The 90s was a golden time to be an X-Men fan. Without countless new teams being created, so many different X titles to choose from and, of course, the unforgettable characters that were being formed, this era wouldn't have been nearly as fun for comic readers. The 90s helped to bring in a new wave of X-Men fans, but relied heavily on characters they had previously created.

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The 90s are perhaps most famous for the animated series that Marvel produced, which showcased some of their best moments. But across the 90s there were some members of the various mutant teams that were really underrated. Whether they were developed before this time, or found their spotlight during the era, they are still left forgotten in today's time. We've therefore decided to take a look back at some of the prominent X-Men of the 90s to showcase the 10 most underrated.

10 FORGE

True fans of the TV show might remember Forge, but to many he's a forgettable addition to the team. The character made his debut in 1984, during Uncanny X-Men #184. He's incredibly talented with technology, with the ability to invent many useful gadgets and gizmos for the team and the power of super intelligence helping to guide him through these advances.

He has also been a member of X-Force, showcasing his versatility and has been a defining member of both teams. Because he isn't always in the field, it's difficult to see how useful his contributions are. If you removed Forge, however, then there are many problems that would have overwhelmed these mutants and likely led to their defeat.

9 JUBILEE

Jubilee is another standout of the series, but often forgotten about in the comics, especially for a mainstream audience. First appearing in Uncanny X-Men issue 244, perhaps she is underrated because her power set is both very visual and a little confusing for people to understand. Jubilee can create blasts of light and energy that look a little like fireworks.

Jubilee was always the heart of the team, though, and was often an emotional support. While her powers were sometimes not as useful as they sound, she more than made up for it with the other factors she could bring to the table; chief of which is her strong personality and ability to keep the team together. She's a huge part of the history of mutants and should be given more respect for her role.

8 CALLISTO

Callisto is a deep cut from the X universe who also made her first appearance in the 80s, in Uncanny X-Men 169. However, her time with the Morlocks, predominantly in the 90s, is what defined the character moving forward. She's a leader through and through, but is incredibly secretive about her past.

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She has completely heightened human abilities, including senses like vision, scent and hearing, as well as strength and agility. She's incredibly skilled in hand to hand combat, but most importantly, she's a very intelligent tactician with an eye to always being one step ahead of her opponents. She's an honorary X-Woman of sorts, as she's usually protecting herself and the Morlocks, but has helped them on a number of occasions.

7 LONGSHOT

Longshot is an interesting character, as he's often not even thought about in regards to the X-Men. He was initially created in 1985, in order to launch a brand new title called Longshot. He was a mutant from Mojoworld and had his own unique adventures. Towards the late 80s, he was introduced into the X-Men, joining the team for some time.

Throughout the 90s he was featured here and there, although really made a comeback in the mid 2000s. It is this lull in his appearances that makes him underrated, though, as was still (partly) a member of the team and was performing his own heroics, but was never a main player.

6 MOIRA MACTAGGERT

Moira has been recently highlighted once again due to Rose Byrne's on-screen portrayal. However, the character was created in 1975, showing up in Uncanny X-Men issue 96. Ever since, she's been a key side player for the team and has served mutants on so many occasions.

She's been featured in so many classic stories, including Age of Apocalypse, but her true gift is that she is powerless. She's one of the only key team members who is not a mutant, but is caring enough and incredibly intelligent that she belongs alongside these other heroes.

5 CANNONBALL

Cannonball was actually not initially a part of the X-Men but instead their younger iteration, known as the New Mutants. Created as an initial member of the team, he made his debut in this title and spent a vast amount of the 80s as part of the team, with guest appearances in the X-Men books.

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It wasn't until the 90s that he really joined the team in the Uncanny X-Men run, by which point he'd really mastered his powers of supersonic speed which he could use to propel himself as a weapon. He's a bit of a hotshot and a little reckless, having been a part of a lot of varying teams including X-Force.

4 ANGEL

Angel might just be one of Marvel's most famous mutants and yet he is incredibly underrated. This may be due to how he has been portrayed as of late, especially on the big screen, but a character that is often seen to be bland or uninspired actually has a lot to give to this dysfunctional family.

The man with wings made his first appearance in X-Men issue 1 in 1963. He's been a core part of the team ever since his debut, yet he's often associated with being in the minor leagues in comparison to some of the other heavier hitters. Angel is incredibly underrated and the 90s is a period of time where he shone while no-one was watching.

3 MOONSTAR

Moonstar is another character that has jumped from team to team at pivotal points in their stories, without any recognition for the work done on her character. Starting in 1982 in the New Mutants, Moonstar first found her footing with this team of young misfits. It was her shift in the 90s which would go on to define her, though.

First joining X-Force then teaming with the X-Men on occasion, Moonstar was a largely forgotten character that should have left a bigger mark on fans. Her psi abilities mean that she can communicate with animals as well as create visual illusions with her mind.

2 MADISON JEFFRIES

Jeffries sometimes went by the very on-the-nose name of Human Mutant. Despite the weird title, the character actually has a really deep set of team affiliations, even though you have probably never heard of him! His first appearance was in Alpha Flight issue 16 in 1984. He spent a lot of the 80s with the Canadian team before slowly shifting to more X-based groups.

He has since been a member of X-Club, Weapon X and of course the X-Men and has played a role in many major crossover events, including Age of Apocalypse. His abilities mean that he can reshape physical materials such as plastics, glass and metal with sheer imagination, as well as being able to communicate with machines.

1 DAYTRIPPER

Daytripper is the step-sister of Nightcrawler. She first made her appearance back in 1976, in issue 98 of Uncanny X-Men. From there, she has re-appeared in X-Men titles for most of her history, until she briefly became a version of Magik and had a mini-series to herself.

Especially in the 90s, Daytripper spent a lot of her time with the mutant team known as Excalibur, but she also gave some of her time and resources to the X-Men. As a magic-wielder, her power levels fluctuated throughout, but she's perhaps one of the most powerful mutants who has never been given the recognition she deserves. She's a game-changer for any team she's a part of.

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