Top Ten X-Men Characters

20th May 2016 Off By Adam Bloomfield

With the release of the latest film X-Men Apocalypse, I decided to pick my top ten mutants from across the entire span of the comic’s history and what they’re powers are and why they are my favourites.

1. Archangel (Warren Worthington III)
A staple of the X-Men comics and the original ‘fly boy’ of the team, possessing large white feathered wings to fly with. Angel was one of the first men to be recruited for the X-Men. However, he was revamped in the 80’s after losing his wings, being captured by the villain Apocalypse and turned into a metal winged, blue skinned version of himself named Archangel. Archangel continues to play a role in the X-Men comics to this day and is my favourite X-Man because of the darkness within such an angelic character.

2. Emma Frost

Possessing the powers of Telepathy and the ability to transform her flesh into an organic diamond form, Emma Frost is my second favourite X-Man in the comics. Originally a villain known as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, Emma Frost eventually joined the X-Men and developed a relationship with Cyclops, while other members continued to be suspicious of her true loyalties. I had a crush on Emma Frost when I first saw her in the comics as a teenager, so she’s my number two on this list.

3. Boom Boom (Tabitha Smith)

A slightly manic mutant member of the New Mutants and X-Men who can make things explode and then steal your wallet. Tabitha Smith has went through many code-names over the years including Time Bomb, Meltdown, Boomer and finally Boom Boom. Boom Boom makes number three on my list because of the humour of her character and her power makes her a formidable opponent in combat, as she can create psionic energy time bombs that can level an island if she wanted to. Out of all the X-Men I want her powers the most.

4. Colossus (Piotr ‘Peter’ Rasputin)

A Russian mutant and member of the X-Men who possesses the power to transform his flesh into an organic steel like substance which grants him enhanced strength, durability and stamina. Colossus comes fourth because of his potential for power and his ‘Mr nice guy’ personality, artist skills and ability to connect emotionally quickly with anyone. A member of the second generation of X-Men and known as the muscle, Colossus’ power makes him the literal powerhouse of the X-Men.

5. Iceman (Bobby Drake)

Armed with cryokinetic (ice) powers, handsome looks and a smart aleck attitude, Iceman is one of the five original X-Men and one of the only members who hasn’t been depowered or died so he makes this list for his longevity.  Iceman has gone through several storylines, including joining the first team of X-Men, thinking he had been stripped of his powers after House of M and coming to terms with his sexuality after being considered the ladies man of the team.

6. Psylocke (Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Braddock)

Who doesn’t love a female kickass ninja who possesses lethal telekinetic and telepathic powers and the ability to create a psychic katana? Psylocke makes the list because of her prowess with combat and her backstory. Starting off as a British superhero, she was later killed and had her spirit implanted into the body of a comatose Japanese ninja and gained her trademark psychic sword and the butterfly shaped light around her eyes when she uses her Telepathy. A good combination of both beauty and dangerous.

7.  Jubilee (Jubilation Lee)

A teenage mall rat and a sidekick to Wolverine, Jubilee is one of the most underused and underrated X-Men, but she’s one of my favourites after seeing the 80’s X-Men cartoon. Armed with her trademark yellow trenchcoat, pink visor and her mutant power of being able to create pyrotechnic, exploding plasmoids from her hands that look like multicoloured, exploding fireworks, Jubilee is one of the most powerful mutants around, being able to perform feats of destruction. Spunky attitudes and an awesome power gets Jubilee on this list.

8. Deadpool (Wade Wilson)

While not a full time member of the X-Men, Deadpool has joined with them and worked with them on several occasions. Also known as the ‘Merc With The Mouth’ Deadpool can heal himself from fatal wounds and even regenerate lost limbs. Deadpool makes the list not because of his popularity, but he makes the list because of his 4th wall awareness and wisecracking attitude which makes people love him even more because of his interactions with the readers of his comics.

9. Polaris (Lorna Dane)

The Mistress of Magnetism and the third child of the villain Magneto, making her the half sister of Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff) and the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) Polaris, like Jubilee is often underused but her storylines and family give her a place on this list. Polaris is known for her green hair and on and off relationship with fellow X-Man Havok. A powerful mutant with a dysfunctional family, how does she do it all and still find time to save the world?

10. Blink (Clarice Ferguson)

Last but not least we have Blink, a pink skinned, green eyed mutant with the ability to create portals so she can teleport herself and others to different locations. Blink is as mysterious as she is cool and can even use her teleporting powers as a weapon, slicing up anyone unlucky enough to get caught in her ‘Blink Wave’. After being released from brainwashing, she joined the X-Men but often remains in the background but her coolness and teleporting powers secure her the final spot on this list.

So there are my top ten favourite X-Men, who’s your favourite?

Tweet us at Northern Lights @NE_Lights