The X-Men are one of the greatest super teams in the Marvel Universe history, facing down some of the most powerful villains around and having massive adventures. Sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them, the X-Men are a different kind of super-team- they're superheroes, sure, but their missions often take them into situations that no other team deals with.
One of their greatest stories is the timeless classic "The Dark Phoenix Saga," by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, a story which served to introduce all kinds of new things to the X-Men mythos. That said, there are lots of other X-Men stories that could stake a claim as the best X-Men story.
10 Why "The Dark Phoenix Saga" Is The Best: The Art
John Byrne supplied the art for "The Dark Phoenix Saga," and it's pretty much amazing. One of the best X-Men artists of all time, Byrne's detailed pencils really brings the story to life, whether it be Mastermind's illusions clouding Phoenix's mind, the X-Men battling the Hellfire Club, or Dark Phoenix in all her terrible majesty.
Oftentimes, older comic art doesn't stand up to modern standards or sensibilities, but Byrne's art does. "The Dark Phoenix Saga" looks amazing, and this is just one of the factors why it's such a fondly remembered story.
9 Better Candidate: Astonishing X-Men: Gifted
Astonishing X-Men: Gifted is the inaugural arc by writer Joss Whedon and artist John Cassaday. Presenting a back to basics tale after Grant Morrison's more experimental and revolutionary New X-Men, it saw the X-Men learn about a mutant cure just as a new alien menace rears its head.
Astonishing X-Men: Gifted may have seemed like a bit of a step back, but it wasn't; in fact, it took everything that fans loved about the X-Men and boiled it down to its most potent essence. Whedon's work was heavily indebted to Claremont's, and Cassaday's clean and detailed pencils were the icing on the cake.
8 Why "The Dark Phoenix Saga" Is The Best: The Things It Added To The X-Men Mythos
The Claremont years were extremely fruitful, with many new concepts being introduced as Claremont re-created the X-Men from scratch after years of obscurity. "The Dark Phoenix Saga" is no different, as Claremont introduces the Hellfire Club and Kitty Pryde to the X-Men mythos. The Hellfire Club would go down as one of the team's toughest foes, and Kitty Pryde is a fan-favorite member of the X-Men with a long and storied history.
Beyond that, it also started the trope of Jean Grey dying, which would prove fruitful fodder for later creators down the line. Claremont's time on the books is full of great stuff, and "The Dark Phoenix Saga" is no exception.
7 Better Candidate: House Of X/Powers Of X
House of X/Powers of X, by writer Jonathan Hickman and artists Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva, came out in the summer of 2018 and immediately set the comics world on fire. Mutantkind finally has a new home- the mutant island of Krakoa- and power globally, using Krakoan plants to build a pharmaceutical empire. However, there are still enemies in the shadows who desire the destruction of mutantkind.
Laying out a whole new status quo and raising as many questions as it answered, House of X/Powers of X is essential to understanding the modern X-Men and one of the most revolutionary X stories ever. Full of twists and turns, this one will leave the reader begging for more.
6 Why "The Dark Phoenix Saga" Is The Best: The Definitive Jean Grey Story
While some would say the character has had bigger moments, it's generally agreed upon that Jean Grey truly shone brightest in "The Dark Phoenix Saga." Jean Grey had never really seemed much like a person; she was more like an ideal, the perfect woman that everyone fought over. "The Dark Phoenix Saga" changed all that, showing many new facets to the character.
On top of that, it was focused on her and her struggles as she tried to control the power of the Phoenix Force, a battle she would ultimately lose... and then win after it was too late to avert tragedy. Jean Grey was always beloved, but "The Dark Phoenix Saga" truly started her legend.
5 Better Candidate: X-Men: Mutant Genesis
X-Men: Mutant Genesis collects 1991's X-Men #1-3, by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee. Showcasing the fan-favorite Blue team line-up, it would see the return of Magneto, this time with a new team of evil mutants, the Acolytes, backing him up. The Mutant Master of Magnetism is out for revenge, and nothing will stand in his way... not even the X-Men.
Probably the definitive Magneto story, this one is actually perfect for new readers, as Claremont does an amazing job of getting readers up to speed without it getting boring. Add to that Jim Lee's amazing pencils, and it's no one wonder this three-issue story is so beloved.
4 Why "The Dark Phoenix Saga" Is The Best: Kobayashi Maru
In Star Trek, the Kobayashi Maru refers to an unwinnable test. The whole point is to test a crew's mettle. The X-Men's Kobayashi Maru was "The Dark Phoenix Saga"; every time they turned around, they were getting beaten on, whether by the Hellfire Club, Dark Phoenix, or the Shi'Ar Imperial Guard. The team was placed into a scenario they couldn't get out of with a win.
However, the X-Men never stopped fighting, never gave up. They proved exactly what kinds of heroes they are- even with the odds completely against them, they don't give up. They keep fighting, trying to make a difference even when they can't win.
3 Better Candidate: New X-Men: E Is For Extinction
New X-Men: E Is For Extinction, by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, was the beginning of Morrison's X-Men run and an entirely new era for the team. It all begins when Wolverine and Cyclops are sent to investigate a wild Master Mold, capable of making Sentinels from anything. From there, a new threat to mutantkind is introduced as Beast discovers a shocking development in the evolutionary war between mutants and humans.
Morrison's X-Men run is one of the best, and this is the ground floor of it. Integral to everything that comes after, this is just an amazing X-Men story in general and serves as an introduction to one of the most revolutionary periods for the X-Men.
2 Why "The Dark Phoenix Saga" Is The Best: It's The Total Package
"The Dark Phoenix Saga" succeeds so well because it has everything. There's great superhero action, as the X-Men do battle with overwhelming odds. There's amazing drama, a hallmark of the Claremont years. The art is fantastic, and the story adds so much to the X-Men mythos. The team line-up is one of the best. It's pretty much a perfect story.
"The Dark Phoenix Saga" has it all. It has stood the test of time because of this. There are just so many things to love about the book that it never gets old.
1 Better Candidate: "Days Of Future Past"
Uncanny X-Men #141-142, by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, is one of the best dystopian future stories in comics' history. In the distant future, Sentinels have slaughtered most of the mutant race, as well as every superhero and supervillain. The last few X-Men members make a last-ditch attempt to go back to the past and change things, undoing years of tragedy.
The two issues cast a wide shadow over the comics industry. They made dystopian futures for superheroes cool, and on top of that, it's just a great little story, melding sci-fi and superhero action wonderfully. Plus, one can't go wrong with Claremont and Byrne.