Top 10: Best X-Men Line-Ups

When it comes to superheroes, very few teams are more popular and recognizable than Marvel's X-Men. As with any group, their ranks have changed over the years to include new characters or to bring back old ones. Many of these variations have become just as iconic as the individuals themselves. From the original group from the swingin' '60s to the '90s-rific Blue Team, this post takes a look at the top ten greatest X-Men line-ups. 

10. Astonishing Team, Redux

(Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3 #48-68)

ROSTER: Gambit, Iceman, Karma, Northstar, Cecilia Reyes, Warbird, Wolverine

When the businesswoman turned supervillain Susan Hatchi sought to acquire the nation of Madripoor, she used the X-Men as pawns in her twisted game. These X-Men were an eclectic bunch and easily became one of the most diverse rosters in recent years. It included two LGBTQ characters, as well as three women of colour. This was especially important for a franchise whose struggles have been an analogy for homophobia and racism. Aside from the diversity angle, this team was notable for its familial vibe. Writer Marjorie Liu took the time to nurture the relationships between these characters and it really helped to make them that much more captivating.

09. Original Team

(X-Men Vol. 1 #1-66)

ROSTER: Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl
LATECOMERS: Havok, Mimic, Polaris

Created by the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the original X-Men were five teenagers who banded together under the tutelage of Professor Charles Xavier to save the world that fears them. As the first mutants to fight for Xavier's Dream, nostalgia for this line-up is high. In fact, Marvel continually revisits this group due to its iconic status. In titles like X-Men: The Hidden Years and X-Men: First Class, writers have revisited this team in their early days. More recently they've become the focus of Brian Michael Bendis' best-selling All-New X-Men series.

08. Gold Team

(Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #281-315)

ROSTER: Archangel, Bishop, Colossus, Iceman, Jean Grey, Storm

Following the events of the crossover X-Tinction Agenda, the ranks of the X-Men swelled to the size of a small army. To address this, they were split into two squads. Storm was given control of the Gold Strike Team, which dealt with threats from the future and Colossus' villainous brother Mikhail Rasputin. Her group was more classic in its line-up, especially since it featured three of the five original X-Men. However, it was also notable for the inclusion of '90s newcomer Bishop.

07. All-Female Team

(X-Men Vol. 4 #1-?)

ROSTER: Jubilee, Psylocke, Rachel Grey, Storm

EARLY DEPARTURES: Kitty Pryde, Rogue

LATECOMERS: Monet St. Croix

There's no denying that the X-Men have some of the fiercest superheroines in their ranks. That's why it's so surprising that it took so long to get an all-female squad for the franchise. This group, currently appearing in the pages of X-Men, became the first of its kind and is notable for emphasizing the sisterhood formed amongst the X-Women. As far as its membership is concerned, Storm leads a crop of A-listers and fan-favourites who are considered some of the most powerful mutants in the universe. Of course, it could still use a pinch of Dazzler to make it perfect.

06. Rogue's Team

(X-Men Vol. 2 #188-204)

ROSTER: Cable, Cannonball, Iceman, Mystique, Rogue, Sabretooth

LATECOMERS: Lady Mastermind, Omega Sentinel

After Cyclops grants Rogue the opportunity to lead her own team, she puts together one of the most unconventional and dysfunctional rosters the X-Men have ever had. While she recruited trusted allies like Iceman and Cannonball, Rogue was certainly asking for trouble when she threw three supervillains into the mix. This is undoubtedly what made this trainwreck so interesting and made the ride that much more fun.

05. X-Treme Sanctions Executive Team

(Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #444-474)

ROSTER: Bishop, Marvel Girl, Sage, Storm, Wolverine
EARLY DEPARTURES: Cannonball
LATECOMERS: Psylocke, X-23

When Storm is deputized to deal with mutant-related crimes, she and her X.S.E. set about establishing themselves as an authority in a world that hates their kind. This band of X-Men featured a stellar cast that felt like a return to the glory days of the 1980s, especially since Chris Claremont was on hand to write their adventures. Beyond the A-list status of its members, this group was so compelling due to their closeness and their interactions. This wasn't just a group of musclebound superheroes, this was a family.

04. Astonishing Team

(Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3 #1-24)

ROSTER: Beast, Colossus, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine

LATECOMERS: Armor

Following the conclusion of Grant Morrison's critically-acclaimed run on New X-Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator (and future Avengers director) Joss Whedon made his X-Men debut with this beloved team in the pages of Astonishing X-Men. This small but mighty group was instantly iconic and completely rejuvenated the X-Men's universe. While it certainly helped that its members were legends, what made this team so compelling was that they felt like a love letter to the seminal Post-Dark Phoenix Saga material from the 1980s.

03. Outback Team

(Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #214-250)

ROSTER: Colossus, Dazzler, Havok, Longshot, Psylocke, Rogue, Storm, Wolverine

In the late-1980s, X-Men scribe Chris Claremont defied the status quo when he moved the X-Men from their home in New York to the dusty expanses of the Australian Outback. This would be the biggest shake-up in the team's history since the introduction of the all-new, all-different X-Men in the mid-1970s. Formed in the wake of the devastating massacre of the Morlocks at the hands of the Marauders, this team took a proactive approach to combatting the forces that threatened mutant kind. With newcomers Psylocke, Dazzler and Longshot on-hand, this roster was a breath of fresh air and focused on the budding interpersonal relationships between its members. It also helps that the stories from this era were among some of the best in the history of the X-Men.

02. Blue Team

(X-Men Vol. 2 #1-34)

ROSTER: Beast, Cyclops, Gambit, Jubilee, Psylocke, Rogue, Wolverine

When the Jim Lee-helmed X-Men hit shelves in 1991, it broke sales records and became an instant hit. The title saw Cyclops leading his squad of X-Men, then known as the Blue Strike Team, against forces such as Omega Red, Mojo and long-time foe Magneto. This roster became the defining membership of the X-Men in the '90s and was the basis for the legendary X-Men: The Animated Series. Aside from the overwhelming popularity of this line-up, the Blue Team was brilliantly composed and featured a balanced mix of power and skill types. It also birthed intriguing character relationships, some of which included Rogue and Gambit's on-off courtship, Psylocke's pursuit of Cyclops and Wolverine's mentorship of Jubilee.

01. 1980s Team

(X-Men Vol. 1 #139-141, Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #142-213)

ROSTER: Colossus, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Storm, Wolverine

EARLY DEPARTURES: Angel, Cyclops

LATECOMERS: Magneto, Rachel Grey, Rogue

Following the conclusion of the epic Dark Phoenix Saga, the X-Men entered into what would be one of their most critically-acclaimed and commercially successful eras. With Cyclops taking a leave of absence from the team, Storm took over as leader and this tenure would be one of the longest in the history of the team. While the line-up of her team fluctuated over the years, it was bolstered by mainstays Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Rogue. This brilliant mix of outcasts captured the attention of readers and singlehandedly defined the 1980s. 

Review: Astonishing X-Men - Unmasked

After discovering a mysterious artifact with ties to an enemy her people, Warbird goes rogue and is chased across Cairo by S.H.I.E.L.D. Then, the world is blanketed in snow and it becomes clear that there's only one person responsible -- Iceman. The X-Men must not only save the world, but they must rescue their allies from their inner demons as well.

Astonishing X-Men: Unmasked collects issues #57-59 and #62-68 of Marjorie Liu's run on Astonishing X-Men.

Unmasked offers a variety of stories from the desk of Marjorie Liu. This collection opens with the two-part Warbird-centric arc that deals with the Shi'Ar's complicated relationship with art. She uses these two issues to further develop Warbird's character and flesh her out beyond her role as a warrior. Warbird was one of the standout characters of Liu's run on Astonishing and she did a brilliant job of providing readers with some backstory to the character.

At the heart of this collection, however, is the Iceman-driven snowpocalypse arc. In this story, the X-Men are dealing with the aftermath of X-Tremination and come face-to-face with the reality of Iceman's dark side coming to the forefront. Over the course of this four issue narrative, Liu gets right to the core of Iceman's character and deals with his insecurities in a way that no other writer has done before. Despite being one of the original X-Men, Iceman tends to get ignored by most writers and it's rare to find a story such as this one that places him in a starring role. For that alone, Liu should be celebrated. However, she also provides us with some great cameos of the character's past girlfriends and posits Mystique as the story's secondary antagonist. For fans of the X-Men's resident frosted mutant, this story will not disappoint.

Character development is a crucial selling point for Liu's run on Astonishing and that continues to be the case here. Throughout, she focuses on the intricacies of the X-Men's relationships with one another and indulges in the downtime between missions to give us maximum development. While other writers are eager to toss the characters into battle, Liu takes her time and carefully crafts subplots into her stories for the singular purpose of providing the X-Men with depth. From Northstar's struggles with immigration to Warbird's acceptance of herself as an artist, Liu helps to remind readers that the X-Men are more than just your everyday generic superheroes and that they have personal struggles just like the rest of us.

Astonishing X-Men: Unmasked is a bittersweet ending to Liu's near flawless run on the title. She concludes her tenure with a bang, providing fans with amazing character development and a much-deserved Iceman-centric story. To top it all off, the art is top notch. Phil Noto's covers are gorgeous and Gabriel Hernadez Walta's interiors match the tone of the book perfectly. While there were still some problems with the material, Liu's handle on the characters remained strong and the title was getting addicting. The fact that it was cancelled, and with such a unique team, is sad. Fingers crossed that Liu will return to the Merry Mutants some day!

Rating: A-

Review: Astonishing X-Men, Weaponized

As the X-Men celebrate Northstar's nuptials to Kyle Jinadu, they make the startling discovery that their bodies have been infected with dangerous nanobombs courtesy of Hatchitech. The technology company's CEO Susan Hatchi offers the X-Men two choices, they can either do her bidding or be blown to smithereens. Decisions, decisions.

Astonishing X-Men: Weaponized collects issues #52-56 of Astonishing X-Men written by Marjorie Liu, as well as its first annual.

Picking up right after the events of the preceding trade paperback, Weaponized continues the arc of Susan Hatchi's manipulations of the X-Men. She's apparently set her sights on acquiring the island nation of Madripoor and is keen on using the X-Men to help her do it. It's a great story actually, so much so that Brian Michael Bendis decided to plagiarize parts of it in All-New X-Men. Susan Hatchi proves to be a devastatingly powerful enemy for the team and her machinations place them in intense life-or-death situations. A standout moment features the X-Men buried under rubble, with only Cecilia Reyes' forcefield protecting them from the crushing death that awaits them.

Marjorie Liu's keen understanding of her characters proves to be a major selling point for this collection. Their personalities, motivations, and powers are well defined, making them all the more accessible to the readers. Warbird continues to be a source of humour and is easily one of the best characters present. Even still, Karma and Northstar remain at the forefront of Liu's narrative. She's still very much interested in exploring Northstar's relationship with Kyle and handles the danger of mutant-human romance quite well. With Karma, she makes the character extremely relatable and makes some rather interesting revelations about her past. The downside to this is that Liu references past events that many readers may be unaware of.

While Liu's characters may be accessible, the narrative isn't always. Beyond Karma's past, Liu leaves the reader without context for many situations. The glaring issue here being Madripoor. While the nation should be well-known to long-time X-Men fans, newer readers will likely find its place in the story quite puzzling. The other issue with Weaponized is its art. Once again, Mike Perkins provides sloppy work that does a disservice to Liu's plot. David Baldeon, who takes care of the art for Astonishing X-Men Annual #1, would have been a much better choice. Finally, there is a slight misstep on Marvel's part in terms of how they collected Liu's run on Astonishing X-Men. They split up the Susan Hatchi arc into two volumes (Northstar and Weaponized) when they should have collected the entire arc in one larger trade paperback.

If you can get past the messy art, Marjorie Liu's Astonishing X-Men will leave you impressed. The attention she gives to D-list characters is admirable and she creates a story for them that develops them quite well. Astonishing X-Men: Weaponized is a character-driven collection that is unrelenting in its intensity and action. If you love underdogs, then this is the right trade paperback for you.

Rating: A-

Review: Astonishing X-Men, Northstar

Having moved from Toronto to New York City, Northstar is getting settled into his new life with his boyfriend Kyle. Unfortunately, he barely has time to unpack before he's called off for a mission with the X-Men. Someone is controlling the minds of villains and heroes alike, and it's up to Northstar to stop them.

Astonishing X-Men: Northstar collects Astonishing X-Men #48-51, written by Marjorie Liu, as well as material from Nation X #2 and Alpha Flight.

There is a lot to love about this collection. From the dialogue to the action, Liu delivers an engaging story from the very beginning. Her characters are three-dimensional and feel incredibly realistic, which is a feat rarely accomplished in mainstream comics. The chemistry between each X-Man is electric and the familial vibe is at the forefront of all their interactions. Iceman's trademark wit and Warbird's enthusiasm for combat serve as the comic relief, while Northstar's relationship woes add drama to the mix. Truthfully, enough cannot be said about Liu's band of X-Men. It's an eclectic mix of big names and D-listers, but it works to her advantage. I'm personally impressed by the focus she places on Karma and Northstar, two characters who are tragically in need of attention from writers. She also gets extra brownie points for including '90s X-Man Cecilia Reyes, especially since Liu gets her personality spot-on.

If Marvel's PR team were to tell us what the selling point for Astonishing X-Men: Northstar is, they'd probably say it's the much publicized "gay wedding" which occurs in the final issue in this collection. The pressure must have been immense for Liu, particularly since many have called the wedding a publicity stunt. Nevertheless, she takes on the task of writing such a controversial subject with tact and respect. It's a very touching moment and the issue itself is understandably quite important. My only criticism would be that we didn't get to see enough of it. Honestly, the issue should have been double-sized and packed full of mutant wedding goodness. After all, we didn't even get any moments between Northstar and his bestie Dazzler.

Astonishing X-Men: Northstar proves that Marjorie Liu is one of the most underrated X-Men scribes. Not only does she understand the characters she writes, but she also gives a voice to those who have been marginalized and ignored by other writers. It is a thoroughly enjoyable collection with punchy dialogue and thrilling action. The only issue I had was with the art. Mike Perkins' work is rather muddy and messy, which clashes with Liu's colourful cast. Dustin Weaver, who handles the cover art, would have been a much more suitable artist for the interiors. That said, you really can't go wrong with this trade paperback. In the largely joyless world of modern X-Men comics, Liu's Astonishing X-Men is a shining beacon of hope.

Rating: A

Top 10: Most Underrated Marvel Characters

After counting down the Top 5 Most Underrated DC Comics Characters, it seemed fitting to list Marvel's most underrated characters as well. Much like their rival, Marvel has many iconic heroines who have had the privilege of headlining books and appearing on the big screen. Even still, there are several amazing women who deserve more recognition.

Below is a list of the top 10 most underrated Marvel characters. With the right promotion, these superheroines can go from the D-list darlings to leading ladies.

10. Valkyrie

As the hero Valkyrie, the Asgardian Brunnhilde has saved the world many times over as a member of the Defenders and was eventually elected into the Avengers. She's a heroine of Amazonian proportions and has become a fan-favourite thanks to her stints in Secret Avengers and The Fearless Defenders.

Valkyrie has everything she needs to become a leading lady. Aside from the obvious "Lady Thor" look she has going, she's a relentless warrior whose escapades would make for a great solo title. Think: Asgardian Wonder Woman.

09. Silver Sable

Originally an ambiguous antagonist for Spider-Man, Silver Sable is an enterprising mercenary and businesswoman. This gun-toting badass headlined her own book in the 1990s for 35 issues, nearly qualifying her to be one of Marvel's longest-running female-led books. Since then, Silver Sable has been relegated to supporting appearances and was supposedly killed during Ends of the Earth.

Silver Sable has long been in the shadow of fellow platinum-haired femme fatale Black Cat. The two women have both appeared in cartoons and video games, but it is the Black Cat who receives recognition due to her romance with the Web Slinger. As such, a film role and a resurrection would go a long way in resuscitating Silver Sable's comic book career.

08. Songbird

Once known as the villain Screaming Mimi, Melissa Gold redeemed herself as a member of the Thunderbolts using the codename Songbird. Able to transform sound into solid objects, Songbird is one of the most versatile superheroines around.

In the alternate universe storyline Avengers Forever, Songbird is depicted as a member of the titular team. This potential has yet to be fully explored in the main universe and would be a fascinating avenue for the character to take.

07. Julia Carpenter

After an experiment granted her with superpowers, single mother Julia Carpenter became the costumed hero known as Spider-Woman. Following brief tenures on the West Coast branch of the Avengers and the Canadian super team Omega Flight, Julia gave up her life as a vigilante to become the new Madame Web.

As the second woman to use the moniker of Spider-Woman, Julia had big shoes to fill. She managed to carve out an identity for herself and even appeared in the Iron Man cartoon from the 1990s as a major supporting character. Even still, Marvel has struggled with what to do with her and have questionably kept her on the D-list. To make matters worse, her iconic costume has been passed down to someone else, making it quite clear that a return to superheroing isn't in the cards for Julia.

06. Karma

Xi'an Coy Manh, otherwise known as Karma, is a founding member of the New Mutants who possesses the ability of mind control. While she spends most of her time mentoring the new generation of mutants, Karma is one X-Man who shouldn't be taken lightly.

As a Vietnamese immigrant and out lesbian, Karma has been a continued symbol of Marvel's dedication to representing diversity amongst the X-Men titles. In recent years, the character made notable appearances in Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, and Astonishing X-Men. Despite this, she continues to fly under the radar. Karma is a full-fledged X-Man, so it's high time that she be treated like one. 

05. Misty Knight

Born out of the blaxploitation era, Misty Knight was one of the very first African-American heroines Marvel had. Part Foxy Brown and part Bionic Woman, Misty is a former police officer whose bionic enhancements grant her superhuman strength.

Over the years, Misty has been relegated to the role of love interest and guest star. Even still, she's squeezed in a few headlining appearances in Heroes for Hire and The Fearless Defenders. With her trademark sass and take-no-prisoners attitude, Misty Knight has the potential to crossover from cult sensation to A-list heroine. Toss her in a title with Colleen Wing and Jessica Jones, and you've got Marvel's answer to Charlie's Angels.

04. Monet St. Croix

Originating as a member of teen super team Generation X, Monet St. Croix is an aristocrat with as many mutant powers as she has clothing. Known for her signature catty remarks, Monet adds a touch of humour to any team she's on along with the muscle to back it up.

As a major player in both Generation X and X-Factor, Monet established herself within the fringes of the Marvel Universe. This powerhouse deserves the chance to shine and is finally getting a taste of the A-list now that she is an official member of the X-Men. Appearances in adaptations and further involvement with the X-Men should erase her from the D-list. Let's make that happen, shall we?

03. Hellcat

Patsy Walker is a former teen star who turned to the life of a superhero after the dissolution of her marriage to her high school sweetheart Buzz Baxter. A thrill-seeker at heart, Patsy has been a member of the Avengers and the Defenders as the feline-themed vigilante Hellcat.

As a creation of Marvel's precursor Timely Comics, Patsy Walker made her debut in 1944 and is technically one of the company's first heroines. Her teen humour comic ran for an astounding three decades. Even with this legacy behind her, most fans are blissfully unaware of her existence. Hellcat is actually a remarkably well-rounded character and is one of Marvel's most relatable heroines. Perhaps another stint with the Avengers is just what she needs to be spared from obscurity.

02. Monica Rambeau

Monica Rambeau is a spunky young woman who became a superheroine after being bombarded with extra-dimensional energy. Initially using the codename Captain Marvel, Monica was a member of the Avengers and even became the leader of the team during the late 1980s.

Monica was truly the Avengers' answer to the X-Men's Storm. She's a confident leader and powerful hero who has a penchant for wearing black and white outfits. Nevertheless, she's come nowhere near Storm's level of recognizability. Even with her current role in Mighty Avengers, Monica has yet to break into the mainstream consciousness. Truthfully, I think the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in dire need of a character like Monica Rambeau. After all, the filmic counterpart of the Avengers is horribly white-washed.

01. Dazzler

Alison Blaire is a mutant singer who has put her powers of light generation to use as the supeheroine known as Dazzler. She's fierce, fabulous, and totally badass. She's been a solo hero, a key member of the X-Men, and even spent some time kicking bad guy butt in England as part of Excalibur. More recently, she's taken up the role of mutant liaison for S.H.I.E.L.D.

Dazzler is the queen of Marvel's D-list. Despite having one of Marvel's longest running female-led comics under her belt and a lengthy stint as part of the X-Men, she's remained in the shadow of more well-known mutants for the better part of three decades. Beyond her Omega Level powers, Dazzler is known for her strong moral compass and keen sense of justice. She famously came out as a mutant at the height of the anti-mutant hysteria and spent years fighting for change in the Mojoverse. On top of that, her celebrity status makes her one of the most relevant characters in Marvel's wheelhouse. In our celebrity obsessed culture, you'd think the House of Ideas would want to capitalize on this. Dazzler deserves a chance to shine. Let's retire Rogue from the big screen and cartoons for a little while, let Dazzler dearest take over for a while.