Comics X-Men Month at IGN

IGN has a lot of cool features on the X-Men comics throughout the month of May over at their site. I'll bring some of the stuff over here too.

 

They're starting off a Top 25 X-Men this week, and will reveal 5 more each day. Here's the first group:


Over the past four decades, dozens upon dozens of mutants have called themselves X-Men. Sometimes they would be known as a New Mutant or part of X-Factor or an Exile, but they were all part of Charles Xavier's extended family. With literally hundreds to choose from, we sorted through the many mutants who have been part of an X-team over the past 40+ years. We looked into alternate futures, brief allegiances and long-standing members. We chose and ranked these characters based on the following criteria:


Living the Dream: At the core of the X-Men is Charles Xavier's dream that mutants and humans can live in peace. The very best X-Men not only believed this dream, but promoted it through their actions. It doesn't mean they were a saint, it just means that, as best they could, they believed in Xavier's vision.

Personality: It's nice to believe in something, but it can also be quite boring simply to "believe." The characters that resonate longest are those with complex issues, interesting personalities and compelling stories.

Staying Power: Some of the newer mutants are beloved, but their place in X-Men lore is unknown. It's impossible to place someone like X-23 or Beak above some of the more proven characters of the X-Men Universe.
Throughout the week we'll reveal the Top 25 X-Men, five a day. The inclusion of some names might surprise you and the exclusion of others may anger you, but this is our list. Tell us yours.



#25 - #21




#25 Strong Guy

First Appearance: New Mutants #29
Powers: Absorbs kinetic energy and re-channels it into physical strength.

Strong Guy isn't your typical Xer. He isn't devoted to Xavier's dream. Heck, it's hard to be certain he even understands Xavier's dream. But his personality makes up for his lack of devotion to the Church of X. Guido's not the smartest, but he is subtly one of the most noblest of X-Men. He's secondary job as bodyguard filters into the way he acts in X-Factor. He's a protector, the one guy you can expect to have your back. And he's funny as they get. And among the X-Men, they rarely get very funny.

 

#24 Chamber

First Appearance: Generation X #1
Powers: Psionic energy discharge of a concussive or explosive nature, low-level telepathy for short-range communication

Poor Jonothan Starsmore has it rough. His ability allows him to unleash massive amounts of energy - so much so that the energy blew off his chest and lower face. Though this accident has drastically changed Chamber's outlook on life, he was still one of the original members of Generation X. This team of new mutants was viewed as the next wave of Charles Xavier's students. Although Chamber is now powerless and clinging to life because of "M-Day," he was one of the most promising members of Generation X, even being offered a permanent position with the X-Men.

 

#23 Quicksilver

First Appearance: X-Men (Vol. 1) #1
Powers: Super-Speed

Son of Magneto, Quicksilver was originally a bad guy. Both he and his sister Wanda were members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Being bad just didn't suit Pietro's nature. Though he's selfish, brash, impulsive and, let's face it, a jerk, he also knows right from wrong. He spent considerable time with X-Factor and though he never quite felt at home with the X-Men, he understood the faults in his own father's ideology. Quicksilver is the rare mutant to serve on an X-team and the Avengers. He may have gone astray of late, but for much of his life in comics, Quicksilver was the shining example of a villain turned good.

 

#22 Psylocke

First Appearance: New Mutants Annual #2
Powers: Psionic blades, telekinesis, telepathic immunity

Betsy Braddock began her career as somewhat of a joke. A stuck up English telepath, she had no place as an X-Man. Then came the change. In a somewhat inexplicable comic-book moment, Betsy's consciousness was merged with another to create the Psylocke we know today. She is, as can best be described, a psionic assassin, though she is reluctant to kill. She's the new age Rogue, a character given a new twist by merging memories and powers with another. Psylocke is a born leader and, in fact, briefly lead the X-Men. She may not have Wolverine's combat skills, but her other abilities make her one of the most potent fighters to ever wear the X.

 

#21 Emma Frost

First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #129
Powers: Telepathy, diamond-coated skin, being a *****

In many ways a twisted version of Professor X, Emma Frost has raised and taught young mutants ever since her days in the Hellfire Club. In the Hellfire Club, Frost raised a young team of villains named the Hellions. After the team was slaughtered by Sentinels, Emma joined Xavier's cause and, with Banshee, was the leader and mentor of Generation X. Since she began her tenure with the X-Men, Frost has been involved in both telepathic and physical relationship with Cyclops, and has elevated herself to co-leader of the school. Although it was recently revealed that she might be a sleeper agent for something very sinister, there is no doubt that Emma desires, on some level, to achieve Xavier's dream.

 

Top Ten Wolverine Villains:

http://comics.ign.com/articles/706/706386p1.html

 

Top Ten X-Men Villains (and Magneto is NOT #1):

http://comics.ign.com/articles/704/704068p1.html

 

Top Ten X-Babes:

http://comics.ign.com/articles/705/705361p1.html

 

#20Madrox

First Appearance: Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4
Powers: Create a seemingly infinite number of duplicates

Multiplicity itself doesn't make for an interesting character. But Madrox is about as complex as they get. His dupes each carry a piece of Jamie's personality, but Madrox never knows what part of his personality that might be upon creation. Every time he spawns a dupe, he's just as likely to find something surprising and good about himself, as he is to be face to face with his inner demons. Invited to be an X-Man, he wisely declined. It's not that he is opposed to Xavier's dream, it's that his own persona is better fit to the fringes, with a group like X-Factor. Jamie has grown into a leadership role, investigating mutant-related crimes and doing the dirty work often overlooked by the X-Men.

 

#19Banshee

First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #28
Powers: Powerful voice capable of a variety of attacks, also allows Banshee to fly

Banshee has been associated with the X-Men for almost as long as the group has been in existence. A born leader, Banshee never truly had the opportunity to shine with Xavier's crew. He was co-headmaster of the Emma Frost's Massachusetts Academy, where he attempted to play the Xavier role and teach young mutants the value of "The Dream." Banshee was always one step removed from the original X-Men and seemed to be constantly trying to prove himself. He did so, even before sacrificing himself in an attempt save the lives of innocents.

 

#18Blink (AOA)

First Appearance: X-Men Alpha
Powers: Creates portals that teleport her and anyone who enters to locations as far as the moon

The original Blink was a shy, almost forgettable girl. But in the Age of Apocalypse, we met an alternate version of Blink, one hardened by Apocalypse's genocidal war. Clarice is a tough young woman, who can be very creative with her powers. The young elf's loyalty and devotion to Sabretooth, a man who saved her from Dark Beast, is as strong as any bond in the X-Men Universe. Blink would go on to become leader of the Exiles. She remains the most popular X-Man to never earn a starring role in either of the premier X-Men books.

 

#17Bishop

First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #282
Powers: Absorb and re-cast almost all forms of energy, including psionic attacks

Warnings of future peril have been common across the X-Men's timeline, but Bishop's arrival propelled the X-Universe forward for years. Coming from a future where the X-Men were dead, betrayed, supposedly, by Gambit, Bishop had greater regard and reverence for Xavier's dream than almost any other X-Man before or since. Bishop was integral in the Age of Apocalypse storyline and in the unfortunate Onslaught arc. While his knowledge of a potential future carries a strong warning for today's X-Men, he is proof that even in the most dire conditions, the Dream will live on.

 

#16Havok

First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #58
Powers: Absorb and fire plasma energy

As brother of X-Man mainstay Scott Summers, Alex has struggled to find his place in the X-Universe. Always second fiddle to his brother, Havok has bounced from group to group, searching for the one place he fits in. Just as Cyclops strives to earn Xavier's approval, Havok seeks the approval of his own brother. He believes in the dream, though not necessarily Xavier's and Cyclops' methods. But if and when the final battle does come, Havok will stand beside the X-Men, no matter what.

 

More like Barbarella Frost. Lol.

 

#15Cable

First Appearance (as Cable): New Mutants #87
Powers: Telekinesis, telepathy, grossly disproportioned anatomy

Initially, Cable was little more than an over-muscled, gun-toting thug with a glowing eye. Over time, the character has evolved into one of the more interesting, if underappreciated, X-Men. Son of Scott Summers and Madelyne Prior, Cable was raised in an alternate future, where Apocalypse rules. The time-displaced mutant could be the most powerful on the planet, if the majority of his telekinetic skills were not focused on keeping his cybernetic body from falling apart. Cable lives on the fringes of the X-Universe, but he's an integral part of the X-Men's past and future.

 

#14Iceman

First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #1
Powers: Can lower his own body temperature and free moisture around himself allowing for a multitude of creative applications

Bobby is the kid brother who never thought he could live up to expectations, so he didn't bother. Believe it or not, Iceman is one of the rare Omega mutants, a being potentially more powerful than Magneto or Xavier. This potential, however, may never be reached, because Bobby has little faith in himself. Despite his own personal issues, Iceman has been an X-Man almost his entire life. As with the best students, Bobby's time at Xavier's is about more than just The Dream -- it's about his own personal journey, one that sees him continuing to learn and grow.

 

#13Magneto

First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #1
Powers: Near-complete control over electromagnetic spectrum with mastery so fine he can actually redirect the flow of iron in someone's brain to effectively alter their mind

Magneto is Xavier's perfect foil. Yet he has also been one of the most compelling X-Men of all time. After surrendering himself to authorities and being acquitted of his crimes, Magneto took over Xavier's school for a brief period. It is only through the contrast from his malevolent actions that Magneto's good side can shine so brightly. For all of the "bad guys" who have converted to the X-Men, Magneto remains the true test to Xavier's Dream. When Magneto is finally swayed, The Dream can truly thrive.

 

#12Sabretooth (AOA)

First Appearance: X-Men Alpha
Powers: Healing factor, claws and fangs that can rend bone, heightened senses

The 616 Sabretooth is a bastard. He's evil down to his core. So when we first met the Age of Apocalypse Sabretooth, it was a bit of a shock. This alternate world Victor Creed is still a bad ass, but he's also a devoted X-Man and surrogate father to Blink. Sabretooth's willingness to sacrifice himself for others and his countless heroics in the Age of Apocalypse, earned him a spot in the X-Men Hall of Fame.