The X-Men have long stood as one of the most important teams in the Marvel Universe. They’ve fought at the forefront of crisis after world-ending crisis, introducing readers to dozens of iconic and beloved characters along the way. One of the X-Men’s biggest strengths is their versatile cast. The team is constantly shuffling around mutants new and old, pushing different characters into the spotlight for whatever story and theme the writers want to explore. Not only do the team members change, but so does the X-Man in charge. There have been dozens of different iterations of the X-Men, and in turn, plenty of heroes have stepped up to be their guiding light.
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Today, we’re taking a look at the seven greatest heroes who have led the X-Men. We’re going to be ranking them based on their effectiveness as leaders and the impact they’ve left on their teams. The various X-teams have had dozens of leaders by this point, and each one offers something unique in their shared quest to protect mutantkind and the world. The seven that have earned a spot on this list are the ones who have proven that they’re more than the standard team manager. With all that said, let’s leap into some leadership ranking.
7) Emma Frost
While she started as one of the X-Men’s biggest enemies, Emma has more than come around. She puts up a glib front, but cares deeply for her fellow mutant, especially the children she teaches. Emma is a fantastic strategist. Having been the White Queen, she has plenty of experience in manipulating the situation to her advantage. Emma can be downright ruthless and will use her incredible psychic powers to force enemies to stand down when she can’t convince them. Unfortunately, as strategic and loyal as Emma is, her abrasive attitude can easily turn even her friends against her. It’s difficult for Emma to establish trust, and the best leaders need their troops to trust them.
6) Wolverine
Wolverine has headed numerous smaller X-teams, usually the covert ones, and has even led the X-Men themselves after his intense falling out with Cyclops. He founded the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, where he raised a new generation of X-Men alongside Kitty Pryde. Wolverine is one of the best-respected heroes out there and is a surprisingly good teacher. He has a whole lot of experience from over two hundred years of life, and cares more deeply about his friends than he’ll ever let on. Wolverine’s a fantastic fighter and one of the best mentors ever for kids, but at the end of the day, he’s much better as a soldier than a leader. He’s the best he is at what he does, but that’s not leading.
5) Rogue
Rogue has led the X-Men in a couple of eras, each time growing more and showing what made her command different yet just as effective as anyone else. In contrast to our previous two entrants, Rogue is easy to like and trust. She’s a natural at coordinating people, and her ability to absorb others’ powers and memories grants her a deeper understanding of how her teammates work than anyone else. Rogue is charismatic and devoted to guiding her friends to victory. She was even chosen by Captain America to lead the Avengers Unity Division. Being called a good leader by Steve Rogers is practically the best compliment you can receive.
4) Dani Moonstar
Dani was one of the original New Mutants, and quickly became one of their leaders when Karma left the team. Ever since, Dani has been on a warpath to showcase how she can lead the team like nobody else. Dani is one of the most underrated X-Men, despite her incredible ability to connect with people and inspire them. In the “Age of Revelation” timeline, Dani was the leader of the Avengers, wielding Captain America’s shield, which is the perfect future for her. She’s destined to be one of the best leaders in the world, easily standing alongside the best of the best. Heck, she already is, and she still has a whole lot of potential to reach.
3) Storm
Storm was the leader chosen when Cyclops left the team, and over the years, she’s shown everyone that she deserves to be in charge just as much as Scott. She has no shortage of the necessary charisma, being called a goddess and all. She’s a fantastic strategist as well, and is sure to always lead by example, never asking anything she is unwilling to do herself. More than anything, Storm inspires people. She flies in and fights on equal footing with gods and man-made monstrosities, and in turn, makes her teammates feel like they can win. She brings out the best in everyone by simply existing, and that is one of a leader’s most essential skills.
2) Professor X
Charles Xavier founded the X-Men on a dream that mutants and humans would one day live in harmony. To that end, he started a school to educate young mutants and show them how to use their powers to help the world and the people around them. Carles can definitely be abrasive, and lately, he’s become the subject of intense retcons aimed at making him one of the most morally ambiguous characters in all of fiction, but at his heart, Charles is a good man trying to help everyone. His dream literally changed the world, as without it, evil mutants like Apocalypse would have conquered it. Charles’ dream is the driving force behind the X-Men, and his mentorship is essential to all of their successes.
1) Cyclops
Scott Summers was the original field leader for the X-Men, and even decades later, he stands as their best leader by a country mile. Scott is arguably the best strategist in the Marvel Universe, always planning fifteen steps ahead and making seven backup plans for each step. He perfectly understands everyone’s strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. Even when suffering from horrible tragedy and self-doubt, Scott never stops looking for the best path forward. Whenever the mutant world collapses, Scott takes it on himself to unite them under his banner. Sometimes, his actions are too extreme, but his mentality never shifts from leading the X-Men to a better tomorrow.
Nobody, sans Captain America, can convince people they could win an impossible war like Cyclops. He’s the man with infinite plans and the grit to keep pushing to win, no matter how long it takes. Scott is the living defender of Charles’s dream. He’s both its strongest soldier and its greatest advocate, believing that the X-Men will be the ones to change the world. No matter what, Cyclops will figure out a way to inspire his team to win the day, and that is the truest mark of a leader.
Which of the X-Men’s leaders is your favorite, and which other ones do you think deserve an honorable mention on this list? Leave a comment in the comment section below and join the conversation on the ComicBook Forums!
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