The X-Men are one of Marvel Comics’ biggest superhero franchises. Indeed, they were once undoubtedly their most popular property. That has changed in the wake of Marvel Studios’ success, even as comic readers eagerly await the introduction of Mutants into the MCU. Regardless, the greatest Marvel comics ever include many of the best X-Men comics ever.
Best X-Men comics as of 2026
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, X-Men was slow in finding success. The series was reportedly born of Lee growing tired of creating new accidents to give his characters powers. Hence the idea of Mutants, who were born with special abilities. No cosmic rays, gamma bombs or radioactive spiders needed!
The original series stopped publishing new comics after 66 issues, reprinting older stories for another 26 issues until 1970. A 1975 Giant Size special revived the franchise, with Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum restarting the monthly comics. Within five years, X-Men had become Marvel’s most popular series.
Since that time, many great creators have handled Marvel’s Merry Mutants, using them as an allegory for discrimination in all forms. The franchise has also popularized some of Marvel’s most famous characters, like Wolverine. However, the list that follows focuses on the X-Men as a whole, rather than any of the many solo stories centered around particular Mutant heroes.
The Dark Phoenix Saga (1980)
Widely considered one of the best X-Men stories ever, the Dark Phoenix Saga was published in in Uncanny X-Men #129-137. The story focuses on Jean Grey when she meets a cosmic power known as the Phoenix and bonds with it. At first, the Phoenix enhances her powers to godlike levels. But as the saying goes, “absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Soon enough, Jean’s dark side starts to take over, and she transforms into the Dark Phoenix. The X-Men fight to bring her back to sanity, not only to save their friend but also the universe. This leads to a trial by combat with the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, who wish to execute Jean for the Phoenix’s actions.
The Dark Phoenix Saga has action, romance, and heartbreaking drama. Chris Claremont’s prose is poetic and John Byrne’s art is among the best he has ever produced. Those who doubt the influence of the Dark Phoenix Saga should consider how many times it has been adapted; once in animation for the 1992 X-Men animated series and twice in live-action movies. However, none of these came close to matching the original.
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Days of Future Past (1981)
Days of Future Past was published in 1981 in Uncanny X-Men #141–142. Co-written by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, with art by Byrne, this two-issue storyline opens in a dystopian future. Here, Mutants are hunted by the robotic Sentinels and incarcerated in concentration camps.
The action centers around Kitty Pryde, who is an adult in the future, but had just been introduced a year earlier as a tween in Uncanny X-Men #129. The story follows the elder Kitty, as she transfers her mind into the younger version of herself, Her mission is to warn the X-Men of an impending assassination that will trigger decades of anti-mutant hysteria, leading to her dark future.
Days of Future Past is another frequently adapted and referenced X-Men comic. The 2014 Sony movie is easily the most famous, although it switched out an older Wolverine in place of Kitty Pryde. The story was also adapted for the 1992 X-Men animated series, with Bishop taking on Kitty’s role. Again, good as these were, the original books were better.
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God Loves, Man Kills (1982)
Published in 1982, God Loves, Man Kills was a graphic novel set outside the monthly Uncanny X-Men run. This makes it one of the most accessible X-Men stories for new readers. It is also argued by many to be Chris Claremont’s magnum opus, with powerful art by Brent Anderson and Steve Oliff.
God Loves, Man Kills is also notable for its more grounded villain, who was not an evil Mutant or a killer robot. Instead, the story introduces televangelist William Stryker, who leads a violent crusade against Mutants. This accordingly inspires an alliance between the X-Men and their greatest enemy, Magneto!
God Loves, Man Kills does not shy away from dealing with the problems of religious fanaticism and bigotry. This gives the story a timeless quality, which resonates even more strongly in 2026 than it did in 1982. It is also notable as being one of the first stories to explore Magneto’s history as a Holocaust survivor and his taking the slogan “Never Again” to heart.
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E is for Extinction (2001)
Fresh off their revolutionary run on JLA, Grant Morrison came to Marvel with a bold new vision for the X-Men. With artist Frank Quitely, Morrison began to explore the effect that Mutants would truly have on the society of Earth-616. If Mutants are the future, Morrison reasoned, there should be a lot more of them than had been previously depicted. And like any repressed subculture, they should have their own art and music.
However, Morrison and Quitely also upped the ante where the anti-Mutant movement was concerned. Enter Cassandra Nova; a mysterious woman who not only reactivates the production of Sentinels but wipes out the newly formed Mutant homeland of Genosha. This leads to a more militant team of X-Men, which recruits former White Queen Emma Frost alongside Beast, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Cyclops.
Many of Morrison’s changes proved controversial with the X-Men orthodoxy. As a result, very few of their ideas stuck around after their run ended. However, E for Extinction is still considered the shot-in-the-arm that the franchise needed at the time and a solid introduction to the X-Men. Also, the destruction of Genosha was adapted into the X-Men ’97 animated series.
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The Hate Machine (2018)
Reborn into a world far different than the one she remembers, Jean Grey feels incredibly lost. Still, the mission to defend a world that hates and fears Mutants remains. This leads her to form her own her own squad, with mainstays like Nightcrawler and Gambit as well as new Mutants like Trinary and Gentle.
The arrival of the new Red Squad is well-timed, for a growing anti-Mutant movement threatens to destroy what is left of Charles Xavier’s dream. Worse yet, an old enemy has redeveloped the Sentinels into an unexpected new form. One that can change friend to foe with the click of a mouse button.
Tom Taylor and Mahmud Asrar’s X-Men: Red was a short-lived series, lasting only 18 issues. However, those 18 issues were packed with some of the most innovative ideas in modern X-Men. The series was also notable for being one of the few depictions of Jean Grey where she felt like her own person. Traditionally, Jean was either the team mom, a passive source of Cyclops/Wolverine feuding, or a virtual god. Here, Jean Grey is a confident and capable leader, whose empathy is her greatest power.
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How we chose the best X-Men comics
Our chief challenge in composing this list of the best X-Men comics was avoiding a “Best of Chris Claremont” list. While Claremont is widely (and rightly) recognized as the father of modern X-Men, some of his later words are a bit insular. With that in mind, we decided to pick out other X-Men stories that feature excellent writing. Another consideration was that the books highlighted here had to be accessible to newcomers, while still acknowledged as classics by longtime X-Fans.
If you want even more X-Men action, check out our list of the best Wolverine comics.
