Marvel Comics has finally made good on an idea that’s over 40 years old. In the recent X-Men Blue: Origins one shot, the true origin story of longtime X-Man Nightcrawler was revealed. And it’s what Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont intended decades ago, but Marvel Comics forbade him to do so. In X-Men Blue: Origins, writer Si Spurrier revealed Raven Darkholme, the shapeshifting mutant called Mystique, had morphed into a man and become Nightcrawler’s father. Her longtime lover Irene Adler, better known as the precognitive mutant Destiny, was the mother. This was always the plan. It just took four decades to get there.

Marvel Teased the Nightcrawler/Mystique Connection Since 1981

From his very first appearance in 1975’s Giant Size X-Men #1, there’s been an air of mystery surrounding the origins of Kurt Wagner, a.k.a. Nightcrawler. When the blue-skinned Nightcrawler first met the mutant villain Mystique in 1981’s Uncanny X-Men #142, he immediately noticed the similarities between the two of them. From that first meeting, Mystique teased Kurt with the knowledge that there was a deeper connection between them. Yet, Marvel kept that connection a mystery for decades.

Chris Claremont toyed with the idea of making the Doctor Strange villain Nightmare into Kurt’s dad. But he preferred his second option for Nightcrawler’s origin. His idea was that Mystique had shapeshifted into a man, and impregnated her longtime lover Destiny, making her Kurt’s mother. Although in the ’80s he was not allowed to explicitly say Mystique and Destiny were romantic partners, it was all but obvious to anyone who could read between the lines. Marvel editorial feared the still active Comics Code Authority censors would never allow it, so they scrapped the plan. Not wanting to replace the story he had in mind, Chris Claremont never touched the question of the Nightcrawler/Mystique connection again for the rest of his run on the title.

Mystique Revealed She Was Nightcrawler’s Mother in the ’90s

After Chris Claremont left the X-Men world in 1991, writer Scott Lobdell took over. In 1994’s X-Men Unlimited #4, by Scott Lobdell and Richard Bennett, Marvel finally had Mystique explain to Kurt that she was his mother. She told him the story of his birth. Mystique told Kurt she was once married to a German aristocrat, Baron Christian Wagner. He had no clue about her mutant powers, or that she married him for wealth and safety, not love. When she became pregnant, she gave birth to a blue infant with pointed ears and a tail.

This freaked out her husband, who accused her of having an affair. He could not have possibly imagined fathering a demonic baby. Later, the local townspeople found out Mystique was a mutant and chased her and her infant son out of the village with pitchforks, Frankenstein-style. Telling Kurt she was too weak to fight and run, she chose herself over her newborn child, coldly throwing the infant down a raging waterfall. She imitated a villager and escaped, and the child activated his teleporting powers for the first time and survived, eventually getting adopted.

Marvel Introduced Nightcrawler’s Demonic “Father” in the 2000s

Later, in the 2000s, writer Chuck Austen revealed Nightcrawler’s father was not the German Baron, but the demon Azazel, a being Mystique had an affair with. Azazel looked just like Nightcrawler, except he was red instead of blue. Nightcrawler had always been called a “demon,” thanks to his pointed ears and tail. Now we learned at least one parent of his was indeed just that. Later, Azazel’s demonic nature would come into question. Some writers have suggested he was a mutant posing as a demon lord. Up until recently, that’s been Nightcrawler’s in-canon origin story.

Nightcrawler’s True Origins Revealed at Last

But with the Comics Code Authority no longer being an issue, in X-Men Blue: Origins #1, writer Si Spurrier, artists Wilton Santos, Oren Junior, Marcus To, and Ceci De La Cruz actually made Claremont’s intended origin story for Kurt canon. They took into account all the reveals and changes over the years. Mystique tells Kurt she used her shapeshifting powers not to just change appearance, but also her sex, allowing her to impregnate Destiny. It was Destiny, posing as the German Baron’s maid, who gave birth to Nightcrawler nine months later. During Destiny’s pregnancy, Mystique used her shapeshifting abilities to fake her own pregnancy. This explains all the previous flashbacks of Mystique pregnant with Kurt.

So why does Azazel look so much like Kurt if he’s not the father? Well, it turns out Mystique can absorb some of the genetic code of those she touches when mimicking them. She used Azazel’s genetic code as the basis for her male form when impregnating Destiny—not only Azazel’s, but also some of Baron Christian Wagner’s as well. So why assume the form of Azazel at all when attempting to have a child with Destiny? Because the precognitive mutant had a vision of Azazel conquering the world. A vision showing that only his son could stop him (or someone he believed to be his son). So they concocted this elaborate ruse. But soon after, Destiny left Mystique, leaving her heartbroken.

Mystique and Destiny Are Officially Nightcrawler’s Parents

When they eventually reunited, Destiny asked Professor Charles Xavier to psychically remove the memories of giving birth to Kurt. This was so she and Mystique could move on and properly raise their adopted daughter Rogue. Meanwhile, Mystique refused to allow Xavier to remove the knowledge that she was Kurt’s parent. She said she did not want to forget the boy was her own. However, Xavier warned Mystique that tampering with her memories could alter her own perception of the past and it could lead to false memories—ones that were uglier than the truth. One of those false memories involved Mystique throwing her child over the waterfall, something she never truly did. In reality, she was heartbroken over the loss of her son. Xavier then deleted the memories of both women from his own mind as well, saying this was all a “private matter.”

With recent events in the X-Men line of comics removing Charles Xavier’s psychic tampering with Mystique’s mind, it revealed the truth to her. This knowledge caused a mental breakdown, but she eventually bonded with her son Kurt, whom she now acknowledges she never tried to kill to protect herself. Will these two characters finally form a parental bond that has always eluded them? And what will happen when Destiny inevitably comes back to life? The X-Men is an endless soap opera, and we can’t wait to see what happens to the Wagner/Darkholme family in the years ahead.

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Director Nia DaCosta has been doing promotion for her upcoming film The Marvels, and of course, questions about the film’s ties to X-Men lore have been brought up. Mainly because one promo for The Marvels lingered on the letter “X” in the word “Next,” leading fans to view it as a big X-Men tease. So naturally, someone asked DaCosta what her dream X-Men-related project would be. And it turns out it would focus on the two most famous leaders of the mutant team, Cyclops and Storm.

In an interview with Jake’s Takes, DaCosta said the following:

I really like Scott Summers [Cyclops] and Storm together and their dynamic fighting over who should lead the X-Men, like in the Chris Claremont run. I think some Cyclops and Storm team-up movie would be fun. I really like Scott Summers and Storm together.

When DaCosta says “the Claremont run,” you know she’s a big fan of the X-Men comics. The Claremont run refers to writer Chris Claremont’s epic 16-year run writing Uncanny X-Men. It was an era that defined so much of what Marvel’s mutants even are to this day. The struggle for leadership between Scott Summer and Ororo Munroe was a central plot point in many Claremont stories. Professor Xavier had Cyclops in mind for a leadership role since the X-Men’s inception, but when Storm joined later, she proved she was also a stellar candidate.

In Uncanny X-Men #201, the two finally fought each other over who would be the team’s field leader. Storm had no powers at the time, and she still managed to beat Cyclops through her ingenuity. Later, both Storm and Cyclops would lead their own squad of X-Men. Scott would lead the Blue Team, while Storm would command the Gold Team into battle. While we know it will be some time before this scenario can ever play out in the MCU since the X-Men need a proper introduction first. But we’re all for Nia Dacosta helming this X-Men story when it’s time.

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For the better part of 60 years, Marvel Comics’ X-Men franchise has ruled the comic book store shelves. And in that time, the mutants sworn to protect a world that fears and hates them have had some legendary creator runs. We’re here to reveal our choices for the best of the best. Now, we should note, that these are just the flagship X-Men books. So, no spin-off teams. Also, unless it’s a writer/artist duo that collaborated on the entire run together, we’re classifying each run by writer primarily. For unknown reasons, writers defined the X-Men runs, with various artists contributing more often than not. Now, with all that out of the way, let’s rank the top 10 X-Men creator runs of all time.

10. Fabian Nicieza (X-Men, Vol. 2)

Writer Fabian Nicieza, the co-creator of Deadpool, had the unenviable task of following up writer Chris Claremont’s legendary 16-year run on the X-Men, which was no easy feat. To say he (and writer Scott Lobdell, who wrote Uncanny X-Men) had big shoes to fill is an understatement. But after a rocky start, Nicieza wrote the hell out of the main X-Men title. He really developed Psylocke into more than a gimmick character, truly developed Gambit, and wrote some of the best issues of the groundbreaking Age of Apocalypse storyline, not to mention, he was behind the moment Magneto ripped the adamantium off of Wolverine’s skeleton. His writing was also augmented by some incredible artwork from folks like Andy Kubert. You can’t write that many iconic X-Men moments in their history and not make it on this list.

Issues in Fabian Nicieza’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men (Vol.2) #12-45, Amazing X-Men #1-4, X-Men Forever #1-6

9. Brian Michael Bendis (All-New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men)

Writer Brian Michael Bendis wrote many celebrated Marvel contributions. His run on Ultimate Spider-Man is legendary, and he co-created Miles Morales, Jessica Jones, and more. Then there’s his New Avengers run, his time on Daredevil, and on and on. So, expectations were high when he finally came on board the X-Men in 2013 for All-New X-Men. And to be fair, for many, he didn’t meet those expectations. His run, which saw the teenage original five X-Men come to the present, was not without its faults. However, it had some big, noteworthy highlights.

For starters, Bendis made Kitty Pryde the primary mentor of the young, time-lost X-Men. Many of them were her mentors as adults (oh, timey-wimey headaches!), all of which yielded great storytelling moments. He wrote some great chemistry between the adult Emma Frost and the teen Jean Grey. And Bendis finally made it official, and had Iceman come out of the closet as a gay man. This after years of speculation. The art by the likes of Stuart Immonen and others was also consistently top-tier. So yes, the “teen X-Men in the past” thing went on for way too long. But the best parts of this run make it worthy of inclusion in a best X-Men runs list.

Issues in Brian Michael Bendis’ X-Men Comic Run:

All-New X-Men (Vol.1) #1-41, Uncanny X-Men (Vol.2) #1-35, (Vol.1) #600 (2012-2015)

8. Mark Millar (Ultimate X-Men)

In the early 2000s, Marvel Comics was just emerging from bankruptcy and was desperate to get new readers. Unlike DC Comics, they had never resorted to rebooting their universe. But with their new Ultimate line of comics, they created a new universe where younger, contemporary versions of their iconic characters start from scratch, all adjacent to the main universe. Marvel tasked writer Mark Millar, fresh from DC’s controversial superhero book The Authority, to reinvent the X-Men for the 21st century with Ultimate X-Men.

Although some of his choices were questionable (no one needed incest versions of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver), some were so exciting to read. Millar and his principal artists Adam Kubert and Chris Bachalo gave the X-Men’s classic stories a blockbuster movie makeover, showing the potential of what the mutants could be with a budget behind them. Eventually, this series ran out of steam, especially as other writers took over. Not least because they stopped having truly classic stories to reinvent. But Millar’s run remains a big, bombastic blast to read. Sometimes a slightly problematic blast, but a blast nevertheless.

Issues in Mark Millar’s X-Men Comic Run:

Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 1) #1-33 (2000-2003)

7. Mike Carey (X-Men, Vol. 2, X-Men: Legacy)

Although Mike Carey wrote the X-Men for five years, the longest outside of Chris Claremont’s, his run remains criminally underrated. While he used many iconic members like Wolverine and Cyclops, his best team during his years on the title had a very unusual roster—Iceman, Mystique, Rogue, Sabretooth, Cannonball, Cable, and new characters Lady Mastermind and Omega Sentinel. This oddball grouping of wild cards and ex-villains provided the X-Men with some much-needed uniqueness, smack in the middle of crossover event after crossover event.

Carey introduced the Children of the Vault, another advanced breed of humanity which continues to play a part in X-Men lore today. He finally gave Rogue control of her powers after decades, and when the title switched names to X-Men: Legacy, he used it to truly develop Charles Xavier into a multi-faceted character, after years of being either a saint or a monster. Carey’s run was accompanied by a bevy of talented artists, including Chris Bachalo, Humberto Ramos, and more. Hopefully, one day, more X-Men fans will recognize this run as one of the best. We sure think it is.

Issues in Mike Carey’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men (Vol.2) #188-207, X-Men: Legacy #208-260 (2006-2011)

6. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (X-Men, Vol. 1)

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were only on the original X-Men series for the first seventeen issues, from 1963-1965. Compared to Lee & Kirby’s run on Fantastic Four, Thor, and even Avengers, these first X-Men comics were certainly lacking. But without a doubt, they lay the groundwork for the entire future of the franchise in these still innovative first few years of Lee and Kirby’s run. Xavier’s School, the Magneto vs. Charles conflict, the love affair of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, the Sentinels. All Lee and Kirby concepts. Really, just the entire idea of Marvel mutants, period. It all started here. Other creators might have improved on the framework that Lee and Kirby created, but without a doubt, their run is where a large chunk of what makes the X-Men THE X-MEN came from.

Issues in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men (Vol.1) #1-17 (1963-1965)

5. Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Vol.2)

When writer Joss Whedon came on board the X-Men titles with Astonishing X-Men, he wasn’t the problematic creator we know him as today (Or he likely was, we just didn’t know). Nor was he the director of the first two Avengers films. He was the guy who reinvented TV genre storytelling with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. But the inspiration for many of the characters on those shows was none other than the X-Men. Buffy Summers herself was based on Kitty Pryde, and her last name was a nod to Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. So Whedon on an X-Men series felt like a long time coming.

Whedon and artist John Cassaday did a full 25-issue run on Astonishing X-Men that followed up on Grant Morrison’s, incorporating elements of his run, like Cyclops and Emma Frost in a relationship, and the Xavier School expanded to dozens of students. However, they also made the X-Men into costumed superheroes once again, something Morrison stayed away from. Most importantly, the Whedon/Cassaday run put Kitty Pryde back in the spotlight after years of being a second-stringer, and gave the character one of her defining moments in the franchise. New villains like Danger, and Cassaday’s incredibly detailed pencils on every issue, also make this a truly top-notch run, and one that was hard to beat for several years after.

Issues in Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s X-Men Comic Run:

Astonishing X-Men (Vol.2) #1-24, Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1 (2004-2008)

4. Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men, Vol. 1)

These days, Jason Aaron is thought of more for his extended run on Thor, or even his own series, Scalped. But his Wolverine and the X-Men series was a breath of fresh air during an era when the X-books were mostly deadly serious. After the (most recent) death of Jean Grey, Cyclops and Wolverine have an ideological schism, and split the team in two. Logan ends up being the headmaster of the newly named Jean Grey School. Characters like former students Kitty Pryde, Beast, and Iceman were now part of the faculty.

Aaron infused a ton of humor into the awkward nature of Wolverine trying to teach a bunch of teenage kids. All while also writing those same kids with genuine heart and pathos. Aaron wrote the first 42 issues, with artists like Chris Bachalo, Nick Bradshaw, Ramon Perez, and Pepe Larraz. Each of them gave the book a true visual panache. A second Wolverine and the X-Men series came from writer Christos Gage for another 12 issues. It ended when Wolverine died under Marvel mandate (he got better). But the Jason Aaron run remains the best version, and still one of the best X-Men runs overall.

Issues in Jason Aaron’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men: Schism #1-5, Wolverine & The X-Men (2011) 1-35, 38-42; Wolverine & The X-Men Annual (2011-2014)

3. Grant Morrison (New X-Men)

Grant Morrison took over the X-Men titles in 2001, following a full decade of other writers trying to emulate Chris Claremont’s style. Some pulled it off. But just as many did not. By the turn of the 21st century, the Jim Lee/X-Men: The Animated Series look and feel was just tired. Morrison, who’d already written groundbreaking runs for DC on JLA and Doom Patrol, decided to change the game for Marvel’s mutants. Their New X-Men run, with artists like Frank Quitely and Phil Jimenez, was the biggest change to the series since 1975.

Morrison’s New X-Men focused on Xavier’s students teaching at a much-expanded School for the Gifted. Mutants became trendy in Morrison’s world, but also an endangered species when the mutant nation of Genosha was obliterated. Morrison evolved Hank McCoy, a.k.a. the Beast into something even more animal-like yet smarter. They even dared to have Cyclops cheat on Jean Grey, and engage in a (psychic) affair with Emma Frost. Their character of Xorn, a Chinese mutant with a star for a brain, was more than we thought at first. Morrison finally evolved the mutants into something more than they’d been in years, more than just costumed heroes. Their three-year run pushed the envelope in ways few writers have ever dared to.

Issues in Grant Morrison’s X-Men Comic Run:

New X-Men #114-156, New X-Men Annual #1 (2001-2004)

2. Jonathan Hickman (House of X, Powers of X, X-Men, X-Men: Inferno)

With few exceptions, for decades, the X-Men were always a group of mutants fighting for a world that fears and hates them. They usually lived in a big mansion, where they trained in the use of their powers. Then, in 2019, Jonathan Hickman came in and blew that whole paradigm up. Starting in the mini-series House of X and Powers of X, the mutants of Earth, under the guidance of Professor X and Magneto, migrate to the living island nation of Krakoa (itself a mutant). There, they essentially become immortal gods on Earth. For the first time, they find themselves in a position of power within humanity, and not perpetual victims.

Hickman’s X-Men era (of which he wrote the main X-Men title and topped it off with the series X-Men: Inferno) introduced new concepts and ideas to the Marvel mutant universe with practically every new issue. Because of this, the franchise became more exciting than it had been in years. Hickman worked with many artists during this time, primarily Pepe Larraz and Leinil Francis Yu, all of which elevated it to one of the best-looking X-Men runs, along with one of the most innovative and fresh. It might have only lasted three years, but Hickman’s time on the X-Men franchise is one fans will still be talking about for decades to come.

Issues in Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men Comic Run:

House of X (#1-6), Powers of X (#1-6) X-Men (Vol.5) #1-20, Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey, Giant Size X-Men: Storm, Giant Size X-Men: Magneto, Giant Size X-Men: Fantomex, Giant Size X-Men: Nightcrawler, X-Men: Inferno #1-4 (2019-2022)

1. Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Vol. 2, X-Treme X-Men)

Simply put, no one else, alive or dead, could have topped this list. Writer Chris Claremont might not have created the X-Men himself, or even the “All-New, All-Different X-Men,” which he inherited from Len Wein. But he wrote the book on them in every other sense of the word. His epic 16-year run on Uncanny X-Men from 1975 to 1991 saw Xavier’s students go from previously canceled and washed-up heroes to the stars of Marvel’s best-selling flagship series. Claremont worked with artistic titans during his tenure too. Creators like Dave Cockrum, John Byrne, Paul Smith, John Romita Jr., Marc Silvestri, and Jim Lee, to name but a few. To list Chris Claremont’s contributions to the X-Men universe would take us all day, so we’re just gonna lightly touch Claremont’s unique contributions to X-Men one at a time.

Ready? Here we go. The Shi’ar Empire. Magneto reframed as an anti-hero. Mystique. Rogue. The actual characterizations of Wolverine, Storm, and Nightcrawler. Jean Grey’s evolution from constant hostage to the all-powerful Phoenix. The creation of Kitty Pryde (with artist John Byrne). The Dark Phoenix Saga. Days of Future Past. The Mutant Massacre. Mister Sinister. Madelyne Pryor. The Brood. Gambit. All of this culminated in the legendary X-Men #1 in 1991, which sold 8 million copies. Chris Claremont’s later X-Men runs were not as beloved as his first, but who cares? He could have never written another issue again after 1991, and he’d still top this list. The X-Men simply would not be what they are today without him. Period.

Issues in Chris Claremont’s X-Men Comic Run:

Uncanny X-Men #94–279, 381–389, 444–473, Annual #3-14, X-Men (Vol.2) #1-3, (1975-1991) 100–109, 165, Annual 2000, X-Treme X-Men #1-46 (2000-2004) X-Men Forever #1-25, X-Men Forever 2 #1-16 (2009-2011)

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This year marks the 60th anniversary of the classic X-Men. Long before characters like Wolverine joined the team, the X-Men were five teenage mutants at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. These X-Men were never as popular as later incarnations, but whenever they regroup, it’s still a big deal. Now the ol’ gang is back together again, with a twist. Announced via AIPTComics, Original X-Men #1 hits in December. This new one-shot spotlights the “O5,” from writer Christos Gage (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and artist Greg Land (Phoenix: undersong).

So what’s the twist? In this story, the Phoenix Force, who can’t seem to ever leave poor Jean Grey alone, plucks from time the original five X-Men—Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman, and Angel. All for a sacred mission across the Multiverse After the cosmic entity restores the team’s lost memories, this story will explore themes introduced by Brian Michael Bendis when he brought the original five to the present day in 2012’s All-New X-Men series. More importantly, it will set up a brand-new X-Men series launching next year.

The first-ever mutant heroes to call themselves X-Men name once traveled into their own futures to bring back the adult Cyclops from going down a dark path. Now another multiversal mystery calls them forth. When the dust settles, one hero will remain, trapped in the world as we know it. How this ties into the current Fall of X era in Marvel’s mutant comics is a mystery. But we can’t wait to find out the answer.

The original X-Men team broke up after the iconic Giant Size X-Men #1 in 1975. The same issue introduced the All-New, All-Different X-Men. A decade later, they reformed as X-Factor, before finally rejoining the X-Men proper in 1991. Then their teenage selves traveled into the future in the previously mentioned All-New X-Men series, before finally returning to their proper timelines in 2017. But in the world of Marvel’s mutants, nothing is ever that simple. And when the multiverse is involved? Even less so.

Original X-Men #1, written by Christos Gage, with art by Greg Land and a cover by Ryan Stegman, goes on sale on December 20.

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Fans of Marvel’s Mutants are eagerly anticipating the early 2024 arrival of X-Men ’97, the new Disney+ continuation of the classic ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series. The original show adapted many classic storylines from the pages of Uncanny X-Men over its run. At least, stories that were written up until that point. But since it went off the air in 1997, many new and seminal X-Men stories have been added to the canon in the Marvel Comics. And we think these would make for perfect animated episodes in the upcoming revival series. Here are our top picks for X-Men stories we’d love to see adapted next.

X-Men: Onslaught (1996)

Onslaught is not from a particularly creative high point for the X-Men titles. This story was mainly a function to remove the Avengers and Fantastic Four characters from the 616 Universe for a year in the Heroes Reborn event. But the basic premise would still be great for animated episodes. In the Fatal Attractions story a few years prior, Xavier had mind-wiped Magneto, in an attempt to put an end to his schemes once and for all. But a seed of Magneto’s mind lived on in Xavier, becoming the unstoppable and ridiculously huge psychic entity called Onslaught. This story is maybe too over the top and too ’90s for live-action, but would be perfect for the world of X-Men ’97.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (1982)

This early ‘80s original graphic novel by Chris Claremont and artist Brent Anderson was the template for X2: X-Men United. But that film changed some key elements of the story, such as changing the villain William Stryker from a televangelist to a military general. The original story dealt more with the concept at the very core of the X-Men comics, which is how people use religion and politics to justify bigotry. It represents key X-Men writer Chris Claremont at his creative peak. Some elements of the story haven’t aged well. However, the core ideas would still work in the animated format. Plus, this might be the perfect excuse to bring in key characters from that story, like Kitty Pryde and Nightcrawler. This storyline was a bit too mature for Saturday morning audiences, so it was never adapted then. But it’s perfect for today.

X-Men: Inferno (1988-1989)

Rumors persist that the clone of Jean Grey, Madelyne Pryor, is making her way into X-Men ’97. With Mister Sinister confirmed as one of the series’ main antagonists, it makes sense that Maddy would appear. After all, she was a creation of that pasty-skinned mad geneticist. If Madelyne does appear, then it would be an ideal time to adapt her most famous storyline, Inferno, for animation. In that 1988-1989 comics event, Madelyne, bitter her husband Cyclops left her for his resurrected lover Jean Grey (her genetic template), makes a deal with powerful demons to unleash Hell on Earth. X-Men vs. demons from Limbo might be a tad much for live-action, but for animation? It’s just perfect.

New X-Men: E is for Extinction

In the early 2000s, superstar writer Grant Morrison lent their genius to refreshing the X-Men franchise for the 21st century. And the first story out of the gate for them in what was called New X-Men was E for Extinction. That storyline saw the addition of Emma Frost to the Xavier School faculty. It also introduced one of the best modern X-villains, Cassandra Nova. Unlike many X-Men baddies, she actually presented a real threat, destroying the island nation of Genosha and murdering millions of mutants in one heinous act. And did we mention Cassandra is Xavier’s secret twin sister, whom he believed he killed in the womb? This is one story that we’d really love to see the animated series tackle.

X-Men: House of X and Powers of X

In 2019, writer Jonathan Hickman upended decades of mutant status quo in the series House of X and Powers of X. For once in their long publication history, mutantkind would be on top. He reintroduced the mutant island of Krakoa, a living island where Xavier and Magneto welcomed every mutant as a citizen. But Krakoa had secrets. Among them is the key to mutant immortality. This era raised the X-Men to the level of almost gods on Earth. Marvel Comics has done a version of this era as if it happened in the X-Men: The Animated Series world. And we think adapting that for the cartoon would be amazing. And it would really meld the classic ’90s X-Men with the storytelling daring of the modern Marvel Comics. Put Wolverine’s claw to our head? This is the one we want the most.

The post The Marvel Comics Stories We’d Love to See X-MEN ’97 Adapt appeared first on Nerdist.

For 60 years, the X-Men have been fighting for a world that fears and hates them. And over the decades, the mutant students of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters have had many, many different teams across Marvel Comics. Some X-Men teams are iconic and instantly come to mind when someone says “X-Men.” Others X-Men teams are made up of awesome characters, but largely forgotten. Here are our choices for the 10 best X-Men teams across comics, TV, games, and film. For the purposes of this list, we’re sticking only with teams called “X-Men” here. If we covered adjacent groups like the New Mutants, X-Factor, X-Force, and others, this list would be a whole lot longer.

10. The Australian Outback X-Men Team

The late ‘80s was a weird era for the X-Men. However, we have a special place in our hearts for this oddball lineup. In 1987, the Fall of the Mutants event saw all members of the X-Men die to save the city of Dallas. But, the goddess Roma secretly resurrected them. To the world at large, and to their former teammates who were not there, the X-Men were dead. So, team leader Storm took advantage of this public perception as a better way to strike their enemies with surprise. No one in Marvel’s world expected to be fighting a bunch of dead mutants.

Instead of going back to Xavier’s School, this X-Men team lived in an old base in the Australian Outback. Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, and Rogue remained a part of the team (all sporting some wild ’80s hair, courtesy of artist Marc Silvestri). New X-Men members Psylocke, pop star Dazzler, Cyclops’ brother Havok, and their first non-mutant member, Longshot, joined them. They also had an Aboriginal member for a time, the teleporter Gateway. This character allowed the X-Men to pop up anywhere in the world at will. This roster only lasted three years, but the members of this X-Men team remain one of the most punk rock and badass lineups in their long history.

Members of the Australian Outback X-Men

Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Rogue, Havok, Psylocke, Dazzler, Longshot, Gateway, Madelyne Pryor (ally)

9. The Original X-Men

Back in 1963, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were mandated by their bosses at Marvel Comics to make “another Fantastic Four.” After co-creating characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk, Lee couldn’t think of a way to give his new team powers, so he came up with Marvel’s mutants. They were all just born that way. The original concept of the X-Men, the one that gained them worldwide popularity decades later, was there from day one.

Professor Charles Xavier gathered younger mutants into his School for Gifted Youngsters. That first class included Cyclops, whose eye beams could level mountains, the telekinetic Marvel Girl, the animal-like Beast, the flying Angel, and the youngest, the polar-powered Iceman. Each student fit their role in the team dynamic perfectly; Cyclops was the serious brooder, and Marvel Girl was the princess. Iceman was the joker, Angel was the “popular good looking rich guy,” and Beast was the brain. Heck, one can say they did the Breakfast Club before the Breakfast Club. When Lee and Kirby left the book, it lost whatever steam it had, and Marvel canceled it.

Although the original team of X-Men was never a huge seller, there’s something undeniably special about this mix of characters. Every time Marvel regroups them, either as X-Factor, or as the All-New X-Men, it brings all the nostalgic feels.

Members of the Original X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, Iceman

8. The Konami Arcade Game X-Men Team

In 1992, X-Men: The Animated Series launched on Fox Kids, making the Jim Lee version of the team into superstars for kids who had never picked up a comic. But another X-Men roster found big mainstream appeal that year, when Konami introduced the X-Men video game to arcades everywhere. This classic beat ‘em up game was one of the most successful games of its kind. And the X-Men arcade game is often voted one of the best superhero video games of all time.

Despite launching the same year as the cartoon, the team lineup in the X-Men game wasn’t based on the show. In fact, the roster came from the Pryde of the X-Men animated pilot from 1989. Only one episode was ever produced, and it featured a version of the early ‘80s team and their costumes from that time. That pilot, however, replaced Rogue with the light-powered Dazzler. This X-Men team found a whole new life thanks to the game. The Konami arcade game was so popular, many credit it as much as the cartoon with making Marvel’s mutants into pop culture icons.

Members of the Konami Arcade Game X-Men

Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Dazzler, Kitty Pryde, Professor Xavier

7. Grant Morrison’s New X-Men Roster

By the early 2000s, the Jim Lee/X-Men: The Animated Series roster and look had become a bit long in the tooth—something very emblematic of the previous decade. Comics were changing, and as the X-Men were by definition all about change, they had to update too. Enter writer Grant Morrison. The Scottish scribe had reinvigorated DC’s Justice League a few years earlier, and was tasked to do the same for Marvel’s premiere mutant team. He pared down the main X-Men lineup, focusing on the characters of Professor X, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Beast.

However, Morrison also added a wild card, the X-Men’s former enemy Emma Frost. The ex-White Queen of the Hellfire Club created a volatile love triangle between Cyclops, Jean, and herself. It created the kind of soap opera spice the team hadn’t seen since Rogue and Gambit. Morrison also added Xorn, a mutant with a star for a brain. This team’s leather costumes, designed by artist Frank Quitely, drew inspiration from the 2000 film, but the bold yellow and black also recalled the original 1963 team.

Members of the New X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Beast, Emma Frost

6. Wolverine and the X-Men‘s Team

In terms of X-Men cartoons, most fans think of the ’92 show, or the early 2000s’ X-Men: Evolution. But in 2008, there was another X-Men series that lasted one brief season, titled Wolverine and the X-Men. More like the comics than either of its predecessors, Wolverine and the X-Men saw Logan gather a team of mutants both old and new when both Professor X and Jean Grey were presumed dead.

By the end of this show’s run, we had one of the best X-Men teams ever, a truly all-star lineup. Among the roster of Marvel mutants were the titular Wolverine, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast, Iceman, Angel, Nightcrawler, Storm, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Forge, and briefly, Colossus. Other iconic members appeared on the show, like Psylocke and Gambit, but they were adversaries and not actual X-Men. Rumors suggest if there had been a year two, they’d have made the roster too.

Members of Wolverine’s X-Men

Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Iceman, Angel, Beast, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Emma Frost, Rogue, Colossus, (in absentia) Professor Xavier, Jean Grey

5. The X2: X-Men United Roster of Characters

The Fox movie X-Men were usually a smaller team than in the comics. The first X-Men in 2000 really only had Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm as members. Even the original X-Men comics team had five in the lineup. But by X2: X-Men United, we started to get a formidable team, one that reflected the comics at their best. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was still front and center, as was Halle Berry’s Storm, James Marsden’s Cyclops, and Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey.

But Rogue (Anna Paquin) and Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) actually got to use their powers in battle as proper X-Men in this Marvel movie. Also, Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) joined and was introduced in one of the coolest opening scenes in superhero movie history. Even Colossus made a cameo, helping the younger students escape the X-Mansion. And with Magneto (Ian McKellen) and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) aiding the team in their fight, we count them as temporary members. We love the X-Men: First Class team as well, but to us, this is the live-action X-Men lineup to beat.

Members of the X2 X-Men

Professor Xavier, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Iceman, Pyro, Colossus, Magneto, Mystique

4. The X-Men: The Animated Series Team

It’s hard to oversell the importance of X-Men: The Animated Series to the brand of X-Men overall. Heck, to the very Marvel brand in non-comics media, period. Using the 1991 X-Men #1 comic book roster as its template, the Fox Kids series pared the team down to an essential nine members: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Jubilee, and of course, team leader and mentor, Professor Xavier. And it also included the occasionally dead Morph, based on the old ’60s character Changeling.

X-Men: The Animated Series balanced the characters’ personalities perfectly, in some ways better than the comics at the time. This was in large part because they perfectly cast the voice actors. Only because certain X-Men members from the comics became reduced to guest star roles, like Colossus, Archangel, and Nightcrawler, do we relegate this iteration of Marvel’s mutants to the fourth slot. But for an entire generation of kids, we know this was the GOAT team lineup.

Members of the X-Men: The Animated Series X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Jubilee, Morph

3. The “All-New, All-Different” X-Men

In 1970, Marvel canceled the original X-Men series due to low sales of the mutants’ story. But in 1975, in an effort to court an international audience, the X-Men were revived as a team made up of heroes from all over the world. There was Storm from Kenya, Nightcrawler from Germany, Colossus from Russia, Banshee from Ireland, and some guy named Wolverine from Canada. Led by original team leader Cyclops, the “All-New, All-Different X-Men,” as Marvel advertised them, became a critically acclaimed darling.

Later, when writer Chris Claremont upgraded Marvel Girl/Jean Grey into the godlike Phoenix, he really started to cook with fire. When artist John Byrne joined Claremont on the book, and put these characters through The Dark Phoenix Saga, the X-Men suddenly became Marvel Comics’ biggest brand next to Spider-Man. It’s no wonder that heroes from this version of the X-Men team, particularly Wolverine and Storm, became cornerstone characters for the franchise for the rest of its history.

Members of the All-New, All-Different X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Banshee, Thunderbird (deceased)

2. The ’80s X-Men

Coming off The Dark Phoenix Saga in the early to mid-’80s, The Uncanny X-Men was now the biggest hit in comics, regularly boasting over 100,000 in monthly sales. Not bad for a comic Marvel canned only a decade earlier. This was writer Chris Claremont’s creative high point for the team in many ways, and it saw the introduction of iconic team members to Xavier’s School like Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and the second Phoenix character, Rachel Summers.

Storm both lost her powers and became team leader in this era, and Cyclops married the clone of his dead girlfriend (it’s complicated). The X-Men’s arch-enemy Magneto even reformed and joined the X-Men at this point, shocking fandom. This X-Men roster fought the alien Brood, battled in the epic Secret Wars event, and tangled with Loki of Asgard. They even teamed up with DC’s Teen Titans. Some of their costumes were not so great at this time, reflecting a very ’80s MTV aesthetic. But otherwise, this X-Men team absolutely ruled.

Members of the ’80s X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Angel, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Rogue, Phoenix II, Magneto

Honorable Mentions for Great X-Men Teams

Before we get to our number one entry, here are some honorable mentions who almost made the top 10: the cast of the X-Men: Evolution animated series from 2000, the all-women team from the 2013 X-Men series, the third Astonishing X-Men team line-up from 2018, and the first X-Men team from the modern Krakoan era.

1. X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold Is the Best X-Men Team Ever

By the early ‘90s, the Uncanny X-Men had been Marvel’s biggest-selling comic for over a decade. It spun off titles like New Mutants, X-Factor, and Excalibur. But there had never been a proper second X-Men title. So, in 1991, Marvel launched a companion ongoing comic for Xavier’s students. The creative team was longtime writer Chris Claremont and a new superstar artist by the name of Jim Lee on pencils. Lee, whose popularity was rising, redesigned the X-Men’s costumes, making some of them THE costumes people think of when they think of these characters.

X-Men #1, which sold a still-record eight million copies, was the beginning of the end of Chris Claremont’s 16-year run. However, it saw the return of the original five members together as X-Men for the first time in decades. It also saw the return of iconic members like Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, and Rogue. Plus, newer Marvel mutants like Gambit, Bishop, and Jubilee became icons themselves just for their membership in this roster, as did the “transformed into a ninja” character of Psylocke. (Our only roster complaint? No Nightcrawler and Kitty). Although split into a Blue Squad and a Gold Squad, they really were two halves of one team. Within a few years, these X-Men would drop the squads and formally become one team. This version of the group even inspired a series of wildly popular trading cards. And, of course X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold inspired the 1992 X-Men: The Animated Series, launching the team into mainstream popularity. It’s why for many, it’ll always be the best.

Members of the Blue and Gold X-Men Team

Professor X/Blue Team: Cyclops, Wolverine, Psylocke, Beast, Gambit, Rogue, Jubilee/ Gold Team: Storm, Jean Grey, Iceman, Colossus, Archangel, Bishop, Forge and Banshee (tech support)

The post The 10 Best X-MEN Teams Ever Across Marvel Comics, Movies, and More appeared first on Nerdist.

Wolverine first appeared in 1974’s Incredible Hulk #181 and Deadpool didn’t pop up in Marvel Comics until New Mutants #98 in 1991; however, the two characters are inextricably linked. Mostly, because even though their temperaments are polar opposites, Deadpool and Wolverine’s histories are very similar. The Weapon X project experimented on both of them. Wolverine was given his adamantium skeleton by the shadowy group, and Deadpool had Wolverine’s own healing factor grafted onto his DNA while battling cancer by Weapon X. But in most ways, this is where the similarities end. Let’s dive into the strange relationship and history between Wolverine and Deadpool, both in and outside of Marvel comics, before their big Deadpool 3 team-up in the MCU.

Wolverine and Deadpool’s First Comics Together in the Marvel Universe

In the regular Marvel Comics continuity, Wolverine and Deadpool first met in 1994’s Wolverine #88. That issue saw Deadpool trashing an apartment after failing to get his girlfriend back from her new guy, Garrison Kane. This brought Wolverine into the picture, as Kane was his buddy. After trading the usual verbal jabs, then came the actual jabs, with Wade stabbing Logan through the chest with his two swords. And that set the tone for Wolverine and Deadpool’s entire relationship in Marvel Comics—insulting each other, stabbing one another, getting back up again, and doing it all over again. Rinse, wash, and repeat.

But although Wolverine and Deadpool met for the first time in Wolverine #88, it’s also worth noting they briefly shared the comic page a year before the issue was published. In 1993’s Toys R Us X-Men Premium Edition, the X-Men encounter Deadpool for the first time. Logan and Wade don’t actually fight or talk, but they do share a big group panel together. So it kinda, sorta counts as Deadpool and Wolverine’s first comic book meeting.

Despite these temporal truths, years later retcons to Marvel’s universe determined that Wolverine and Deadpool had met much earlier than that, in-universe at least. In 2008, Marvel revealed a new history for Deadpool and Wolverine. The pair’s first fight actually happened when the Winter Soldier, still a brainwashed Hydra agent, hired Wade to take out Logan. This was all in an effort to draw out Daken, Wolverine’s son, who ultimately saved him. This occurred in 2008’s Wolverine Origins story “Deep End.”

The Best Wolverine and Deadpool Comics to Read in Order to Understand the Pair’s History

Deadpool and Wolverine have alternately fought and then teamed up in several comics over the past three decades, which makes for one interesting trip down comics’ history lane. In one infamous fight in 1999’s Deadpool #27, Wade fought Logan as a form of therapy for depression. The Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan mini-series, meanwhile, found Wade Wilson getting into it with the cranky gray-haired version of Logan. In Wolverine/Deadpool: The Decoy, a two-faced killer robot from space wanted to kill Jean Grey for all of her Phoenix shenanigans. Since she was dead (at that time), Wolverine dressed up Deadpool as Jean Grey as a distraction until he defeated the killer robot. In Uncanny X-Force, the pair were true teammates at last. However, even with this new relationship, Wolverine and Deadpool still butt heads constantly.

Friends? Enemies? What Is Wolverine and Deadpool’s Relationship in the Marvel Comics?

Wolverine and Deadpool were what we call “frenemies.” Sometimes they were literally trying to murder each other, and other times they seemed like best buds. Their first meetings were definitely adversarial, as seen in almost all their encounters in the ‘90s. By 1999, the pair fought a group of werewolves together, calling a truce. At the end of that story, Deadpool and Wolverine bonded over their mutual tortures at the hands of the Weapon X program and shared a beer. This was the start of an awkward friendship. Eventually, Logan invited Wade to join X-Force and, for the first time, Deadpool and Wolverine were officially teammates. But sometimes, they still came to blows. We’ll likely see this dynamic come to life between Wolverine and Deadpool in the MCU’s live-action Deadpool 3.

Who Would Win in a Fight, Wolverine or Deadpool?

With over a century and a half of his life and training behind him, Wolverine was likely the better fighter than Deadpool. Although the two have fought numerous times, it almost always ended in a stalemate. Wade Wilson’s healing factor may have been derived from Logan’s DNA, but he had a leg up on the adamantium-clawed mutant. Deadpool literally can’t die. Wade was cursed by Thanos with immortality because the Mad Titan was jealous of Deadpool’s relationship with his beloved entity of Death. So although Logan’s healing factor made it very hard to kill him, Wolverine could actually die. Deadpool, not so much.

Can Deadpool Kill Wolverine in the Marvel Universe?

In the 2012 alternate timeline mini-series Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dalibor Talajic, Marvel Comics finally showed a version of Wade Wilson who managed to kill Wolverine. Taking place on an alternate Earth in the multiverse, this comic featured a supervillain brainwashed Deadpool, who killed every known Avenger and X-Man. Only Wolverine was left standing at the end. Not for long though, as Deadpool found a way to kill Wolverine in this Marvel reality. In this story however, he needed a carbonadium sword to do it, as that metal is the only one on Earth that can nullify Logan’s healing factor. So yes, Deadpool could kill Wolverine. He just needs a little carbonadium help.

Who Heals Faster, Wolverine or Deadpool? Their Healing Factors Compared

Although Deadpool got his powers when Department K infused him with Wolverine’s mutant DNA, his healing factor was ultimately superior to Logan’s. Wolverine’s healing factor can’t regrow lost limbs, for example. Deadpool’s healing factor allows him to regrow any limb that is lost or severed. Deadpool’s healing factor will even allow him to regrow his head. Wolverine’s wounds do heal, but his powers stop short of recreating actually lost cells out of thin air. Deadpool has the superior healing factor in this regard, probably much to Wolverine’s annoyance—we bet it’s a sore spot in their relationship.

Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Ryan Reynolds’ first appearance as Deadpool actually came in the much-derided X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009. In that continuity, Wade Wilson was a mercenary with a metric ton of confirmed kills. He’s still a wisecracking motormouth, at least, at first. But unlike in Marvel Comics, Deadpool is a mutant who’s fast enough to deflect bullets with swords. In the comics, he was born without the X-gene. But in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Deadpool was recruited into William Stryker’s mercenary Team X, along with Logan, and was eventually used by the Weapon X program as an experiment. Stryker infused his body with the DNA of several mutants, making him an undefeatable “mutant killer.” But he had his mouth sewn shut, so the famously talkative character became strangely mute. Let’s just say…the fans hated it.

Wolverine and Deadpool fought on Three Mile Island, but Logan defeated him. But we later saw that Deadpool’s severed head was still alive, and he winked at the camera. Luckily, X-Men: Days of Future Past essentially rebooted the X-Men movie universe timeline, allowing for the 2016 Marvel film Deadpool to be closer to the comic book interpretation. At the end of Deadpool 2, using Cable’s time travel device, Wade Wilson actually ventured into the events of X-Men Origins timeline and shot the previous Deadpool in the head. We have a feeling those time-travel shenanigans will play a part in Deadpool 3.

Hugh Jackman Will Play Wolverine in the MCU’s Deadpool 3 Movie

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds will meet again for the very first time in Deadpool 3. Jackman is set to reprise his role as Wolverine in the Deadpool movie. However, Jackman has stated that his appearance in Deadpool 3 will not negate his character’s death in Logan. This suggests that this MCU version of Wolverine is from a totally different timeline than the previous X-Men films.

All we know for sure is that Jackman’s Wolverine will wear a version of his yellow and blue costume from the comics at last. And that he and Deadpool will slice, stab, kick, and punch each other. Regardless of where Wolverine and Deadpool are in the multiverse, some things remain constant as their ongoing history and relationship continues to unfold. We can’t wait to see Deadpool and Wolverine, confirmed frenemies, take on the MCU.

The post The Complete History of Wolverine and Deadpool From Marvel Comics to DEADPOOL 3 appeared first on Nerdist.

Leave it to Deadpool to give X-Men movie characters a last chance to live. We’re all pretty stoked for the MCU’s first true foray into the Fox-era characters with Deadpool 3. We already know Hugh Jackman will play Wolverine one more time in it (in comics-accurate costumes, no less), and that Jennifer Garner’s Elektra will hop over too. That’s fun! But all this X-nostalgia has made me think once again about the supremely flawed and uneven franchise as it was between 2000 and 2020. Over the course of 13 movies, the series ran the gamut between sublime and stinky. So I’m going to rank them, because I want to!

13. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

The first solo adventure for Hugh Jackman’s Logan came in 2009, and it sure wasn’t good. And look, I know it was fashionable to crap on this movie for its weird pacing, terrible CGI, poor attempts at humor, and nerfing Deadpool, but it’s also accurate. Not a good movie. The one thing it did was prove Hugh Jackman could carry a movie, a thing we already knew by this point. Oh, and don’t get me started on how this movie alone messed up the continuity. Best to just forget this one.

12. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Following the departure of the franchise’s first super problematic director, they hired another super problematic director to helm the third movie. To say it’s messy is an understatement. They tried to put “The Cure” arc alongside “Dark Phoenix Saga,” and those two stories did not gel at all together. You get a lot of characters standing in a line opposite other characters standing in a line. It killed off Cyclops (sidebar: of all the characters done dirty by this franchise, Cyclops is perhaps the most egregious), completely wasted Angel, and nerfed Mystique. It also is unforgivable that it made the “I’m the Juggernaut, b****!” canon in a movie. So terrible.

11. Dark Phoenix (2019)

The second attempt at adapting the most famous X-Men comics arc is just as disappointing as the first. It’s less messy and more boring, but it still completely bypassed all the build up of what made the Phoenix Force interesting, and what makes the ending so tragic. Also, at this point, the timeline breaking down just makes no sense. Let’s hope they never do the Dark Phoenix Saga ever again. (I know they will.)

10. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Mercifully, the final X film from a very problematic director indeed. Despite very good films previous, this one—a third in the First Class timeline, more or less—just threw everything at the wall and hoped it stuck. It’s another enormous, messy hodgepodge of different X-characters and storylines. Oscar Isaac does his very best as the titular ancient mutant, and the new batch of Xavier students are okay, but it just turns into gloop. Another waste of Angel/Archangel; a major waste of Storm. And they had to turn Mystique into a main hero thanks to Jennifer Lawrence’s star power. Not even another frenetic Quicksilver sequence can save it.

9. The New Mutants (2020)

Okay, so here’s where I lose some of you. I didn’t see The New Mutants when they dumped it during the pandemic. Pandemic and all. In fact, I didn’t end up watching it until a month or so ago. And you know what? Yes, it’s hacked to all hell. Yes, the third act poops the woods (Demon Bear joke). But I thought it was pretty fun! Creepy vibe, decent characterization, plus it was just nice to see an X-Men movie that didn’t even try to reference Wolverine. Should have gotten more love, and it’s a shame the planned appearance of Jon Hamm as Mr. Sinister never happened.

8. Deadpool 2 (2018)

I’m gonna be real honest here: I was over Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool schtick pretty soon after the first movie came out. So while I was excited to see the sequel, I was wary of how annoying I found the character. The upsides were that the movie brought in a ton more X characters, and it was a joy to see Josh Brolin as Cable and Zazie Beetz as Domino. I could for sure use more of them in future installments. The downside? I’ve never been a big Deadpool guy and, like the character, the movie seems to think its way funnier than it is. But the X-Force skydiving joke is pretty amazing.

7. X-Men (2000)

Here is an example of a movie that is so much more important than it is still good. It definitely set the stage for the modern superhero movie era and finally gave us some live-action mutants. (Sidebar: yes, I remember the 1996 Generation X TV movie. That doesn’t count.) And the casting is, by and large, really great, with Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Hugh Jackman all standing out. But for all the good of the first X-Men, there’s always a sense that it’s half-apologizing for comic books being silly. In 2023, it’s just not as revolutionary as it once was.

6. The Wolverine (2013)

After X-Men Origins, I thought there was no way a solo Wolverine movie was going to be good. And then we get director James Mangold. A lot of this movie covers ground in the fan-favorite Frank Miller/Chris Claremont run of Wolverine in the ’80s, with his dealings with the Yakuza in Japan and various romances. I think it almost totally works. The ending is bad, I won’t argue it isn’t, but I think The Wolverine is still upper half of the movies. Jackman rules.

5. Deadpool (2016)

Remember everything I said about the character of Deadpool earlier? That’s still true, but even with that, I cannot deny how good, how funny, how effective, and how fresh the first Deadpool movie felt. After years of development, Ryan Reynolds’ passion project got the go-ahead and made just a ton of money with its heavy violence and foul-mouthed frat humor. This is arguably the best page-to-screen adaptation of any comic book character. And its success is 100% the reason he’s not getting rebooted (really) for the MCU. I won’t hold this movie accountable for the Deadpool-ifying of other superhero movies, though I could.

4. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

The second most famous Uncanny X-Men comics arc (which was only two issues) ended up as one of the very best superhero movies of the era. I love the way this movie utilizes both timelines’ casts and sends the sole superstar character of Wolverine back in time to foil a future where sentinels take over the world. The Quicksilver “Time in a Bottle” sequence is still super great, and the finale where Magneto drops a stadium around Richard Nixon is wild and enormous, but manages to work because the characters are believable. Best use of Mystique in any movie. In my head cannon, this is the end of the franchise (Deadpool and Logan notwithstanding).

3. X2: X-Men United (2003)

I think it’s arguable this and Spider-Man 2 are the reasons superhero movies kept going. They’re not just successful, they’re really good. X2 took what worked about the first movie and focused on it and heightened it. Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler is excellent, Brian Cox as Stryker is really good, and we got maybe McKellen’s best Magneto performance. Wolverine gets center stage here for real and they let him do what he does best (and what he does best isn’t very nice). Just a great example of what the X-Men on screen could be.

2. X-Men: First Class (2011)

Matthew Vaughn’s lone foray into the X-universe really was a fresh start. Not only did it get a whole new cast to portray some of the characters who’ve been around a while, but setting it in the early 1960s, contemporary to when the comics first came out, brought in a new style, a new energy, to the mutants. Young, swaggery Charles Xavier as played by James McAvoy was a great choice to offset Stewart’s austere portrayal. Michael Fassbender’s Magneto was damn cool; could have watched a whole movie of Erik Lensherr, Nazi hunter. Above all, it proved the franchise, which had already gotten a bit stale and silly, could reinvent itself, which proved to be just what it needed to continue for another decade.

1. Logan (2017)

Look, it was never going to be anything else at number one. Logan isn’t just a great X-Men movie. It isn’t just a great comic book movie. It’s a great movie, full stop. What was originally going to be the swansong for both Jackman and Stewart ended up a somber, elegiac reflection on regret and hope as Logan has to tend to a sickly Charles Xavier and try to save young, angry Laura Kinney (Dafne Keen). The action is as brutal as you’d hope with a Wolverine movie, and the story flows to a wonderful, sad conclusion. It’s the superhero movie as western, writ large. Took three goes, but Jackman really did make the best of this franchise.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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It’s official! After 23 years, Hugh Jackman will finally wear his comics-accurate costume in Deadpool 3. Although the first X-Men movie made a snarky remark about yellow spandex costumes, fans have waited forever to see Logan in the world-famous outfit on-screen. But with news of Jennifer Garner’s Elektra joining the cast as well, it seems likely that the Marvel Multiverse rumors about Deadpool 3 are true. We can’t confirm anything, but we would not be shocked if several of the Fox-era X-Men appear in this film alongside Logan. And if they do, the X-Men deserve comic book-style costume upgrades too, to properly pay homage to their Marvel Comics origins. But which X-Men comic costumes should appear in the MCU’s world? And just how comics-accurate should these costumes be? Here are the X-Men we’d love to see in the MCU and the suits and costumes we’d love to see them wear.

Cyclops’ Blue and Yellow Costume Should Join Wolverine’s Suit in Deadpool 3

Scott Summers, the X-Men member whom you may know as Cyclops, has had literally dozens of costumes in the comics. While we love Cyclops’ ‘70s/’80s blue costume, with the skullcap and the pirate boots, we believe it would be a hard one to pull off on screen in the MCU. For many, his most iconic costume is his ‘90s Jim Lee-designed one, used in X-Men: The Animated Series. We almost got a version of this costume in a Marvel movie, as it was teased for a moment at the end of X-Men: Apocalypse. Of course, by the time of the next film, Dark Phoenix, Cyclops was wearing yet another suit. If James Marsden shows as up as Cyclops in Deadpool 3 or Secret Wars, we think a proper version of his ‘90s X-Men costume is in order for the MCU. Although with a more accurate color scheme than the X-Men: Apocalypse one that Tye Sheridan wore. That’s a good place to start.

We’d Love for Storm’s Epic Cape to Take Flight in the MCU

For all of the major diversions costume-wise in the first X-Men movie, the costume worn by Halle Berry as Storm is pretty close to what the Marvel Comics presented. (That first wig, though? That’s another story). While we are partial to Ororo Munroe’s original costume designed by Dave Cockrum, we do think it would be hard to justify the headpiece, leather swimwear, and thigh-high boots in live-action. But Storm’s ‘90s look, designed by Jim Lee, is perfect to wear on screen. This costume is very similar to the first X-Men movie costume, only this time, we would want the MCU’s version to have yellow accents and the red X symbol on the shoulders. Sometimes in the comics, this costume looks like black leather, sometimes, it’s all white. We’d happily take either one.

Magneto‘s Purple and Red Costume Needs to Make an On-Screen Appearance

Magneto has one of the best costumes in comics. When Jack Kirby nailed a design, he really nailed it. That’s why Mags had so few costume changes over the interceding decades. But the movies always shied away from going full comics look when it came to the Master of Magnetism’s costume. The closest we ever got in terms of Marvel Comics’ accuracy was the costume at the very end of X-Men: First Class, where Michael Fassbender’s Magneto sported the classic comics helmet and his purple and maroon color scheme. But that was all done away with in the next film, X-Men: Days of Future Past. If Ian McKellen or Michael Fassbender do return in Deadpool 3, then let’s go full Kirby. Okay, maybe without the trunks. But the rest of it? Let’s go. It’s time to give Magneto the costume he deserves in the MCU.

Rogue’s Classic Marvel Comics Yellow and Green Suit Would Make a Splash

Anna Paquin’s Rogue was perhaps the most different characterization from her comic book counterpart. She was very shy and unsure of her powers, a far cry from the version most fans knew from the ‘90s X-Men cartoon series. We’ve heard that version described as “Dolly Parton, with the powers of Superman.” And that’s accurate. Rogue has had many costumes in Marvel Comics, most of them green and white. But If Paquin returns, now all grown up, we’d love to see her in the Jim Lee-designed costume from X-Men #1, later made famous by the animated show. It’s really Rogue’s best costume, the bomber jacket just works so well with the suit. This comics-accurate costume is easily translatable to the screen with very few tweaks, and we’d love to see it add a splash of color to the MCU’s X-Men lineup. We’re ready to see this Rogue costume in live-action, sugah.

Colossus’s Bodysuit Is the X-Men Costume the MCU Deserves

Piotr Rasputin, the X-Men’s Russian metal man Colossus, has been a key figure in the Deadpool movies, and is confirmed to return for the third film. As much as we love Stefan Kapičić in the role, that black and red costume is just not very Colossus to us. In Marvel’s X-Men comics and others, Colossus wore a red and yellow costume for much of the ‘70s and ‘80s, with big shoulder flares and thigh-high boots. That was later streamlined by Jim Lee in the ‘90s. Maybe the best version of the Colossus costume was from the Astonishing X-Men series of the 2000s. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine costume seems inspired by Astonishing, so why not Colossus’ suit? We just know it’s time for Piotr to wear the red and yellow. We’d probably give the big lug some pants, though.

Phoenix‘s Firebird Emblem Should Rise On-Screen

Jean Grey has been a part of the X-Men since the very first issue in 1963, and has had dozens of costumes since then. Some are iconic, others are fashion nightmares. But while we’ve lobbied hard for the Jim Lee ‘90s costume designs for any possible X-Men returning in the MCU, Jean Grey’s outfit from this era is not a favorite. The shoulder pad armor, the headpiece, the padding on the legs? It’s all too busy. Maybe the MCU could pull off a version of this X-Men costume that works. But we’d prefer something that evokes Jean as Phoenix.

Of course, that means the classic firebird emblem, in yellow and green. We realize the classic Phoenix costume might be hard to pull off in live-action. It would be hard to justify those opera gloves, thigh-high boots, and gold sash. But in the mid-2000s, Jean wore a more practical version of the Phoenix red and green, which could work on screen. With two movies dedicated to Jean Grey not being able to control the Phoenix Force, it would be fun to see Famke Janssen totally in control of her powers in the MCU, and wearing something resembling her New X-Men-era costume.

Mystique’s Comics-Accurate White Dress Is a Costume Long Overdue for Its Debut

Mystique has been an iconic part of the X-Men film franchise since the very first film in 2000. She’s been played by Rebecca Romijn, and later, Jennifer Lawrence. But we think if Magneto returns, then Mystique should be right by his side. And if it’s Ian McKellen’s Magneto, then the original Mystique, Rebecca Romijn, should join him. Rebecca Romijn is currently killing it as Number One on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. And while we think at this point in her career, she probably doesn’t want to spend hours in the makeup chair being painted head-to-toe blue, she doesn’t need to. Because Marvel Comics’ Mystique wore clothes. We’d love to see Mystique’s iconic white costume from the comics appear in the MCU, with the tiny gold skulls. We got a tease of this comics-accurate costume in X-Men: Apocalypse, but the later movies never delivered. This one’s long overdue.

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Many comic book historians would likely argue that the most important date in comics history is April 18, 1938, the publication date of Action Comics #1. After all, that issue introduced Superman to the world, and by extension, the entire superhero genre. But, I believe July 2, 1963 is the most important date in comic book history. On that date, Marvel Comics published X-Men #1 and Avengers #1, both by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

These two franchises, at different moments, change the face of not just comics culture, but pop culture in general, especially these past two decades. From a seed that was planted on drug store comic book spinner racks in 1963, at 12 cents each, these comics grew into films, merchandise, and theme park franchises. And it all started because Marvel was chasing trends and trying to replicate their own earlier success. Those seeds were planted on the same day; however, it took several decades to evolve into the mighty oak it is now. This was a tree that needed a lot of water, time, and patience to grow.

Two Super Teams Ahead of Their Time

In July 1963, as far as American culture was concerned, it was mostly still the ‘50s. The “Baby Boom” was in effect, a young President had energized the country, and Elvis movies reigned supreme. But within six months, JFK would be assassinated, and the Beatles would strike their first hit on the American charts. Everything in American culture would change almost overnight. This is the environment that both X-Men and Avengers were released into the world. They were both comics that were a little edgy for the time, certainly for kids. Yet they would be perfect for the decade of change that was coming soon. And both of them only happened because Marvel’s competitor DC Comics had a big hit on their hands.

DC Comics’ Justice League Paves the Way

In 1960, Marvel Comics’ biggest rival DC Comics launched Justice League of America, which grouped their most iconic heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman together in one team book. Sales were fantastic, and Marvel Comics publisher Martin Goodman heard DC’s editor-in-chief brag about the JLA sales to him during a golf game. He subsequently told his nephew and employee Stan Lee to give him a similar superhero team. Together, Lee and artist extraordinaire Jack Kirby introduced Fantastic Four to the world and Marvel Comics as we know it today was born. It was an instant hit and game changer.

But Fantastic Four was not a real riff on the “all-star heroes” team the League was for DC. Lee and Kirby kind of went against their directive when creating them. Fantastic Four succeeded anyway, but by 1962, Goodman wanted Lee to introduce more teams to Marvel. This time they had to produce one that was more like DC’s Justice League of America, a group made up of established heroes, as originally asked—and another that was more in line with Fantastic Four. It needed to be a cross between the FF in terms of aesthetics, but mixed with the teenage soap opera of Spider-Man. The results were the Mighty Avengers and the Uncanny X-Men.

Two Super Teams of Mismatched Misfits

Despite the Avengers being more like the JLA by teaming up previously established heroes, Lee and Kirby still didn’t do a one-for-one with DC’s team. It wasn’t exactly an “all-star” team, as Spider-Man was already too high a seller to be part of the group and didn’t need a boost. Iron, Thor, and Ant-Man had features in anthology titles, but not their own comics. Hulk’s title had just been canned and he needed a home. So established heroes or not, the Avengers were already different from DC’s JLA as not having all their biggest stars on one team. This made them misfits of a sort too and that appealed to teen readers who didn’t want their parent’s superheroes.

And while X-Men might have essentially looked like an FF knock-off, with the characters all in basic matching uniforms and with similar powers, there were key differences. Lee and Kirby injected a sense of otherness into the mutant X-Men that the celebrity FF didn’t have, something future X-Men writers would run with to great success. But neither Avengers nor X-Men were instant hits. They sold well enough, Avengers a bit more so, but FF and Spider-Man ruled the sales charts. By 1969, nearly every Marvel book was outselling Avengers and X-Men. Marvel decided to cancel X-Men and keep Avengers going. X-Men spent the next five years as a reprint title only.

The X-Men Dominate Comics, While the Avengers Try to Keep Pace

Throughout the ‘70s, Avengers, under writers like Steve Englehart and others, rose to become a steady seller for Marvel, and a showcase for iconic stalwarts like Iron Man and Thor. Then in 1975, Marvel introduced the “All-New, All-Different X-Men.” With series writer Chris Claremont, Uncanny X-Men became a juggernaut, overtaking the comics industry and producing spinoff after spinoff. Marvel’s Mutants received a second volume in 1991, whose first issue sold a staggering eight million copies. This led to the greenlighting of X-Men: The Animated Series in 1992, where the characters, especially breakout star Wolverine, became household names—all nearly 30 years from the moment the first issue hit newsstands.

Movie Icons for the New Millennium

In 2000, the long-awaited X-Men live-action film launched a franchise that few believed could ever work. If the ‘90s cartoon made Wolverine an icon to ‘90s kids, then Hugh Jackman made him a global icon to their parents as well. While X-Men was achieving the pinnacle of their pop culture success, Marvel Comics started to position Avengers as a title that could finally outsell their mutant colleagues. Forty years after Martin Goodman told Stan Lee to make his own “all-star” team, New Avengers added company mascots Spider-Man and Wolverine. The Avengers franchise overtook X-Men in sales. And a newly formed Marvel Studios started to think about capitalizing on the brand’s potential. From the beginning, Marvel Studios hoped to introduce their roster of heroes to big-screen success. After all, X-Men had become a global phenomenon. Why couldn’t Avengers?

Of course, we all know what happened next. The MCU, anchored by the Avengers films, has grossed a staggering 29.1 billion dollars. For context, the next most successful franchise, Star Wars, is a distant second at 10 billion. In short, no other franchise is likely to topple the MCU anytime soon. So what’s the lesson here? We now live in a media landscape where things need to be instant hits. If a movie doesn’t blow up the box office on opening weekend, that marks its death. If a streaming series doesn’t click right away, it gets canceled. The same goes for comics.

But decades ago, Marvel Comics knew that both the Avengers and the X-Men were great concepts, and eventually, the world would catch up to how awesome they were. Maybe Marvel should officially declare July 2 as #AvengersXMenDay? It’s certainly a pivotal shared birthday that deserves to be celebrated.

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He’s one of the X-Men’s deadliest enemies, portrayed on screen by pro wrestlers (Tyler Mane) and prestige actors (Liev Schreiber) alike. But to most people, when they think of Sabretooth, they think of the one from the classic ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series. Now, the folks at Mondo are releasing a deluxe X-Men: The Animated Series Sabretooth 1/6 scale action figure, so you can have the best version of Victor Creed on your shelf. This figure is based on a concept design and sculpt by Alex Brewer, with paint by Mark Bristow. You can check out images of the feral mutant villain in action figure form, including fighting his least favorite mutant Wolverine, in our gallery down below.

Click To View Gallery

X-Men: The Animated Series Sabretooth 1/6 Scale Figure Timed Edition

The Timed Edition includes the Sabretooth figure, a smiling portrait, an angry portrait, a maskless portrait, a blaster, a muzzle, a detonator, an explosive, a Talos head, 4 Pairs of hands/fists, a C-Grip, a trigger, and a dramatic figure stand.

X-Men: The Animated Series Sabretooth 1/6 Scale Figure Regular Edition

The Regular Edition includes the Sabretooth figure, a smiling portrait, an angry portrait, a detonator, an explosive, a Talos head, 3 pairs of hands/fists, a C-Grip, and a dramatic figure stand.

Sabretooth joins other recent X-Men: The Animated Series 1/6 scale figures from Mondo like Wolverine, Jubilee, and their enemy Magneto. Hopefully, we’ll see other mutants from Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and the Brotherhood of Mutants join them in the near future. The Timed Edition is priced at $240, with the Regular Edition priced at $225. They’re limited to two per customer, and estimated to ship in September, 2023. The pre-order for both the deluxe Timed Edition and Regular Edition will be up on The Drop at MondoShop.com on Tuesday, May 30. The Sabretooth Timed Edition will be available until Tuesday, June 6 at 11:59 AM CT.

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X-Men: The Animated Series arrived on TV screens across the country 30 years ago, catapulting Marvel’s mutants into household names. Without the success of the cartoon, it’s unlikely the X-Men films would have ever happened. All roads lead back to the animated version of Xavier’s School. So it’s only fitting that Disney+ is continuing those adventures in the new X-Men ’97 animated series, coming to the platform sometime this fall. Recently, X-Men ’97 head writer and executive producer Beau DeMayo confirmed which mutant characters would take center stage in the new series. So who are the X-Men ’97 revivals’ main characters? None other than Cyclops and Storm. We absolutely love to hear it.

At SDCC 2022, we finally got our first details about the new show. Here’s what we know so far.

Cheers erupted when Brad Winderbaum spoke fondly of the legacy of X-Men: The Animated Series and presented a sizzle reel featuring cast and creatives from the popular ‘90s animated show. X-Men ‘97 writer and executive producer Beau DeMayo then spoke about the new series, and shared artwork. The main cast looks almost identical to the original ’92 series, but Storm seems to have a new hairdo. Of course, Ororo Munroe changing her hair constantly is very much a staple of the character. And Jean has lost her signature ponytail.

Aside from the main cast, returning X-Men include Cable, Bishop, Forge, Morph, Nightcrawler, and former New Mutant Sunspot, who never made it to the original series.

Magneto is now the leader of the X-Men, and is shown wearing his short-lived “hero” costume, from Uncanny X-Men #200, way back in 1986. This is the one with a giant “M” on the chest, and the opera gloves. He’s also got much longer hair, like his ’90s incarnation.

Emma Frost, the White Queen appeared, along with her fellow Hellfire Club companion Sebastian Shaw. Also, Morlock leader Callisto, government agent Val Cooper, and Mister Sinister images were shown. On the panel, they revealed that Val Cooper “has an agenda” that will learn about as the season progresses.

They presented an early animatic, showing the team fighting Sentinels. It was very rough, but gave the fans in Hall H an idea of what the show is — pure ’90s Fox Kids action. Although the show won’t debut until Fall 2023, X-Men ’97 already has a second season renewal.

Here’s hoping we learn just how X-Men ’97 ties into the wider Multiverse when the show debuts. We know there has to be a reason the cartoon theme song keeps playing in MCU films Like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and shows like Ms. Marvel. We’ll just have to wait and find out in 2023.

Originally published July 22, 2023.

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X-Men: The Animated Series defined Marvel’s mutants for a whole generation who grew up watching them in the ’90s. That’s why the upcoming X-Men ’97 Disney+ series, which picks up where the classic show left off, has as much fan anticipation as any live-action MCU series. But aside from a few character designs shown at Comic-Con last summer, we know little about the new show—until now. A writer for the series has revealed the main villain, and he’s as classic an X-Men foe as they come. X-Men ’97’s villain for season one is none other than master manipulator Mister Sinister.

Via The Direct, we learned that at the recent 60 Uncanny Years live virtual event, celebrating six decades of the X-Men, X-Men ’97 writer Beau DeMayo confirmed that amoral geneticist Nathaniel Essex, a.k.a. Mister Sinister, would feature prominently in the show’s first season. Christopher Britton, who voiced the character in the original series, will reprise the role. Here’s what DeMayo had to say about the returning mad scientist villain:

A very, very, very, very favorite character of mine and many others, Mr. Sinister, will rear his ugly head from the past with a pretty foolproof plan to destroy the X-Men once and for all.”

Mister Sinister has been a thorn in the side of the X-Men in the comics since 1987. We learned in the comics that he manipulated the gene pool of the Summers family for generations, particularly Scott Summers (Cyclops) and his brother Alex (Havok). Sinister cloned Jean Grey after her apparent death, creating the doppelgänger Madelyne Pryor. He arranged for her to meet Scott and marry him, producing a powerful son. A son who would grow up to become the mutant mercenary called Cable.

Much of Mister Sinister’s comics backstory made it into the classic cartoon. In more modern comics, Sinister has been an uneasy ally of the X-Men, but has just as often betrayed them. Unlike Magneto, he’s just one of those villains who can’t ever seem to turn over a new leaf. As the new series will feature Magneto in charge of the X-Men, taking over from Xavier, we can’t wait to see a Sinister vs. Magneto showdown for the ages.

X-Men ’97 will release on Disney+ sometime this fall.

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The Marvel Multiverse is about to crack open wide. And that means that at long last, mutants are coming to the MCU. We’ve had some X-Men hints already, but when Wade Wilson crashes into the MCU in Deadpool 3, he’ll be bringing Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine with him. And if we were to take Sir Patrick Stewart’s hints seriously, it seems Professor X and maybe even Magneto may also go along for the ride.

And honestly, with Avengers: Secret Wars coming up, we feel confident that we are getting one last hurrah for the Fox X-Men. We suspect their reality will be part of the eventual Battleworld in Secret Wars. And if it is, that means we are going to be getting some long-awaited Avengers vs. X-Men live-action rumbles. Heck, some may happen as soon as Deadpool 3. Here are the AvX fights we are dying to see play out on theater screens in the coming years.

The Hulk vs. Wolverine

If there’s one big “Avenger vs. X-Man” fight everyone on Earth wants to see, including Hugh Jackman and Mark Ruffalo, it’s the Hulk fighting Wolverine. In the pages of Marvel Comics, these two have a long-standing rivalry. In fact, Wolverine first appeared in the pages of Incredible Hulk, not in Uncanny X-Men. We just hope it’s classic, rampaging Hulk and not smart Professor Hulk. We want to see the most feral versions of Logan and the Jade Giant go toe-to-toe. This one needs to get ugly.

Iron Man vs. Magneto

Yeah, we know, Tony Stark is very dead. But if we’re getting a Battleworld in Secret Wars, it means that some version of Iron Man will be around. Will it be Robert Downey Jr. as a variant? Maybe it will be Tom Cruise as “the Superior Iron Man” as was once rumored? Who knows? Regardless, we want to see the Man of Metal vs. the Master of Magnetism. It’s happened several times in the comics, with various outcomes. But the prospect of RDJ (hopefully) trading not only punches but sarcastic comments with either Sir Ian McKellen or Michael Fassbender has us salivating at the thought.

Captain Marvel vs. Rogue

In the original Fox X-Men films, Anna Paquin’s power-absorbing Rogue was significantly less powerful than her comic book counterpart. A big reason why was that in the comics, Rogue was able to permanently steal a portion of Carol Danvers’ powers, allowing her permanent super strength and flight. With Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel now a major MCU player, we’d like to see Rogue take her on in a fight, and siphon some of her powers. Then, we’d have the two powerhouses actually have a real down n’ dirty battle. The ability for the X-Men and Avengers characters to share a screen now means this storyline can finally see live-action glory.

Scarlet Witch vs. Phoenix (Jean Grey)

The most powerful members of both the Avengers and the X-Men are a pair of women who, at their peak powers, can reshape all reality. Or, more pointedly, destroy it entirely. Jean Grey is the host of the cosmic Phoenix Force, while Wanda Maximoff is the prophesied Scarlet Witch. If these two do battle, everyone else shouldn’t just clear the room, they should clear the whole darn planet. If we see Famke Janssen finally unleash the Phoenix Force at her full potential at an equally powerful opponent like Wanda, we’re in line for this on day one. It would make up for the shoddy treatment Jean Grey received in both Dark Phoenix Saga adaptations.

Captain America vs. Cyclops

Both the X-Men and the Avengers have had their share of leaders. But the quintessential field commanders of both teams were almost always Cyclops and Captain America. And whenever the two teams clashed, often the iconic image on the comic book cover was the sight of Scott Summers’ optic blasts ricocheting off Cap’s vibranium shield. We’re good seeing Scott take on either Cap, be it Sam Wilson or Steve Rogers. With the multiverse in play, anything is possible. Regardless of who Cap is, it would be nice for James Marsden to finally get to truly show off his skills as the iconic mutant hero.

Thor vs. Storm

One is a Norse God of Thunder. The other is a mutant “weather witch.” Both wield the power of lightning. So yes, Thor vs. Storm has all the ingredients for an epic showdown. Sure, Thor has an advantage, being an immortal god and everything. Storm is a mortal mutant, despite being worshipped as a goddess by her African tribe. But we know Ororo Munroe would give Odinson a run for his money. In the comics, Storm even spent time on Asgard, and was bequeathed her own enchanted hammer, Stormcaster. So she’s not unfamiliar with their forms of combat. These are some sparks we can’t wait to see fly on screen. We’re sure both Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry would have a ball filming this fight.

Scarlet Witch vs. Magneto

In the comics, Magneto is the father of Wanda Maximoff. Well, most of the time. Marvel retcons have changed that fact occasionally. However, he definitely raised her from her teen years on. Yet due to rights issues, Wanda’s relationship with her mutant dad could not be acknowledged on screen. But with Disney now having rights to the X-Men characters free and clear, we want to see the Scarlet Witch encounter her deadbeat dad, and maybe even show the Master of Magnetism who the real power in the family is. As powerful as Magneto may be, his little girl might hand him his butt.

Deadpool 3 hits theaters on November 8, 2024. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars are currently set to release in 2025 and 2026.

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According to Sir Patrick Stewart, when it comes to the matter of his returning to a Marvel movie, there’s potential. Of course, we assume that he’d return as Professor Charles Xavier after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But he may not appear alone. In a recent interview, Stewart hinted that his cinematic partner in crime, Sir Ian McKellen, might come with him to the world of the MCU. A Magneto and Professor X reunion on the big screen would definitely cause a stir.

Here’s what Stewart had to say on the subject of how his friend and co-star McKellen reacted to his MCU debut in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness:

Actually, it went very well. He did say something like [‘Hey, I would’ve done this!’], yes, that’s true… But we’re not done, Sir Ian and myself. We’re… we got plans.

Of course, we don’t know what those plans consist of or how real they are. In fact, we don’t even know if Stewart and McKellen would join the MCU as Professor X and Magneto. But these comments certainly sound like the start of something. With Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine for the MCU’s Deadpool 3, the door is wide open.

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Few mutant heroes were as symbolic of X-Men: The Animated Series as Jubilation Lee, a.k.a. Jubilee. The plasma-powered teenager was the junior member of the team, and the POV character for kids watching on Saturday mornings. They introduced her in the first episode of the series back in 1992. And now, Mondo toys is releasing a 1/6 scale Jubilee figure into their X-Men: TAS line, joining her best buddy and mentor, Wolverine, and her enemy, Magneto. The mutant master of magnetism will now also become available in a regular addition as well.

Alongside the regular edition, Mondo is releasing a Limited Edition version that comes with extra gear and portraits. This includes her elfin look from the fan-favorite episode “Jubilee’s Fairytale Theater.”  You can check out the first images of the iconic ’90s mutant mallrat right here.

Click To View Gallery

The regular edition includes a neutral portrait, a smiling portrait, a bubblegum portrait, and a radical-looking sunglasses portrait. She comes with 3 pairs of hands, 2 fists, two “Dazzler hands,” and 2 neutral hands. She also has 1 spark finger, and 2x fireworks blast, displaying her signature powers.

Of course, as the resident mall-going mutant, she also comes with her favorite comfort meal from the food court, chili fries, and a Slur-P soda cup. There’s also a figure stand included. The limited edition features her Fairytale Theater portrait, her skater helmet portrait, as well as a skateboard and accompanying knee pads. The figure has a price of $195.

The concept design for this Mondo Jubilee figure and the sculpt is by Alex Brewer, with paint by Tomasz Rozejowski. Mondo limits Jubilee to two per customer. It is expected to ship in June 2023, and the figure will ship to the United States as well as internationally. Hopefully, she’ll be joined by her fellow animated X-Men soon, creating a full team lineup in 1/6 format. Jubilee hits the Mondoshop on January 31 at 12:00 p.m. Central time.

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Actor Giancarlo Esposito has made a name for himself as everyone’s favorite villain lately. But according to the actor, who is constantly fancast as one baddie or another, he actually wants to play an iconic good guy next. And yes, this is an MCU good guy. According to a TikTok posted by coundownsitygeeks, (via IGN) Esposito spilled the tea on stage at the TJH Superhero Car Show & Comic Con in San Antonio, Texas. There, he admitted he’s gunning to play none other than Professor Charles Xavier in an X-Men reboot.

Esposito said, “I have not worked for Marvel yet. I’ve been in the room with them and talked to them. I’m gonna go for something that’s a little bit different. I’m gonna go and put it out in the universe that [I’d like to play] Professor X.”

The actor repeated the desire in his latest visit to The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. He mentioned roles bandied about that he might play in the MCU, but noted that he wanted to play a good guy. “The biggest ask,” Esposito says with a flourish, “is Charles Xavier.” He adds, “Charles is smart, he’s good. But I feel as if there may be some mileage with me and Marvel.”

Esposito is no dummy. He knows fancasting is why John Krasinski got the part of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. If he becomes the popular favorite among the fans, he likely knows his chances of getting the part go way up.

Whether it’s as Gus Fring on Breaking Bad, Moff Gideon on The Mandalorian, or most recently, as Stan Edgar on The Boys—he’s just so good at being bad. But no actor wants to get typecast. So it makes sense the big iconic role he’d want to take on next would be that of a hero. Although, as X-Men comics fans know, Charles Xavier is sometimes not all that heroic. That is why it makes even more sense for Esposito to play him. When the time comes to show Xavier’s darker side, we know he’ll excel at it.

If he does get the role, it wouldn’t be the first time fans have essentially cast this part. Back in the ’90s, comic book fan magazines like Wizard constantly polled the readers on who they wanted to see play Professor X in an eventual movie. The top choice was always Patrick Stewart. And we know how that turned out. Here’s hoping history repeats itself here for Mr. Esposito. Because we’d love to see him in charge of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

Originally published on August 8, 2022.

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Every title in the Marvel Comics universe has a massive catalog of stories and adventures, but—due respect given to everyone else—the X-Men have the biggest. Debuting in 1963, once Chris Claremont took over the title in 1970, the team of merry mutants has had some of wildest and most exciting serialized stories in all of comics. Naturally, several of these major storylines have made their way to film. But not all of them, not by a longshot. (This is a fun reference for ’80s-’90s fans.)

With Mutants now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the X-Men destined to join in the near future (we’d bet Phase VII, VI at the earliest), it’s high time for more of the X-folks’ greatest stories to hit the big screen. We will leave out any storyline that has had even hints in the now-defunct Fox universe. Trust us, there are still plenty of good ones. Here they are in order of comics release.

Sauron and the Savage Land

The Savage Land had been part of the Marvel Comics universe since 1941. Jack Kirby himself came up with it, as a primeval tropical area nestled within Antarctica where dinosaurs and things continued to exist. In 1969, writer Roy Thomas and artist Neal Adams took our heroic band of mutants there to fight a new threat. The mad Dr. Karl Lykos wished to conquer the Savage Land and to do so mutated himself to a giant bipedal Pteranodon. He chose the name of Tolkien’s great villain, Sauron, as his new moniker.

Now, obviously, the MCU can’t—and mustn’t—make the Tolkien reference. He’s a dinosaur; he can just be Saur-on (rather than Sow-ron). The Savage Land has always been one of the more out-there ideas for places in the Marvel Universe. However, given how the MCU has gone very cosmic, exploring more of the unseen parts of the movie world’s Earth would be really fun. Plus it immediately would give an excuse for the X-Men to work as a team; dinosaurs are not to be taken lightly.

“The Phoenix Saga,” Starjammers, Shi’ar Empire

You may be about to yell at me and say “But Kyle, we’ve seen the Phoenix Saga a million times!” Not so, fool. While “The Dark Phoenix Saga” has been on screen (badly) in the movies before, the preamble never has. And it’s way more fun!

Even among comic book heroes, the X-Men universe has the room to go very sci-fi. “The Phoenix Saga” introduces the intergalactic Shi’ar Empire and the Civil War between the Imperial family, specifically the insane Emperor D’Ken and his younger sister, Lilandra, who becomes romantically entangled with Professor X. We also meet the Starjammers, a group of interstellar adventurers who take Lilandra’s side against her family. The dashing leader of the Starjammers, Corsair, we later find out, is Cyclops’ dad. It’s a whole weird thing, the Summers clan lineage.

Murderworld

A deadly amusement park? Why yes, sign me up! And it’s even franchised, something Disney knows a thing or two about. The mastermind behind these theme park-style death traps is Arcade, the flamboyant assassin who doesn’t care about much besides causing pain and havoc. Utilizing sophisticated robotic and holographic systems, Arcade frequently pitted various superheroes against Murderworld. Sometimes he does it for money and sometimes merely for the challenge.

Arcade is one of the best all-around Marvel villains who hasn’t appeared anywhere in the movies yet, and scant few TV shows. His penchant for lavish attraction-themed murder machines and conniving intellect make him a really fascinating choice to take on the X-Men. He’d have to devise specific death traps for each specific mutant, which could be represented in a really fun visual way onscreen.

Mojoverse

The ’80s were a hell of a time in the X-Men comics. Whatever wild ideas the writers could come up with, they’d put the X-Men through it. Like putting them in another universe where they have to battle for their lives while people watch on TV. Mojo, one of the most revolting villains ever, first began in the pages of the Longshot book from creators Ann Nocenti and Arthur Adams. He’s like if Jabba the Hutt ran Videodrome. He has his own universe and plucks various warriors, like Longshot, to fight to the death for his and his captive public’s viewing pleasure.

The X-Men were unfortunate enough to be chosen for this horrifying exercise on the day the New Mutants graduated from Xavier’s School. Mojo would subsequently become a recurring thorn in the X-Men’s side. It’s rare for such a godlike entity to find so much glee in the relatively mundane act of making television, but that’s why Mojo’s so much fun!

Mutant Massacre

Far and away the best X-Men villain who hasn’t made it to the big screen yet is Mister Sinister. In the comics, he was a Victorian scientist who predicted the coming of mutantkind, and feared what it could mean for humanity. He was then bestowed powers from Apocalypse, became nigh-immortal, and continued his genetic research, incorporating mutant DNA into his own. He even worked from the shadows, manipulating the lives of many X-Men, including Cyclops, Jean Grey, Havok, Gambit, and even Professor X.

His first appearance in the comics coincided with the first X-Men crossover event, “Mutant Massacre,” which introduced an evil team of mutants called the Marauders. Sinister, the leader of the Marauders, orders them to slaughter the Morlocks, a mostly peaceful group of subterranean mutants to remove “wild card” mutations from the gene pool. The combined efforts of the X-Men, X-Factor, New Mutants, Power Pack, Thor, and Daredevil attempt to thwart this scheme but the heroes sustained heavy losses.

Mister Sinister always thinks several steps ahead and killing off the Morlocks was part of a long game. He could easily be the MCU’s next big villain given this and we’d love to see it.

E Is for Extinction/New X-Men

Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s run on New X-Men in 2001 made a lot of big changes to the continuity. It narrowed the roster to only Cyclops, Jean, Wolverine, Beast, and former villain Emma Frost, and made the focus less on them saving humanity from evil mutants and more on saving mutants from humanity. It also introduced the mysterious Cassandra Nova, Xavier’s formerly unseen twin sister whose evil schemes are varied and nefarious.

Nova gains access to Sentinels and destroys the mutant population of the island of Genosha, seemingly to draw the X-Men and swap bodies with Charles. She then uses Charles’ body to tell the world the X-Men exist. This leads to the creation of the U-Men, a team of villains who seek to augment human bodies with mutant body parts. It’s a grisly and gnarly and very Grant Morrison.

Dawn of X

When Jonathan Hickman relaunched the X-universe with his “House of X/Powers of X” miniseries, it ushered in a brand new world for mutants. Utilizing Krakoa, the living island, and the latent Groundhog Day-style mutant powers of Moira MacTaggart, Charles Xavier and Magneto are able to bring every mutant back from the dead on the condition they all work to secure the future of their existence. They announce themselves as a sovereign nation.

This split off into several new titles and team-ups, but the core themes were radical and exciting. Mutant kind would no longer have to worry about being wiped out, least of all by each other. It would make for a really great way to bring mutants properly into the MCU, with all the best characters doing all sorts of things people haven’t already seen from the former Fox film franchise. It might be too heady for a new audience, but we have faith they’ll get it. If you aren’t currently reading this version of X-Men, you’re missing out.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Although Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige might choose to give the old Fox X-Men a final victory lap in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, eventually, he will reboot the mutant team for the MCU. It’s only a matter of time. But with dozens of X-Men as part of the comics over the years, which Marvel Mutants should make the cut for the first official MCU team? In our opinion, for their first outing in the 616, the students of Xavier’s school should go as iconic as possible. All killer, no filler. Sorry, all you fans of obscure mutants. We believe for the initial roster of MCU X-Men project, it’s “go big or go home” when it comes to creating its lineup.

We know there are lots of “cult favorite” members of the team, but we think sticking to the most iconic X-Men is what Marvel Studios should do for their first film. Characters that people think of whenever someone says “the X-Men.” These are the heroes we want to see on the poster. And in costumes that evoke the comics. And yes, we know that 13 X-Men is a lot. But remember how well Marvel Studios juggled the same amount of heroes in Civil War and later Avengers films? We know it can be done. Here are the 13 X-Men “big guns,” in addition to Charles Xavier of course, that we hope to see in the MCU’s lineup.

The Original 5 X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel)

When X-Men debuted in the summer of 1963, they were comprised of five outcast teenagers who were students at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Cyclops (Scott Summers), equipped with optic blasts, Marvel Girl, the telepathic and telekinetic Jean Grey, Beast (Hank McCoy), the winged Angel (Warren Worthington), and the polar-powered Iceman (Bobby Drake).

The original “first class” would eventually make way for more popular team line-ups. But they always found their way back home. And in many ways, they remain the core of what Xavier’s dream of mutant/human integration stands for. Besides, the Fox X-Men films never had the “O5” together on screen as a team. The MCU would get off on the right foot by correcting that.

Wolverine

Look, it’s really not the X-Men without the feral Canadian mutant, is it? The adamantium-clawed X-Man is easily the most popular member of the group, and has been since the ‘80s at least. He anchored the movie series and several animated television shows, and made a star out of Hugh Jackman. He may not be our personal favorite member of the X-Men, but it’s undeniable how wildly popular he is. If there’s an X-Men team in the MCU, then it needs to have Wolverine on it.

Storm

Debuting in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1, Ororo Munroe is Marvel’s most prominent Black female hero. She’s also one of the publisher’s most iconic women heroes, period. The Weather-controlling goddess has been a leader of the X-Men many times over, and is one of the world’s most powerful mutants. Along with Wolverine, she is probably the X-Man who is most definitely a household name to the general public, thanks again to TV and film exposure. Given her connection to the world of Black Panther as well, it sure would be a big mistake to have an MCU X-Men roster without her.

Colossus

The Russian metal man with a heart of gold, Peter Rasputin also joined Xavier’s class in Giant-Size X-Men #1. He has more or less been a mainstay of the team for the better part of 45 years (give or take a few times when he was dead). Although sidelined in the main X-Men films, he did finally get his due as co-star of the Deadpool films. In our minds, the kind-hearted “big lug” is the heart of the X-Men, and needs to have a spot in the MCU roster.

Nightcrawler

While some mutants can pass for “normal,” that cannot be said for Kurt Wagner, the German X-Man known as Nightcrawler. Looking like a blue demon, complete with a tail and all, Nightcrawler has the ability to teleport. Not to mention, he’s pretty agile and fast too. Despite his demonic appearance, Kurt is a devoutly religious man. He is often the shoulder for the rest of the team to cry on. He appeared in a few X-Men films, portrayed by both Alan Cumming and Kodi Smit-McPhee. But the MCU needs its own version of the former circus performer turned swashbuckling mutant hero in its X-Men lineup.

Kitty Pryde

If Colossus is the heart of the team, then young Katherine “Kitty” Pryde is the soul. Kitty, who can phase through solid matter, joined the X-Men as a young teen, forging important bonds with each member. She provided the older X-Men a “kid sister” of sorts, and then, became something of a team mascot. She’s had many codenames, ranging from Sprite to Ariel to Shadowcat. But we know her best in the end as just Kitty. Although Umbrella Academy’s Elliot Page played the character in a couple of the Fox X-Men films, the MCU needs Kitty to be more front and center in its first lineup.

Rogue

This Southern belle is both a no-nonsense powerhouse, and also a tragic figure. Rogue has the power to absorb other people’s energy, and in the case of mutants, their powers. But this gift makes it so she can’t touch anyone, or she might accidentally kill them. She overcompensates for her tragic circumstances with bluster and bravado, making her a fascinating contradiction of a character. (She also has super strength and flight, permanently absorbed from Captain Marvel). The Anna Paquin version from the Fox films is almost another character entirely. So an MCU Rogue would be a perfect chance to introduce the comics version of this X-Men into a live-action roster.

Gambit

Here’s an X-Man who might have not made the cut, if not for two things. The Cajun mutant, who had the power to energize objects and make them deadly projectiles, was in the 1991 relaunch of X-Men, which sold some 8 million copies. He also became a main character in the ’90s Animated Series which launched a year later. These two things made him an iconic X-Man in the eyes of many fans, and most fans have been dying to see Remy Labeau in a proper X-Men film (X-Men Origins: Wolverine doesn’t count). While he’s not our most favorite mutant hero, he is viewed as a signature X-Man by many, and probably should be on the team.

Jubilee

Much like Gambit, Jubilation Lee, the Chinese-American teenager who was the team’s youngest member (after Kitty left) became iconic thanks to her inclusion in Jim Lee’s comics and the ’90s cartoon. But because of those things, the fireworks-creating mutant Beverly Hills mallrat is synonymous with X-Men. Especially to a whole generation who grew up with the character on TV. While some of the valley girl aspects are super dated now, they could easily update Jubilee to modern times. We think many fans want to see that yellow raincoat on screen.

Of course, some changes will have to be made. With the exception of Storm and Jubilee, it’s an overwhelmingly Caucasian lineup. But they could always diversify some of the characters for the big screen. Marvel Studios has already set precedent for that. Whenever it happens, we’re excited to see what form the X-Men will ultimately take in the MCU.

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has radically expanded the potential of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Its presentation of Namor the Sub-Mariner proves that it is ready for the X-Men. Though Namor isn’t the first mutant to appear in the MCU, his particular condition as a Meso-American survivor of Spanish imperialism speaks to the core themes of the X-Men comics. And since Black Panther: Wakanda Forever depicts the complexities of liberation amidst the threat of imperialism, it is the perfect vessel to pilot what the MCU’s X-Men can offer. 

Wakanda Forever follows Princess Shuri and Queen Ramonda as they grieve the loss of King T’Challa. At the same time, their country is in a tense era of international politics, as countries like the United States and France are suspicious of their supply of vibranium. This comes to a head when a covert American operation to find more vibranium threatens the underwater kingdom of Talokan. Its leader, Namor, vows to destroy the surface world to prevent the continued genocide of his people. It then must fall on Shuri to choose if Wakanda’s fate lies with Talokan, or the rest of the world.

Beyond just having Namor, a mutant, in the film, Wakanda Forever beautifully sets up what an X-Men movie could look like in the MCU through its handling of political topics. This is primarily achieved through its reenvisioning of Namor’s identity. Namor has explicitly been non-white in the comics, vocally declaring a vendetta against all white men from the very beginning. However, his arched eyebrows and racially-ambiguous appearance never pointed to a specific human culture he had ancestry from. 

Wakanda Forever takes a much firmer stance. It rewrites his comics origin by making him the protector of an Indigenous community in the Yucatan. Known to his people as K’uk’ulkan, the Sub-Mariner got the name “Namor” when a Spanish missionary called him “el niño sin amor.” Thus, Namor’s Indigenous background is an integral part of his character in the MCU. Beyond the fact that Tenoch Huerta, an Indigenous actor, plays Namor, his politics, anxieties, and hopes for his people stem from his experiences with Spanish imperialism. 

This characterization of Namor is significant, because it echoes the principles that have guided X-Men comics for nearly 50 years now. While the X-Men had been around in Marvel Comics since 1963, they were revolutionized in the mid-1970s. Beginning with 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1 by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, and continuing through writer Chris Claremont’s legendary X-Men and New Mutants runs, the X-Men focused heavily on the unique ethnic and cultural backgrounds of its characters.

Previously, the team had been largely white American. However, with the introduction of mutants from around the world like Storm (of Kenyan descent), Colossus (Russian), and Nightcrawler (a Catholic from Germany), in addition to Indigenous mutants like Thunderbird (Apache), the X-Men found their footing with a more diverse cast. While the cast of Giant-Size X-Men may not seem as diverse by 2022 standards, it was revolutionary at the time to feature Russian and German characters who weren’t villains. 

By approaching Marvel’s Merry Mutants through a culturally-conscious lens, X-Men comics tied mutant identity to contemporary political issues. Since mutations either manifested from birth, or later in life in response to extreme stress, they came to reflect unique problems faced by marginalized groups. For instance, New Mutants member Karma (Xi’an Coy Manh) gained her ability to possess people during the Vietnam War. She took control of a North Vietnamese soldier who was about to kill her younger brother. For many X-Men characters, their mutant identities and marginalized identities are deeply entwined. By grounding mutants within the lived experiences of people from around the world, Claremont’s X-Men illustrated how mutant identity was not monolithic. 

And yet, this straightforward handling of Namor’s cultural background is something the X-Men films have largely shied away from. With the exception of Magneto, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, the X-Men films left out the comics’ emphasis on cultural specificity. Banshee, an Irish mutant whose wife died in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, was American in X-Men: First Class. More troublingly, Sunspot, an Afro-Brazilian mutant who got his powers while defending himself from anti-Black racism, has never been played by an Afro-Brazilian actor. Beyond just whitewashing, the omission of these characters’ identities also omits their political perspectives as mutants. Thus, the discourse in the Fox films is limited by a white American sense of homogeny. 

As such, the MCU should use Wakanda Forever’s vision of Namor as the basis for assembling its X-Men cast. Fox’s X-Men films went astray when they stopped exploring the complexities in the fight for liberation. This is the essential drama of the comics, and the essential drama of Wakanda Forever. Magneto may be a standout character, as a radical militant Holocaust survivor, but he’s so much better when he’s in the company of other mutants whose identities enrich the metaphor. By taking a culturally-conscious route, the MCU’s X-Men can embody the comics’ most radical idea. A diverse group of marginalized people can lead the world to a better place, without flattening out the differences between them. 

Overall, Wakanda Forever proves that the MCU can handle topics like imperialism and genocide in a setting that is both fantastical and politically engaged. These elements are also the core of Marvel’s current era of X-Men comics. The radical reimagining of Namor proves the MCU has the capacity to fully commit to the cultural specificities guiding X-Men. But more than that, it can truly thrive when it embraces complexity over uniformity.

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For years now, Marvel fans have been speculating on just who will play the eventual rebooted X-Men in the MCU. Even with Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine, at some point, Kevin Feige is going to give us all new versions of Marvel’s mutants. Recently, fans expressed their desire online to have actress Keke Palmer play Rogue, the Southern Belle with the ability to absorb superpowers from those she touched. Well, apparently Keke is totally down for that role. This past Halloweekend, she posted several pictures of herself as the sassy mutant from Mississippi on social media. Check it out!

Although her Rogue look is definitely a new one, it was certainly inspired by the character’s look in the ’90s. This look comes from artist Jim Lee for X-Men #1 back in 1991, and it became iconic thanks to X-Men: The Animated Series a year later. We have to say, we prefer the purple jacket Keke has on to the old brown bomber jacket. It evokes the same feeling, but it’s a bit more stylish. We do wish Keke had the classic Rogue headband, though. Maybe if/when she gets the part in the MCU, someone in the wardrobe department can convince her to give us that headband.

If Keke gets the role via internet fervor, it wouldn’t be the first time such a thing has happened. After all, it was fans online who pushed for Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka, and then that came to be. In the Marvel Universe, fans clamored for years for John Krasinski as Mister Fantastic. And this year, Feige cast him as a variant of the character in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Keke may be calling her X-Men teammates “sugah” on the big screen one day after all. We would love to see it happen.

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2023 marks 60 years of the X-Men. And to celebrate, Marvel’s Merry Mutants are finally getting a fan convention all their own. The Uncanny Experience, an immersive fan convention, is catering specifically to X-Men fans. The event will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 16-17, 2023 at The Minneapolis Club. The Minneapolis Club’s exterior sure looks a whole lot like a certain School for Gifted Youngsters in upstate New York, doesn’t it?

Confirmed special guests include the man who made the X-Men what they are today, writer Chris Claremont. A young Claremont took the once-canceled Uncanny X-Men, and turned it into Marvel’s biggest-selling title. He also wrote the series for 16 consecutive years. Also on hand will be the voice of Wolverine from X-Men: The Animated Series, Cal Dodd, as well as the voice of Rogue, Lenore Zann. Both will be reprising their iconic roles in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men ’97 revival series. Joining in the fun will be original X-Men: TAS director/animator Larry Houston. More guests are to be announced at a later date. 

This hybrid event combines comic book convention elements alongside immersive entertainment. Each attendee will get an Uncanny Student ID badge to enter the event, take Instagram-worthy photos in the historic venue, and meet special guests. Since this is a “school for mutants,” attendees will be able to attend classes on various topics like Mutant History and Understanding tarot with Tarot. They’ll also be able to enjoy the free-play video arcade room (chili fries not included, sorry Jubilee), and find fellow mutant enthusiasts.

The weekend will have a cosplay contest and feature special cosplayer guests from around the United States. And since the X-villains need to represent, they’re also bringing the Hellfire Club with a lavish red-velvet lounge for drinks and debauchery. Enough to make Emma Frost proud we hope. The weekend will conclude with a Graduation Ceremony. One where those in attendance will receive a diploma if they complete the Immersive Experience activations stationed throughout the mansion. 

The Uncanny Experience will have three ticket-level tiers. General Admission allows access to the Experience for the two-day event including all described above. VIP tickets give you all the perks mentioned, plus dedicated lines for registration, signings, and a collectible poster. Also, early access to the venue. Plus, access to Saturday evening’s 21+ “Party in the Mansion” Event.

Omega Level ticket holders receive everything mentioned so far plus an invitation to a private VIP cocktail reception, two free autographs from the special guest(s) of their choice, a 15-minute one-on-one meet & greet with their special guest of choice, expedited check-in, a merch bag full of goodies, access to the “Party in the Mansion” event (21+), reserved seating in the panel room, and dedicated customer service. Entrance to The Uncanny Experience is open to all ages, but anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information about this X-Men convention, be sure to head on over to the official event site.

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One thing that MCU fans are always talking about is whether mutants will come to the MCU and which X-Men characters we’ll get to see in the universe if they do. Top of mind for many is the question of whether Wolverine will appear again on the big screen. And if Wolverine is destined for the MCU, who might play him. The character remains synonymous with Hugh Jackman for now, but it seems unlikely Jackman will reprise the role. Luckily though, fans have a whole lot of ideas, and rumors are everywhere.

Here are the actors currently rumored for the part, and those we think would thrive as MCU’s Wolverine.

Daniel Radcliffe

The Miracle Workers actor’s name has been tossed into the Wolverine mix for so many years, he recently weighed in. Radcliffe thinks his name often comes up where Wolverine is concerned because they share one major characteristic: they’re both short. But alas he is not Wolverine (yet). Wolverine is 5’3 in the comics and Radcliffe, an affable 5’5, is a credit to short people everywhere. The actor has largely eschewed giant franchises since his decade-long tenure as a famous boy wizard. But given his incredibly varied career, we think, should the MCU come calling, he’d fit right in as Wolverine.

Taron Egerton

Much like Radcliffe, in the years since Jackman bade Wolverine farewell, Egerton’s sat high on the list of potential replacements. Much like the Brits and Bond, it appears that every actor under 5’10 is in the running to play Wolverine. (Although, Jackman is a Tall Man so really it’s anyone’s game.) And like Radcliffe, Egerton—who is actually slightly taller at 5’9—doesn’t quite know how the rumors got started but is flattered anyway.

But it seems like these rumors might have actually started something. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Egerton shared, “I don’t think it would be wrong to say that,” with regards to him hoping to be cast as Wolverine. “I’d be excited but I’d be apprehensive as well because Hugh is so associated with the role that I’d wonder if it’d be very difficult for someone else to do it… But hopefully, if it does come around, they’ll give me a shot.” Although as Jackman’s former co-star, he won’t have to go too far to secure his blessing.

The publication also notes that he “has met with Marvel Studio executives, including the company’s president, Kevin Feige.” Very interesting.

Pablo Schreiber

This is a perplexing set of rumors considering Schreiber—an Extremely Tall Man—is currently quite busy with the Halo tv series. The actor plays Master Chief in the Paramount+ series, which scored a season two renewal before the show premiered. But Schreiber recently told The Playlist that he’s met with Marvel a few times about different projects. Including, as the Orange Is the New Black actor would have us believe, a certain short, Canadian mutant. And, of course, the Canadian actor was enthusiastic about the “dream casting” should he answer the MCU’s call to tackle Canada’s most iconic character. This is all to say it won’t come as a surprise if Schreiber pops up in the MCU one day. But whether he plays Wolverine or Arkon the Magnificent is anyone’s guess.

Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun is a very popular guy. So it’s not surprising that fans are clamoring to see him in the MCU. (The fan forums have cast him as everyone from Namor to Mr. Negative.) But what if the right Marvel role is just waiting to claw its way out. Since his devastating departure from The Walking Dead, he’s remained pretty busy, with films like Minari and the upcoming Jordan Peele movie Nope. Technically he’s already a fledgling superhero on the animated series Invincible. But if the likes of J.K. Simmons, Barry Keoghan, and Michael Keaton can flip flop between comic book universes, I don’t see the issue.

Gael Garcia Bernal

I know he’s already on tap to join the MCU in the upcoming Disney+ special Werewolf By Night but he would make an excellent Wolverine. (I would also accept his BFF Diego Luna, who is not on the list because he’s already busy with Star Wars and I am imposing a few years-long break between Disney-owned franchises.) He’s not tall, can frown like the rest of them, and has largely spent his career doing more lower key movies and shows. So if he’s throwing his hat into the MCU, I want him to go bold.

Nikesh Patel

Nikesh Patel is probably the most unknown actor on the list but I’d love this for him. A highlight in the messy but addicting Four Weddings and a Funeral Hulu TV series, he currently stars as Tom Kapoor an actor and main love interest in the delightful series Starstruck. Fun fact, in Starstruck season two his character signs on for a secret movie that shoots for eight months in Atlanta. Is series creator/star Rose Matafeo manifesting this for him? But in all seriousness, with so many giant movie stars circling the MCU, it would be fun to see a very solid, charming actor like Patel swoop in and nab the role.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves really wants to play Wolverine. And I think that’s a good enough reason to let him. In 2020, Reeves revealed he always wanted to play the clawed hero—unsurprisingly, he’s a popular guy among Canadian actors. But the Bill and Ted actor said he thought it was probably too late, although we disagree. Reeves has a reputation as one of the most thoughtful actors in Hollywood and he would definitely deliver a nuanced (if taller) take on the character. At the very least, Feige should give him a cameo as a multiversal Wolverine. Reeves—and the rest of us, for that matter—deserve that much.

Hugh Jackman

It’s interesting that Jackman is the cinematic iteration of the character considering he’s the BFG where Wolverine is concerned. He is, after all, 6’3—tall by any standards. But he’s played Wolverine in nine films across the X-Men franchise. The films themselves vary in excellence, but Jackman’s performance is quite good. But it seems fairly unlikely he’ll reprise his role as James “Logan” Howlett for anything longer than a cameo—if that. The actor bade the character farewell in 2017 with the extremely good Logan, and seemingly hung up the claws for good. But still, this is Marvel we’re talking about so never say never!

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There were lots of reasons to be excited last year when the Mouse House announced it is reviving the ’90s X-Men animated series for Disney+. For one, the show will pickup where it left off 1997, guaranteeing we get closure on old storylines. And since Disney is also home to the MCU, the cartoon might end up connecting to the world’s biggest franchise. (That might happen very, very soon, actually.) But forget the ramifications for the past and future of the X-Men. We’re going to enjoy having the show’s theme back in our lives. Three decades after we heard it the first time we can’t get enough of it. And we really mean that, because we also love hearing any and all covers of that song. That includes this heavy metal rendition that also celebrates the rest of Fox Kids ’90s lineup.

Forget Magneto, the team behind the Youtube channel Two Minutes To Late Night knows metal. Musician Jordan Olds, a.k.a. Gwarsenio Hall, composed and performed this gnarly medley of the X-Men song and other Fox Kids themes. It includes him playing the title tracks from Bobby’s World, The Tick, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Beast Wars.

The only thing this medley is missing is Wolverine ripping through our screen with his claws and smashing his Adamantium skull against our head. (Please don’t do that, hypothetical Logan. Our soft normal skull would not survive.)

This heaviest of metal covers is the polar opposite of the last X-Men theme song rendition we told you about. That elegant version features the peaceful sound of cellos. So which do we like better? A track that has us banging our head so hard you’d think we had mutant healing powers? Or the one that sounds like it could turn an opera house into a superhero celebration?

Trick question. We love any reason to hear this song again.

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Hugh Jackman’s allegedly hung up the claws f0r good, but it’s clear Wolverine is still a big part of him. So much so he paid an adorable tribute to the X-Men character on stage recently. The actor is currently on Broadway in The Music Man, where instead of the very specific mutton chops and claws, he flips between a suave derby hat and a marching band cap. But a fan recently brought a special accessory to the show and Jackman couldn’t help but show it off. For starters, I didn’t realize foam Wolverine claws exist, and now cannot wait to buy a pair. But it’s sweet how excited Jackman is to strike that classic Wolverine pose. Recently, the actor posted a video of this The Music Man meets Wolverine mashup to his Instagram story for us all to enjoy.

Both the audience and The Music Man‘s cast seems so utterly charmed by this whole interaction. It is the one—probably even Patti LuPone-approved–instance where using the phone in a theater is remotely acceptable.

The clip is short, so we don’t get to see the full exchange between the fan and Jackman. But the actor posts the crux of it: beckoning him to hand the foam claw over, showing off his spectacular pose, and joyfully tossing it back. But given how delightful the foam claw is, I’m sure just a brief wave at the end of the show was enough to capture Jackman’s attention.

The real question is, what if he performed The Music Man with the foam claw—just once! I’d even settle for a performance of “Ya Got Trouble.” I think the claws would add such a dynamic layer.

Still, though, it’s charming to see so much enthusiasm from Jackman. After all, he did play the iconic mutant in nine films—including two small cameos—over the course of 17ish years. So the Wolverine pose must be as second-nature as blinking at this point. Even if we don’t see him as our MCU Wolverine, at least the character is still very near and dear to Jackman’s heart. And now we feel ready for a full version of The Music Man, everything the same except it stars Wolverine.

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It only aired sporadically in syndication, but they eventually released it on VHS. With a very odd live-action intro of Spider-Man talking about the importance of voting. To a presumably kid audience. (Sure, why not). Now, via Boing Boing, we’ve learned that you can experience the original pilot via YouTube channel Earworm James. Awkward Spidey intro and all. You can watch the full “Pryde of the X-Men” episode right here.

“Pryde of the X-Men” is fascinating for several reasons. It is a sort of spinoff to the version of the team first introduced in 1982’s Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends series. That is why they continued the weird decision to make Wolverine Australian, an idea first used in Spidey’s cartoon. (And which kind of predicted Aussie actor Hugh Jackman’s eventual role as Logan). For some reason, the producers substituted Rogue with Dazzler.

For this cartoon, they chose the classic line-up and concept from Uncanny X-Men, despite the late ’80s comics featuring a different team living in the Australian Outback. (Obviously, all things Australia were very big in the ’80s). Despite its theme song paling in comparison to the ’90s show, the original pilot has some great things going for it. Overall, the animation was better. And it featured iconic team members like Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Kitty as regulars. Kitty never once appeared in the ’90s show, which always felt like a glaring omission.

Back then, no network believed in X-Men as an animated series. It was producer Margaret Loesch who successfully pitched Fox Kids on the X-Men concept on the second try, in 1992. She cited the massive sales figures for X-Men #1 as an example of the IP’s popularity. No executive believed in X-Men, but Loesch staked her reputation on Marvel’s Mutants becoming huge. She was right, and the rest is history. Although X-Men: The Animated Series as produced bore little resemblance to “Pryde of the X-Men,” the one-off cartoon had a second life. Its designs and concepts were the basis of the massively popular Konami X-Men arcade game, also released in 1992.

As different as both shows were, they had one big thing in common. Both pilots featured a POV character who was a young girl discovering her mutant powers, and she’s our eyes and ears into this new world. In the ’90s series, it was Jubilee. We could easily see this approach, which began in “Pryde of the X-Men,” translated into the eventual MCU X-Men. It’s just too good and obvious a storytelling device to use to introduce the concept. In the end, we would not be shocked in the MCU X-Men film begins with a teenage girl approaching the doors of a certain mansion located at 1407, Graymalkin Lane.

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In the early 90s, the X-Men absolutely ruled the superhero genre. Chris Claremont and Jim Lee’s X-Men #1 sold eight million copies, the highest-selling single comic in history. A year later, X-Men: The Animated Series made Marvel Mutants household names for millions of kids. Right smack in the middle of all that hype came Marvel’s first X-Men trading card series, a 105 trading card set that sold like hotcakes.

And now, announced for the iconic card series’ 30th anniversary, Marvel is releasing a book featuring all of Jim Lee’s art for the ’90s fan-favorite trading cards. The book is simply called The Uncanny X-Men Trading Cards: The Complete Series, and it’s an annotated, digest-size hardcover collection of the complete 1992 set. Yes, including the hard-to-find bonus hologram cards.

So what made the ‘1992 X-Men cards so beloved? For starters, this was the first Marvel Comics cards set featuring all original artwork from one artist. And that artist that was arguably the most popular one in comics at the time. Although Lee was the regular X-Men artist, these cards gave him a chance to draw iconic renditions of Marvel’s other mutants too. This includes all the main villains, and characters from spin-off teams like X-Factor, X-Force, and Excalibur. Amazingly, Lee drew these 100 cards while illustrating a monthly book. It’s mindboggling.

Once you add in power rankings and all the extra fun facts on the back, and the nine-card Danger Room puzzle cards, no X-Men fan could resist. Another reason for their popularity is that Marvel packaged them with the original X-Men action figure line from Toy Biz. That was another entry point for the X-franchise for millions of kids. Several fans learned the backstories and powers of these characters not from any comic or cartoon, but from these cards. These cards were a key piece of making the X-Men franchise so popular.

You can pre-order The Uncanny X-Men Trading Cards: The Complete Series now. The book arrives on July 5.

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For many, many ’90s kids, Fox’s X-Men: The Animated Series (otherwise just known as X-Men) was their introduction to the universe of Marvel’s merry mutants. And even if they read the comics prior to the series premiere in 1992, it’s probably the ’90s-era costumes (oh, all the yellow and blue) are the ones deeply embedded in their minds. Though X-Men has changed over time, it’s still that original animated series that speaks to the most people, and that is, of course, why Disney+ has decided to bring it back in a brand new animated series follow-up called X-Men ’97,

As part of the Disney+ Day deluge of announcements, we got the surprise announcement of a continuation to the beloved ’90s X-Men series. Specifically 1997, which is of course the year the original series went off the air. With the hilarious “Longing Wolverine” meme at their disposal, they made sure we all knew what version of the mutant heroes we’d get. Whether it will be the same stylish but rather stilted animation in addition to the familiar character designs is still unknown. Hopefully they improve where applicable.

Not only were the original designs of the characters the most iconic versions (even today), but the Canadian series’ cast of voice actors are the de-facto versions of those characters. In an episode of This Week in Marvel, we learned a number of the original cast members will return for the follow up.

Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Alison Sealy-Smith, Chris Potter, Catherine Disher, Adrian Hough, and Christopher Britton will reprise their original roles, with others voicing entirely brand-new parts. X-Men ’97 will also welcome a number of new voices to the cast, including Jennifer Hale, Anniwaa Buachie, Ray Chase, Matthew Waterson, JP Karliak, Holly Chou, Jeff Bennett, and AJ LoCascio.

We learned in early 2022, via IGN, that X-Men ’97 will pick up directly after the original X-Men animated series’ finale. The original series’ showrunners, Eric and Julia Lewald, talked to YouTuber Justin Underwood about the upcoming show. They’re consulting on X-Men ’97. Julia Lewald said at about 35 minutes into the video, “They want this show to pick up where the original X-Men series wrapped.”

Eric Lewald added that Disney wants X-Men ’97 to be an extension. They’ll be looking at, “Where is [Charles Xavier] and what are we going to do with him?” And that’s good, because the original series ended with an injured Professor X going off into space with Empress Lilandra.

That said, I would hope the new series retains the amazing writing and grown-up storytelling that the original had, even if the voices and animation have to change with the time. Surface level replication is fine, but it’s the heart of the characters and their struggles that made X-Men one of the best cartoons of all time.

X-Men ’97 will premiere on Disney+ some time in 2023.

Originally published November 23, 2022.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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One of the biggest status quo changes in the history of the X-Men occurred in 2019, when the House of X opened its gates. In writer Jonathan Hickman’s epic revamp, he had Professor X unite the mutant nation, relocating them to the living island of Krakoa. There, mutants would assert a position of power they never had before. This new era produced some of the best X-Men stories in decades. And now, Marvel is presenting this shift in mutant lore as if it happened in the heyday of X-Men: The Animated Series, with a five-part miniseries, X-Men ’92: House of XCII.

The first issue drops this April, with writer Steve Foxe and artist Salva Espin. Together, they reimagine this modern mutant milestone through a retro lens. This limited series will see the return of the X-Men’s beloved ‘90s incarnations. Versions made popular by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee in X-Men #1. And, of course, the iconic Saturday morning cartoon. You can check out the cover for issue one by artist David Baldeon below.

In a statement, Foxe said,

To say that the ‘90s X-Men comics had a big impact on my development is an understatement. Getting the opportunity to pay tribute to such an important era in mutant history thirty years later—and to remix the franchise-redefining work currently being done by creators like Hickman, Howard, and Duggan—is the definition of ‘dream gig.’ Especially with some of the wild deviations we’re taking from the source material. If I died tomorrow, I’d be happy. But please resurrect me ASAP on Krakoa.

You can see the original House of X cover, which X-Men ’92 is paying homage to, below:

According to Marvel’s description, “Mutant kind is taking a huge leap forward by founding their own nation on the island of Krakoa. All guided by Professor X and Magneto. And a mysterious long-lived woman who knows more than she should. But this won’t be the story you know.” In the main continuity, the mysterious woman was mutant ally Moira MacTaggert. But could it be someone totally different in this iteration? In some ways, this sounds like a What If…? story.

So this is pure speculation on our part, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the eventual MCU X-Men looks something like this series. A bit of ’90s retro aesthetic flare, evoking nostalgia for the cartoon. Combined with modern storylines from the Krakoan era. Just to differentiate it from the previous Fox live-action films. Again, just a guess. But sometimes the pages of the comics are where they try these ideas out. If that’s what they do, remember, you read it here first!

X-Men ‘92: House of  XCII #1 hits comic shops and digital on April 6. 

The post ’90s Mutants Get a Modern Remix in X-MEN ’92: HOUSE OF XCII appeared first on Nerdist.

Back in 2019, Marvel’s X-Men family of titles entered a new era, one radically different from anything that had come before. House of X and Powers of X found the mutant community relocating to the living island of Krakoa, forging an X-Nation. And everything changed. Now, with the currently running series Inferno, things are about to change again. And feeling the full brunt of that change is none other than Wolverine.

The next stage in this new era begins with X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine, two concurrently running mini-series which promise to shake up the mutant status quo once more. Particularly, that of Logan’s. X-Force and Wolverine writer Benjamin Percy writes the two series, and we got the chance to chat with him about the most epic story yet about the man who’s “the best he is at what he does.” And in case you forgot, what he does ain’t pretty.

Nerdist: You’ve written Wolverine for a while now, first in Marvel’s scripted podcasts, then in X-Force, and then in his most recent solo book. But this is a whole different ball of wax. You’ve said that with this series, you’re setting out to write “the greatest Wolverine story ever told.” Without giving anything big away, what makes this story the greatest Wolverine story?

Benjamin Percy: Logan’s brain has always been broken. He has been unable to properly patch together everyone he has loved and killed, every decade he has endured, every army and team he has been a part of, every organization that has used him, every bottle of whiskey drank and claw popped and mouth mashed against his in a savage kiss. It’s the mind wipes, it’s the memory implants, it’s the expanse of time, the century-plus of living and fighting that has taken a toll on him.

He’s never known, and so we’ve never known, what was real or not. Now we make it real. Now we make the old known but new. Here are all the hidden lives, but revisited from the vantage of Krakoa. There is a reason I prefer analog clocks. Because I can see the possibility of all time at once. Time is sideways and forwards and backward and upside down. And that is, in essence, what this event will do for Logan. We are getting all the Wolverines. Got that, bub?

Jonathan Hickman introduced the current Krakoan era of X-Men with two interlocking series House of X and Powers of X. Now, the second Krakoan era begins with these two interlocking series you’re writing. What’s it like having the keys to kick-starting this new phase? Especially since readers seem to love this take on the mutants?

X Lives of Wolverine/X Deaths of Wolverine is certainly told in the same spirit and design of House of X/Powers of X, in that the 10-issue weekly event will offer up a mind-flaying tour through time (and dimensions) as we track the greatest Wolverine stories never told and come to understand how a mission a thousand years in the making might save mutantkind (and humankind) from… oh, wait. I can’t tell you that part, because: spoilers.

But as you already mentioned, there is a baton pass from HOX/POX. But you should also note there is a baton pass from Inferno. So this big bad hairy event is indeed the next seismic shift of the Krakoan era. What’s it feel like? It feels f***ing great. I’m having the time of my life. Wolverine is my favorite character, and I’m somehow the custodian of him, and you bet your ass I’m putting all my piss and blood and whiskey into this—the biggest, wildest story I’ve ever told in comics.

You’ve written members of Logan’s family before. But it looks like this time, everyone is going to be together. Daken, Laura, etc. Now, with some of these characters, their interactions with each other have been sort of limited. What’s your take on the concept of the “Wolverine family” for these two series?

It’s something I’ve been building toward from the beginning. Wolverine might not have drunk the Kool-Aid, but he likes the idea of Krakoa. Because it’s a nation he can finally call his own, a place where mutants can seek refuge, and a patch of real estate where he’s surrounded by his family (biological and chosen).

This combo platter offers the promise of—no other word for it—happiness. Is he capable of it? Does he feel he deserves it? Probably not. And a lot of complicated questions rise up when it comes to his relationship with Laura, Daken, Scout. He’s a problematic “father” for sure, but a moment of crisis can clarify feelings and some of the family scenes in this event will maybe break some hearts.

The official announcement for this series seems to suggest time travel, in some form. Some of the greatest X-Men stories have involved time travel. Were any of those an influence on these series? Or is this a totally different kind of time travel story than say, Days of Future Past?

This is a story that channels Wolverine’s legacy from start to finish. But with that said, it’s very much its own thing. I don’t do karaoke. In other words, I am tipping my hat to Days of Future Past, yes, but the X Lives of Wolverine/X Deaths of Wolverine is its own signature narrative. I’ve got a thing for time travel stories (and stories that play with time). The Time Machine. The Terminator franchise. Back to the Future. Looper. Cloud Atlas. Endgame. I’ve always wanted to take on the genre—and we went all out. The clocks and the compasses are spinning wildly. Be ready for a blood-soaked, mayhem-packed, kaleidoscopic journey through time and space.

Logan once constantly talked about how he’s not a team player, and a wild card. Flash forward thirty years, and he’s the headmaster of the school for a time. Do you feel Logan has left his loose-cannon status behind, or will it always rear its ugly head?

He’s always evolving of course. But fundamentally he knows his company is best suited for the woods. Despite the fact that he’s always getting dragged into trouble that demands he join forces with others. He’s not a team player. He’s a reluctant hero. And that adversity—the lone wolf who’s forced to work with the pack—makes for compelling storytelling.

We’ve seen a metric ton of Wolverine’s past in so many stories. Logan in World War II, the Old West, etc. Is there a particular era that we the readers still know nothing about, that you’re dying to tell? And are we going to see it in these two series?

You’ll see World War II, and you’ll see the Old West, yes. But I’m especially excited about returning to a certain lab and learning about what happened before… oh, wait, we’re getting into spoiler territory. Suffice it to say, Joshua Cassara is going to make your jaw drop with his art throughout, but particularly in that moment.

You’re working with two different artists for these companion series, Joshua Cassara and Federico Vicentini. What’s it been like working with them, and what do you feel they each add to their respective series that’s unique?

They’re both badasses. I’ve obviously been working with Josh for several years, and we’ve become close pals. I email and text with him pretty much constantly, and we’ve been brainstorming ideas long enough that we’ve achieved a kind of mind-meld. So he’s heard me out and given me feedback and made suggestions when X Lives was nothing more than a gleam in my eye.

It’s been great and meaningful to collaborate on what is the biggest thing either of us has done in comics. He’s a perfectionist who labors over every panel, and it shows. The backgrounds are exquisitely detailed. The acting is Oscar-worthy. And the storytelling is dynamic and expertly cinematic.

This is the first time I’ve worked with Federico, but damn, he’s been so much fun to get to know through his art and over email. He is pure kinetic energy. The panels are breathlessly paced. He won’t let your eyes rest. X Deaths of Wolverine is relentless in its action, and I can’t imagine anyone else capturing that better. He has a vivid manga style that is all his own. I think—no, I know—his work on this event is going to turn heads.

 Final, silly question: Are you a yellow spandex guy, or do you prefer Logan in the brown and tan?

Everybody has a right to their favorites, and even though the yellow spandex looks cool, I never understood it. Logan’s not a flashy guy. And—just from a practical point of view—that neon palette makes it hard to sneak up on baddies. Brown and tan are earth colors, which not only allow him to blend better with wild places, but match a personality best suited for the piney escape of the north.

X Lives of Wolverine #1, by Benjamin Percy and Joshua Cassara, goes on sale on January 5, 2022. X Deaths of Wolverine, by Benjamin Percy and Federico Vicentini, goes on sale January 12, 2022.

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Among all the Disney+ Day announcements from Marvel, the one that seems to have fans the most excited is the news that X-Men: The Animated Series is coming back. And right where they left off too, in a brand new animated show called X-Men ’97. Many of the original voice actors are returning, along with several new ones.

For many fans, this cartoon, which ran five seasons, from 1992 to 1997, is what they think of when they think of the X-Men. Especially that iconic theme song. Its success led to the movie franchise, which ultimately led to the MCU itself. Although we could think of 97 things we want to see in X-Men ’97 (the comics lore runs deep enough), we’ve narrowed it down to seven. And here are the things we want to see most when Xavier’s Students return.

1. Adapt Modern Comics Storylines

One of the reasons X-Men: The Animated Series is so beloved is just how faithful it was to the comics storytelling. After years of Marvel cartoons changing important things from the comics, Larry Houston and Eric Lewald came along and took the Chris Claremont comics as gospel. The original series did a fantastic job of adapting the storylines from the comics, tweaking them a bit to fit the series’ timeline.

Both “The Phoenix Saga” and “the Dark Phoenix Saga” were fantastic adaptations, as well as “Days of Future Past.” They even did “Age of Apocalypse” before the comics did! But in the 25 years since, there have been many great storylines they need to adapt. Stories like “Onslaught,” Grant Morrison’s “E is for Extinction,” and Joss Whedon’s “Gifted.” Let’s see what the series writers can do with the past quarter-century of comics stories.

2. Better Animation

As great as the storytelling and fidelity to the comics were on the original show, one thing was not always that great. And that was the animation. Cheaply produced by Korean animation house AKOM, it paled in comparison to shows like Batman: The Animated Series, which debuted the same year. In the modern era, they can do a lot better, and need to. While we’re all for keeping the character designs, for Disney+, they need to step up their animation game.

3. Kitty Pryde

Although she was the star of the original pilot episode, not to mention a main cast member of the 2000s series X-Men: Evolution, Kitty Pryde never even made a guest appearance on the ‘90s series. (And practically every single X-Men character showed up at least once). Considering her importance to the team, this was always a glaring omission.

We get that the producers wanted Jubilee to be the “new kid” on the team, more or less negating the need for Kitty. But she’s way too important to the franchise. And now that Jubilee is presumably older, she could mentor young Kitty as the newest member of the Xavier’s School. Assuming she does appear, she should definitely wear her ‘90s era Shadowcat costume. And at some point, she needs to call Professor Xavier a jerk.

4. Give Bigger Roles to Classic Members

The original series kept the focus on a core group of characters from the comics, but many classic, longtime members were only occasional guest stars. We’re talking about major X-Men like Colossus, Nightcrawler, Angel, Iceman, and Psylocke. Time to upgrade those guys to the main roster. Even if they aren’t in every episode, they need to be around much more than they were back in the day. These X-Men are the GOATS, and deserve a prime slot on the team.

5. Deadpool

Look, we know Wade Wilson made a brief cameo or two in the original series. But that’s not enough. And let’s just say the character’s profile has risen slightly in the intervening years. We need at least one wonderful chapter with the Merc with the Mouth mouthing off to the team. Don’t overdo it, but give us at least one stand-out Deadpool episode.

6. Keep the ‘90s Period (At First)

The show is called X-Men ’97, so we expect that to not be in name only. Meaning no smartphones, slow internet, and just an overall ‘90s vibe. But don’t make it a caricature of the era either. We don’t need constant shots of the team going to Blockbuster Video, watching Friends, or listening to Chumbawamba.

7. Allow for Evolution

Yes, we just said maintain the ‘90s vibe. But that’s just to start. If there are plans for the show to continue, then it has to evolve, just like mutants do. Starting where we left off is genius, but let’s take it further as the series goes along. Hopefully, as the show progresses, we see the team wearing their costumes from subsequent eras. Among other things. The ‘90s is a great jumping-off point, but one thing the X-Men don’t ever do is stagnate. Make sure the show does the same thing.

Marvel Studios has announced a 2023 release date for X-Men ’97 on Disney+.

The post 7 Things We Hope to See in the X-MEN ’97 Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Insomniac Games’ 2018 Spider-Man game for PS4 was one of the greatest adaptations of Marvel Comics characters. In any format, much less specifically in a video game. A massive open world adventure, the game pit the wallcrawler against all of his most famous villains across the almost life-size island of Manhattan. Its follow-up Miles Morales continued playing with that universe in a great way. And just when we were gearing up for the news of a sequel, Insomniac hit us with an uppercut full of claws: a teaser for a brand new Wolverine game.

The teaser shows a bar after what was clearly a pretty rough brawl. While some jangly soul song plays, a man gets up off the floor and draws a knife. He walks toward the brawl’s apparent winner, a man who sits at the bar with a beer. His black hair and cowboy hat might point to who it is. Once the guy gets closer, we know for sure. The man at the bar puts his arm down and three blades come out of his fist.

Marvel/Insomniac Games

Yes, it’s a Wolverine game! This was just an announcement, of course. The end of the teaser says “In development for PlayStation 5,” which pretty much ensures we’ve got a while before we’ll be able to see much more than this. However, just the idea of a studio that has already proven itself to handle the Marvel universe with care tackling the most famous mutant is almost too exciting.

While an open world exploration game might not be the exact right fit for Logan, something where he has to track people using his sniffer or even just a big ol’ beat-’em-up might be exactly what we want. Whatever the case, we can’t wait!

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

The post WOLVERINE Game Coming from SPIDER-MAN Studio appeared first on Nerdist.

Mondo

Due to financial issues, the series told from Kitty Pryde’s point of view only had a pilot. It then went to the TV graveyard. But, it did have a line of action figures and toys where Wolverine’s yellow and brown attire is a feature. However, fans best remember Pryde of the X-Men as a popular arcade game from Konami that some believe is better than the pilot. 

The figure is built similarly to the previous “Sad Wolverine” figure. In fact, it even includes another miniature picture frame of Jean Grey and Scott that Logan can wistfully stare at. Poor Logan, lovelorn forever. Even as a collectible.

Mondo

Mondo

Additionally, the limited edition figure includes four swappable heads, claws that retract and extend, and a lightning claw energy effect. And if you don’t want Wolverine in a permanent state of depression, swap that photo of Cyclops and Jean Grey out with a photo of your own. Or, feed Wolverine a turkey leg that Mondo includes as well! Either way, the unique sixth scale figure has many poses and ways to enjoy the new collectible. 

Mondo

The Pryde of the X-Men Limited Edition Wolverine is now available for pre-order. The collectible is limited to 500, and only two per household. So expect this to sell out fast. However, expect a bit of a wait as Wolverine will ship in Spring 2022. 

As far as how much another sad Logan will set you back? Mondo lists the cost as $200 and offers a payment plan for customers in the US. You can order it here.

Yolanda Machado is the West Coast News Editor for Nerdist. Her work appears at TheWrap, The Hollywood Reporter, ELLE, GQ, and more.

The post ‘Pryde of the X-Men’ Wolverine Figure Calls Back to a Classic appeared first on Nerdist.

Thirty years ago, on August 20, 1991, Marvel Comics released the much-anticipated relaunch of their most popular franchise with X-Men #1. Written by longtime Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont and drawn by Jim Lee and Scott Williams, X-Men volume two’s first issue was a seismic jolt to the comic book industry.

The first issue of the second X-Men series sold more comics than any other single issue, before or since. And it helped turn Marvel’s mutant team from something only comic book-reading nerds knew about into a true multimedia phenomenon. It might be the most important single issue of mainstream comics of the modern era. Here are eight ways that X-Men #1 changed not only the mutant franchise, but superhero comic books as a whole.

The Single Biggest Selling Comic of All Time 

Marvel Comics

Throughout the 1980s, popular comics sold in the hundreds of thousands. But it had been since the Golden Age of comics in the ’40s that they had sold in the millions. Then, in the early ’90s, the collector’s market exploded. Comics like “The Death of Superman” and Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man (and later Spawn) started selling millions of single issues. Marvel’s X-Force #1 sold five million copies, taking the crown for the best-selling comic of all time. A crown it held on to… for two whole months.

The X-Men #1 came along and sold a staggering eight million copies. They mainly achieved this through the then-novel idea of the first issue coming in five different covers, spread out across a month. (More on that later). Kids and collectors needed to get each one, so they could unify them all into a single, action-packed image by artist Jim Lee. To this day, no other comic has come close to selling what X-Men #1 sold in 1991. And it’s doubtful that anything will ever top it. No pun intended, but it was a sales juggernaut. And it sealed the X-Men’s place as comics’ most beloved series.

Making X-Men: The Animated Series Possible

Marvel 

Throughout the ‘80s, X-Men was comics’ biggest franchise. So much so, that in 1989, Marvel Productions produced an animated X-Men pilot, titled “Pryde of the X-Men.” Primarily based on the team circa 1975-1984, the pilot aired occasionally in syndication. But no one had an interest in taking it to series. At the time, being the comics industry’s biggest seller meant nothing to network execs. Only one woman believed in it: producer Margaret Loesch.

X-Men producer Eric Lewald said years later, “Margaret Loesch had wanted to do the show for 10 years. Nobody in Hollywood believed the X-Men could be popular. She’d pitch it and pitch it. They said, ‘No, this is too weird. This is too inside-comic-bookie.’” But once X-Men #1 sold eight million copies, it was clear Marvel’s mutants were a phenomenon they could not ignore. Numbers talk. And despite all the network execs thinking it would fail, they greenlit X-Men based partially on the massive numbers X-Men #1 sold.

Marvel Comics

Of course, the team used in X-Men: The Animated Series based its aesthetic and costume designs on those created by Jim Lee for X-Men #1 as well. His new look for the characters cemented what they looked like for an entire generation, thanks to their exposure on Saturday morning television. Some of the X-Men #1 members didn’t make the series regular cut, like Iceman, Archangel, Colossus, and Psylocke. But regardless, there is a straight line from X-Men #1 to the classic cartoon show.

Returning Magneto to Iconic Villain Status

Marvel Comics

Magneto was the team’s primary villain from the original X-Men #1, back in 1963. But over the years, writer Chris Claremont evolved the mutant master of magnetism into a sympathetic bad guy and then, an anti-hero. And then finally, into a fully fledged member of the X-Men. Claremont even made him headmaster of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.

But Marvel wanted the X-Men’s number one adversary back in bad guy mode, and X-Men #1 delivered that in spades. Claremont and Lee gave us Magneto as neither a mustache-twirling villain, nor as a fully redeemed one, but as a complex antagonist. And that portrayal has carried in on in most media interpretations ever since. Most notably on the big screen, as played by Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender.

Jim Lee: Superstar

Marvel Comics

Over the previous two years, a young artist named Jim Lee made a name for himself at Marvel on books like The Punisher and Uncanny X-Men. Very quickly, he proved to be the most popular X-Men artist in a decade. Because of his incredibly dynamic and detailed style, sales steadily rose on the mutant books. Soon, Marvel gave Lee the artistic reins on their big X-Men #1 relaunch.

The year prior, he had designed Gambit (and redesigned Psylocke) and they became instant fan favorites. With X-Men #1, in just this one issue, he’d given characters like Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, and Rogue new costumes. Ones that we still associate them with to this day. Although Lee only stayed on for a year following X-Men #1, the next decade had every artist on the book living in his shadow. And using his designs. He might run DC Comics now, but it was Marvel’s Mutants that made him a comics legend.

The Original Five Come Home

Marvel Comics

The original ’60s run of X-Men was only a modest success for Marvel. It ultimately floundered once creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby left the title. Canceled in 1970, the mutants returned in 1975 as “the All-New, All-Different X-Men.” The only original team members to stick around were Cyclops and Jean Grey. Beast became an Avenger, while Iceman and Angel went from team to team. The other three would guest star over the years. And they’d all even reunite as a separate team in 1985, called X-Factor. But X-Men #1 saw all five original students return to their original team after two decades away from the X-mansion. And they’ve never strayed for very long ever since.

The End of the Chris Claremont Era

Alameda Entertainment 

With the ascension of Jim Lee sadly came the end of writer Chris Claremont’s run on X-Men. (At least for a decade or so). After writing Uncanny X-Men for 16 straight years, Chris Claremont defined who the Marvel mutants were. But by the early ‘90s, Marvel editorial saw that it was Jim Lee’s art driving the comic books’ sales. And despite Claremont’s massive importance to the title, Marvel went where the money went.

And Lee wanted something more “classic X-Men,” while Claremont wanted to push the storyline in wild new directions. Marvel chose Lee’s take, and Claremont quit. Ironically, Lee would also quit a year later to form Image Comics. So for much of the next decade, Marvel tried to mimic what Claremont and Lee brought to X-Men #1, only without either creator. Regardless, X-Men #1 holds a special place in history for marking the beginning of the end of a major era for the series.

Inspiring a Video Game Phenomenon 

BleedingxClone

The mega-success of X-Men #1 made everyone take notice. Included among “everyone” was the video game company Konami. A year after X-Men #1 came out, the X-Men game hit arcades across America. And it was an instant smash. Interestingly though, the team used for the game wasn’t based on X-Men #1, but on the “Pryde of the X-Men” cartoon pilot. (It debuted around the same time as the X-Men: The Animated Series). But the Jim Lee X-Men definitely inspired games that followed its wake. Games like X-Men: Children of the Atom, Clone Wars, Mutant Apocalypse, and so many more.

The Variant Cover Comics Apocalypse 

Marvel Comics

For all the good things that came with X-Men #1, there were definitely bad side effects. The five variant covers played a significant role in the issue selling eight million copies. And it began a craze in the comics industry. Marvel, DC, and every publisher in between decided that multiple covers of the same comic would result in big sales. And speculators gobbled up those issues, hoping to make some coins months or years later. That speculator boom crashed by 1994 and nearly took the entire comic book industry down with it. No one at Marvel in 1991 could have known this cover gimmick would lead to a huge trend, but it did. But it might have been better if X-Men #1 had never started this trend.

The post How X-MEN #1 Changed Marvel Mutants Forever appeared first on Nerdist.

Poor Wolverine. Yes, the adamantium-clawed mutant is basically indestructible. But he still gets all mushy whenever he thinks of his crush, Jean Grey. Everyone who grew up with X-Men: The Animated Series in the ’90s remembers the scene where Logan pines away for Jean. All while staring wistfully at her photo. Decades later, that moment has become a meme that’s helped it live on for all time.

Well, now that iconic animated version of Wolverine has its own sixth-scale action figure. This sad Logan figure is coming from the good folks at Mondo in their first-ever sixth-scale X-Men toy. Mondo’s San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Limited Edition will be available to pre-order on MondoShop.com on Friday, July 23 at 12pm CT.

Mondo

In this 1/6 scale recreation of the iconic moment from X-Men: The Animated Series, Wolvie is all nestled up in his bed. He comes with four swappable expressions. Also, retracted and extended claws and a lightning claw energy effect. Of course, there’s a glossy photo of Cyclops and Jean Grey as well. You can switch the photo out with one of your own choosing, should you wish for Wolverine to pine over you instead. And just like the cartoon, Logan comes with a turkey leg. For reasons. The Wolverine 1/6 Figure – Limited Edition SDCC Variant will set you back $200.

Mondo

In a statement, Mondo’s Hector Arce and Michael Bonanno said, “There were really only a handful of Saturday morning cartoons in the ‘90s that stood out amongst the rest. I think we all remember that first day we watched the first-ever episode of X-Men the Animated Series. Sitting in bed or on our couches, excited and then…THAT song plays. Little minds were blown everywhere! That intro song hooked us right from the beginning. It kept us coming every Saturday for months and months, excited to see what happened to Wolverine and the X-Men.”

For more information, head on over to Mondoshop.com.

The post ‘Sad Wolverine’ Action Figure Is ’90s Perfection appeared first on Nerdist.

The X-Men are back with a brand new first issue. “But wait, wasn’t there an X-Men #1 just two years ago?” Well, yes. There was. But Jonathan Hickman’s 2019 refresh of the X-Men line was more of a relaunch of the entire mutant species, now residing in the living island of Krakoa. It didn’t really feature a proper superhero team called “the X-Men,” who fight to protect a humanity who hates and fears them.

But coming on July 7, that proper mutant superhero team is back, debuting in a brand-new X-Men #1. Written by Gerry Duggan with art by Pepe Larraz, the fans got to vote on which mutants made the cut. And now, we’ve got a trailer for this latest first issue for Marvel Comics’ stalwart mutant defenders. You can watch the full trailer right here.

Leading the team are two of the original X-Men, Cyclops and Marvel Girl a.k.a. Jean Grey. Rogue was also voted on the team, as was Wolverine. But not Logan—we’re talking about the Laura Kinney Wolverine, formerly known as X-23. Generation X member Synch finally made the big leagues. And two returning X-Men from back in the day are in—Polaris and Sunfire. This is maybe the most eclectic line-up ever for the X-Men.

Marvel Comics

The new team became official in the current X-Men series’ issue #21, in the midst of the mutant nation’s epic Hellfire Gala. The fancy ball on Krakoa hosted all the world’s mutants. But also on the guest list were superheroes like the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Doctor Strange, and more. Even Doctor Doom showed up.

But maybe the oddest guests were the real-life celebrities. George R.R. Martin was there, chatting up Kate Pryde. Comedians Patton Oswalt and Marc Maron were also in attendance. Hopefully, Maron convinced Professor X to telepathically changed the minds of the folks at Neflix who canceled his series GLOW.

The biggest real-world celeb to show up? None other than Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president. He asks Cyclops “what’s your story?” We just hope this is the impetus for his big-screen X-Men having one foot in the era of the current comic. Is this a hint that the Krakoan X-Men will be used for the MCU? Here’s hoping.

X-Men #1 hits comic shops and digital on July 7.

The post Marvel Comics’ New X-MEN Series Launches with Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.

Have you received your invitation to the X-Men’s Hellfire Gala yet? Well, seeing as you’re just a regular Homo sapien, you’re probably not on the guest list. If you’re wondering what we are talking about, the mutant nation of Krakoa is throwing a very fancy soiree. One where guests are expected to dress up to the nines. Something akin to the real-life Met Gala, only with powers. It’s called the Hellfire Gala after the mutant’s Hellfire Trading Company. The formerly villainous Hellfire Club now runs mutant trade with the outside world.

Marvel Comics

The event is taking place across 12 issues of X-Men comics this spring, including the June one-shot comic Planet-Sized X-Men. It will result in an all-new X-Men team, one where fans got to vote for members. Much of the formal wear is designed by Russell Dauterman, Stephen Segovia, and other Marvel Comics artists. In Marvel’s Hellfire Gala Guide, which is available for free at your local comic book shop, you can see all sixty-four designs for the Krakoan mutants’ inaugural ball. As with any high fashion event though, the fashion must be critiqued. I’m here to channel Joan Rivers, and give props to best dressed, and shred the worst. May the best X-Man win!

Best Dressed X-Men (Males)

Marvel Comics

Say, does anyone know the Russian word for “Daddy?” Colossus has us practically swooning in his sheer top and black fur-lined cape. We bet a certain Kate Pryde is having second thoughts about leaving Piotr Rasputin at the altar now. Meanwhile, Havok has a very eye-catching look that evokes his classic costume, but elevates it to high fashion. Former Generation X member Synch looks very smooth in his black suit with a stunning iridescent coat. Rounding out our “best dressed” dudes is Sunfire. Although I tend to loathe baggy pants like these, the way he channels his Japanese culture for this look is pretty impressive.

Best Dressed X-Men (Women)

Marvel Comics

It is really the X-Women who are slaying the red carpet at the Hellfire Gala though. Psylocke is a vision in purple. We’re not sure how those flowers are staying up on her dress, but maybe that’s a secret mutant power. Mystique has us literally gagging with her elegance. We’re not sure what kind of feathers those are, but who cares. She looks like a classic Disney villain (hey wait, now she is one!)

Her daughter Rogue was a character born of the 1980s. So it makes sense she’d rock an ’80s-inspired look for the Gala. She’s like a Patrick Nagel painting come to life. Founding New Mutants member Karma is rockin’ some avant-garde Tokyo street fashion, and it’s very chic. Finally, Penance outfit is smoking,’ but that fascinator on her head is as dangerous as she is. And we are living for it.

Marvel Comics

Now we’re getting to some X-Ladies who are practically mutant royalty. Jean Grey is stunning in her traditional Phoenix green. Her daughter Rachel Summers outdoes her though. She’s taking a painful part of her past, her time as a mutant-hunting hound, and transforming it into some seriously out-there fetish fashion. We’re not sure where the pet warwolf came from, but it’s a great accessory. Once again however, mutant goddess Storm simply kills it. She evokes her classic gold and black costume, but uses her powers to create stormy clouds as her cape. Ororo Munroe, you are not one to be outdone.

Stop Relying on Those (Super-powered) Bodies

Marvel Comics

Ok, let’s get to the less-than-stunning looks. Angel/Warren Worthington III, you’re a literal billionaire. You can afford more than white slacks and an open shirt showing off your abs. And Gambit, I thought they had good taste down in New Orleans? Your look isn’t ugly, but just an open black shirt with black pants is not fashion-forward. Bishop, the same goes for you. This is the inaugural Hellfire Gala fellas. It’s not just about showing off your six-pack. As RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage always says, “stop relying on that body!

Points For Trying

Marvel Comics

And these guys, well…. they tried. Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, looks more like a ’60s supervillain than high fashion. Blame this one on one of your duplicates when asked, Jamie. Warpath looks like a character from a rival comics universe — The world of Batman: The Animated Series! But props for those incredibly dangerous-looking shoulder pads. Who put those on him?

And finally, there’s Iceman (Bobby Drake.) Bless his heart, he tried. I love that the recently openly gay X-Man is embracing the genderf#@k aesthetic. Wearing a dress and heels? Tres awesome. But everything looks unformed. The skirt, shoes, and ice wings have no details. Next year, don’t let Emma Frost outdo you in the whole “Ice Queen” look, ok?

Worst Dressed X-Men (The Men)

Hey Cyclops, the ’80s called. They want their rejected X-Factor uniform back. There is nothing elegant or high fashion about Scott Summers’ outfit. This gets a big YAWN from me. And Wolverine’s son Daken is wearing something you’d wear to a nightclub, not a red carpet event. And he’s not even wearing shoes! This is a travesty. Also a travesty is the boring tuxedo of Beast. He needs to wear shoes too. Sorry, this is just beneath a founding member of the X-Men. Finally, there’s classic New Mutants member Warlock. I know, you’re a techno-organic being. But you can use your power to give yourself more than a bowtie.

World of Wonder

Worst Dressed X-Men (The Women)

Marvel Comics

These X-Women are fierce. But their fashion? Not so much. Gloriana, who you might remember as Meggan from Excalibur, looks like she’s cosplaying Pinocchio’s Blue Fairy. And Kate Pryde has always had questionable taste in costumes. But this weird mash-up of Scottish highlanders and pirate captains is not working for me at all. Meggan and Kate, this is a Gala, not Renn Faire.

Wolverine II, the former X-23, is actually wearing quite a cute outfit. For off the rack. Again, this is an haute couture event girls. “Cute” doesn’t cut it. (Even with those claws.) And the disappointment of Dazzler’s look is profound. The Disco Diva of mutants is wearing a pantsuit? No, covering it up with a light show of your powers does not make up for how boring this is, Alison! You had better bring it next year. Your name is Dazzler. Live up to it.

Best Dressed X-Man Overall

As not to end on a sour note, I saved the best for last. I simply must give props to the Hellfire Gala’s MVP. The organizer of the whole event, Miss Emma Frost. Like Lady Gaga at the 2019 Met Gala, she slayed several different looks for this event. And they were all absolutely stunning. (Look and learn, Iceman). She stole the show, just as easily as she stole Cyclops from Jean Grey. You have your work cut out for next’s year’s fashion choice Miss Frost, that’s for sure.

The Hellfire Gale kicks off in Planet Size X-Men #1, written by Gerry Duggan with art by Pepe Larraz, goes on sale on June 6.

Featured Image: Marvel Comics

The post X-MEN’s Hellfire Gala Fashion From Best to Worst appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s only a matter of time before mutants arrive in the MCU. We might have already seen the first sign of it in WandaVision, with the arrival of Evan Peters’ Quicksilver (or what appears to be Quicksilver) from the Fox X-Men universe. But regardless of Pietro Maximoff being as he seems or not, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige has confirmed that mutants are coming soon. And Professor X and Magneto might be the key to how everything is going to be different this time.

The core of the mutant mythos since X-Men #1 in 1963 has always been the conflict between Charles Xavier and Magneto. Xavier’s approach of mutants’ peaceful coexistence with humanity is constantly clashing with Magneto’s “survive by any means necessary” approach. On occasion, Magneto sees the error of his ways and joins Xavier’s side. But he almost always goes back to his ruthless ways. Rinse, wash, repeat. It’s been this way for over fifty years. The Fox films followed suit.

Marvel Comics

We’ve talked before about the different ways that Marvel Comics’ Dawn of X storyline could inspire the MCU X-Men.  But there’s one specific way writer Jonathan Hickman’s (and multiple artists) new take on the X-Men should inspire the movies. And still tie in to the previous X-Men films, albeit tangentially. Once again, it’s all about Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto.

Dawn of X Ends the Xavier/Magneto Rivalry

Marvel Comics

In 2019, writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Pepe Larraz threw that entire dynamic for a loop in House of X. They revealed that long standing X-Men ally Moira MacTaggert was in fact a mutant herself. Her mutant power was actual reincarnation. Each time she’d die, she get the chance to live her life over again—only with all her memories of her previous life intact. And in each timeline she lived through, she saw that the mutant race became extinct. And part of the reason why this occurred is because Xavier and Magneto couldn’t get past their own issues to unite for the common good of their race.

Moira lets both mutant leaders in on the truth in her most recent lifetime. As a last ditch effort, she explains how in every alternate timeline, their philosophical split ultimately helps lead to mutant downfall. Only by working together and finding a middle ground between their two philosophies can mutants hope to survive. That’s how Xavier and Magneto form the idyllic mutant refuge on the living island of Krakoa, and elevate the mutant race into a powerful nation state. So how could all this inform the MCU versions of Charles and Erik?

Acknowledging the Multiverse

20th Century Studios

WandaVision suggests that the Fox X-Men universe is out there in some way, as part of the Multiverse. And the fact that the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel is subtitled The Multiverse of Madness also hints at such a reveal. A good way to reintroduce Xavier and Magneto in the MCU would be to make them both aware of the other Xaviers and Magnetos out there. And to not make the same mistakes they did, which lead to nothing but bad outcomes for mutants.

20th Century Studios

Imagine if Quicksilver (or any other Fox mutant) informed both the MCU’s eventual versions of Charles and Erik what took place in that other universe. This would be similar to how Moira informed both men of their alternate timeline fates in the comics. The Fox era mutant could make it clear to them that their rift in the other universe only led to mutant extinction, time and time again. Either via the Sentinels in Days of Future Past or the mysterious mutant extinction we learn about in Logan. It always goes south for mutantkind.

An All-New, All-Different Reality

Marvel Comics

So in the MCU, Xavier and Magneto will also have a heads-up. This is kind of like how Chris Pine’s young James T. Kirk was informed by Leonard Nimoy’s elder Spock about their characters’ relationship in another timeline in Star Trek 2009. Nimoy’s Spock let Pine’s Kirk know that even though he and  Zachary Quinto’s Spock were at currently at odds, knowledge of a different timeline could show him a better way.

Imagine if a Fox era X-Man does the same thing for MCU Xavier and Magneto. It  promises a completely different take on the X-Men this time around. It also acknowledges almost twenty years of X-Men films in a way that allows those films to still matter. And it spares moviegoers from rehashing the same Xavier vs. Magneto conflict they watched play out over seven films. Whether it’s Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen or Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, we are all over that personal conflict.

Kevin Feige is clearly a big fan of Jonathan Hickman. A lot of ideas from Hickman’s Avengers run at Marvel made it into the MCU. We’d love to see Hickman’s X-Men work inform the MCU mutants in just the same way. And like with current comics, we hope the MCU X-Men forge an exciting new future while still acknowledging its own extensive past.

The post Professor X and Magneto Could Form a Radically New MCU X-MEN appeared first on Nerdist.

Do you know what happens to a toad that’s struck by lightning? Do you know what happens to Black actors in X-Men movies? Well, Halle Berry knows about both. Having graced the screen as Orono Munroe, a.k.a. Storm, in four X-Men films, Berry maintained the only Black starring presence out of two of them. Unfortunately, the omega-level mutant with the ability to manipulate the weather had no lines until halfway through the first X-Men movie. And when she finally did speak, she had one of the most infamous lines of all time.

20th Century

Future movies found Storm in the forefront, but one could say that the power of Berry’s Oscar contributed to this. Although, it didn’t give her more time in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Also, Alexandra Shipp took on the weather-manipulating mutant in the prequel trilogy, her importance dwindled. She didn’t stray far from a basic plot device for the power of Apocalypse and the uplifting of Mystique in X-Men: Apocalypse. Storm was completely underused in X-Men: Dark Phoenix. And she wasn’t the only one. 

The fates of Armando Muñoz, a.k.a. Darwin, and Angel Salvadore followed a similar formula and highlighted the subtle racism scattered throughout the 20th Century Fox versions. Darwin’s ability to adapt to survive in his environment made him indestructible. That turned out to be entirely useless in First Class when Kevin Bacon’s Sebastian Shaw killed him. Shaw, a white mutant, gave a monologue on how there would be a revolution and that they all would have a choice to enslave or be enslaved. Conveniently, the camera panned to Darwin.

20th Century

Angel, played by biracial actress Zoë Kravitz and the only woman of color in the film, was introduced as an exotic dancer. Shaw convinced her to join him with the promise of a role that didn’t involve her having to take off her clothes anymore. Soon after, she turned over her talents to fuel Shaw’s agenda; she had no further investigation into her backstory, powers, and connections to other characters. The heroes quickly disposed of Angel in the final battle, leaving her an afterthought. We didn’t get to see the two Black characters blossom into their full potential. Instead, we witnessed their characters fade under racist tropes. 

20th Century

But even if Black characters are present, it doesn’t mean that they are represented by Black actors. The last 20th Century Fox title, The New Mutants, portrayed Dr. Cecilia Reyes as a “caretaker” turned antagonist. She used her abilities to create psioplasmic bio-fields to protect her institution and keep mutants from ever escaping it. Rosario Dawson, an Afro-Latina of Puerto Rican heritage, was meant to play the Afro-Latina character of Puerto Rican descent. Dawson left the role and Brazilian actress Alice Braga, a white Latina, ultimately played the part.

The movie didn’t just erase Dr. Reyes’ identity. Brazilian mutant Roberto da Costa, a.k.a. Sunspot, was portrayed by Brazilian actor Henry Zaga. Like Braga, Zaga is not Afro-Latinx, but the characters they took on were. Director Josh Boone even mentioned that he had multiple Black and Brown actors audition for the role. Ultimately he settled on Zaga. “Maybe if Henry didn’t exist, I would have found somebody who was darker skinned,” he stated. In a medium where the diaspora of Black identities are swapped for more white actors or European features, this erasure adds another missed opportunity. They could elevate identities that have always existed in the X-Men universe, but that society consistently pushes to the wayside. 

20th Century

Within the X-Men, Black characters are powerful, holistically developed characters who not only explored their powers, but their identities as well. Black X-Men are Omega-level mutants and leaders of various teams. They’re constantly progressing mutant society in the comics and inspiring Black audiences in real life. From those onscreen, like Storm and Bishop, to those who have yet to make their cinematic debuts, like Prodigy, Bling, or Monet St. Croix. The list of Black characters doesn’t fall short of these. However, in comparison to their film counterparts, they either cease to exist or pale in comparison to the development of their white counterparts. 

On screen, representation is a consistent issue across all genres. Science fiction, where the X-Men films reside, is no exception. However, merely showing Black folks on screen is a far cry from doing the job right. As we see in underdeveloped narratives or lack of screen time, Black characters don’t receive the same opportunities even within the same platform. Multiple characters have gone from print to screen and have had pivotal elements of their comic book narrative brought to life. But there is still a stark contrast between the portrayal of white characters and Black characters.

20th Century

Black characters have rich story arcs in the comics and are quintessential to the progression of the X-Men Universe. Now that the X-Men are in Marvel Studio’s hands, it is possible for a re-imagination of already-introduced Black characters and thoughtful introductions of new ones. Instead of wasting the talent and stories at hand, Marvel can lean into stories that show Black characters finding their own sense of justice, navigating the control of their powers, exploring different relationships, and making decisions that aren’t in direct connection to the promotion of white characters. 

Granted, the MCU’s history with diverse representation isn’t the best. It took a decade for a predominantly Black cast to appear in the MCU. Let alone a film with more than one Black person starring in it. Therefore, it could seem like a case between the lesser of two evils. However, the MCU did take Black actors, Black writers, and a Black director to bring to life a slew of Black characters. And they forever changed the face and structure of the MCU. I’m not giving the MCU a pat on the back for finally doing what they should have done: provide a positive and diverse representation of characters. I’m observing growth.

20th Century

With the introduction of Phase 4, fans are witnessing characters’ stories in the hands of actors, writers, directors, and producers who come from different races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and more. As we witness Black characters inside the Marvel Universe, like Monica Rambeau, Falcon, Nick Fury, and Colonel James Rhodes, gain a new level of acclaim and understanding, we also bear witness to what can transpire for Black characters in X-Men. Generations of fans deserve to see the complexity behind the Black X-Men who have driven the universe to the acclaim that it has today. My hope is that the MCU finally gives them the platform they rightfully deserve. 

The post Black X-Men Deserve Better; Can the MCU Treat Them Right? appeared first on Nerdist.

In celebration of The New Mutants coming to digital, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD tomorrow, we have an exclusive interview with star Blu Hunt (“Dani Moonstar”) and a never-before-seen deleted scene, which we premiered on Nerdist News Talks Back. Watch as Dan Casey sits down with Blu Hunt to talk about her behind-the-scenes stories from the set of The New Mutants, how she approached this iconic Marvel Comics character, and much more.

Add The New Mutants to you collection: https://bit.ly/The_NewMutants

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For over 50 years, X-Men comics have been a long running soap opera. One writer creates a plot thread, only to have it forgotten about and dropped by the next. If you’ve been a fan for decades, it can be kind of frustrating. Now, the folks at Marvel Comics are finding a creative solution to that problem with their new ongoing series X-Men: Legends. The new series will bring back past creative teams for yesteryear, in an effort to tell in-continuity stories that will tie up loose plot ends that have been nagging fans for years.

You can read the official synopsis for the series down below:

Marvel Comics

“Break out the yellows and blues, fire up the Danger Room and snap on your pouches as legendary X-writers return to classic eras of the mutant super heroes in all-new, in-continuity stories set during their groundbreaking runs! Featuring greats like Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson, Fabian Nicieza, Larry Hama, Peter David, and more, X-Men: Legends will deliver startling tales month after month that dive into the rich history of the X-Men to tie up loose ends, resolve long-standing plot danglers, and reveal shocking truths that will change the past and future of the X-Men!”

The first arc comes from writer Fabian Nicieza, who steered the X-Men titles in their ’90s heyday. He plans to begin this series with a special saga of Cyclops and his brother Havok, one that will solve one of the greatest X-Men mysteries of all time. Finally explaining just who Adam-X is, as well as what his startling connection to the Summers bloodline is. The first story arc will be illustrated by fan favorite artist Brett Booth.

Of course, this has our mutant-obsessed minds spinning with other long-standing X-Men plotlines that could now be resolved. Here are but a few we’d like to see:

The Mystery of the X-Men’s Outback HQ

Marvel Comics

Back in the late ’80s, the X-Men had a whole Aussie phase. They faked their own deaths, and instead of residing in Xavier’s School, they live in an abandoned high tech base in the Australian Outback. Before the X-Men arrived there, the evil cybernetic Reavers use it as an HQ. The strong suggestion here however is that they didn’t build it themselves. So who built the X-Men’s version of the Bat-cave? Maybe Chris Claremont can finally give us all answers.

Rogue’s Real Last Name and Lineage

Marvel Comics

Rogue’s background has always been a mystery, ever since her introduction by Chris Claremont back in the early ’80s. For years, she refused to give her fellow X-Men her birth name, or say anything about her birth family. A mutant runaway from Mississippi, Rogue is then adopted by the mutants Mystique and Destiny as a teenager.  She eventually reveals her birth name as Anna Marie (a nod to the X-Men movies), but no last name was ever given. It has always felt like there was more to the story of who her family was. Maybe now we’ll find out.

Will Colossus Discover He Has a Son?

Marvel Comics

When the X-Men’s lovable metallic bruiser Colossus was on a mission in the primordial world of the Savage Land, he became romantically involved with a native woman there named Nereel. His relationship with Nereel was brief however. After Colossus left the Savage land, they didn’t see each other for a very long time. But readers would later find out that first romantic liaison produced a son. Although he met the boy, Petey never put two and two together. So is Peter Rasputin ever going to find out he’s a dad?

Cyclops’ Terrible Behavior

Marvel Comics

Maybe this doesn’t really need explaining, but it does to us. After the death of Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix, Scott Summers went into a deep depression. He eventually snapped out of it and married a Jean lookalike named Madelyne Pryor (who later turns out to be Jean’s clone. Comics, ya’ll). They married and had a baby named Nathan, who would later become the gun toting Cable.

Then, Jean suddenly came back to life, and Scott abandoned his wife and newborn soon to hook back up with his ex girlfriend. Maddy Pryor later went off the deep end and became the villainous Goblin Queen. But wouldn’t you if you were treated like that by your husband? Cyclops’ decision needs to be better explained, otherwise he’s forever going to be a deadbeat husband and father to us.

X-Men: Legends #1 arrives at your local comic shop in February of 2021.

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Imagine you’re an ordinary human in the X-Men: The Animated Series universe. One of the cool, non-bigoted ones we mean. Even if you were open minded and accepted the mutant race as equal, chances are your life would be affected by their existence in some way. Especially depending on what kind of job you have.

In this new video from Dorkly, (via Geeks Are Sexy), we learn which regular mundane jobs would be that much worse due to the existence of the X-Men and other mutants. You can watch the full “Worst Jobs in the X-Men Universe” video above.

As funny as that video is, they actually make some valid points. There are definitely some inconsistencies in the whole X-Men mythology. Especially with one of their points, regarding other superpowered (but non-mutant) heroes in the Marvel Universe. How come the Avengers and the Fantastic Four aren’t as hated by humanity as the X-Men, just because they weren’t born with their powers?

Dorkly

Ok, that one you can chalk up to plain old bigotry. It doesn’t have to make sense, because racism don’t sense. This reminds me of being a kid in the ’80s, where liking openly gay pop stars wearing make-up would get you bullied on the playground. But liking straight male hair metal artists with just as much hairspray and eyeliner would be totally fine. Bigotry is not logical.

However, there is no reason why so-called “webbed menace” Spider-Man isn’t believed to be a mutant. His identity is secret. Who did a DNA test? It’s one of the great mysteries of the Marvel Universe, and I am glad this video hilariously points that one out. Also, Wolverine in the metal detector is an oldie but a goodie, and is still funny. And making fun of Cable’s endless pouches on his costume? Never gets old either.

Featured Image: Dorkly

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Long before Hugh Jackman popped his metal claws on-screen, X-Men: The Animated Series introduced a generation to Marvel’s mutants. Thanks to the ’92-97  Saturday morning cartoon, characters like Wolverine, Storm, and Cyclops became household names. And it also had one of the best theme songs to any superhero animated show ever.

For years, the classic X-Men: The Animated Series episodes were not found on any streaming service, so fans had to bust out their old DVD copies. But with the emergence of Disney+, all five seasons are now available. Now that Xavier’s students are officially part of the House of Mouse, Disney+ has cooked up a new modern style trailer for the show in a totally 21st century style. You can watch the X-Men: The Animated Series “Unofficial Official” trailer above.

The trailer does indeed hit all the bullet points about what made X-Men such a memorable series. Sure, the animation was never on par with Batman: The Animated Series, which also aired on Fox Kids back in the day. But its fidelity to the classic Marvel comics of Chris Claremont took it a step above other animated superhero shows of the day. In fact, the animated version of The Dark Phoenix Saga is truly superior to any of the live-action movie versions. MORE BELOW THE BREAK.

Disney

Nothing is solid yet, but there are rumors of a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series for the Disney+ service. This wouldn’t be a reinvention of the show, like X-Men: Evolution, but a continuation of the original series. Certainly, there are a lot of great comics from the past thirty years for the series to draw from. And the old show never introduced Kitty Pryde, which is definitely something any revival needs to correct. Just please — don’t ever get rid of that theme song.

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This off-kilter X-Men fan film was written and directed by Mahmut Akay, and you can watch it in its entirety down below:

This short film begins in what looks like an extremely swanky barber shop. Unfortunately for Wolvie, this barber shop employees are a bunch of anti-mutant supremacists. Realizing the gentleman about to sit in their chair is the notorious Wolverine himself, they foolishly decide to try to take him out. While they seem to be very aware of the feral X-Man’s extremely large kill count, they somehow seem to not know about his mutant healing factor. Because if they had, stabbing him with whatever they have lying around the shop would have come off as a really bad idea.

Mahmut Akay

If you’ve ever watched a single X-Men film, cartoon, or read any Wolverine comics in your day, then you pretty much know how this ends for the boys in the barbershop. It’s really hard to feel sorry for them, even though meeting your end by Logan’s claws is maybe not the best way for anyone to go. But this is what happens when you poke the bear. All Logan wanted was a nice clean shave, some way for him to look pretty for Jean Grey, and racist humans had to go an ruin that for him too. Humans are jerks, man.

Featured Image: Mahmut Akay

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The ’80s and ’90s were almost wall-to-wall cartoons, or at least that’s how it felt to me as a kid. And I loved it! I know they were mostly all excuses to sell toys, but darned if they didn’t burrow their way into our hearts. But while some of these shows were merely fun, even beloved, there are some that took their properties and made them iconic. The reason people love some of these things to this day is because of the animated counterpart. One of the top examples of this is, by far, X-Men: The Animated Series.

The cartoon ran for five seasons beginning in 1992 and it’s the X-media up to which all others must measure. The show is, quite simply, legendary. Two people who know this better than anyone are Eric Lewald and Julia Lewald. Eric developed the show for TV and served as executive story editor, while they were both writers on X-Men. They have compiled their knowledge and behind-the-scenes images into a fabulous new coffee table book, X-Men: The Art and Making of the Animated Series. Nerdist is very happy to share some images from that book with you now.

Marvel/Abrams Books

It’s 288 pages of full-color representations of storyboards, production cells, comic images, toys, and more. The book will come out Tuesday, October 13 wherever you get your books. Please enjoy various pages from the book below along with captions from the authors.

Marvel/Abrams Books

“52b – Final character model for the Sentinels in our two-part pilot episode ‘Night of the Sentinels’, by [storyboard artist Rick] Hoberg.”

Marvel/Abrams Books

“87a – Painted backgrounds, overlay cels, and the two combined. Mister Sinister’s laid from ‘Till Death Us Do Part, Part 2’.”

Marvel/Abrams Books

“167a – Production cel of Gambit, Beast, Cyclops, and Rogue in the X-Mansion War Room.”

Marvel/Abrams Books

“210b.- Character models of alternate-timeline Rogue (2055), Pencils by Frank Squillace with cleanup by Mark Lewis”

Marvel/Abrams Books

“243a – Production cel of Arkon  and Storm kissing.”

Marvel/Abrams Books

“243c/d- Backgrounds of two areas of the vast palace of King Arkon, designed by Squillace with cleanup by Zhaoping Wei.”

And those are just some of the hundreds of pictures you’ll find in X-Men: The Art and Making of the Animated Series. Relive the story of one of the greatest cartoon series of the era, and maybe of all time. Available for pre-order on Amazon or wherever you get your books beginning October 13.

Featured Image: Marvel/Abrams Books

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

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No, it’s not an elaborate prank; New Mutants finally hits theaters this week, and we sat down with stars Anya Taylor Joy, Charlie Heaton, Maisie Williams, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga, Alice Braga, and director Josh Boone. Nerdist’s Rosie Knight interviewed the cast about Magik’s Soulsword, how they approached their characters, queer romance, and much more.

Want even more Marvel goodness? Head to Nerdist.com.

Here’s how The Eternals could bring X-Men into the MCU: https://bit.ly/3l9DweD
New Mutants almost starred Sacha Baron Cohen: https://bit.ly/31fjqIf
Olivia Wilde is directing a Spider-Woman movie: https://bit.ly/3ggOe

The post New Mutants Cast on Swords, Queer Romance, and More (Nerdist Now) appeared first on Nerdist.

New Mutants is finally coming to theaters on August 28, but the movie almost looked very different. Director Josh Boone told Nerdist’s Rosie Knight that the film originally featured the fan-favorite character Warlock, who was to be played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Find out more in our exclusive report on today’s Nerdist News.

Want even more Marvel goodness? Head to Nerdist.com.

– Original New Mutants story: https://bit.ly/31fjqIf
– Everything you need to know about Eternals: https://bit.ly/31eUJLN
– Olivia Wilde is directing a Spider-Woman movie: https://bit.ly/3ggOeME

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One of the best things about superhero cartoons back in the day was their infectious theme songs. This started in the ’70s with the Super Friends. Then it peaked in the ’90s with great opening music for shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Spider-Man. But the show with the best opening credits music of all of these Saturday morning shows was X-Men: The Animated Series.

Now, classical musician Samara Ginsberg has created her own version of the iconic mutant music (which you can listen to here). She performed the catchy tune with eight cellos. You can listen to the amazing results below:

Honestly, as much as I like many of the Fox X-Men films, it was a big mistake to not incorporate the animated series theme in some way. This proves why. It’s still the music a whole generation hears in their heads when they hear the words “X-Men.” Hopefully, when Kevin Feige ultimately reboots the X-Men franchise for the big screen, we get an orchestral version of the cartoon theme to go along with it. After all, Michael Giacchino successfully reworked the ’60s animated Spider-Man theme song for the MCU movie, so why not?

Marvel Entertainment

Ginsberg has created other amazing renditions of classic cartoon and pop culture themes in the past. She’s built her whole YouTube channel around it. Maybe the best of these videos was when she got into full Mario regalia and performed a three cello version of the old Nintendo game play music. And this cover of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme music will immediately put you in the mood for pizza. She’s also done the theme music for Thundercats, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and Knight Rider among others. You can listen to them all now by visiting her YouTube channel.

Featured Image: Marvel Entertainment 

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This year, fans are celebrating 20 years of the first X-Men movie, which changed superhero films forever upon release in July of 2000. The movie went through many iterations before finally hitting theaters. And there are many behind-the-scenes “what if?” scenarios when it comes to Marvel’s cinematic mutants. But one potential casting would have changed the movie entirely had it actually happened.

According to a story in The Hollywood Reporter, which details the history of abusive behavior from X-Men director Bryan Singer, producer Ralph Winter dropped a very bizarre “making of” factoid. Trying to win the part of Professor Charles Xavier at one point was none other than pop superstar Michael Jackson. According to Winter, in 1999, Jackson came into the X-Men production offices wearing sunglasses. He also refused to shake hands with anyone. Jackson explained to them why he should play the part of Professor X, the X-mentor.

Walt Disney Studios / Twentieth Century Fox

The film’s producer, Lauren Shuler Donner, told Jackson at the  meeting “Do you know that Xavier is an older white guy?” Instead of doing the obvious thing, and suggesting they merely change Professor X’s race, Michael bizarrely said “Oh yeah. You know, I can wear makeup.” Given what we know of the bizarre life of the late pop superstar, this story doesn’t sound all that far-fetched.

Michael Jackson was clearly a nerd, as he lobbied to play roles in other geek friendly properties. A few years back, it was revealed that Jackson also tried to win the part of Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace. He also tried to play Peter Pan in Steven Spielberg’s Hook, and Willy Wonka in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

But the other role he wanted in the Marvel realm was to actually play Spider-Man. Jackson went as far as to meet with Stan Lee to get his thoughts on his playing Peter Parker. He even considered buying Marvel to assure himself the coveted role! It obviously never happened, but it’s strange to think there is an alternate timeline out there where Jackson played all these iconic roles.

Featured Image: Walt Disney Studios / Twentieth Century Fox

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Marvel’s X-Men comics had quite a mutation last summer, if you’ll pardon the expression. With Jonathan Hickman’s House of X and Powers of X mini-series, the world of Marvel’s mutants turned upside down, as former enemies joined forces to create the ultimate mutant homeland on the living island of Krakoa.

As a way of celebrating this new era for Charles Xavier’s former students, the good folks at Mondo are unleashing a whole new wave of posters, pins, and more as part of this year’s Comic-Con@Home. There are three posters in total, with a pair of variants, for a total of five poster images. Additionally, the collection includes six enamel pins and a slip mat with the new X-Men logo.

These are all available starting Sunday, July 26 at mondoshop.com/comic-con. You can check out Mondo’s X-Men themed Comic-Con@home offerings below:

House of X / Powers of X (Regular)

Artwork by Matt Taylor / 24″ x 36″ Screenprinted Poster

Edition of 375 / $50

Mond0

House of X / Powers of X (Variant)

Artwork by Matt Taylor / 24″ x 36″ Screenprinted Poster

Edition of 175 / $75

Mondo

House of X / Powers of X (Regular)

Artwork by Mark Brooks / 36″ x 24″ Screenprinted Poster

Edition of 175 / $50

Mondo

House of X / Powers of X (Variant)

Artwork by Mark Brooks / 36″ x 24″ Screenprinted Poster

Edition of 100 / $75

Mondo

X-Men: Children of the Atom

Artwork by Michael Cho / 18″ x 24″ Screenprinted poster

Edition of 175 / $50

Mondo

Mondo is also presenting a series of enamel pins, focusing on various eras of the Uncanny X-Men comics. The first three look like the old corner boxes that adorned every issue of Marvel Comics back in the ’60s and ’70s.

Marvel’s Sentinel by Tom Whalen.

2″ high soft enamel pin on shiny silver nickel, double-posted with butterfly clutch backings / $13

Mondo

Marvel’s Jean Grey by Tom Whalen.
1.03″ high soft enamel pin on shiny silver nickel, single post with butterfly clutch backing / $10

Mondo

Marvel’s Cyclops by Tom Whalen.
1.02″ high soft enamel pin on shiny silver nickel, single post with butterfly clutch backing / $10

Mondo

Inspired by the House of X + Powers of X comic series, Professor X by Matt Taylor.
1.175″ high hard enamel pin on shiny silver nickel, single post with rubber clutch backing / $10

Mondo

Inspired by the House of X + Powers of X comic series, Magneto by Matt Taylor.
1.16″ high hard enamel pin on shiny silver nickel, single post with rubber clutch backing / $10

Mondo

X-Men logo design by Tom Muller.
1″ high hard enamel pin on black nickel, single post with rubber clutch backing / $10

Mondo

Inspired by the House of X + Powers of X comic series, X-Men – Dawn of X Slip Mat.
Dye sublimated double-sided felt / $14

Mondo

For more amazing Mondo exclusive merchandise, be sure to visit their official site.

Featured Image: Mondo

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