The
X-Men are a team of
mutant superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...
es, published in
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of ''Action Comics'' ...
s by
Marvel Comics. Over the decades, the X-Men have featured a rotating line up composed of many characters.
Notation:
* Characters in bold are members of the team as of the present time.
* A slash (/) between names indicates codenames of one character in chronological order.
* Characters listed are set in the
Earth-616
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 is the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.
History of the term
The term was first used in "Rough Justice", a story credited to both Alan Moore and Alan Davis p ...
continuity except when noted.
X-Men
Original members
20th century recruits
21st century recruits
Other status
Substitute teams
New Mutants graduate X-Men
In 1986, the
New Mutants briefly graduated to become the X-Men in ''
Uncanny X-Men Annual'' #10.
Muir Island X-Men
In 1989, in the wake of the X-Men's "death" during "
The Fall of the Mutants
"The Fall of the Mutants" was a comic book crossover event by Marvel Comics spanning January to March 1988. It spanned three issues each of ''Uncanny X-Men'' #225-227, ''X-Factor'' #24-26, and ''New Mutants'' #59-61; unlike most crossovers howev ...
", Banshee assembled a team of X-Men on
Muir Island in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #254 to #255.
Phalanx invasion X-Men
In 1994, to oppose the threat of the techno-organic alien
Phalanx, a team of X-Men was quickly banded together in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #316.
Mannite rescue X-Men
In 1999, after Professor X disbanded the X-Men in an attempt to expose a
Skrull impostor in their ranks, Cyclops and Jean Grey formed a team to help the Mannites in ''
Astonishing X-Men'', vol. 2 #1.
Genoshan assault X-Men
In 2001, Jean Grey recruited a team in ''
Uncanny X-Men'' #392 in order to rescue
Professor X
Professor X (Charles Francis Xavier) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as the founder and sometimes leader of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writ ...
from
Magneto.
Street team X-Men
In 2004, a team was formed by Cyclops in the wake of
Xorn's rampage through Manhattan, New York in ''
New X-Men'' #149 and #150.
X-Men in training
Mutants to be trained as a junior team of X-Men.
X-Force
In 2008, the X-Men's strike team was formed by Cyclops in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #493, with Wolverine serving as the field leader. The team took on missions which required responses too violent or controversial for the X-Men to deal with directly. When Cyclops disbanded the team, Wolverine assembled a new team.
X-Club
In 2009, Beast gathered a team in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #504 to attempt to deal with the mutant birth crisis, and reverse the effects of
M-Day. The team lasted until 2012.
Time-displaced X-Men
Headlined ''
All-New X-Men'' from 2012 to 2017 and ''
X-Men Blue
''X-Men Blue'' was an ongoing comic book published twice monthly by Marvel Comics and initially created by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Jorge Molina. The first issue was released April 12, 2017. It is a continuation of the '' All New X-Men'' se ...
'' from 2017 to 2018.
London X-Men
In 2017, a team was formed to help Charles Xavier against the
Shadow King in ''Astonishing X-Men'', vol. 4.
Secret X-Men
A team formed in ''Secret X-Men'' #1 (2022), tasked with saving the daughter of Charles Xavier and Lilandra.
Unofficial
The teams who have used the name of the X-Men without the permission of the official X-Men. They were either opposed to the X-Men altogether, or used the name to promote themselves to the public.
Cerebro's X-Men
Nanotechnology imposter team formed in 1998 by a sentient
Cerebro posing as
Professor X
Professor X (Charles Francis Xavier) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as the founder and sometimes leader of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writ ...
.
Great Lakes X-Men
In 2005, served a
cease and desist
A cease and desist letter is a document sent to an individual or business to stop alleged illegal activity. The phrase "cease and desist" is a legal doublet, made up of two near-synonyms. The letter may warn that, if the recipient does not dis ...
for his team's use of the
Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...
name, Mr. Immortal reorganized the
Great Lakes Avengers into a team of unofficial X-Men in ''G.L.A.'' #4. They have since changed their name to first Great Lakes Champions and then Great Lakes Initiative.
Norman Osborn's X-Men
In 2009, a team of X-Men assembled by
Norman Osborn during the "Utopia" storyline as part of the overarching "
Dark Reign" event.
X-Men Green
A rogue team formed in 2021 to combat environmental destruction.
See also
*
List of Xavier Institute students and staff
*
List of X-Men enemies
References
{{X-Men
X-Men members, List of
X-Men
*