wished to harm the remaining mutants and teaching children to prepare for war. Yet readers empathized. His switch in direction and the price he paid brought about memes from fans featuring his image like a Che Guevara shirt, simply stating “Cyclops was Right”.
A lot of fans of the comic books are hoping the films will one day follow suit, and do some justice to the character of Cyclops. For now though, it seems like he’ll just be another bystander when the Phoenix force comes around.
3. Magneto
Max Eisenhardt, the mutant known as Magneto, has been part of the X-Men lore since the beginning as their first original villain. The guy is a holocaust survivor and a living testament to what happens when a group of people are mistreated simply because of who they are. This might’ve spurred him at an early point to partner with Xavier in building the school for gifted youngsters. However, during this time his worldview started to deviate from Xavier’s. Magneto began taking on a more aggressive stance against humans. He wanted to take action against humankind, believing that coexistence was nothing more than a fool’s dream. He saw the mutants as homo-superior, being above humans in every possible way. A lot of what Magneto was compared to Xavier was derived from some of the social unrest with the Civil Rights movement during the 60’s. Notably, the contrast between the two leaders was inspired by some of what was seen in Malcolm X’s approach to the movement at the time, and Martin Luther King Jr.
There were times when the two forces were aligned, and Magnus worked as part of the X-Men as a co-leader in the absence of Xavier or as a partner against a greater threat. In dire need, he because the defacto leader of the X-Men, as well as a powerful force to be reckoned with for any villain of the team. His popularity as both anti-hero as well as at times hero in the X-Men earns him this spot on the list. With such a dynamic character, it took studios billing such talents as Sir Ian McKellan and Michael Fassbender to fill the role.
2. Professor Xavier
What is an X-Man without the one who put the X in the name? Charles Xavier, his wheelchair or hoverchair, and his notable symbol have been a part of a culture and phenomenon that have been growing parts of iconography over the last few decades. Even my notebook is splattered with images of the X and the School for Gifted Youngsters. The legacy Xavier leaves behind is something that has been debated since its inception during the civil rights movement. Xavier embodied some of the same ideals as Martin Luther King Jr., opposite the more extreme views of his once cohort Magneto. His pacifist views and ideals for mutants to coexist with humanity have been met with even opposition within his own ranks, ultimately being executed holding to those beliefs.
Professor Xavier, along with being the founder of the School for Gifted Youngsters, is one of the most powerful telepaths on earth. Along with being a geneticist, his innovations in psionic technology led to the creation of Cerebro, a device he uses to amplify his powers and locate mutants around the planet. Xavier is as much an icon to who the X-Men are as any of the other members. Being as prolific a character and charismatic a leader, characters portraying him in the films have had to have enough chops to live up to the image. Patrick Stewart in the first X-Men film did well to carry the role, and has continued that character throughout six other films.
1. Wolverine
I know there’s a lot of gripe about the character of Wolverine inundating the recent comic book runs. Insomuch that fans of other characters have complained that he has taken so much of the spotlight that their favorites have had so little. Yet, you can’t keep the ol’ canuckle head down. He’s had a successful run of a solo comic series since 1988, to being one of the most popular of X-Men to grace the big-screen and in animated series. The character of Logan/James Howlett/Weapon X has both a complicated past, a dynamic personality, and a contribution to the X-Men that not even an apparent death can hold down.
The Wolverine first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #180 as a villain the Hulk has to fight. He eventually makes a more permanent appearance in Giant Size X-Men #1 as part of the second team tasked with saving the members of the original. From my experience in the just the solo Wolverine comic, Logan has been up against some nasty foes with some nasty abilities. He has been able to deal with them in the past with a mutant healing factor and indestructible adamantium skeleton. In the comic run that I read, he was still reeling from losing his indestructible skeleton after the events in the X-Men: Fatal Attractions run. Some of the writing that came from that arc as well as the art of Andy Kubert really brought the character to life for me. Yes, he was once a notable scrapper because his skeleton aided him in fighting. Yet in the comic run during the 90’s, he was at the mercy of enemies who he could once stand toe-to-toe with. It was interesting to see his character development when losing an essential part of himself. But now that I think about it, I guess everyone in that comic run lost a piece of themselves.
Logan has been played by the enigmatic Hugh Jackman for all of the X films, and his continued presence has been a point of rejoicing and contention for many X-Men fans. Notwithstanding, I think everyone would agree that with great writing and direction, the character of James Howlett can be an interesting study on screen. With the recent success of Logan in theaters, I believe most critics and fans would agree. A proper send-off to the character in the comics in the Old Man Logan run as well as in the films was met with sadness and a bit of outcry from a lot of fans of the comics along with applause.
Needless to say, Wolverine makes number 1 on this list, like he has on so many other lists in other publications.
I know there will be some backlash to this list, as this list is a response to another list. So sound off with your picks of the top 10 X-Men!