Throughout the history of the X-Men, fans have enjoyed multiple versions, variations, and even spinoff rosters of the title team. But for one ridiculous reason, the most formidable version of the X-Men is still criminally underrated to this day.
Unlike most other superhero teams which possess a handful of ‘star’ members expected to be included, the specific X-Men roster held closest to a Marvel fan’s heart can vary wildly from another. Some love a team built on leadership, others on varied Mutant powers, or even deadliness in a fight. But it’s time that Storm’s all-star roster gets the recognition it deserves.
In Raw Power, One X-Men Team is Still Criminally Underrated
When the X-Men were divided in the mid 2010s, Wolverine took over operation of the renamed “Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.” But Logan knew he would need a strong leader at his side, and with Storm acting as co-headmaster of the school and leader of the X-Men, there were few better options. And the same goes for her assembled team.
The decision by X-Men #1 (2013) creative team Brian Wood and Olivier Coipel to spotlight the female characters of the X-Men universe went deeper than surface level, recruiting the likes of Rogue, Rachel Grey, Psylocke, Jubilee, Monet St. Croix, and others in support roles.
Combined with Storm and the larger X-Drama at the time, this roster’s personalities provided more than enough of the infighting and team-building which X-Men fans expect. And the same goes for their villains, with enough twists, turns, and possessions to keep readers from actually even realizing the male heroes were drastically outnumbered.
It was a great series, giving strong characters some overdue attention. But more importantly, the actual power levels and mutations at play make this roster seem ludicrously over-the-top. In terms of raw strength and durability, this roster should be in the running for the strongest core X-Men team Marvel ever assembled.
Storm’s All-Women X-Men Roster Was Shockingly Overpowered
This incarnation of the team may be easily categorized as the ‘all-female X-Men’, but could just as accurately be described as the ‘all-deadly and overpowered X-Men’ when analyzing the members. Cyclops may have his fans, but any X-Men roster lucky enough to be led in the field by the mutant, queen, and literal goddess Storm is a major contender.
But moving down the list, Storm’s typically Omega-level depictions are backed up by the similarly Omega-level Rogue as further muscle, and near-limitless knockout power. Continue with Rachel Grey, the future daughter of Jean Grey (and Phoenix Force host) with similar Omega-level psionic potential, and true threats start to become sparse.
Yet Monet St. Croix adds even more excessive force as not only an X-Men heavyweight, but one of Marvel’s Superman-Level stand-ins. Then there’s Psylocke, one of the X-Men’s deadliest assassins (with or without superpowers). Even a character not known for raw power, like Jubilee, was a vampire at the time… rendering her superstrong and effectively unkillable.
Add in support heroes outside of the main team like Quentin Quire and Hellion (Omega level psychic and telekinetic, respectively), and the magical addition of heroes like Bling!, Mercury, and Pixie are just icing on the cake. It’s no surprise that the main threats faced by this team were personal, since physically, they were unmatchable.
The nature of the X-Men means dozens of mutants may rotate in or out, but the fact remains: this core roster stands up to any other X-Men team, real or imagnary, without breaking a sweat. Whether that’s a reality Marvel decides to bring back in the future or not, the real X-Men fans know an OP squad when they see one.
- Movie(s)
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X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
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X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
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X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
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X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Character(s)
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Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
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213035,212968
