X-Men

In 1991, the original volume of The New Mutants came to an end and was relaunched as X-Force, beginning with New Mutants #100. Created by Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, the new series shifted the former student team into a more aggressive and militarized direction under the leadership of Cable. The original lineup featured Boom-Boom, Cable, Cannonball, Domino, Feral, Shatterstar, Warpath, and Siryn.

Unlike the traditional superhero approach associated with the X-Men, X-Force was conceived as a proactive strike team willing to confront threats before they escalated. The early stories revolved around the team’s conflicts with Deadpool, Stryfe and his Mutant Liberation Front, the Morlocks, Proteus, the Juggernaut, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and even S.H.I.E.L.D. The title quickly became one of Marvel’s best-selling comics of the 1990s and played a major role in defining the decade’s darker and more action-oriented tone for mutant titles.

As part of the wider X-Men franchise, the series frequently crossed over with the other mutant books. You can also follow the team’s adventures alongside the rest of Marvel’s mutant line in our complete X-Men Reading Order.

Read More »X-Force Reading Order (including Uncanny X-Force & X-Statix)

Namor the Sub-Mariner is one of Marvel’s earliest characters and is sometimes considered their very first original character. He was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for the comic Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1. The title was never released, and Namor’s real first appearance was in Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939). He was one of Timely Comics’ (Marvel’s predecessor) most popular characters at the time, alongside the Human Torch and Captain America.

Although he is not as popular today as he was during the Golden Age of comics, Namor remains a historically significant character with a publishing history spanning over 80 years. He has even found his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he is played by Tenoch Huerta in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

But who is Namor, the Sub-Mariner? Namor McKenzie is the mutant son of a human sea captain and an Atlantean princess. As the current king of Atlantis, he will do whatever it takes to protect his people. Depending on the circumstances, he can be a villain, a hero, or an antihero to the surface dwellers. He is almost always a hero to the people of Atlantis.

Read More »Namor the Sub-Mariner Reading Order, Imperius Rex!

In the 1980s, the X-Men weren’t just a team, they were a phenomenon in the comics world. Under Chris Claremont, the franchise became so massive that Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter demanded an expansion. The result was The New Mutants. Though Claremont was initially hesitant, the series quickly evolved from a ‘junior varsity’ squad into a surreal, avant-garde comics, especially once artist Bill Sienkiewicz joined to redefine the book’s visual language.

But who are the New Mutants? They are the teenagers the world feared most: Karma, Wolfsbane, Sunspot, Cannonball, and Moonstar. Thrown together by the X-gene, their journey takes them from early encounters with Spider-Man to the halls of Xavier’s School. From battling Sentinels and the Hellfire Club to the dark transformation of Illyana Rasputin into Magik, this is the definitive map to their early years. For those looking for the ‘big picture,’ you can also find how these issues weave into our complete X-Men Reading Order.

Read More »New Mutants Reading Order (The X-Men)

She became a popular X-Men character in the nineties, known for her psychic abilities and her signature telepathic blade. Today, we’re talking about the mutant Psylocke. Or should I say mutants, as the codename has been used by two closely connected women: Betsy Braddock and Kwannon.

Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe in 1976, Betsy Braddock was first introduced as the sister of Captain Britain and a telepath before eventually joining the X-Men. In the late 1980s, she underwent one of the most infamous transformations in Marvel history, emerging in the body of the Japanese assassin Kwannon.

For decades, Betsy Braddock operated under the name Psylocke — a British woman living in another woman’s body, combining telepathy with formidable fighting skills. She served as an X-Man, a covert operative, and at times an assassin, while forming complicated romantic relationships along the way.

Read More »Psylocke Reading Order (Betsy Braddock, Kwannon)

She was the first female member of the X-Men, an Omega-level mutant with telekinetic powers. She defined the X-Men for decades to come and was closely associated with a powerful cosmic entity. Yes, we’re talking about Jean Grey, also known as Marvel Girl or Phoenix.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963, she is one of the most popular X-Men. She is a caring and empathetic character who has undergone significant transformation, sentimental hardship, sacrifice and much more. She began as one of the weakest members of the original X-Men, often playing the damsel in distress and Cyclops’ love interest, before finding herself at the centre of one of the most iconic stories in Marvel Comics (the Dark Phoenix Saga), during which she revealed herself to be one of the most powerful mutants.

Throughout the years, retcons and new adventures, Jean Grey has continued to grow and affirm herself as a strong, powerful and caring woman and a pillar of the X-community.

As you might imagine, despite having died more than once, Jean Grey is one of the X-Men with the more stories. To help you explore her history, we have put together a reading order guide containing her best and/or most essential stories.

Read More »The Best Jean Grey Comics, Your Essential Reading Order

X-Men were the first Marvel superheroes I read. I remember picking up the latest release from the shelf, which turned out to be the conclusion of a storyline! From then on, I started exploring the X-Men’s history, following their contemporary adventures and tracking down older stories — from Chris Claremont’s run to the many spin-offs, limited series and maxi-series (I loved Cable back then!).

These days, it’s easier than ever to get into reading good X-Men comics thanks to the different collected editions, which explore the many eras of the mutants’ history. But with over 60 years’ worth of stories, it can also be hard to know where to start!

So, where should you start? The X-Men are a big family with many characters and various types of adventures. Whether you prefer the old comic book styles of the ’80s, epic modern stories, high-concept ideas, or personal and intimate tales, there’s an X-Men comic for you!

To help you find the perfect one, here’s a curated beginner’s guide with several routes you can take to read some great X-Men stories!

Read More »Where to Start Reading X-Men Comics? An Introduction to the X-Universe

There may be no other family tree as complex as the Grey-Summers one in the X-Men Universe, but it doesn’t mean that other characters haven’t had their share of pain and problems with their relatives. Case in point with Marko Cain, better known as Juggernaut, who is also the stepbrother of Professor X!

Unlike Charles Xavier, Juggernaut is not a mutant, but a human empowered by an ancient jewel powered by the deity Cyttorak, which transformed him into the unstoppable Juggernaut. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he made his first appearance in X-Men #12 (1965) as an enemy of the X-Men. For a long time after his introduction, Juggy was a one-note villain, popping up in one or two issues to rampage and disappear (or get thrown into prison for a while). Still, that didn’t stop him from making a name for himself as a member of the Brotherhood of Mutants and as the criminal partner and BFF of Black Tom Cassidy. For many decades, he fought against the X-Men, as well as Spider-Man and the Hulk.

Things changed for Juggernaut in the early 2000s during Chuck Austen’s infamous run on Uncanny X-Men. While that era is often panned, it is also when Ol’ Jughead got some noticeable character development as he joined the X-Men and officially crossed the line between villain and hero, becoming more of an anti-hero (or anti-villain).

Read More »The Best of Juggernaut Comics, A Recommended Reading Order

Welcome back to the world of the X-Men with part 8 of our ultimate reading guide. Once the “Krakoan Age” came to an end, Marvel Comics launched a new era called “From The Ashes.” A complete relaunch of the X-Line of comics starting summer 2024.

This was teased in X-Men (vol. 6) #35 (legacy Uncanny X-Men #700), announcing a return to something similar to the old status quo with mutants rejoining the rest of the world and facing hatred and fear. 

The new era of X-Men kicks off with three flagship titles. First, in X-Men (vol. 7) by Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman, Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, Psylocke, Kid Omega, Temper (formerly Oya), Magik, and Juggernaut come together to face emerging threats, fighting not just for survival, but for the future and guiding philosophy of mutantkind. Then, in Uncanny X-Men (vol. 6) by Gail Simone and David Marquez, outlaws once more, Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Jubilee, and Wolverine are now based in the heart of the Big Easy, and they continue to defend a world that fears and hates them. Then, in Exceptional X-Men by Eve L. Ewing and Carmen Carnero, Kate Pryde returned to her hometown of Chicago in the aftermath of the war with Orchis, hoping to leave the world of mutant affairs behind. But when she encounters three young mutants—Bronze, Axo, and Melee—in desperate need of training and guidance, she finds herself reluctantly drawn back in. And to make matters more complicated, Emma Frost wholeheartedly agrees.

Those X-Men comic book series are soon joined by NYX (vol. 2), Phoenix, Storm (vol. 5), Wolverine (vol. 8), X-Factor (vol. 5), X-Force (vol. 7), and some limited series and, soon, the first crossovers. 

Read More »X-Men: From The Ashes Reading Order (Part. 8)