10 Essential X-Men Comics For Beginners

With Jean Grey (Sadie Sink) having her first Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the rest of the major X-Men cast being recently announced at Disney's convention, D23, the X-Men are back and better than ever! Because of this, there are plenty of people out there who are going to want to get into the X-Men franchise before they hit screens post-Avengers: Secret Wars.

But for said newcomers who may want to get into the team's comic book history before the new cast is introduced, and the old cast appears in Avengers: Doomsday, there are plenty of books from said source material that are perfect to read. With decades upon decades of stories to choose from, those looking to get into the X-Men have a ton of work to choose from if they want to become a bona fide fan before the team gets their next solo project in the MCU.

X-Men: Season One (2011)

While one could most certainly go back and read the original books, there's no denying that they're pretty dated. This is why everyone can appreciate a modern retelling that not only modernizes it, but keeps it straightforward, ditching the context of the grander world needed for those older plots. This is exactly what X-Men: Season One (2011) does for anyone looking to read about the first class of X-Men, which may very well be the era they go for in the MCU.

This 2011 Dennis Hopeless graphic novel covers a lot of the essentials of those early 1960s X-Men days. It's a clean, very fresh look at the original team of students. It's fun, action-packed, and loves honing in on the teenage interpersonal drama that comes with being a team of such an age. Not to forget, the art style by Jamie McKelvie is gorgeous and a joy to look at.

Grant Morrison's New X-Men #114–154 (2001–2004)

Alongside the likes of Chris Claremont, Grant Morrison is known as one of the greatest writers to touch the X-Men franchise of all time. A huge reason for this common claim is his time on New X-Men (2001), taking place between issues #114 and #154. Many consider this the best X-Men run since the '90s Claremont run at the time of release, which is, of course, high praise. The New X-Men (2001) run is another series that modernizes the series, taking a lot of risks, while being very friendly for newcomers.

It does things such as put Cyclops and Emma Frost together instead of his typical pairing with Jean Grey, the killing of a gigantic number of mutants in the opening arc to raise the social stakes surrounding mutants, and other big status quo changes to bring about a new era for the team. For those looking to get into the X-Men with a run that's unlike anything else, then New X-Men (2001) is the way to go. Not to mention, with Emma Frost's (Samara Weaving) upcoming inclusion in the MCU, this could be a book they actually end up taking some inspiration from.

Wolverine (1982)

Speaking of Chris Claremont, alongside his main X-Men run, he's incredibly well-known for his four-issue Wolverine (1982) series. Many most likely know of this comic series due to the recognizable imagery that is on the cover of the first issue. Drawn by the iconic Frank Miller in his golden era, this series turns the legendary Wolverine from a two-dimensional, violent, brutish character from the main books into the three-dimensional, tragic character that makes him so compelling in the modern day.

Wolverine (1982) is a cornerstone for a lot of the characterization that's been utilized throughout the years for the three-clawed, animalistic X-Man. The character has benefited so much from the work done in this 1982 plot. This made it important not just for the character, but for the X-Men universe as a whole, thanks to how important it made Wolverine moving forward, finally having more character to work with.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (1982)

There's lots of talk about Claremont's abundantly beloved work on X-Men, and how much it's affected the franchise for the better, and one of the greatest examples is none other than X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills. Look anywhere on the internet, and it'll be found that many fans consider this the pinnacle of X-Men storytelling. X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills is a testament to how to write these characters with prowess, grace, and thought-provoking messaging.

It does need to be noted, however, that due to the era this book was written in, there are some problematic dialogue moments—Kitty Pryde specifically—that, while serving the story, are still quite problematic. When looking past those moments, though, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills is an absurdly moving story all about how hate is a choice made by humanity. It forces the reader to face some very hard truths about society and discrimination that are still quite prevalent to this day.

Wolverine and the X-Men (2011)

Like it or not, Wolverine has been and almost always will be the most famous of the X-Men. So, with this in mind, it only makes sense that he'd one day lead his own team of X-Men—a story found in Wolverine and the X-Men (2011). In this Jason Aaron story, Wolverine is now the headmaster at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning and takes the lead, as the title suggests.

This is a story that is easy to hop into, thanks to how accessible Wolverine is—being a favorite for many who haven't read the comics—and allows non-comic readers to feel pretty comfortable with a protagonist they already know and love. In classic spirit for the character, though, he doesn't love the idea of being a headmaster and is quite a reluctant protagonist, which provides some fun dynamics and conflict. Much like Grant Morrison's New X-Men (2001), this is for folks who want something different than what they've already seen in the films and television shows. This team even got involved in the massive "Avengers vs. X-Men" crossover event.

X-Men (1991)

One can't truly talk about X-Men comics without mentioning the ever-iconic X-Men (1991). The proof is in the pudding with this one, with the first issue being the highest-selling single-issue comic of all time. Claremont's first issue, being paired with legendary artist Jim Lee, led to a whopping 8.1 million copies sold, which broke a Guinness World Record—one that Marvel Comics still holds to this day.

If that isn't proof enough of the massive power behind this Claremont and Lee book, then nothing else could be. It has some of the best designs for the X-Men corner of the Marvel Comics universe, some of the greatest storytelling the team has had, and was an all-around critical and financial success that is still marveled over to this day.

House of X (2019) and Powers of X (2019)

These two books are commonly paired together because, well, they really have to be. This combined story is one that completely reinvents the X-Men for the modern age, and is the perfect stepping-on point for anyone looking to read the current era of X-Men. The new status quo is unlike anything that's ever been seen before for the team, making it the definition of a fresh start.

House of X (2019) and Powers of X (2019) are some of Marvel Comics' best modern works. Written by the modern-day legend, Jonathan Hickman, these two books are everything the team needed for so long, and there's a good chance that, with how popular it is, the MCU could take inspiration from it.

X-Men: Grand Design (2017)

The X-Men: Grand Design series of comics is one of the most essential books for new X-Men fans, period. Each issue of this series covers the large, grand, sometimes messy history of the X-Men, and condenses it into one very understandable run. One could consider X-Men: Grand Design as the ultimate CliffsNotes for the history of this franchise.

Written by the very talented Ed Piskor—who also drew the book—this project is one that is perfect for fans looking to get a quick look at the history of the X-Men before jumping into other stories in the series. It's a true love letter to the franchise as a whole, and is a surefire way to get someone invested in the series in a quick, stylized, and engaging way.

Astonishing X-Men (2004)

Before he jumped into the cinematic superhero world with Marvel Studios' The Avengers, Joss Whedon was a writer for Marvel Comics. In 2004, he helmed the X-Men title known as Astonishing X-Men (2004) and brought forth a story called "Gifted," which is the highlight of the run. With this book, Whedon provided a back-to-basics story and team dynamic that makes it a great jumping-on book for the team.

Astonishing X-Men (2004) is a super fun plot that is filled to the brim with the classic punchy Whedon dialogue that makes his characters so entertaining. Through his writing, it's absurdly clear that Whedon loves the X-Men and had a plethora of fun writing them. The character dynamics are wonderful, and they pair alongside the great storyline perfectly.

Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)

While the X-Men have some pretty popular comics that have come out over the years, none are more famous and noteworthy than Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975). This is pretty much known as the X-Men comic. This issue is a huge part of what pushed the team to become the worldwide phenomenon it would soon become, setting up the iconic Claremont run.

This book introduced cornerstone characters of the franchise, like Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus, and the island of Krakoa. Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975) acts as the foundation of the Marvel team even to this day. It cannot be denied that this 1975 book is something truly special and a true piece of superhero history as a whole. This could borderline be the perfect place for a new X-Men fan to start their journey with the mutant team.