Review: X-Men Volume 5 - The Burning World

During a Burning Man-like festival, an unexpected supercell storm wipes out dozens of revelers and leaves even more injured. Naturally, Storm and her team of X-Men are called in to investigate this unusual weather occurrence. At the same time at the Jean Grey School, Krakoa falls ill, leaving Beast and Jubilee to root out the cause of his mysterious sickness.

X-Men Volume 5: The Burning World collects issues #23-26 of X-Men, written by G. Willow Wilson and illustrated by Roland Boschi.

From its very first issue, X-Men has been plagued by spotty writing and has struggled with finding its identity among a sea of X-Men related titles. After its first three lackluster story arcs and an improved fourth, fan-favourite writer G. Willow Wilson was brought in to write the series’ finale. Like Marc Guggenheim before her, Wilson excels at dialogue and giving each character her own unique tone. This creates a compelling dynamic that provides each character with a distinctive role within the team. Storm is the stoic leader, Psylocke is the relentless warrior, Monet is the snarky tank, Rachel is the empathic psychic powerhouse, and Jubilee is the comedic everyman. These distinguishing characteristics help to give the team an identity and enable the reader to relate to the characters involved. Finally, after just over 20 issues the book has the tone it’s desperately needed since issue #1.

The story presented in this volume owes much to the 2005 British horror film The Descent, as it involves its heroines becoming trapped underground where they must then fight off otherworldly monsters. It’s nowhere near as brutal as the film or as harrowing, but it does allow its characters room to develop and gives readers a glimpse of their inner psyche. For example, we are able to see Storm grieve the then-recent loss of Wolverine and Monet reflects on the influence her mother had on her as a child. Though the character development is superior to what most other writers do month-to-month, the story as a whole fails to provide the thrills and chills necessary for leaving a lasting impact on the reader. In truth, it feels like a filler arc that’s meant to re-establish the team’s trust in one another and lead into something greater. The fact that there wasn’t anything beyond these issues is a rather depressing letdown.

The quality of this book is further diminished by the muddy pencils of Roland Boschi. Very seldom are the characters attractive and his anatomy is off at several points, which gives them look like blobs with jagged edges for fingers. This is made worse by the seemingly lazy details of each character’s face, which is rather frustrating since it seems like he put no effort into making each girl distinctive beyond their hairstyles.

By issue #26 of X-Men, it’s clear that it never lived up to its full potential. Wilson and her predecessor Guggenheim both showed how incredibly layered and compelling these characters are, but the narratives never managed to match that depth. Instead of being a great all-female alternative to Uncanny X-Men, X-Men was more like a character-driven book that focused on a team’s lack of cohesion until the last couple of arcs. There were a ton of great ideas (like Deathstrike’s Sisterhood from Muertas), but ultimately none of the creators left a lasting impression with this book. Wilson did an admirable job in The Burning World in terms of showing off her impeccable skill at writing dialogue and of understanding the characters she writes. This book should be recommended to those who are fans of these five characters since it’s so character-centric. For anyone looking for something on a more epic, Earth-shattering scale, you might want to stick to the event titles Marvel seems to push out every other month.

RATING: B

Review: X-Men Volume 4 - Exogenous

When the villainous Deathbird appears unconscious outside the satellite headquarters of S.W.O.R.D., Special Agent Abigail Brand calls on the X-Men to investigate the incident. After telepathic and medical examinations, they discover a mysterious symbol in the recesses of her mind and a growing child in her womb. Meanwhile, Rachel must cope with new revelations regarding those who were responsible for the massacre of her family several years back.

X-Men Volume 4: Exogenous collects X-Men #18-21, written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Harvey Tolibao and Dexter Soy.

After a shaky start, X-Men hits its stride under Guggenheim’s direction. The Arrow writer smartly pulls the team away from its Earth setting, strips away much of its larger cast and relies far less on recent events to propel his story forward. One of the issues that plagued Brian Wood’s tenure on X-Men was its inaccessibility due to its reliance on past storylines. While it could be argued that Guggenheim does the same, here he’s illustrating his depth of knowledge of these characters and their lives. For instance, much of the emotional core of Exogenous is built around the gut-wrenching massacre of the Grey family which occurred in Uncanny X-Men #466-468. He provides further references to past events involving Deathbird and Cyclops’ brother Vulcan. Guggenheim effectively builds on the past and does so in a way that really pays tribute to the X-Men’s vast history.

The narrative itself is great. It’s a straightforward mystery in space that snowballs into the reveal of a rather creepy villainous organization. While the plot itself may be simple, the stakes are high nonetheless. Whether considered spoilers or not, at one point two X-Men are near death and Rachel must decide the fate of the individual responsible for her family’s murder.

The area where Guggenheim excels most is with dialogue and character development. For the most part, each of the characters feel distinct. Monet in particular stands out due to her sass and attitude, which contrasts against her more dour teammates. Guggenheim also plays with the rivalry that existed between Jubilee and Monet way back when both were part of Generation X, which is a nice nod to fans of that book. Similarly, Abigail Brand’s dialogue is punchy and Storm is as fierce as ever. The biggest surprise, however, may be in just how badass Cecilia Reyes was. As arguably one of the most obscure X-Men, Guggenheim utilizes her flawlessly here and depicts her as a relentlessly heroic doctor who will do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of her patience. The usage of her powers in this storyline is creative and shows off how criminally underrated she is, with some action panels highlighting how powerful she truly is. Above all else, Guggenheim is to be praised for his work on Rachel Grey. As the most irritating character of the past three storylines, we see a much more different side to her. She’s smart, assertive and is shown to be the powerhouse that she truly is. More importantly, we see a more emotional side to her. Her mourning for the family she never got to know is both tragic and poignant, helping to define her past being a stand-in for Jean Grey. Also, major props for using Deathbird.

It’s truly a shame that Guggenheim only got to spend four issues writing the lovely ladies of the X-Men. He has a firmer grasp on the characters than his predecessor did and provided the kind of story that these women deserved right out of the gate. Exogenous has everything a good X-Men story needs – drama, clever dialogue (most of it delivered by Monet), intense action, a sense of family between the X-Men, and an emotional center that keeps the reader invested. While the art is inconsistent, especially since art chores are shared by Tolibao and Soy, but the writing more than makes up for it. It’s debatable, but Exogenous is possibly one of the most enjoyable X-Men trades that has been released during the Marvel NOW! era.

Rating: B+

Review: X-Men Volume 3 - Bloodline

When a mysterious man known as The Future begins picking off the students at the Jean Grey School one by one, it becomes clear that he will stop at nothing to get to his child Shogo. With the help of Storm's daughter from an alternate future, the X-Men hope to use her insight of the events to come in order to outsmart the deadly assassin.

X-Men Volume 3: Bloodline collects issues #13-17 of X-Men written by Brian Wood.

As the concluding arc of Wood's tenure on X-Men, a lot of key events take place. Storm officially sanctions the team, resolving the tensions between herself and Rachel Grey, while the questions about Shogo's past are finally answered. Sadly, the execution of these revelations is marred by poor pacing, inconsistent characterization and a serious lack of tension. Much of this storyline relies on The Future and the readers taking him seriously as a threat. Unfortunately, he's lacking in personality and has barely any backstory to speak of. Once more we're seeing Wood flounder with finding a way to tell the stories of his villains. Furthermore, the revelations about Shogo are fairly haphazard and don't provide the closure necessary to make Wood's run feel complete. Adding to this is the presence of Storm's potential future daughter Kymera. For those who didn't read Battle of the Atom, her appearance will be extremely confusing and it's especially frustrating since she acts almost as a deus ex machina. Instead of the X-Men figuring things out on their own, they're basically led by the information they've gleaned from Kymera.

In spite of this, there are moments where it seems like Wood truly understands the material and his characters. There's an exchange between Storm and Psylocke that serves as the standout in this collection. In it, Psylocke pushes Storm to examine her behaviour and take responsibility for the team. This is reminiscent of the memorable girl talk Storm and Emma had way back during Matt Fraction's run on Uncanny X-Men. Additionally, the budding friendship between Monet and Rachel helps to flesh out these two characters. They two play well off of one another, which is a good thing since Rachel has thus far been incredibly dull. 

Bloodline gives Brian Wood's run on X-Men a conclusion more akin to a whimper than a bang. While he is to be praised for understanding his main cast and creating a lot of memorable interactions, his failure to utilize his villains and create a tightly crafted action adventure really marred his time on the book. The tragedy is that all of the pieces were there for him to make his first three arcs brilliant, but it was all squandered and sabotaged by a crossover event (Battle of the Atom), the departure of two major characters (Shadowcat and Rogue) and not providing a more blockbuster adventure for his heroines. Instead of being written as a flagship title, it felt more like a middling book where nothing truly event worthy occurs.

Rating: C-

Review: X-Men Volume 2 - Muertas

Having defeated the technological menace known as Arkea, the X-Men must now face the threat of a newly regrouped Sisterhood of Mutants. The membership has changed, but the Sisterhood is still as dangerous as ever. With the added muscle (and sass) of Monet St. Croix in the X-Men, they may have just what they need to bring these femmes fatales down.

X-Men Volume 2: Muertas collects issues #7-12 of X-Men, written by Brian Wood with art by Terry Dodson and Kris Anka.

Muertas has all the makings of an incredible action-adventure. It's got high octane action, exotic locales and deadly villains. It also makes use of its small cast in order to give equal panel time to its leading ladies. Additionally, Terry Dodson and Kris Anka's exceptional art makes this a wild ride full of colour and expressive characters. If we were speaking exclusively of the art, this would easily be one of the best looking books released in recent years.

Tragically, disappointment sets in quite early due to poor execution of the narrative and character development. Much of this is sadly due to the haphazard writing of the villains. Ana Cortes, the new Lady Deathstrike, is given a stunning look that pops off of the page. It's something new and fresh that helps to add interest to a moniker that has become synonymous with Wolverine. Unfortunately, Cortes is not created as a new Lady Deathstrike, but rather as a host for the old one. For some strange reason, she's been injecting herself with the consciousness of Yuriko Oyama. This completely undermines any potential Cortes has and lessens the impact she has as a villain. If that weren't enough, her motivations really aren't expanded on in any way that fleshes her out.

The line-up and treatment for the rest of the Sisterhood is also equally as problematic. Typhoid Mary was a brilliant addition and she serves as one of the standout characters in this volume, but Enchantress makes little to no sense in context with the story. Surely they could have gone with someone with more of a connection to the X-Men. It'd be one thing if Dazzler were in this book, but she's not. Like Typhoid Mary, Selene and Madelyne Pryor are perfectly suited to this team. Sadly, neither character is actually utilized in any way that makes sense. These are two of the X-Men's deadliest enemies, so you feel shortchanged when there aren't any substantial action scenes involving them.

The X-Men are not exempt from Wood's inconsistent writing either. The same problems that arose in the first volume are present here again. Namely, Rachel adding absolutely nothing worthwhile to the book and Storm being characterized as little more than a generic leader. Thankfully, Wood builds on Psylocke's character. He's gotten a firmer grasp on her voice, making her interactions some of the most memorable in this collection. Another standout is Monet St. Croix. As one of my personal favourite characters, Monet has been underrated for way too long, so it's no surprise that I couldn't be happier about her being added to the X-Men in this volume. She's fierce and she's funny, but most importantly, she kicks more ass than any other character.

To put it bluntly, Muertas is a mess. The Sisterhood are vastly underutilized, the character development of the X-Men is subpar and the execution is disappointingly underwhelming. This is a book with an absolutely fantastic cast and there are so many great plot points, but this potential is never truly tapped into. If that weren't enough, Muertas is very dense and hard to understand when it comes to its accessibility. It's full of characters who receive zero exposition or explanation, which means only the most avid X-Men fan will be able to fully contextualize the characters in this arc. I've read so many X-Men comics over the years and, admittedly, even I was quite lost at times. In comparison to Matt Fraction's original Sisterhood arc, this is a major letdown. With a star-studded cast and A-list artists, this book should have been amazing, instead it's just middling.

Rating: C

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. 

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.