As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the X-Men and a brand new epic Battle of The Atom let’s look at our picks for the top 5 X-Men storylines of all time:
1. The Dark Phoenix Saga Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s operatic epic! Jean Grey’s slow burn seduction erupts into an inferno of cosmic energy threatening to consume the universe.
This extended opus introduced Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, Dazzler and the Hellfire Club Inner Circle. The X-Men bravely fought for the soul and then the life of their beloved Jean Grey from the darkened halls of a secret society’s ultimate playpen to an alien arena.
From Wolverine’s payback on the Hellfire Club to Professor X and the Phoenix’s psi-war to Jean’s ultimate sacrifice – there are so many spectacular visual moments that made your heart pound and break.
2. Days of Future Past In just two chapters Claremont and Byrne created a horrific “what if” that continues to haunt the mutants and inspired next year’s X-Men movie. In a future ruled by Sentinels the few surviving X-Men launch a daring plan sending Kate Pryde into the past to change their future while the future Wolverine leads a suicide mission against to stop their most relentless enemies.
3. God Loves, Man Kills a graphic novel by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson that explored the questions of discrimination, hate, persecution, and religion. The Reverend William Styker presided over a fanatical ministry committed to wiping the devil’s mutants off the Earth. What a genius exchange between the sweet, devout demonic looking Nightcrawler and the minister leading a secret army to kill those he deemed unholy. This inspired X2: X-Men United.
4. Gifted Joss Whedon and John Cassaday began an Astonishing X-Men run with this action and emotion packed first arc that gave the world a “cure” for mutants, a mysterious new enemy and the resurrection of Colossus that would be the core of the series until the Unstoppable finale.
Cyclops and Emma Frost began their passionate romance and rebuilt the Xavier School with Beast, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde as the teachers. Whedon created Dr. Kavita Ro, Ord and the Breakworld, Hisako Ichiki aka Armor, Blindfold and even a S.H.I.E.L.D. in space. Abigail Brand was the Nick Fury of the orbiting S.W.O.R.D. headquarters and shared a huge secret with Kitty’s dragon, Lockheed.
This entire run is a must for fans of Kitty Pryde, an inspiration for Buffy, The Vampire Slayer. Kitty was the heart and soul of Whedon’s stunning run from her passionate reunion with Colossus, flawless dynamic with Emma Frost as her checkmate and ultimately the sacrifice to save the world.
5. E Is For Extinction Grant Morrison take the X-Men a huge evolutionary step forward with major changes. It was appropriate the book became New X-Men. The mutant race boomed in population, popularity and multiple mutations while the humanity’s final days escalated. The X-Men became a school of hard knocks and leather outfits. New super villain Cassandra Nova wiped out millions of mutants, outed Professor Xavier, and inspired Emma Frost to join the team.
Here is the previous list #10-#6 of my favorite X-Men stories.
What are your favorite X-Men stories?
By Editor