Essential X-Men

To mark the release of X-Men: First Class later this month, and the launch of Activision’s X-Men Destiny console game, here’s a reminder of some of the best X-stories ever, by James Hunt

Since 1963, the X-Men’s world has grown to encompass over 14 ongoing series – three for Wolverine alone! For newcomers, it can be daunting to know where to start, so we’ve picked 10 of the greatest X-Men stories ever published in comic book form. Above and beyond this selection, it’s also worth noting that if you love classic comic book art, any of the collected editions drawn by the legendary Neal Adams in the ’60s are worth hunting down.

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The Origin of the X-Men (1963)

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Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Vol. 1 TPB (collects Uncanny X-Men #1-#10)
The initial run of the original X-Men comic might have ended up publishing reprints due to dwindling sales, but the early issues were typically fertile Lee/Kirby fare, introducing not just the X-Men and their mentor, but the very concept of mutanthood itself, which had a major impact on the Marvel Universe at large. Where there are heroes, there are also villains, and these early issues featured the first appearances of stalwarts Magneto, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, as well as the Blob, Ka-Zar and, er, Unus the Untouchable. Ah, well. They can’t all be greats.

This feature was first published in Comic Heroes #6