An original creation of legendary X-Men creatives Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Sabretooth is one of the most well-known villains in the X-Men's rogues gallery. One of the many Marvel characters with animal qualities, Sabretooth is a mutant with the characteristics of a real-life Sabretooth – an extinct breed of tigers with very long teeth.

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With those teeth, claws at the tips of fingers and feet, and vertically shaped pupils, Sabretooth is among Marvel's most physically imposing villains. With the help of his imposing stature, Sabretooth has established himself as the primary rival for popular X-Men member Wolverine.

10 Sabretooth First Appeared In Iron Fist 14

Iron-Fist-Dodging-An-Attack-From-Sabretooth-in-Marvel-Comics-1

Though Sabretooth is known as the rival of Wolverine, he first appeared in Iron Fist #14, created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. An adversary of Iron Fist, Sabretooth made his debut as a mercenary and kidnapper of Jeryn Hogarth, a close associate of Iron Fist.

Hoping to save Jeryn, Iron Fist traveled to a mountain in Canada and took on Sabretooth directly. Sabretooth's first appearance in Marvel comics established the iconic look and powers he's been known for ever since.

9 Sabretooth's Origin Was Revealed In X-Men Origins

Sabretooth Leaning Over Fence Post Bloody Arms

A one-shot released to generate excitement around the 2009 film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men Origins Sabretooth, by Kieron Gillen and Dan Panosian, dives into the origin of Sabretooth. The story embraces Sabretooth's violent style and starts with Sabretooth – whose real name is Victor Creed – accidentally killing his brother after his powers suddenly manifest.

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This story is considered to be Sabretooth's definitive origin, as it provides an excellent and believable look at why Sabretooth is so hateful. Showing Victor chained to the basement wall as punishment, X-Men Origins: Sabretooth sets the character on his violent path.

8 Sabretooth Returned To Comics In 2022

Sabretooth Smiling in Marvel Comics

After a long hiatus from X-Men comics, Sabretooth returned with a self-titled solo series by Victor Lavalle and Leonard Kirk in February 2022. A five-issue mini-series, Sabretooth Vol 4 revolves around Sabretooth after he's become the king of Krakoan Hell.

Initially imprisoned in Krakoa during the House of X events, this issue revealed what Sabretooth was up to while off-panel. The series places the character in a unique position, as it reveals the truth behind Krakoan hell and has Sabretooth act as a leader.

7 Sabretooth Made His Solo Debut In 1993

Sabretooth With His Claws Out In Marvel Comics

Created by Larry Hama and Mark Texeira, Sabretooth Volume 1 serves as the solo debut of Sabretooth. Serving as a Wolverine, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage villain for over fifteen years, Sabretooth elevated to leading character status in 1993.

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The four-issue storyline revolves around Sabretooth, assisted by his mutant partner, Birdy, as he discovers "the glow," a mystical ability that helps calm Sabretooth's violent urges. Though his status as a Wolverine villain hasn't changed, Sabretooth Volume 1 was the first time readers saw Sabretooth in the light of an anti-hero, which certainly affected the development of his character.

6 Wolverine First Met Sabretooth In Ruins Of Ravencroft

Wolverine In Attack Stance in Marvel Comics

Though Sabretooth doesn't serve as the main character of this comic, Ruins of Ravencroft: Sabretooth, written by Frank Tieri, with art from Angel Unzueta and Guillermo Sanna Bauzatells, tells the story of Sabretooth and Wolverine's first encounter.

Suspecting him to be a serial killer, Sabretooth brought Wolverine to the Ravencroft Institute – a prison made for supervillains – where he and a doctor performed experiments on the future X-Men member. This comic is a must-read for any Sabretooth or Wolverine fans as it reveals the origin of one of the biggest rivalries in Marvel Comics.

5 Sabretooth Showed Potential For Heroism In Exiles

Sabretooth Holding His Claws To Franklin Richards

A one-issue storyline created by Tony Bedard and Mizuki Sakakibara, Exiles #59 revolves around Exiles members, Mimic, Morph, Namora, and Blink. Among the most Sabretooth's most heroic displays, the comic exhibits how Sabretooth is capable of sympathizing with young mutants.

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Dedicating twenty years of his life to protect David Richards, a suspected variant of Kang the Conqueror, Sabretooth shows a previously unseen level of compassion. Showing his capacity for some degree of fatherhood, Exiles #59 played a crucial role in the development of Sabretooth.

4 Uncanny X-Force Revealed An Alternate Sabretooth

Wolverine slashing Sabretooth with Magneto standing over them in Marvel Comics

In Uncanny X-Force #11, by Rick Remender and Mark Brooks, fans were treated to one of the alternate versions of Sabretooth in the form of Earth-295 Sabretooth. In the story, Sabretooth is a member of Earth-295 X-Men, one of the many teams Sabretooth has been part of.

On top of the inclusion of Earth-295 Sabretooth, the comic features one of the most remarkable fights between Sabretooth and Wolverine, as it features a more heroic iteration of Sabretooth and Wolverine during one of the darkest and most violent periods of his life. Essentially flipping the script on their rivalry, Uncanny X-Force #11 provides a unique look at Sabretooth's role in the feud.

3 Sabretooth Abandonded Anti-Heroism In X-Men Unlimited

Sabreooth with claw extended forward in Marvel Comics

A direct continuation of Sabretooth Volume 1, X-Men Unlimited #3, by Fabian Nicieza and Mike McKone, shows Sabretooth back on the path of brutality. Picking up after the loss of Birdy, Sabretooth's aforementioned mutant sidekick, Sabretooth loses his connection to "the glow" and no longer has any help silencing his violent urges.

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Eventually meeting a handful of X-Men in a destructive battle, this comic pulled Sabretooth back to his traditional role as an X-Men villain; however, it did so without minimizing the main character-like role built up for him over the years. Though it undid what some viewed as excellent character development, X-Men Unlimited #3 expanded Sabretooth as a character, showing he didn't have to be heroic to be the main character.

2 Uncanny X-Men 213 Established One Of Marvel's Greatest Feuds

Sabretooth and Wolverine face to face in Marvel Comics

A one-issue story from Claremont's X-Men run, one of the best X-Men comic runs of all time, Uncanny X-Men #213 includes the first, what many consider to be the best, fight between Sabretooth and Wolverine. With detailed art by Alan Davis, the comic sends the two rivals on a massive battle that leads to the destruction of a large portion of the X-Mansion.

While Wolverine and Sabretooth are far more complex than the usual action characters, this fight displays the root of why the two became so popular: epic, action-packed battles. Though Marvel continuity later revealed that Wolverine and Sabretooth had met previously, their first official encounter in Uncanny X-Men #213 set the tone for their feud for decades to come.

1 Sabretooth Fought Nemesis In Astonishing X-Men 2

Sabretooth crouching on top of Nemesis in Age of Apocalypse

One of the first issues in the well-known X-Men event, "Age of Apocalypse," Astonishing X-Men #2 paints Sabretooth in a compellingly favorable light. Joining forces with the X-Men during the conflict, Sabretooth took on Nemesis, the mutant son of Apocalypse.

Though Sabretooth ultimately lost the fight against the vastly superior Nemesis, his decision to voluntarily take on one of the highest ranking members of Apocalypse's army is undoubtedly one of the bravest things any mutant could've done during the "Age of Apocalypse." This story further solidified Sabretooth's status as one of the many X-Men villains capable of doing good.

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