As the legend goes, the X-Men were on their way to becoming a footnote in Marvel's history when Len Wein and Dave Cockrum introduced a brand-new crop of mutants in Giant Size X-Men #1. When it hit stands in 1975, the book increased interest in the X-Men and their popularity continued to rise into the 1980s.
During the '80s, no comic book was hotter than Uncanny X-Men. The series' writer Chris Claremont crafted intelligent and imaginative stories that captivated readers. Sales were so strong that Marvel sought to capitalize on the success of the X-Men and thus began launching comics starring offshoots of the X-Men.
Lovingly called X-books by fans, these titles and their respective teams have gone on to become almost as popular as their parent book. Listed here are the five greatest and most successful X-Men spin-offs to date.
05. Alpha Flight (Vol. 1)
1983-1994
Number of Issues: 130
Genres: Action/Adventure, LGBTQ, Mythology, Superhero
Think: Canadian Avengers
Originally introduced during Chris Claremont and John Byrne's tenure on X-Men (before it became Uncanny), Alpha Flight was a government-funded Canadian superhero team that once included Wolverine in its ranks. Even though they were initially peripheral characters, the group was given its own ongoing series in 1983. Unlike most other comic books, the series featured an entirely Canadian cast and its stories were set in the True North. Alpha Flight is also remembered for tackling environmental issues, discussing mental illness and featuring the very first gay Marvel superhero.
04. New Mutants (Vol. 1)
1983-1991
Number of Issues: 100
Genres: Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Leading Ladies, School Life, Supernatural
Think: Teen Titans
In the same year that Alpha Flight made its debut, New Mutants hit newsstands. This title showcased the adventures of a group of teenage mutants who were training to become the next generation of X-Men. Much like its parent book, New Mutants boasted a diverse cast and focused heavily on character development and relationships. The legacy of the New Mutants is long-reaching, with many of its members going on to become teachers and X-Men. The original line-up also proved so popular that it was revived for a third ongoing series in 2009.
03. Uncanny X-Force (Vol. 1)
2010-2013
Number of Issues: 37
Genres: Action/Adventure, Martial Arts, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
Think: Suicide Squad
As a team, X-Force has been around since the 1990s. Even though these previous incarnations achieved success, it would be Rick Remender's version in Uncanny X-Force that led to critical and commercial acclaim. Led by Wolverine, this version of X-Force was a secret black ops unit that tackled forces too dangerous for the X-Men to handle. The book was responsible for returning Psylocke to prominence, reviving interest in the Age of Apocalypse and established Remender as one of Marvel's most sought after writers.
02. Generation X (Vol. 1)
1994-2001
Number of Issues: 75
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Leading Ladies, School Life, Superhero, Young Adult
Think: Beverly Hills, 9010 (with mutants)
More than a decade after the debut of the New Mutants, Marvel introduced a brand-new crop of teen mutants in the aptly titled Generation X. This series featured former X-Man Banshee and a newly reformed Emma Frost mentoring the titular group of heroes. Significantly more humorous and adventurous than its predecessor, Generation X was heralded for its more realistic treatment of its characters and was instrumental in establishing Emma Frost as a key player in the X-books.
01. X-Factor (Vol. 2)
2006-2013
Number of Issues: 114
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Leading Ladies, LGBTQ, Mystery
Think: Angel
Originally conceived as an homage to the noir genre, X-Factor focused on a group of mutant private detective as they investigated a variety of mutant-related cases. The series was written by the enormously talented Peter David and was noted for its clever dialogue, soapy relationship drama and colourful cast of characters. Beyond that, the series was also praised for featuring a Muslim superheroine as one of its main characters and including much-publicized homosexual relationship. X-Factor continues to be one of the X-Men's most unique spin-offs and proved itself to be the little comic that could by reaching well over 100 issues.
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