In the world of Marvel's X-Men, there are the classic heroes, the important villains, and the obscure characters that every comic fan likes to whip out in a conversation. Among these categories, more casual fans of the X-Men will recognize a name or can tell you that Wolverine is the best character because he's in every movie or because Cyclops is the worst because he's not Wolverine.

RELATED: Wolverine Vs. Cyclops: Their Friendly Rivalry, Explained

When we find ourselves in these conversations around X-Men and mutants, it's important to know which characters are overexposed and which ones are well-known but not brought up enough. Let's find out below.

10 More: Quentin Quire

Quentin Quire sits, looking at the viewer and holding a drink

Pink-haired, highly intelligent, obnoxious, rebellious, dangerous, and extremely powerful, Quentin Quire, or Kid Omega as he's often called, is one of the best additions to the X-Men comics in recent years.

While Quire has certainly accomplished a lot since his 2003 debut - starting a riot at Xavier's academy, becoming a form of energy, becoming one with the Phoenix force, joining the West Coast Avengers - he still has yet to become a more mainstream figure in pop culture despite his disruptive personality and flair for ironic t-shirts.

9 Less: Cyclops

Cyclops firing his optic blasts

Here's the thing, Scott Summer/Cyclops gets a bad rap for being perceived as a goody-goody but, he has an interesting life story, powerful psychic women are drawn to him, and he is the leader of the X-Men. Cyclops deserves respect. That being said, he is way overrepresented in the X-Men comics, and always has been.

From pining for Jean Grey to marrying her clone to gaining the Phoenix force, Scott's storylines have always been apart of the bigger narrative; the poor guy needs a vacation.

8 More: Dani Moonstar

Dani Moonstar as a Valkyrie

First known as Psyche, and then Mirage, Dani Moonstar came alive as one of the best characters of The New Mutants in the 1980s and a fine representation of a Native American - specifically Cheyenne Nation - superhero in Marvel comics.

RELATED: The New Mutants: 10 Things You Never Knew About Mirage

Starting out with light telepathy and the ability to cast empathic illusions, Dani's powers evolved enough where she could create psionic neural arrows, and she was eventually bestowed with the powers of a Valkyrie. The X-Men comics can do so much with such a unique character.

7 Less: Phoenix

Jean Grey as Dark Phoenix

Once upon a time, Jean Grey became Phoenix and then the Dark Phoenix and it was one of the most compelling story arcs in comic books. Now, after decades of ret-cons, film and TV adaptations, and stories of other mutants taking on the power of the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey and the X-Men's association with Phoenix has overstayed its welcome.

Now that Jean Grey has donned her original costume and moniker of Marvel Girl, it seems that Phoenix is in retirement, which probably won't last.

6 More: Dazzler

Small Dazzler vs Big Galactus

More often than not, Alison Blaire would rather use her mutant powers as Dazzler to entertain audiences than to fight with the X-Men, and that is perfectly okay. Not every mutant has to be a superhero, but when Dazzler does fight, it always makes for more interesting stories.

Really, who doesn't love a roller-skating disco star? Especially one whose ability to convert sound into light allowed her to take out Black Bolt by re-directing his "quasi-sonic scream" right back at him. Yup, Dazzler did that.

5 Less: Mystique

mystique

Similar to Phoenix or Wolverine, Mystique as a character has also suffered from overexposure, thanks in part to the Fox mutant films.

While the films overpower her to an insane degree and put too much narrative strife on her shoulders, the comic books have become tired with her role as an abusive mother to Rogue or Nightcrawler (among many others) and her propensity for dropping into someone else's life as them. While her time as Xavier's personal spy was an interesting one, it's not enough.

4 More: Spiral

Marvel's Spiral complete with her six arms and helmet

Spiral, AKA "Ricochet Rita" Wayword, is too cool of a character to not become a more mainstream mutant or, depending on who you ask, mutate. Nonetheless, she is always a welcome addition to any X-Men title. A former stuntwoman, Spiral's powers come from horrific experimental modifications in the Mojoverse that gave her six arms, mystical powers, and the ability to travel through time and space.

In New Avengers Vol 1 #53, it was even revealed that Spiral's magic gives her the potential to be a Sorcerer Supreme.

3 Less: Wolverine

Wolverine X of Swords feature

Extremely popular and beloved the world over, Wolverine has earned his spot in comic books and pop culture, but sometimes less really is more. Wolverine's healing abilities, adamantium bones and claws, a penchant for murder, and chronic amnesia have helped Marvel squeeze as much story out of him as possible.

RELATED: MCU: 5 Reasons Wolverine Should Debut In His Own Solo Movie (& 5 Reasons He Shouldn't)

He's been an X-Men, an Avenger, and even a member of the New Fantastic Four at some point - Wolverine has been in everything, so his recent slowdown in the X-Men comics has been nothing but welcome.

2 More: Namor

Namor standing in the foreground, headshot

While Namor is more often associated with the Fantastic Four, he is still a mutant and a powerful one at that. The Sub-Mariner's history within the Marvel comics is quite impressive and the fact that he is considered "Marvel's first mutant" makes it all the more reason for his character to be more involved with the X-Men.

Namor is a unique character as well in that he is part-mutant, part-Atlantean, and his powers are only matched by his ego and distaste for the surface world.

1 Less: Professor X

mcoc-professor-x-header

Yes, without Professor X, there would technically be no X-Men and he'll almost always be a part of the mutant storylines, but Charles Xavier has long overstayed his welcome as a major player. Even when his more problematic storylines and choices are taken out of the equation or his new-ish ability to walk, Xavier's relevance has dwindled.

In recent X-Men titles, Xavier walks around with a Cerebro helmet, dies, returns, and little emotional effort is expended towards him so what's the point of his presence?

 NEXT: X-Men: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Charles Xavier