X-Men Fans Name the Franchise’s Most Underrated Heroes in Social Media Challenge

Summary Underrated mutants like Thunderbird and Multiple Man are gaining attention thanks to fans advocating for more spotlight.

Variety is key in building the X-Men, from powerful characters like Polaris to long-overlooked gems like Husk and Firestar.

Gail Simone's call for underrated X-Men resonated with fans, showcasing a desire for more diverse and underused characters in future stories.

The X-Men have endured heinous attacks over the years that diminished their numbers, but there are plenty of powerful, compelling mutants in the Marvel Universe. Unfortunately, there isn’t room for everyone to participate in the major teams or storylines, leaving some of the most interesting mutants waiting on the sidelines. Now, fans are giving shout-outs to some of the most underrated X-Men around.

Famed comics author Gail Simone recently called for fans to sound off about their favorite X-related character who deserves more love, and the X-Men crowd did not disappoint. Responses poured in on X (formerly known as Twitter) and included everything from familiar faces to obscure mutants.

Some participants went into detail about exactly why their favorite X-Gene carrier doesn't get enough of the spotlight, and there were definitely some compelling cases. The fans have spoken, and Simone's thread offers excellent food for thought for any future Marvel writers looking to include a secret fan-favorite or two in their next roster.

Gail Simone’s Social Media Post Highlights Characters Fans Want to See

Firestar, Multiple Man, Thunderbird, and Others Get a Lot of Love

The list of mutants is expansive, but Marvel frequently sticks with a few “tried and true” faces to carry the X-titles. Fans of characters like Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, or Nightcrawler never have to search far to find their favorites, but there are plenty of gut-wrenching stories and incredible powers to be explored elsewhere, too.

Gail Simone’s prompt garnered multiple calls for Jamie Madrox, aka Multiple Man, who did a fantastic job carrying the X-Factor (2006) series. Firestar, a mutant capable of projecting stored electromagnetic energy, was another frequent mention. She has participated in several teams and proven her versatility. This is especially true during the recent Fall of X storyline, where Firestar acts as a double agent embedded within the anti-mutant organization Orchis.

Fan responses drew a lot of attention towards characters with wasted potential, like Thunderbird, who was resurrected on Krakoa to great acclaim. Unfortunately, he wasn't heavily involved with the X-Men afterward, but there's still plenty of interest in the character. Several students belonging to the Academy X class, like Dust, Elixir, Mercury, Surge, and Hellion, garnered chatter, too, and there's a clear desire to see them brought back into the fold. Fortunately (at least for Surge fans) they can catch Noriko Ashida in the upcoming X-Force series under Forge's leadership, so there is still hope for the underrated mutants out there.

Fans Have a Lot to Say About Underused X-Men

Future Marvel Titles Have Plenty to Choose From

There’s no wrong way to build the X-Men. The beauty of mutantkind lies in its variety, and there are so many different abilities and personalities to choose from.

Whether it’s the ultra-powerful Polaris, or long-suffering Husk, there's incredible untapped potential in many characters fans long to see.

Even with Krakoa gone, mutants are always at their best when they stand together, and there is always a common cause to be found. Gail Simone prompted X-Men aficionados to speak out about their favorite underrated mutants and responses poured in, giving Marvel and other fans plenty to work with.

Sources: Gail Simone via X