Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
For 17 years, Chris Claremont shaped the destiny of Marvel's mutants as the writer of UNCANNY X-MEN. He has made several returns to the characters who he helped to define since then, but this week he takes a different kind of trip down memory lane with X-MEN FOREVER, a new ongoing series that picks up where Claremont left off in 1991 as if the last two decades had not occurred.
What bold new directions will Claremont take the Children of the Atom in this time? You'll have to check out X-MEN FOREVER to find out, but today the Secret Cabal presents their list of the top 10 X-Men who thrived under Claremont's legendary pen.
For each character you get the quick rundown as well as a special spotlight comic courtesy of Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
As always, these picks reflect the personal choices of the Secret Cabal, not the official opinion of Marvel or Marvel.com, and can be considered subjective at best. Enjoy!
10. GAMBIT
First Appearance: UNCANNY X-MEN #266 (1990)
Claremont Tenure: UNCANNY X-MEN #266 (1990)-X-MEN #3 (1991); UNCANNY X-MEN #381 (2000)-X-TREME X-MEN #19 (2002); X-TREME X-MEN #31 (2003)-X-TREME X-MEN #46 (2004)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "
Gambit became an instant fan favorite upon his introduction in 1990 and has sustained his popularity for nearly two decades. While other writers and artists have helped to fill in the blank canvas of Remy LeBeau's past, Claremont established in only a few issues the distinct swagger and attitude that would come to define the Ragin' Cajun. When he came back to the X-Men for a second go-around in 2000, Claremont picked up with Gambit where he left of and continued to carve a memorable character." – Secret Cabal member Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-TREME X-MEN #8—Gambit enacts a stunning and silent escape through the streets of Sydney!
9. COLOSSUS
First Appearance: GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (1975)
Claremont Tenure: X-MEN #94 (1975)-UNCANNY X-MEN #250 (1989); UNCANNY X-MEN #279 (1991)-X-MEN #3 (1991); X-MEN #100 (2000)-X-MEN #109 (2001)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "With
Colossus, Claremont demonstrated the affection for and master of paradox he has employed many times in his distinguished career. While traditional comic book strong men had personalities as rough as their hides, Claremont gave Peter Rasputin the soul of a poet. Colossus' gentle manner made him the 'little brother' of the team and led to his charming romance with
Kitty Pryde in between slugfests with the
Marauders and Freedom Force." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #183—A lovelorn Colossus goes one-on-one with the
Juggernaut!
8. PSYLOCKE
First Appearance: CAPTAIN BRITAIN #8 (1976)
Claremont Tenure: UNCANNY X-MEN #213 (1987)-X-MEN #3 (1991); X-MEN #100 (2000)-X-TREME X-MEN #2 (2001); UNCANNY X-MEN #455 (2005)-UNCANNY X-MEN #474 (2006)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "Everyone loves a purple-headed British mutant with psychic abilities whose powers manifest via psychic butterflies, right? Of course. But what do they like even better? A British mutant with psychic abilities whose consciousness and powers have been transported into the body of a super-sexy ninja, a switch which makes the power manifest as a psychic blade. Hell. Yes. Chris Claremont reminds us that ninjas are always awesome." – Secret Cabal member Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #256—
Psylocke is reborn as Lady Mandarin!
7. ROGUE
First Appearance: AVENGERS ANNUAL #10 (1980)
Claremont Tenure: UNCANNY X-MEN #171 (1983)-UNCANNY X-MEN #247 (1989); UNCANNY X-MEN #274 (1991)-X-MEN #3 (1991); X-MEN #100 (2000)-X-TREME X-MEN #19 (2002); X-TREME X-MEN #31 (2003)-X-TREME X-MEN #46 (2004)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "
Rogue's time under Claremont's guidance is one of my favorite things. She was the first 'reformed villain' brought into the X-Men's ranks, a motif that has since been repeated many times. She was wild, living up to her name in that she couldn't control her powers and reminding us that being a mutant comes with a curse often. She had so many ties to the darker side of mutantkind, but she managed to buck her former influences, win over her teammates, and become one of the most popular X-Women around!" – Secret Cabal member RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #182—Rogue's investigation into her past gets dangerous!
6. PROFESSOR X
First Appearance: X-MEN #1 (1963)
Claremont Tenure: X-MEN #94 (1975)-UNCANNY X-MEN #200 (1985); UNCANNY X-MEN #275 (1991)-X-MEN #3 (1991); X-MEN #100 (2000)-X-MEN #109 (2001)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "During the X-Men's formative years, Charles Xavier was little more than the stern quasi-father figure responsible for handing his students their missions and imparting life lessons at the end of each issue. During Claremont's time with the X-Men, he brought
Professor X fully into the mix of the team, building his links to other characters—from his fatherly bond with
Cyclops to his romance with
Lilandra—and fully explored his dream for peace, lending layers to his role as a civil rights leader. Claremont transformed Xavier from a plot device to perhaps the most vital part of the sprawling X-Men mythology." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN #117 (1979)—Journey back to Professor X's first encounter with the Shadow King!
5. NIGHTCRAWLER
First Appearance: GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (1975)
Claremont Tenure: X-MEN #94 (1975)-UNCANNY X-MEN #213 (1987); X-MEN #100 (2000)-X-MEN #109 (2001); UNCANNY X-MEN #444 (2004)-UNCANNY X-MEN #474 (2006)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "With Kurt Wagner, aka
Nightcrawler, Claremont took the ultimate outside and made him on of the family. Legendary artist Dave Cockrum was responsible for the blue fur and winning smile that gave Nightcrawler a unique and eye-grabbing look, but Claremont infused him with a swashbuckling sense of adventure and gentle spirit that endeared him to fandom. In his first decade as an X-Man, Kurt struggled with acceptance, but persevered, gaining friends for life and respect as a true hero." – Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: EXCALIBUR #1 (1988)—Nightcrawler helps form England's equivalent of the X-Men!
4. WOLVERINE
First Appearance: INCREDIBLE HULK #180 (1974)
Claremont Tenure: X-MEN #94 (1975)-X-MEN #3 (1991)
Learn More About Him…here
Why He Makes the List: "While Chris Claremont didn't create
Wolverine, he certainly molded Logan's character, personality and attitude into what it is today. Wolverine played a crucial role in Claremont's early issues and gradually eased into becoming the team's figurehead and main attraction. From his samurai background to his trips to
Madripoor to his role as a ruthless fighting machine and even his heart of gold, Wolverine is the Wolverine we love due to Claremont's touch." – Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN #133 (1980)—Wolverine tears through the
Hellfire Club!
3. STORM
First Appearance: GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (1975)
Claremont Tenure: X-MEN #94 (1975)-X-MEN #3 (1991)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "
Storm rose to incredible heights under Claremont's pen, literally and figuratively. From street orphan to goddess, Storm had an incredible back story, but it was her journey from background shy character to the leader of the X-Men—while
powerless, no less—over 100 issues that made her one of the best characters to watch develop. And having a Mohawk didn't hurt either!" – RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #147—Doctor Doom unleashes Storm's inner fury!
2. PHOENIX
First Appearance: X-MEN #101 (1976)
Claremont Tenure: X-MEN #101 (1976)-X-MEN #137 (1980)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "Poor, sweet, beloved Jean Grey. The heart of the X-Men prior to Chris Claremont's run, Jean ascended into near godhood, almost destroying the X-Men and the universe as the
Phoenix before tragically sacrificing herself. While only around for a fraction of Claremont's landmark run, Phoenix—along with her death and rebirth—have become focal points for intense debate, fascination and excitement for fans of all ages." – Agent_M
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN #105 (1977)—Phoenix pits her power against the cosmic might of Firelord!
1. KITTY PRYDE
First Appearance: X-MEN #129 (1980)
Claremont Tenure: X-MEN #139 (1980)-UNCANNY X-MEN #213 (1987); X-MEN #100 (2000)-X-MEN #109 (2001)
Learn More About Her…here
Why She Makes the List: "Co-created by Claremont to be our eyes into the X-Men world, Kitty Pryde grew up with many readers, experiencing life as they did, sometimes confused or scared, but always with a truly heroic spirit. We watched her first love, first heartbreak, first experience with death, and evolution from
Sprite to co-founder of her own team in
Excalibur. Aw, our little girl's all grown up. Sniff." – RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #143—Kitty Pryde saves Christmas!
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