Who are Some of the Most Beloved X-Men?
In 1963, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby came up with the brilliant idea of a super hero team who was not loved by the public. A mutation in human DNA has caused some people to be born with incredible power. But, with great power came fear. The humans began fearing the mutants, and so one brilliant man came up with the idea of reforming the mutant image.
Thus, the X-Men were born. Led by Charles Xavier, the teenage heroes soon grew up to become the most beloved heroes in the Marvel Comic Book Universe. Throughout the decades, the X-Men roster has changed multiple times. But, certain characters have risen to the top of the popularity polls, and their presence on the team has been rather consistent. In this article, we are taking a look at some of the most beloved X-Men.
Gambit – Remmy LeBeau
The smooth-talking, card-throwing, stick-fighting, gamblin’ man is the first character on our list. Gambit was created in 1990, by legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont, whose run is responsible for most of our understanding of the X-Men today. The character designed was cooked up by genius artist, Jim Lee, who has worked on some of the most iconic comic books of all time, including Batman, Justice League, and of course, the X-Men.
The character seemed destined to succeed. He is a handsome guy from Louisiana, with a French accent and a penchant for card games. Indeed, his very name is derived from gambling terminology. He is one of the many links between comics and casinos. Some may be surprised to learn that the two industries have a lot of common ground. For example, the casinos listed at https://www.wweek.com/allin/online-casinos-california/ host plenty of games inspired by comic book heroes.
But, despite Gambit’s aesthetic, his powers are not exactly card related. Remmy can manipulate kinetic energy. He does so by destabilizing objects and turning them into bombs. His most iconic weapon is his deck of cards, which he transforms into explosives and throws them at his enemies. The cool power, combined with the cool aesthetic, and a touch of tragedy in his backstory, has made Gambit an iconic X-Men, no matter how you slice it.
Nightcrawler – Kurt Wagner
Created in 1975 by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, Nightcrawler predates gambit by about 15 years. The lean, blue-skinned, tailed mutant with the ability to teleport became an instant success. Though his power is quite useful, Nightcrawler had to face discrimination his whole life, precisely because of his unconventional appearance.
Despite his struggles, Kurt Wagner manages to maintain a positive attitude, in many ways reminiscent of typical rogue-ish characters from classic fantasy novels. It is, perhaps, that slick, optimistic charisma that has propelled his popularity through the decades. He has had quite a few solo mini-series, and has remained a pretty consistent member of the X-Men since his first appearance.
Most fans likely remember Kurt Wagner from the 2003 film, X2, where he was portrayed by Alan Cummings. In the film, Nightcrawler was being controlled by an anti-mutant task force. However, after breaking free, he eventually joined the X-Men and formed a relationship with another iconic member, Storm. Speaking of which…
Storm – Ororo Munroe
Ororo Munroe is a Kenyan princess, a shaman priestess, a valued member of the X-Men, and one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel universe. Gifted with the incredible ability to manipulate the weather, Storm may just be one of the most powerful X-Men on any given team. Like Nightcrawler, she was created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, and debut in the same book as the blue devil.
Storm’s popularity does not take much explaining. She is cool, tough, and gifted with extraordinary abilities. Few X-Men in the roster can compare with her impressive powers, and fewer still have gotten as much exposure as Storm in comic book media outside of the actual comics. She has been a staple in most X-Men films, she has appeared in a number of cartoons, and rarely is she not a playable character in an X-Men video game.
Shadowcat – Kitty Pryde
Though Kitty Pryde left the name Shadowcat behind a long time ago, it still remains something she is associated with. The moniker certainly fits her too, as Kitty can shift her density, making herself intangible. The power of permeation is not uncommon in superhero media, but no character is more iconic than Pryde when it comes to wielding the power.
Kitty Pryde debut in the pages of the Uncanny X-Men in 1980, and was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. At the time, she was just a teenage girl whose powers landed her in the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. She initially found it quite difficult to fit in, that is until she found an unlikely mentor and father figure – the rough-around-the-edges Wolverine.
Over the years, Kitty Pryde has made a name for herself, and has quickly become one of the most iconic X-(wo)men in the comic series’ history. She has been to the depths of space, travelled to hell, tamed a pet dragon, and has even been the head of certain X-Men teams.
Wolverine – James “Logan” Howlett
The final entry on our list is the most obvious one. Next to Spider-Man, the Wolverine is Marvel’s most famous creation. The lone wolf, regenerating berserker, with a steel skeleton has starred in various X-Men and Avenger comics as both leader, supporting character, main character, and even a villain. He has had his own books, and was portrayed brilliantly by Hugh Jackman in ten films.
Wolverine’s primary power is his protruding claws. They expand from out of his fists, to form three razor-sharp blades, which Logan has mastered throughout his long, unending life. Those who know Logan know that he is also incredibly hard to kill, thanks to his healing factor. The healing factor slows his aging and makes it so he can heal any wound, no matter how fatal.
The Wolverine was created by Len Wein as a minor enemy for the Hulk. However, the character’s success has since taken a life of its own. Though commonly known as the lone wolf, Wolverine is a consistent member of Marvel’s most notable teams, including the X-Men and the Avengers.