Every week, a secret cabal of Marvel staffers gathers to discuss the best of the best when it comes to the House of Ideas.
As announced at San Diego Comic-Con, X-Force, the New Mutants and members of the X-Men face their own fallen this fall in X-NECROSHA.
While the Children of the Atom have lost many of their number over the years-and gotten more than one back-the Secret Cabal narrowed down the current roll call of deceased mutants to the 10 who perished in the most memorable fashion as well as those they wouldn't mind seeing rise in X-NECROSHA.
For each entry 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. SYNCH)
First Appearance: X-MEN #36 (1994)
Death: GENERATION X #70 (2000)
Cause of Death: Killed in an explosion after saving several human students of the Massachusetts Academy
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "One of the kindest mutants to make up the X-Men's extended family, Everett Thomas almost seemed too good to be dragged into the war waged by the Children of the Atom, and perhaps his fate proves that point. After years of fighting the good fight alongside his Generation X classmates against unbelievable menaces, Synch met a mundane end on the wrong end of a bomb, but in the process saved innocent humans who hated him for no reason other than his DNA. Synch was a breath of fresh air we could stand to see again." - Secret Cabal member Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: GENERATION X #67-In a school ablaze with hatred, Synch tries to keep the peace!
9. RUSTY)
First Appearance: X-FACTOR #1 (1986)
Death: X-MEN #42 (1995)
Cause of Death: Had his life force drained by Holocaust
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "Since the emergence of his mutant powers, life never went easily for Rusty Collins. His first involuntary use of his pyrokinesis left a woman disfigured and made him a fugitive, which is how he'd spend most of his young adult years. He found solace in the arms of Skids, whom he endured brainwashing and kidnapping by the Mutant Liberation Front and war with their former New Mutants allies alongside. Tragically for Rusty, just as he seemed to have finally located peace on Magneto's Avalon sanctuary, the inter-dimensional murderer called Holocaust cut his long-awaited happiness short." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: NEW MUTANTS #87 (1983)-Rusty and Skids get caught in the crossfire between the Mutant Liberation Front and Cable!
8. JOSEPH)
First Appearance: UNCANNY X-MEN #327 (1995)
Death: X-MEN #87 (1999)
Cause of Death: Burnt out his body repairing damage done to Earth's magnetic fields by Magneto
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "Created from Magneto's own cells, the young amnesiac known only as Joseph was meant to depose and destroy his genetic template and become the new Master of Magnetism. However Joseph decided to fight alongside the X-Men against his evil progenitor and died a hero. Joseph was a startling reminder to the veteran team that not everything is as it seems and that everyone should be given a chance And of course it never hurts to have an omega-level mutant on your team, especially one with Magneto's DNA." - Secret Cabal member CredshawSotD
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN #86 (1991)-The origin of Joseph revealed!
7. CALIBAN
First Appearance: UNCANNY X-MEN #148 (1981)
Death: NEW X-MEN #45 (2007)
Cause of Death: Jumped in the path of a hail of bullets to save Warpath from the Reavers
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "Caliban spent years hiding in the shadows as one of the meekest members of the Morlocks, but despite the obstacles in his way, he was able to find his way into the light. Shaking off Apocalypse's influence not once, but twice, Cal became a valuable member of X-Force and loyal ally to the X-Men while never forgetting about his fellow sewer dwellers along the way. It's appropriate that after years of struggling for acceptance, Caliban met his demise saving the life of a friend and comrade, Warpath, who has done his best to make sure his savior's memory lives on." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: UNCANNY X-MEN #488-Caliban seeks out the X-Men in order to save what's left of the Morlocks!
6. CYPHER)
First Appearance: NEW MUTANTS #13 (1984)
Death: NEW MUTANTS #60 (1988)
Cause of Death: Took a bullet fired by the Ani-Mator intended for Wolfsbane
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "Doug Ramsey was a mutant I personally feel was ahead of his time. With the power to translate and speak any languages, his power seemed rather limited, but that never stopped him from running into battle with as much courage as his fellow New Mutants. Just as his confidence began to grow and his love life started to bloom in his relationship with Rahne Sinclair, he was brutally struck down, and a generation of New Mutants grew up. Doug would be an interesting character to have today, as the proliferation of computers would have been fertile ground for him to flex his mutant muscles." - Secret Cabal member RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: NEW MUTANTS #26 (1983)-Cypher joins the New Mutants as they try to unravel the mysteries of Legion!
5. BANSHEE)
First Appearance: X-MEN #28 (1967)
Death: X-MEN: DEADLY GENESIS #2 (2006)
Cause of Death: Struck down by the X-Men's Blackbird jet piloted by Vulcan
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "The path of Sean Cassidy, perhaps the forgotten member of the 'All-New, All-Different' X-Men, is something of a tragic one. When Banshee first joined the team, he was a whimsical and go-lucky swashbuckler who often buoyed the rest of the team with his humor and optimism. As years went by, Sean fell in love with Moira MacTaggert and rediscovered his lost daughter, Siryn, seemingly earning the storybook ending he deserved. Unfortunately for Banshee, Moira died tragically at the hands of Mystique and his life unraveled. After an ill-fated attempt to form his own mutant group, the paramilitary X-Corps, Banshee's final act was to save a plane full of innocents, allowing us to remember him as the true hero he was." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-FACTOR #7 (2005)-Siryn mourns her father's passing in her own unique way...
4. CHANGELING
First Appearance: X-MEN #35 (1967)
Death: X-MEN #42 (1968)
Cause of Death: Mortally wounded by Grotesk while disguised as Professor X
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "The very first casualty the X-Men ever suffered was...Professor X? Indeed, relatively early on in the original team's tenure, their beloved mentor was seemingly beaten to death while trying to aid them against the grotesque Grotesk. However, the young mutants were shocked once more months later to find the Professor alive, having gone into seclusion to prepare for an alien invasion while the X-Men's one-time foe, Changeling, sought redemption upon learning he had cancer and agreed to pose as Xavier. His time as an X-Man may have been brief, but Changeling earned his absolution." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN #38 (1963)-Changeling leads Factor Three against his future X-Men charges!
3. NATE GREY
First Appearance: X-MAN #1 (1995)
Death: X-MAN #75 (2001)
Cause of Death: Dissipated his essence into every cell on Earth to protect them from the Anti-Man
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "Nate Grey, aka X-Man, was an intriguing character with fascinating possibilities; a younger version of Cable from a nightmarish reality where Apocalypse ruled, Nate was the ultimate outsider among outcasts. Unable to ever truly find his place in the Marvel Universe proper, X-Man wandered from being Cable's little brother to serving as shaman for the mutant race. Ultimately, Nate's sacrifice to save a planet not even his was noble, but the door was left open for a return we'd be curious to see, as the world may be ready for X-Man at long last." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-MAN #4-Nate Grey vs Sinister in the Age of Apocalypse!
2. THUNDERBIRD)
First Appearance: GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 (1975)
Death: X-MEN #95 (1975)
Cause of Death: Killed in plane explosion pursuing Count Nefaria
Learn More About Him...here
Why He Makes the List: "They were All-New! They were All-Different! The X-Men had been brought from cancellation with a new team and a new attitude where anything could happen and nothing was off limits. This was illustrated best by the team's first major loss only three issues into their run. Thunderbird went out like the true warrior he was, and proved that this new team of X-Men was willing to sacrifice anything-including their lives-for the sake of Xavier's dream. Alas, John Proudstar, we hardly knew you, but your legacy lives on!" - RunawayJ
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN #94 (1975)-Thunderbird charges towards his destiny as the -Men face Count Nefaria!
1. PHOENIX
First Appearance: X-MEN #1 (1963)
Death: NEW X-MEN #150 (2004)
Cause of Death: Suffered an electro-magnetic stroke induced by Xorn
Learn More About Her...here
Why She Makes the List: "Could it be anybody else? The first time Jean Grey appeared to die, it altered the X-Men forever, closing the book on the original team's carefree formative years once and for all and making the mutants' world a dark place. The second time this Phoenix's flame was extinguished, it once again marked a seismic change for the Children of the Atom, with Professor X leaving his dream in the care of his students. Jean's memory drive just about every X-Man forward in their quest to find peace and honor her sacrifices, and the possibility of her return-it has happened before after all-looms constant." - Annihilator882
Spotlight Comic: X-MEN: PHOENIX - ENDSONG #1-The legacy of Jean Grey lives on!
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Thunderbird should be #1, not someone who's died 50 times, and I was also surprised that the Kitty cabal- I mean secret cabal, didn't put kitty at number one.
I agree, if Kitty were dead she'd be well in the top 5. Not ranked above Phoenix of course.
:fbc6c65f0a="Miles_Warren"]I miss X-Man :([/quote:fbc6c65f0a]Good news for you then huh....
I miss X-Man :(
Every piece of art produced is always 'in response', in reaction onto something. The fact the Big Two are constantly challenging, parodying themselves is sure not to proove. I tend to demonstrate that it works more into one direction than another. When Vertigo was on the top, Marvel tried to sell us his own bunch of weird characters ( Nightmare for Sandman, Hellstrom for Hellblazer ) and it ...
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Every piece of art produced is always 'in response', in reaction onto something. The fact the Big Two are constantly challenging, parodying themselves is sure not to proove. I tend to demonstrate that it works more into one direction than another. When Vertigo was on the top, Marvel tried to sell us his own bunch of weird characters ( Nightmare for Sandman, Hellstrom for Hellblazer ) and it didn't work well. I'm not sure that fans really appreciated the move. This was opportunism. Parodying something who already exists is sometimes the easy way, this is not taking risks, this is not taking position. Marvel did not tried to develop their own specificities, they just made ripp-off and that's what I'm talking about now. About the self-proclaimed professionals who don't have the guts or the imagination to be what they say they are.DC is doing BN ? Let's do something else ...Could you ?
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