Top 10 X-Men Comics You Should Read

Top 10 X-Men Comics You Need to Read
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The X-Men universe is one of the most enthralling in Marvel. Join WatchMojo.com as we go over the best story-arcs involving those uncanny mutants.
List entries and rank:
#10. “Magneto Testament” (2008-09)
#9. “New XMen” (2001)
#8. “Second Coming” (2010)
#7. “The Apocalypse Solution” (2011)
#6. “God Loves, Man Kills” (1982)
#5. “Age of Apocalypse” (1995-96)
#4. “House of M” (2005)
#3, #2 & #1: ?
Watch the video on WatchMojo: www.watchmojo.com/video/id/16377
Want to start reading the X-Men comics but have no idea where to start? This is the list for you! For this list, we are looking at the most famous issues and story arcs in the X-Men's comic history.
Special thanks to our users Godslayer79 or submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at www.WatchMojo.com/suggest
Check out the voting page here:
watchmojo.com/suggest/Top+10+X...
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[@odinson99m]

The X-Men begins and ends with one name - CHRIS CLAREMONT. His stories, along with his roster of legendary artists, defined the X-Men.

[@darkstardarin]

Damn straight

[@tatsuo71]

With Jim Lee

[@jasofisc]

Couldn't have said it better myself

[@blackpeter70]

Unfortunately, from issues #175 - whatever, it suddenlt seemed to suck quite ferociously. And John Romita Jr. coming on board -did they make the awesome Paul Smith an offer he couldn't refuse, or did he just get the bum's rush? He was my favourite X-Men artist in it's entire run, especially issues #172-173. I read these issues the night before going on a study tour of Japan( I really wanted to see the Ginza!), which really wound me up, and any and all attempts at sleep that night were cancelled.

[@trealsteve]

Preach!

[@busu34]

Phoenix is the first time a core member was killed? Man, Thunderbird gets no love.

[@-cosmicrogue-]

lol

[@raquelcharles9251]

he wasent that core he was only there for one issue. In fact they werent even an official team back then..it was one mission, by the end of it...thuderbird died, sunfire left and most of them decided to stay and form the official team.

[@VonWenk]

Thunderbird died at the end of his second mission (Krakatoa in Giant-Size X-Men 1 was his first), and Sunfire left at the beginning of X-Men 94, before the Count Nefaria mission started.

[@keith3819]

It was a suicide, but yeah.

[@ArashiKageTaro]

The guys who make these videos aren’t really comic readers. Pretty sure all their knowledge is from Wikipedia

[@benpooler5965]

God Loves, Man Kills is my personal favourite aside from the Phoenix Saga. It perfectly encapsulates everything that the X-Men are about.

[@tapwaterthirstoflife7605]

I agree

[@chad8767]

Both are great. I'm just sad my favorite run wasn't on the list. The Brood Saga.

[@connorbrennan4233]

I think God Loves, Man Kills is the greatest X-Men story of all time.

[@EpickEmpire]

Why do you keep using pointless clips from the movies that have nothing to do with the comics you're talking about? Like, the stories in the clips aren't even inspired by the books in question. How about we have clips of the comics instead of clips of the movies?

[@MrGreenleaf82]

Thank you, my thoughts exactly.

[@Venom3254]

I guess it's to attract non comic book readers which I hope not.

[@jamesjacobs2264]

Was thinking the same thing... Why isn't this obvious? :(

[@uscman]

To show footage that almost referenced storylines in the films

[@EpickEmpire]

But...they don't. That's why I posed that question.

[@alexjameson5428]

It's weird that people read books and watch movies but rarely read comics.

[@upon136]

4 years later and nothing has changed.

[@justincameron9661]

I know right

[@zeezus890]

The contrast between the insane mainstream popularity of the movies and the super niche following of the comics is really mind boggling

[@tylerhayes7522]

People read comics. Otherwise the price of them would be lower 😂

[@oscarchavezavellan2738]

Books and movies are easier to grasp your head around than comics. I've been looking for places to start with x men for a while now and to put into perspective how confusing it can be: I was looking for the Chris Claremont era to start, in the websites I had found it starts at issue #94 of the classic x men later rebranded as "uncanny x men", the thing is that in that issue it drops you in the middle of a storyline that in order to understand you have to read "giant size x men", granted it's just one issue but you can't tell me it's not confusing. It goes by eras, arcs, names, issue numbers, really confusing and comic companies are not the best at separating them. More so, a writer might be replaced in the middle of a story arc, so how do you separate that? If you were reading because of the writer, should you stop reading at the ending of the last arc? How does the company differentiate for the reader to understand? Don't get me started on the lack of accessibility that people have for comic books in any given foreign language. It's really hard to find websites with comic books in Spanish (my native language). Believe it or not piracy actually helps to the popularity and sales of media, manga and anime are the juggernauts that are today in part because of the visibility that piracy brought to them. This is why manga is more popular today. One piece might be absurdly long but if someone asks you where you should start with one piece you laugh at their face "With issue one of course! There is no other entry point to the series!". And if they ask you if they can find it in their language, it will likely be a yes.

[@Harkness78]

I have read all of those except "God Loves, Man Kills" and I own them all except that and Magneto Testament. Really sick of WatchMojo making "Comics" lists but having 2/3 of it be footage from movies or cartoons that don't pertain to the comic they are talking about. Would be more entertaining talking over pans of the comic covers and pages that illustrate why the pick ranks where it does. Also should have had X-tinction Agenda and X-cutioners Song. Basically all the Main X-Men titles + Crossovers from 1988 - Age of Apocalypse, which should have ranked higher. Way better than Days of Future Past.

[@sammorrison8042]

Same here •^•

[@justinsigler1565]

me too and I thought Giants size X-men would be the number one spot since you know it save the x-men franchise, but I do love the Phoenix and the dark Phoenix sagas

[@billybobjoe1335]

It is annoying, but, how else are they going to show the material. Not all of the comics are on the Internet. Beyond that, copyright is a bitch.

[@roguelead72]

Let's not forget the Phalanx Convenient.

[@rocketraccoon1976]

+Wedge Antilles Phalanx Covenant was sh*t.

[@GumpNotGum]

I still like the "Old Man Logan" comics, it explores the common "what if" scenario of the heroes of the Marvel comics ended up dying or disappearing. The scenario has been brought up in other adaptations of but I definitely like the story following Logan.

[@1ManNamedDan]

The first one is good but the ad-hoc the new continuing series is weak, i had to drop it after the current issue.

[@David_Blake91]

Yeah, but it's not an X-Men story, in the strictest sense, because the main character is only Logan, and other heroes are just supporting casts, or cameos.

[@1ManNamedDan]

true

[@blackintellect2150]

So I tried reading Old Man Logan, but I could only find like 6 issues. How many total issues are there?

[@David_Blake91]

Black Intellect Originally it was only that. A six isue mini-series. But recently Marvel started over Old Man Logan, as a series, first in the Battleworld story-line, then as the part of the All-New, All Different Marvel-line.

[@nunyerbizzness93]

the Chris Claremont- john byrne x men run was beautiful

[@noirangel4410]

God Loves Man Kills, Days of Future Past, The Proteus Saga, and The Dark Phoenix Saga are my favorite X-Men comics. Anything from the Classics series from the 80s are my favorites.

[@elizabethnemeth499]

Noir Angel .

[@jasonmartin5154]

As someone who read his first X-Men comic @ 1968 and continued into the late 90's here is an "old timers" list Giant size X-Men #1 X-Men#94 Dark Phoenix Saga Days of Future Past God loves,Man Kills Inferno Fall of the Mutants Age of Apocalypse X-Men # 94 Dark Phoenix Days of Future Past God loves, Man Kills Mutant Massacre/ Fall of the Mutants Age of Apocalypse Like I said, I started reading X-Men about 50 yrs. Before the day before yesterday! I know I left some really good arcs off, I just thought that thees were the most important to the overall continuity! I still buy the occasional X book, my grandaughter is named PIXIE and I mail them to her! (She loves them!)

[@socratesraramuri5040]

whatcha think of The Brood?

[@noneofyourbusiness1114]

What are your thoughts on House of x/powers of x,?

[@ultimateslinger9857]

@@noneofyourbusiness1114 I honestly find it to be way too vast in size. So many titles 😥

[@ultimateslinger9857]

@@noneofyourbusiness1114 I really enjoyed astonishing X-men though.

[@noneofyourbusiness1114]

@@ultimateslinger9857 not wrong though. I didn't even bother following up cause of that.

[@Sjono]

Inhumans could never replace X-Men

[@trealsteve]

Amen. Uninteresting and no star power.

[@indi-go1868]

Preach!

[@tylerlarson7263]

Hello I’m from the future and Marvel Studios just bought the X-Men and Fantastic Four.

[@vivresaviva]

@@tylerlarson7263hey im from the even more future and MARVEL STILL HASNT DONE ANYTHING OF NOTE WITH MY XMEN 😤

[@nishanthjeeva1621]

@@vivresaviva hey i'm from the future and X-MEN 97 is FUCKING FIRE

[@larrywolf2509]

Used waaay too many clips from movies and cartoons. Does a great disservice to the awesome art panels of the books, imo.

[@ilznidiotic]

Especially as hideous as the art direction was on the 90's cartoon. I love the X-Men, and I have ZERO idea how that ugly garbage got popular.

[@misterright5834]

+Ilznidiotic the cartoon in the 90s got so popular because we kids has never read the comics so the cartoon was all we knew.

[@INFERNO95]

The art is a lot better then the art crap we get in todays shows. The show became popular due good story telling, good writing and character development. Instead of crying like a disrespectful brat, why not watch the show for a change.

[@Venom3254]

+Ilznidiotic The art was based of Jim Lee's X-Men comic run from X-Men #1

[@ilznidiotic]

Venom3254 No, the character designs were based off Jim Lee's work. The art had none of his cross-hatching or intricate linework. It was cheap, sweatshop work designed to meet deadlines. And, yeah, you can say that about most major cartoon art to one degree or another, but I always found X-Men to be particularly egregious.

[@ilznidiotic]

Needs more Mutant Massacre.

[@vigneshwaranvicky2567]

on other hand.... X-MEN(10 MOVIES SO FAR)-4.997 BILLION $$$ and gng ....7th highest grossing movie franchise of all time.....still there are 3 movies planned next year... New mutants(x men horror movie) www.comicbookmovie.com/x-men/new_mutants/new-mutants-director-stars-announce-the-end-of-principal-photography-a153879 Deadpool 2 Dark phoenix saga.... plus x men slate confirmed proj so far(fox has released 6 untitled marvel proj release dates those dates n proj are suggested to be these confirmed proj by fox which does nt have assigned release dates) collider.com/fox-marvel-movie-release-dates/ -new mutants sequels(as josh boone pitched this movie as trilogy) -dark phoenix sequel(olvia munn confirm DP is a two parter movie) -x-force -deadpool 3 -cable spin off movie(as brolin signed fr a 4 pic x-men deal) -Gambit(back in development) www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/gambit/52467/gambit-gore-verbinski-in-talks-to-direct -untitled x men project(X MEN:MESSIAH COMPLEX??????) x-men projects tht are under consideration -alpha flight -exiles -Star jammers

[@brenttocci]

John Byrne art is epic

[@hald9128]

God loves MAn kILls, astonishing X men and DARK Phoenix SAGA is my favourite x men stories of all time. !

[@chazfat1542]

Fall of the Mutants and Inferno should have made the list for sure...great art, great writing and action

[@BeefPapa]

those are the best two arcs in my opinion. cris claremont era.

[@chazfat1542]

+BeefPapa agreed...I'm looking forward to seeing him at NYCC this year

[@VonWenk]

Really? Turn Madeline Pryor into a villain so Scott Summers' abandoning his wife and child isn't so bad?

[@dmitryshiukashvili7581]

hello im new. can u give me information about inferno and fall of the mutans? what time is it? i need year. i googled it. theres so many versions. inferno like 2015 1996 and 1986.

[@blackpeter70]

The Magneto Triumphant trilogy from The Uncanny X-Men issues #111 - 113. Byrne and Austin's art has never been better (this was, after all, when they were a bi-monthly title), and Claremont actually builds an atmosphere that goes downhill from unease, to outright doom. Brilliant use of the X-Men as Circus workers, too.

[@Shenruss]

I would have included the Legacy Virus saga, but that's just me. Frankly, that was a kick ass arc in the 90s.

[@gutz1981]

X-Men Age of Apocalypse was when I first REALLY started to get into comics. I went guns out on that one and bought nearly all the issues affiliated with it. Save X-Men Alpha and X-Men Omega that never arrived at my small country town. I need to finish that collection one day.

[@ronaldharrison3005]

Franklin Richards was introduced in Fantastic Four. An adult version of him appeared in the Days of Future Past storyline. Chris Claremont was my favorite X-men writer. Much of what he wrote is the foundation for what we're reading about in X-men comics.

[@VonWenk]

I guess we can't expect a "Best Fantastic Four Stories" video from WatchMojo if they thought Days of Future Past marked the introduction of Franklin Richards.

[@haroldjohnson6326]

ok with all due respect to the great story archs mentioned, what about the mutant massacre? That storyline was amazing in terms of story, aftermath, and action. It also was super emotional with what happened to Kitty, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and the Morlocks. I think it also re-emphasized that the X-Men were not the superhero team to play with.

[@rafaelespinoza4796]

the onslaught that was one of the best sagas

[@marcoskain7104]

1. Why are 7 of the choices from the 2000s? Shouldn't this list be encmpassing everything? 2. What about the Children of the Atom Epic Collection volume? It only contain the FIRST 23 issues of the entire franchise. I think that is far more important than Astonishing X-Men. 3. Did you guys only go to see what your local comc store had in stock and went with that? What about X-Cutioner's Song? Or the original Phoenix arc? How about The Fall of the Mutants story that introduces Apocalypse?

[@trealsteve]

Truth.

[@rickycollins7723]

+Marcos Kain I agree with their top 2. Dark Phoenix and Days of Future Past are not only my favorite x men comics, but two of my favorite comics ever.

[@taterboob]

I was a HUGE X-Men fan in the 90s from X-Men #1 until Age of Apocalypse (which I used as my own personal finale). After 23 years of not really following comics, I’ve thought about jumping back into X-Men, and this definitely helped. Morrison’s New X-Men always struck me like a good re-entry point, and this video pretty much confirmed it.

[@novaphoenix907]

Okay, this makes no sense. The 80's and 90's were the BEST times for the X-men. The first issue of the 90's series was the best selling comic book of all time. Maybe you guys should acutely read the comics instead of getting this stuff off of Wikipedia.

[@novaphoenix907]

I meant actually not acutely.

[@VonWenk]

Just because something sold a lot of copies doesn't mean it was good. Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man 1, for example. No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.

[@camm8642]

those times had critical acclaim as well it just had the sales to match.....xmen in the 2000s has a much more mixed reception and the sales are obviously not what they used to be for many reasons

[@mandaloretheangry9043]

thank for the list

[@BreakfastSnack]

top ten worst watchmojo videos

[@chrisscott7425]

Not all of them

[@CombatSportsNerd]

+Josh Nkwonta Some are actually pretty good

[@supremalex3572]

Buwa ka pala ng ina mo eh. Edi wag ka manood tangina mo. Palibhasa mga gaya mo na sunod ang layaw na puting pakiram eh alam ang lahat mga walang kwentang tao. Pokpok naman mga ina niyo.

[@supremalex3572]

Tsaka pucha wag ka manood dito kung ayaw mo yung mga video. Tangina. Ginaya mo pa pangalan ni Batman eh hinayupak ka shoke ka naman.

[@Dawn_Of_Justice]

+sigfrid “whokilledsigfrid” monte Laik if yhu agree!

[@welikecomicbooks9758]

Thanks for posting. Looking forward to your next video.

[@gutz1981]

I have the whole set of 'Fatal Attractions' and I still think it is one of the best. Especially when Wolverine comes back from the dead to save Jean Grey.

[@taterboob]

gutz1981 That and Age of Apocalypse were my favorites in the 90s. The X-Men #25 panel with Wolverine losing his adamantium will forever be burned into my mind.

[@kennethjose7159]

I still can believe Iron Man bested Magneto in Avengers vs Xmen

[@tylerlarson7263]

Well Tony Stark is a tech genius so he would put some kind defensive program to protect his Iron Man armor from Magneto’s powers.

[@sammylane21]

I was so disappointed by Oscar Isaac's voice for Apocalypse.The voice I wanted to hear was that John Colicos(from X MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES).He had the best voice and it was metallic sounding too.

[@delahnday3073]

Nah Apocalypse from Evolution voice was better more badass so badass that the only way they beat him was to cause he to be lost in time in space

[@sammylane21]

De'lahn Day Either way..or either voice is better then what we got.

[@blaxpoitation8528]

Yeah... that whole movie was disappointing. Actually, the whole damn franchise

[@liamneedsome9837]

the whole apocalypse character in the new movie was trash all together.like come on we live in a day an age where that can be done , DAM YOU FOX STUDIOS AN UR RUSH JOBS!!!

[@CAM8689]

nah evo's apocalypse sounded like a robot xmen tas was way better and more expressive and has way more quotables and closer to the comics.

[@justincameron9661]

Great list

[@Aquaticus12]

The list had some good ones. Some of my other favorites include Giant Size X-men, Mutant Massacre, Messiah CompleX, Inferno, Fall of the Mutants, Deadly Genesis, Phalanx Covenant, X-tinction Agenda, X-Cutioner's Song, etc.

[@b_rad5651]

Giant Sized XMEN!

[@mrsenor5233]

please keep doing these Mojo.☺

[@arfguy]

Good list. I actually put X-Men 1 - 3, volume 2 as my personal favourite. It was the storyline that basically defined my love of comics. Glad to see it got an honourable mention.

[@3pw00d]

Awww, the phalanx covenant didn't make the cut. :(

[@allsystemsgo8678]

No mutant massacre??

[@NearMintCondition]

Magneto Testament was just a retelling of some of Chris Claremont's backup issues in Classic X-men. Nothing original came from that series.

[@ryanangelastro504]

It’s still a good read.

[@Kaanelement]

nice list

[@johnturk]

Life Death 1 and 2 are always overlooked

[@princebloodgrave8097]

I LOVE the Necrosha story line.

[@ShutEmDownNow]

The 1981 "Days of Future Past" storyline was not the first appearance of Franklin Richards. This adult version -- yes. But the character is Reed & Susan Richards' son, and was introduced way back in 1968.

[@KeyIssueComicsCHAZ]

Great reads. Hard to beat days of future past. Phoenix saga is up there too. Hopefully we get more Phoenix in movies.

[@Diggy22]

No mention of the Fatal Attractions saga, X-ecutioner's Song, or the Phalanx Covenant? Dammit, WatchMojo....

[@eanayac]

Diggy22 I really liked Phalanx Covenant!

[@derrickhaggard7053]

I actually loved both the Magneto Testament arc and the God Loves Man Kill arc.

[@Stiffkittens01]

I don't know where you get your facts from, but Franklin Richards certainly didn't make his first appearance in DoFP Where are Fall of the Mutants, Mutant Massacre, Lifedeath, X-Statix and most importantly, The Asgardian Wars? Also, Excalibur: Mojo Mayhem

[@ArashiKageTaro]

Stiffkittens They get it from Wikipedia. 99% sure these people don’t read comics.

[@natlan97]

I reckon Inferno should have had a place in the top 10 if not in the top5 :)

[@sillyspekter4420]

x-cutioners song and fatal atteactions really should have been on here. especially since Watchmojo is constantly using the image of Magneto ripping the adamantium off of Logan's bones.

[@micah4029]

I'm very happy about the Uncanny X-Force choice. That run by Rick Remender is amazing, and whenever Esad Ribic illustrates it, the story seems to come to life. House of M may have its detractors, but I think it's an important story that unquestionably changed the status quo for the X-Men. A lot of the classic X-Men changed their roles within their quasi-family, and throughout the Marvel universe as a whole. How can you say it seems like Joss Whedon can do now wrong and then mention AoU in the same breath?That being said, Astonishing X-Men is superb storytelling and characterization.

[@Zafersan]

solid list

[@jjbasab]

I was a fan of the "Inferno" & "X-tinction agenda" story lines.

[@zynktv3057]

The mutant massacre???? That just changed the x-universe forever. 1. It brought x-men to the modern era. 2. It introduced psylocke. 3. Got rid of Nightcrawler and Kitty Pryde. 4. Built a framework for mister sinister. 5. Built a framework the fall of the mutants.(Apocalypse recruiting his horsemen) 6.Introduced marauders. 7.Wolvie vs Sabretooth. You don't call this iconic? I love the fall of the mutants arc because it is suspenseful.

[@bobmiter3045]

why is getting rid of kitty and kurt a good thing?

[@pirep1]

nightcrawler and kitty pryde are great superheroes

[@garibaldilebeau]

Agree 100%. The second key turning point in X-Men history after 2nd Genesis. That said, you forgot: 1. the elevation of Caliban to a significant supporting role 2.removal of Colossus alongside Kurt and Kitty (good because it led to Excalibur which allowed all h3 to develop much further as characters) 3. further cleared out a rather tired line-up (following Cyclops, Xavier & Rachel leaving) 4. (Or 3a) set the stage for the return and development of Havok, along with the return of Dazzler and the arrival of Longshot

[@jonwells385]

Why would you wanna get rid of nightcrawler? I can't think of a good reason someone would wanna get rid of nightcrawler. This person wants to get rid of nightcrawler. Can some one please tell me why he wants to get rid of nightcrawler?

[@x-menlol1613]

I loved the age of apocolypse saga it had such a brilliant story

[@ravager0292]

just bought the dark phoenix saga from the shop ....... pretty awsome story going to buy the proteus saga next

[@ice9planet]

X-cutioner Song was a great arc imo.

[@RoninRaffla]

to be honest, i really miss Fall of the mutants and Inferno from the list - although the two story arc is similar in too many things (demonic forces from an another dimension try to conquer a city, then the world), both story are pretty complex on the way they were delivered... the first one's just written in the perfect tone, the desperation, the humiliations, racism, the moral decision of doing good for those who thinks you're bad.... beautifully and perfectly written stuff. inferno actually more complex in character relations, therefore the story is more memorable, but lacks that perfect deliver (well, not all the way, the first half of the saga, the "before the storm" part as a good friend of mine calls it is actually written as good as the fall of the mutants saga). anyway, if you love X comics, these two should've been in the top.... 5, if i try to be objective.

[@MiXVoy]

forgot to mention Inferno (1989), Necrosha and Deadly Genesis

[@joellim7521]

Age of Apocalypse was not an alternate timeline. It took place in the main timeline because of legion's ability. That's why Bishop had to change the timeline.

[@trealsteve]

It became its own timeline when the main one got restored. Everything continued after Apocalypse was destroyed.

[@anocrox]

Nah AoA actually replaced the main 616 continuity (after 616 was completely erased) for that amount of time, until the main one was restored, so AoA was an alternate timeline since the beginning.

[@peterpriego6503]

The 90´s might have been rough, but the 2010's suck like anything before.

[@briantelik12]

Dealing strictly on story merit, God Loves, Man Kills is one of the strongest stories ever written for the X-Men.

[@intellektualPoet]

My all-time #1 will forever be "God loves, man kills". This truly defines the X-men how we know them today, in ALL aspects. The imagery was beautiful, the story was brutal in a real-world way. Everything about it was perfect to me. I still get chills reading it.

[@reaverofsouls]

Fatal Attractions. The Return of Cable to XForce. Colossus turning his back on the X-Men and siding with Magneto. Wolverine having the adamantium ripped from his bones by Magneto. The introduction of the awesome mutant known as Exodus. All of that... it was a great epilogue to the damage Stryfe caused in X-Cutioner's Song.

[@AlexLove631]

Man, DOFP was a really good movie. The X-Men films (1, 2, First Class, DOFP, first 2 acts of The Wolverine) have not just been good comicbook movies, but transcended into actual good films overall. They lost some steam with Apocalypse (First hour is great but goes downhill after). The final Wolverine better be phenomenal. Not just good.. If this is Hugh's last, I want one of the best comicbook movies ever

[@zaynrivers7433]

Well Logan was pretty phenomenal

[@AlexLove631]

@@zaynrivers7433 agreed. Masterpiece

[@garibaldilebeau]

Wait...what about Mutant Massacre? Fall of the Mutants? Inferno? Extinction Agenda? Executioners Song? Second Genesis? Deadly Genesis? O:ZT? Necrosia? Onslaught Saga? Siege Perilous? Muir Island Saga? Phalanx Covenant? All better than some of the picks here. Grant Morrison’s run in particular is one of the most divisive I know of. Yes, he regrounded and expanded the stories in a way that hadn’t been done since Claremont arrived, but after the initial promise, his total change of style and focus drove a lot of people I’ve spoken to away from the title, many of whom only returned when Whedon came on board. And the X:Force pick? Just from that titles lineage, you’d put it behind New Mutant’s Demon Bear saga or the later arrival of Cable and his clash of styles, including the introduction of deadpool and the evolution into X-Force. And to say Dark Phoenix lasted 8 issues is a bit of a disservice to Claremont - he’d spent close to 3 years building it up, right from issue 100. If you’re going to include the hellfire clubs corruption of Jean you’re already going well beyond the issues dedicated specifically to the DPS and back into the Proteus Saga and the original Phoenix Saga Oh, and for earliest deaths of core x-men team members, you have Thunderbird or the retconned first death of Charles Xavier...

[@codename617]

The Phoenix/Dark Phoenix Saga is definitely a highlight in the main comics run. In the last issue of the arc you get some members of the old team coming back and the epic battle takes place on the Blue Area of the moon. Volume 2 (which was started off by Chris Claremont and continued by Jim Lee into issue 11 is a really good buncha X-Men comics. I'd say try with with Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man. Marvel let go some of the best artists/writers at the time when they decided not to pay them for coming up with new ideas for 30+ year old comics at the time.

[@philhartmann6502]

You gotta love how stryker's religious aspect was completely cut out of the films

[@achsdu17]

I was a big fan of all three parts of the Messiah Trillogy. Of course the 2nd coming was the best of the three. Good list... I approve.

[@serrico0869]

That Joss Whedon run was fantastic

[@ChrisP-sc9sf]

My favorite was/is issue #138, my first-ever X-Men comic I every read.

[@captainjakemerica4579]

Damn these are some great X-Men comics The Dark Phoenix saga needs a proper film adaptation

[@rohailsheikh9105]

Captain Jakemerica The next movie will be set in the 1990s and it will be about The Dark Phoenix Saga.

[@tevincollins2869]

Where is Fattal attraction or X executioner song?

[@raquelcharles9251]

no way. You might like those two I adore fatal attraction myself but...even I admit if you were to make a top ten best x-men ever don't think they would be on it. There is just too many good x-stories out there. Yeah the video list included mini series and single issues not just crossover events like fatal attractions so there is like literally hundreds of stuff to choose from. I would put fatal attractions maybe in my top 20. But not X executioners song.

[@rockstribute]

5:27 Apocalypse's shots sound like lightsabers?

[@daniescott3000]

Chuck Austen's X-Men run was good too

[@SuntoryKick]

Second Coming and House of M? You've got to be kidding me.

[@JJDemon]

X-Men: Inferno is never recognized.

[@timothymoore6341]

I have that trade paperback, and I loved that story arc from the 80s. It's another storyline that still affects the X-Men many years later.

[@VonWenk]

Nor should it be. I can probably think of at least 25 storylines that are better.

[@professorcomics2736]

I was curious to see stories they put on here. I've read some X-Men comics.

[@TheTravelerww]

I started with Astonishing X men ultimate collection issue 1 as it the only one that was the first issue in waterstones when i first discoed it sold graphic novels

[@christiancorona8617]

i was expecting to see Jason Aaron's Wolverine and the X-Men run. one of the best X-men runs of recent times...

[@thalesbr]

The Fall of the Mutants, Mutant Massacre...

[@keepdeathonhold]

Fatal Attractions?

[@adriancastro3899]

I've always loved X-Men but have only read about half of these gotta catch up and read them all

[@broderickrobertson1171]

hey watchmojo you guys should do top 10 suicide enemies in video games

[@sonicmario64]

I kinda figured that "The Dark Phoenix Saga" would have taken the top spot because it was the first story that was on my mind. ;)

[@TheSuperPlaysAwesome]

Read almost every of them :)

[@mharriedjr]

X-Cutioners Song, Bloodlines, Fatal Attractions. Bloodlines and Onslaught were awesome

[@bryanthoyte9156]

The series when Dracula attacked storm was #CLASSIC

[@Sjono]

4:09 "From the ashes of this world, I will build a better one." Oh god how many times am I going to hear Apocalypse repeat that line or something similar to it?

[@Ozgood13]

What about the Brood saga set in space?

[@mattchew6426]

The X-tinction Agenda put Genosha on the map, and kick-started the realignment of the X-titles and teams...

[@TheYoungWolfI]

I still have plenty to read and catch up on, but my favourite 3 runs are Remenender's Uncanny X-Force, Parker's X-Men First Class, and Whedon's Astonishing X-Men. I have plenty of 90s X-Men to explore still.

[@adriancastro3899]

Am I the only one who preferred Messiah Complex over House of M

[@shockhouser3171]

Adrian Castro hated what they did to bishop

[@mharriedjr]

Loved Messiah Complex, but loved Second Coming even more

[@rememberitsajourney]

Why is no one mentioning Messiah War? That story was amazing

[@connerolmedo888]

Please do top 10 Daredevil comics!

[@camgold2154]

As a history buff, especially on WWII and the Holocaust, I enjoyed Magneto Testament.

[@zshakur]

What about The Brood? The Mutant Massacre? The Fall of the Mutants? I'd love to see a movie adaptation of one of these stories....ONLY if Marvel Studios does it. Fox is stupid, they should do a joint venture deal like Sony did w Spiderman!

[@zshakur]

I forgot about Inferno and X-tinction Agenda!

[@00Noodles]

The Mutant Massacre. How that story line hasn't been made into a movie is beyond me, unless they think it would just be too violent to make. It was the best story line, by far.

[@zshakur]

00Noodles It's actually the first X-Men story I read. I think the first issue in the series came out during Marvel's 20th Anniversary. The cover had that cool border with all Marvel Hero head shots. Instantly fell in love with Wolvie and Colossus!

[@00Noodles]

Small world. It was the first comic book I ever picked up. What a time to jump in. I was hooked. I read other comics, but X-men has always been my favorite and that story line was....honestly, to good to be kept to just a comic book. I really hope someone comes to their senses and makes it into a movie. I'm with you on Wolverine and Colossus...fastball special! I really enjoyed the Wolverine, Kitty story line in Japan as well. It was great writing and art work. If you never got to read it, track it down.

[@CAM8689]

it would be the perfect xmen story imo to tell it is violent but its real and true to the themes of the xmen if fox made deadpool mutant masscare shouldn't be an issue but your never know I don't know if marvel studios would have the stomach for a movie like that either as its not kid friendly.

[@dametree00]

can you do best spiderman stories or best batman stories?

[@tomhak5679]

Any mention of the artists of these comics watchmojo?

[@Dutch_man20]

I would also recommend the fall of the mutants series. About three issues long but each issue can be viewed independently

[@D21BeastReviews]

Surprised Giant-Sized #1 didn't even make honorable mention. Overall though, this is a pretty good list!

[@billybobjoe1335]

There is one sad thing about Magneto. He is a Holocaust survivor and he sees the persecution of mutants as being equivalent to the Holocaust. It's sad that, of all of those fighting this war, Magneto is the one with the best reasoning for doing so. That doesn't excuse his actions though, but still.