Storm has been on a long strange trip throughout her life in comics, one that's always seen her on an upward trajectory. From a thief on the streets of Cairo to a goddess on the African plains to a superhero and leader of the highest caliber, Ororo Munroe has proven nothing can hold her back.

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Storm remained one of the most beloved X-Men and an irreplaceable part of the team's mythos. Debuting on a stacked X-Men team, she was still able to stand out. Marvel and the creators who worked on Storm did their best to make her a better character, creating a superhero unlike any other.

10 She's Always Had Amazing Costumes

HALLE BERRY STORM - Costumes

Costumes are an important element for any comic character. A hero can be ruined by a bad costume, missing out on opportunities as their popularity diminishes. Storm has never had that problem. From the beginning, she's always looked amazing, and her costumes often reveal insight into her current passions and perspective.

From the original to the punk rock leather to the '90s silver masterpiece to her various amazing costumes of the 2000s to today, Storm has played the fashion game better than any other X-Men and most of the Marvel Universe. Not only is she a goddess, she looks like one.

9 She's One The Few Heroes To Have Been A Member Of Marvel's Three Biggest Teams

Storm on the Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men

In the Marvel Universe, there's a trinity of big teams: the Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Avengers. Each team has core members who are always there, but there's some interplay between the three. Storm hit the trifecta, something that's only been done accomplished by Wolverine and Spider-Man.

This is a big deal. The Fantastic Four pretty much never changes, but during Storm's relationship with Black Panther she joins the group, taking the place of Susan Richards. This rare achievement is another impressive mark on Storm's resume.

8 She Became Headmistress Of The Jean Grey School After Wolverine's Death

Storm - X-Men Females

In the initial mutant Schism on Utopia, Storm stayed with Cyclops and joined the Extinction Team. However, after the events of Avengers Vs. X-Men and the dissolution of her marriage to Black Panther, she joined the Jean Grey School, growing closer to her old friend Wolverine. The two engaged in a relationship, but the loss of his healing factor led Wolverine to an untimely death.

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After Logan's death, Storm took over the school in his place. Running a mutant school proved a challenge to many of Storm's predecessors, but she quickly demonstrated she was more than prepared for the task and joined the ranks of the most important mutants of the planet.

7 Her Relationship With Black Panther Got A Massive Push From Marvel

Marvel Comics' Storm and Black Panther hold hands on their wedding day.

Storm and Black Panther's relationship was a retcon. Before the miniseries that established it, they had little to no contact with each other. However, what followed was one of Marvel's most romantic storylines, a fairy tale Marvel pushed to the moon post-Civil War.

Storm and Black Panther headlined Fantastic Four, effortlessly sliding into the Reed and Sue role of mastermind and powerhouse leader. Storm was thrust into the Marvel spotlight on a significant level, and while her relationship sometimes felt like a way to help Black Panther regain his popularity, it still was a big deal for Storm.

6 Defeating Callisto In A Knife Fight Showed How Versatile She Was

storm-vs-callisto

Storm stood among the X-Men's most formidable members. Part of this came from her powers, but everyone forgets just how tough her upbringing as an orphan on the streets of Cairo made her. She learned to survive just about anything and that fierceness would extend to her later life as well. No place was this more apparent than when Storm answered Callisto's challenge to a duel.

Callisto was the leader of the Morlocks. Her powers enhanced her physical capabilities, and she was a fierce combatant. She and Storm had a knife fight, in which Storm defeated Callisto without using her powers. This victory proved just how dangerous and resourceful Storm could be in battle.

5 She Beat Cyclops Without Her Powers

storm-cyclops-duel-display

Cyclops has a pretty interesting history, but he's always proved a formidable opponent. A skilled tactician, he frequently takes down threats far more powerful than himself. He rarely loses a one-on-one battle. Storm can boast a similar track record. One of the few people to defeat Cyclops single-handedly, her victory is special because she beats him without powers.

Even though she didn't have her powers to lean on, Storm challenged Cyclops for leadership over the X-Men, relying on her combat skills and clever wit. She trounced the mutant leader, proving she had the chops to handle any threat her team of X-Men would face.

4 She Became The Wakandan Representative To The Avengers

Storm using her lightning

Storm joined the Avengers when she was married to Black Panther. Her time with the group was cut short, marred by the war against the X-Men. The Avengers and mutants didn't always have the best track record and her status as a former leader of the X-Men made her a valuable asset.

Storm was also the Wakandan representative to the Avengers at the time, a job usually fulfilled by Black Panther himself, — distinguishing herself even further. Joining the Avengers was always a mark of distinction, regardless of the time one spent on the team, lending Storm further credibility in the superhero community.

3 Her Position On Arakko Makes Her The Most Powerful Person In The Solar System

Storm from X-Men Red in Marvel Comics

Destiny Of X reshuffled the deck for the mutant country Krakoa, placing different mutants in various positions of power. Storm received a major upgrade during this time. She was always a member of Krakoa's ruling body, the Quiet Council. But when Mars was established as the mutant planet Arakko, Storm rose to a greater position of influence.

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Storm defeated all comers and became regent of the planet Arakko. Seeing as the galactic powers recognize Arakko as the capital of the solar system, Storm established herself as a leader of galactic influence. Following this promotion, she starred in X-Men Red, by the white-hot team of Al Ewing and Stefano Caselli.

2 Making Her Leader Of The X-Men Was The First Step To Stardom

The 90s Gold Team (left to right): Jean Grey, Colossus, Storm, Bishop, Iceman, and Archangel

Storm's victory over Cyclops was a huge moment for her. Up until this point, she had been a powerful member of the X-Men, but she was basically just the big sister. Beating Cyclops made her the leader of the group, a job she would handle for decades after, always at the front of some of the most powerful X-Men rosters ever.

While Storm would go on to do greater things later in her career, becoming the leader of the X-Men was the first step. It's made all the more impressive when one considered Uncanny X-Men was the biggest book in comics at the time.

1 She Was Immensely Powerful From The Word Go

Storm commands lightning with both hands in X-Men.

The Omega class mutants are the most powerful on the planet. Arguably the most powerful mutant on Earth, Storm can devastate entire cities or cure droughts with little to no effort. She can bring life to an area as easily as she can take it away, something most mutants at her level can't accomplish.

If these attributes weren't already impressive, Storm had always wielded immense powers and valuable wisdom from the very beginning. At a time when African and black characters weren't always depicted as powerful, Storm came along and changed the game — standing out and shattering expectations.

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