Full of complicated characters and frankly tangled continuity, it takes a lot of dedication to really understand the X-Men. While they represent something greater than most superhero teams- the fight against racism and bigotry- their adventures over the years are full of a lot of things that can scare a casual fan off, stories that every one loves and others that are underrated and forgotten.
However, there are stories out there that make it easy to understand the team and who they are and what they could become. These stories span space and time, showing the X-Men doing what they do best and have been worked on by some of the greatest creators in the comic medium.
10 X-Men: Deadly Genesis
X-Men: Deadly Genesis, by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Trevor Hairsine, sees the X-Men attacked by a mysterious mutant named Vulcan, who has a grudge against the team and Professor X. This story opens a whole can of worms, as it's revealed that Professor X has been keeping a secret from the team and the X-Men scramble to stop Vulcan before it's too late.
This is one of those underrated stories that has went under the radar for years, but it's crucial to understanding just what kind of person Professor X can be- a man who will go to any lengths to save his students but also willing to keep secrets. It also leads into one of the best space epics in X-Men history.
9 "The Rise And Fall Of The Shi'Ar Empire"
Spanning Uncanny X-Men #475-486, by writer Ed Brubaker and artists Billy Tan and Clayton Henry, this comic sees Havok lead a team of X-Men into space after Vulcan, who has set out to conquer the Shi'Ar Empire. This story sees that team get embroiled in an intergalactic war, working against the odds to try to save an entire galaxy before things get out of hand.
While the X-Men aren't the first team people think of when they think of Marvel teams that deal with aliens, this stories gives fans a glimpse into just how important the team is to greater Marvel Universe beyond Earth. It also showcases Havok as a team leader, one of the most underrated leaders in X-Men history.
8 "Ghost Box"
"Ghost Box", by writer Warren Ellis and artist Simone Bianchi, took place in Astonishing X-Men #25-30, and sees the X-Men encounter a new mutant. However, there's a problem with this- this is post M-Day and there are only a 198 mutants left, all known to the team. This takes them a journey around the world as they try and figure out what is going on and a meet-up with a former member of the X-Men team... and see what he's been up to since the last time they saw him.
While this isn't the most famous X-Men story that deals with alternate universes, it's a good primer for the team's dealing with this sort of thing and just a fun story in general.
7 House Of X/Powers Of X
The "two series that are one", as the tagline went, by writer Jonathan Hickman and artists Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva, introduced a whole new status quo to the X-Men, seeing them start their own nation on the mutant island of Krakoa and throwing a whole slew of surprises at readers.
This story is integral to understanding the new status quo of the team. It completely revolutionizes the X-Men, making the whole concept feel new and fresh in a way it hasn't in years. The amount of things it changes and introduces to the concept is amazing and it sets up all kinds of things for the X-Men's future, for better and worse.
6 X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills
X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, by writer Chris Claremont and artist Brent Anderson, sees Reverend Stryker try and turn the public against mutants by saying that they are the devil's children. Kidnapping Professor X after a debate with him, the X-Men have to team up with their greatest foe, Magneto, to try and save their mentor and stop Stryker and his henchmen.
Starring a fan favorite roster of X-Men and showcasing the team teaming up with their greatest villain, this one is great for seeing the X-Men fight a completely different type of threat than they're used to. It also shows a whole other side to the human-mutant dynamic and is a must read.
5 "Gifted"
"Gifted" was the inaugural story arc of writer Joss Whedon and artist John Cassaday's acclaimed Astonishing X-Men run. Featuring an all star of X-Men, including Cyclops, Emma Frost, Wolverine, Beast, and Kitty Pryde, this one sees scientists create a mutant cure, the introduction of a new threat, and the return of a dead friend.
"Gifted" served to highlight the X-Men as superheroes and was a back to basics approach for the team. It also showed the team dealing with a very tricky situation, a mutant cure, and how that affected them as people.
4 "E Is For Extinction"
New X-Men #114-116, by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, sparked a revolution for the team. The X-Men have gone through some changes, as has the world- the mutant population has boomed and established mutants are experiencing secondary mutations. Into this steps a new genocidal threat to the mutant race, one the X-Men might not be able to deal with.
"E Is For Extinction" presented an all new take on the X-Men, one that was more about finding and protecting mutants than saving a world that hates and fears them. It started off Morrison's stellar run in fine fashion, planting seeds that would pay off as his run went on.
3 "Mutant Genesis"
X-Men #1-3, by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, was the last story of Claremont's first X-Men run. Establishing a new status quo for the '90s, it pit the fan favorite Blue team against the X-Men's greatest foe, Magneto, and his new servants- the Acolytes. One of the best X-Men vs Magneto stories of all time, this one has it all.
The rivalry between the team and their polar opposite Magneto is perfectly encapsulated in this three issue story line and is a must for really understanding the dynamic between the team and their greatest for.
2 "Days Of Future Past"
Uncanny X-Men #141-142, by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, showed readers a terrible dystopian future- Sentinels, mutant hunting robots, had taken over the Earth. Most of the heroes and villains are dead, with a ragtag group of X-Men trying one last plan- sending Kitty Pryde back in time to stop their terrible future from happening.
The X-Men's futures are usually pretty lousy and this story is the granddaddy of them all. It sets up so much that other writers would use in the years to come- Sentinel enabled genocide, dystopian futures, and so much more.
1 "The Dark Phoenix Saga"
Uncanny X-Men #129-138, by Claremont and Byrne, is probably the most iconic story in X-Men history, pitting the team against their corrupted most powerful member, Phoenix. The power of the Phoenix overshadows all of them and the team pulls out all the stops to both end its threat and save their friend Jean Grey.
This story just has so much- it introduces the Hellfire Club, involves the Shi'Ar Empire, and is chock full of some of the best writing and art in X-Men history. This one showcases the lengths the team will go to for their friend and the things they're willing to do to save everything.