As one of Marvel's most successful properties, the X-Men have been an enduring symbol of equality and diversity. This is in part due to the stellar cast of female characters that have been members of this illustrious team of mutants. Where other superhero books struggled to maintain a strong female presence, the X-Men continually broke barriers and records with their multi-dimensional portrayals of women.
As writer Brian Wood puts it, "[…] the women are the X-Men. Cyclops and Wolverine are big names, but taken as a whole, the women kind of rule the franchise. If you look at the entire world as a whole, it's the females that really dominate and are the most interesting and cool to look at."
Listed here are the top ten greatest female members of the X-Men. Those selected were chosen based on their importance to the franchise, mutant abilities, personality, recognizability, and relevance.
10. Magik (Illyana Rasputin)
First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)
Mutant Powers: Sorcery, teleportation
Essential Storylines: Uncanny X-Men #160, New Mutants #14, The Quest for Magik, X-Men: Hellbound, Uncanny X-Men: Revolution
As a child, Illyana Rasputin was spirited away to Limbo where the demon Belasco siphoned off bits of her soul in order to summon the Elder Gods to take over Earth. This event left Illyana deeply corrupted and led towards her becoming the ruler of Limbo. Over the years, she has fought her darker impulses to fight for good as a member of the New Mutants and later as a member of the X-Men.
During the 1980s, Magik was a favoured character of X-Men scribe Chris Claremont. She was a prominent member of the New Mutants and appeared frequently as a supporting character in the pages of Uncanny X-Men. While she was later killed off by future writers, Magik made her triumphant return in New X-Men and has since gone on to be a major player in many key X-Men storylines. Most recently, she was possessed by the Phoenix Force and is now a member of Cyclops' band of X-Men.
09. X-23 (Laura Kinney)
First Appearance: NYX #3 (2004)
Mutant Powers: Accelerated healing factor, superhuman senses, retractible claws in hands and feet
Essential Storylines: X-23: Innocence Lost, X-23: Target X, X-Force: Not Forgotten, X-23: The Killing Dream, Avengers Arena
Born out of a laboratory, Laura Kinney was cloned from Wolverine's DNA and was trained to be the world's most vicious assassin. She managed to escape this life and has since tried to repent for her past sins by working alongside her genetic father as a member of the X-Men.
Much like DC Comics' Harley Quinn, X-23 originated on television as a character introduced in X-Men: Evolution. The concept of a female Wolverine clone proved so popular that she was eventually brought over into the mainstream comic universe. She even starred in two self-titled mini-series and a short-lived ongoing title written by Marjorie Liu in addition to her acclaimed appearances in X-Force. If that weren't enough, she's made numerous appearances in video games and cartoons. Currently, she's part of the All-New X-Men title written by Brian Michael Bendis.
08. Jubilee (Jubilation Lee)
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #244 (1989)
Mutant Powers: Formerly able to generate multi-coloured energy plasmodia
Essential Storylines: Uncanny X-Men #224, Generation X, X-Men: Curse of the Mutants, Wolverine & Jubilee, X-Men: Primer
Brash and full of sass, Jubilation Lee was an orphan living in the Hollywood Mall when she first encountered the X-Men. She followed them back to their base and rightfully earned a place on the team after rescuing Wolverine from the clutches of the Reavers. Despite leaving the team to train with other mutants her age, Jubilee returned to the X-Men once more and has become a key member of their all-female task force.
Jubilee rose to prominence due to her appearance in the seminal X-Men animated series from the early-'90s. As the resident plucky teen sidekick, her antics and humorous attitude made her a favourite among viewers. While she's been largely ignored in subsequent adaptations and spent years in publication limbo, Jubilee's status as a fan-favourite has garnered her a coveted spot among the most iconic Marvel heroes.
07. Dazzler (Alison Blaire)
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980)
Mutant Powers: Converts sound into light; able to generate lasers, hard light weapons, and holograms
Essential Storylines: Uncanny X-Men #217, Uncanny X-Men #228, Uncanny X-Men #260, Dazzler, X-Treme X-Men
For years, mutant singer Alison Blaire moonlit as a part-time superhero. She single-handedly bested the likes of the Enchantress, Doctor Doom, and Galactus between gigs. Life was good for the songstress until she came out as a mutant. The world turned against her and this led towards her alliance with the X-Men. As Dazzler, Alison fought against injustice as a member of the X-Men and eventually led a rebellion against the dictator known as Mojo. After a brief stint with the UK-based superhero team Excalibur, she returned to the X-Men and even became a mutant liaison for S.H.I.E.L.D., adding super spy to her resume.
With a long-running solo title under her belt, Dazzler came into the X-Men as a force to be reckoned with. She had a huge presence in Uncanny X-Men during the late-'80s, but was subsequently relegated to the D-list. Many creators have attempted to revive the character and yet she still can't quite catch a break. Dazzler deserves to be one of the top three X-Women and continues to be one of the most underrated Marvel characters out there, she obviously just needs the right push.
06. White Queen (Emma Frost)
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #129 (1980)
Mutant Powers: Telepathy, can transform her skin into diamond
Essential Storylines: The Dark Phoenix Saga, Uncanny X-Men #151-152, Generation X, E is for Extinction, Torn
Emma Grace Frost comes from an aristocratic Boston family. By the time she reached adulthood, she was an expert in the art of deception and manipulation. Paired with her mutant ability of telepathy, these skills enabled her to become the White Queen of the Hellfire Club. As the White Queen, Emma clashed with the X-Men several times before she switched sides. Since then, Emma has become a prominent member of the X-Men and is widely regarded as one of the most powerful telepaths in the world.
Despite being known as a villain for well over a decade, Emma's jump to heroism resurrected her career. For pulling a Rogue, Emma was rewarded by being given the coveted role of co-leader of the X-Men and headmistress of the Xavier School for Higher Learning. Unlike Rogue, Emma's continued ambiguous morals and catty attitude has made such a leap much more plausible, since her personality has been consistent. She's been a key figure in nearly every major X-Men storyline since the early-2000s and her importance in Uncanny X-Men shows that she has no intention of giving up her A-list status.
05. Rogue (Anna Marie)
First Appearance: Avengers Annual #10 (1981)
Mutant Powers: Absorbs abilities and memories through skin contact
Essential Storylines: Uncanny X-Men #171, Uncanny X-Men #269, Mutant Genesis, Supernovas, X-Men: Legacy
When she was still a child, swamp rat Anna Marie was adopted by the mutant terrorist Mystique and her lover Destiny. Adopting the codename Rogue, Anna followed in her mother's footsteps and became one of the most wanted criminals in America. She was responsible for the attempted murder of Ms. Marvel and tormented mutant songstress Dazzler relentlessly. Nevertheless, Rogue's criminal career came to an abrupt end when she sought out Professor Xavier's aid to help her gain control of her powers. This fateful decision led towards Rogue becoming of the most influential members of the X-Men and she's faithfully served the mutant team for well over three decades.
As an early example of the bad girl turned good trend, Rogue's evolution from villain to hero made her a fan-favourite in the late-'80s. However, it would be her starring role in the '90s X-Men cartoon that cemented her popularity amongst audiences. Despite what little she offers to the mutant cause and her tendency to define herself through her relationships, there's no denying that Rogue is insanely popular.
04. Psylocke (Elizabeth Braddock)
First Appearance: Captain Britain #8 (1976)
Mutant Abilities: Telepathy, telekinesis
As the only daughter of one of the wealthiest families in England, Elizabeth Braddock grew up dreaming of doing something incredible with her life. While she briefly worked as a supermodel, it was her work as a spy and superhero that brought purpose to her life. She used her mutant psychic abilities to become the X-Man known as Psylocke and has proven to be one of their most loyal members.
Psylocke is a complex character with a slightly convoluted backstory, but that hasn't stopped her from becoming a cult icon. Known for her provocative ninja costume and posh attitude, she's proven popular amongst most comic book fanboys. She's also a gaming favourite, appearing in numerous video games from the early-'90s onward. Though not as well known as Jean Grey or Emma Frost, Psylocke has played an integral role in the X-Men's history and her relationships within the team have made for some great storytelling opportunities.
03. Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde)
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #129 (1980)
Mutant Abilities: Intangibility
Essential Storylines: Days of Future Past, Uncanny X-Men #143, Mekanix, Astonishing X-Men, Breaking Point
Kitty Pryde joined the X-Men when she was just 13-years-old, becoming their youngest member to date. This computer savvy mutant grew from an awkward tween to being one of the most respected heroes in the world. Even though her dedication has wavered over the years, Kitty has continually put the needs of others before herself in the name of equality.
Introduced during the seminal Dark Phoenix Saga, Kitty proved to be an extremely likeable teenager whose awkwardness made her all the more relatable. She became a mainstay during the 1980s, with stories like God Loves, Man Kills and Days of Future Past featuring her as a key player. She even eventually went on to become a mentor to the younger generation of mutants. Thanks to the film adaptations and her appearances in cartoons, Kitty Pryde is now one of the most recognizable X-Women out there.
02. Phoenix (Jean Grey)
First Appearance: X-Men #1 (1963)
Mutant Abilities: Telekinesis, telepathy
As one of Professor Xavier's first students, Jean Grey was a founding member of the X-Men and grew up fighting the likes of Magneto, the Sentinels, and the Juggernaut. Her growth as a telepath and telekinetic has made her one of the most powerful mutants in the world, while her connection to the enigmatic Phoenix Force makes her one of the most dangerous.
Jean Grey is truly the First Lady of the X-Men. Her sass and infamous temper have made her one of the most thrilling characters to read, while her relationship and subsequent marriage to Scott Summers continue to be one of the most iconic love stories in the world of comic books. If that weren't enough, the classic Dark Phoenix Saga hinges entirely on Jean's character and it has gone on to be one of the most influential storylines for the X-Men. Even with the complications of her constant rebirths and the presence of a "teen Jean" running amok in the present continuity, nostalgia remains high for this redheaded psychic.
01. Storm (Ororo Munroe)
First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)
Mutant Abilities: Control over the weather
Essential Storylines: Uncanny X-Men #169-170, Lifedeath, Uncanny X-Men #265-266, X-Men: Storm, Worlds Apart, Storm
When she was barely old enough to speak, Ororo Monroe was orphaned by an explosion that killed her parents in their Cairo home. For years, she would live on the streets and stole to survive. It wasn't until her mutant ability to control the weather surfaced that her life took a change for the better. Initially worshipped as a goddess in a small Kenyan village, Ororo was recruited by Professor Xavier to become a member of the X-Men. Taking on the codename Storm, she has since gone on to become a leader, a mentor, a queen, and the world's fiercest superhero.
There is no denying that Storm is the single most influential and culturally significant X-Man, male or female, out there. She was one of the very first African-American heroines in comics and she was the very first woman to ever lead a team of superheroes, not only that but she was also the first African-American to do so. She's appeared in nearly every film and television adaptation of the X-Men, as well as making appearances in video games and stage shows. While most contemporary readers would cite Rogue or X-23 as their favourite X-Woman, Storm's growth as a character goes down as one of the most well-written evolutions in the history of comic books. Chris Claremont's legendary run on Uncanny X-Men posited Storm as the matriarch and centre piece of the book, having her wrestle with complex notions of morality and identity all while leading the X-Men through some of the most tragic moments in mutant history. Truth be told, his Uncanny X-Men really was more like Storm and her Uncanny Friends. To recognize her significance, Marvel has also finally given Storm her very own ongoing series (about damn time!) written by Greg Pak. Here's hoping it survives the dreaded Marvel heroine curse!
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