Some of the bestX-Mencharacters have emerged in just the past five years.X-Menas a franchise has existed for 62 years, ever since Jack Kirby andStan Lee first created the X-Menin 1963. Readers were stunned at the unique characters on display. The prospect of leaders with optic eye beams, telepaths who can read minds, and teenagers who could turn anything into ice was unheard of.
In the time since, theX-Menfranchise has not lost its creative born, as a flurry of writers and artists have entered the picture to contribute to the lore. With each contribution,mutants become all the more powerful, and most importantly, one of a kind. The powers that debut in the pages of X-Men stories have become all the more distinctive to each new individual who joins the team. The creativity has seemed to bolster all the more ever since the new decade started five years ago, giving audiences the most unique modern X-Men to date.
10Isca the Unbeaten
Can Never Lose
A better explanation for Isca the Unbeaten’s powers cannot be laid out better than just by uttering her name: she simply cannot lose. Even if she is technically outmatched by someone in terms of pure power and strength, she is expected to win every fight, challenge, game, and obstacle in her way. Even if she takes a beating, she can never actually be beaten. Be it by inexplicable means, pure luck, or an outside obstacle, Isca always wins. It’s the power of tychokinesis, which is the power to manipulate fields of chance, even by improbable means.
Isca debuts inX-Men#12 by Jonathan Hickman and Leinil Francis Yu.
Even in a team layout, she can sense which of the two teams is more likely to win, and rather than choose the side she legitimately wants to be on, she shifts to the team destined to win. It’s an Omega-level power that assures that, even if shefights Superman, she’ll win every time.
9Deathdream
Can Switch Between Alive and Dead
When Hotoru was born, he exited his mother as a stillborn with the umbilical cord around his neck. The boy would die, revive, and then die just the same two more times that same night. His mutation is necromancy, having learned to bring himself back from the dead. Not only that, but he can willingly drift at will between alive and dead. In the latter, which he calls a"death state,“he achieves a form akin to a living corpse. In this state, he can summon and tap into shadowy spirits and even borrow the powers of the deceased in whatever battle he finds himself in.
It’s a truly freaky powerunlike anything seen before inX-Menlore. Readers have seen heroes resurrect and take advantage of an advanced healing factor, but nothing like this has been on display before. It makes him a standout of the X-Men’s Outliers.
8Stripe
Can Control Anything with Stripes
There aren’t a lot of foes who could match up to Captain America, but the First Avenger’s legacy as a star-spangled hero might expose him to ahumiliating new weakness. Characters like himself who sprout stripes from their costumes are made instantly vulnerable to the powers of Stripe. Having debuted in theX-Cellentseries,Stripe’s mutation gives her the ability to manipulate any item or person that can be defined as stripy. Admittedly, on paper, it sounds a bit cheesy, but believe it or not, a power like this could be lethal under the right circumstances.
Stripe debuts inX-Cellent(2022) #3 by Peter Milligan and Michael “Doc” Allred
Stripes are everywhere in this world, and can even be defined loosely. As seen inX-Cellent#1, she can bend the “stripes” of an electrified cage to her satisfaction. A building’s stripy design choice can be turned into a weapon for Stripe. There are far too many ways that Stripe can find and use stripes to her advantage.
7Khora of the Burning Heart
Enhances Mutant Powers, Burning Torso
Much like Isca the Unbeaten before her, Khora of the Burning Heart’s powers are reflective in her name. Khora is someone who is already skilled of her own merit naturally, as a native assassin of Arakko, but beyond just her proficiency in combat and killing,her heart serves as an internal combustion engine, or a battery charger, per se. She uses it to further boost her powers, but also to serve as a life force for any mutant near her. Khora’s heart is enough to serve as a power source for other mutants to boost their own abilities.
Khora debuts in Empyre: Aftermath - Avengers #1 by Dan Slott, Al Ewing, and Valerio Schiti.
The extent of her power can be seen wherever she goes, as the burst of energy transcends through her ribcage in a way that’s visible to anyone who has the misfortune of running intoArakko’s top assassin.
6Calico
Can Generate Any Power Via a Supernatural Recreation of Her Horse Ember
The Outliers all have limitless potential to be great once they perfect and harness their powers. This notion especially applies to Calico, especially following a shocking revelation about her horse, Ember. Initially, upon her debut, it was understood that her power was her psychic connection to her horse, as she was able to transform her horse into a variety of upgrades at will using her mind. On paper, that power was unique enough to get fans excited about her future.
Then, it was soon revealed that the horse isn’t a real horse, but a psychic recreation of a pet that has since passed away.If Calico is already capable of manifesting a perfect psychic recreation of a horse and regularly upgrading her, then Calico could tap into much greater power in the future.In time,she could become an Omega-level threat.
5Jitter
The Best in the World at Any Activity for One Minute
There’s a saying that anyone can do anything they set their mind to. The phrase becomes literal for Sofia Yong, albeit temporarily.Jitter’s mutant power is that she can mentally access and master any skill possible, but only for the allotted time of one minute. Such a perfect handle on hyperfocusing would bea dream for Cyclops, but as a trainee, Sofia still has a major weakness. The biggest drawback to her abilities is that after tapping into so much power, she’s left exhausted.
Jitter, Calico, and the rest of the Outliers debut inUncanny X-Men#1 by Gail Simone and David Marquez.
That’s why she keeps a stopwatch on her at all times, to ensure she doesn’t reach risky territory that leaves her in such a weakened state, especially in a high-stakes battle. Still, though, the real dream would be for her to perfect those abilities past that minute, or evolve until she doesn’t have a time limit.
4Justina LaGuardia
Can Surpass Anyone Closest to Her
No mutant in the past five years has made such an impressive debut quite like Justina LaGuardia, who lives up toher codename of Superior.Her mutant power is that she can quite literally become superior in any power or skill to the person closest to her. She showcases this ability by, first, outrunning a thief who steals her purse and tries to run away. Then, most impressively, she is able to overpower Professor X himself, using his own psychic powers against him and making him forget she ever existed.
Superior debuts in “Revelation: Superior,” a story by Al Ewing and Sara Pichelli for 2025’sGiant-Size X-Men#1
For now, this remains the only appearance of Justina LaGuardia, but her first appearance makes it evident that it won’t be the last. The story takes place during the originalGiant-Size X-Men#1 from 1975, and theoretically, she will have only improved and gotten stronger by the time readers see her again in the present.
3Jennifer Starkey
Animal Metamorph
The 3K is a unique set of X-Men who, rather than developing their X-gene in adolescence, have an X-gene forced upon them when Cassandra Nova kidnaps unsuspecting humans and forcibly turns them into mutants. The 3K, though, genuinely have ambitions to be heroes and want to use the gifts thrust upon them to help the world. Among those afflicted with a new mutant power is Jennifer Starkey, a woman who is turned into a unique brand of animal metamorph.
Jennifer Starkey debuts inX-Men#4 by Jed MacKay and Netho Diaz.
She can alter her genetic makeup at will just by thinking of it.Just by thinking of jumping in the Detroit River, she develops gills. She’s also seen to develop bird-like wings. It’s not only unique that she can pull these feats off, but she can also maintain an instant, conscious understanding of how her new traits work.
2Lady Henrietta
Protector of Mutants and a Spiritual Figure in X-Men Lore
After her first handful of appearances, Lady Henrietta “Henry” Benjamin has beenlikened to former X-Men foe, Magneto. It’s not just because of her pro-mutant ideology, but the all-mighty extent of her power.Lady Henrietta, already, is one of the X-Men’s strongest mutants through the large array of powers she has at her fingertips. She is seen to transform her body and skin into a rocky exterior, while also being capable of summoning rocky beasts to her aid. That’s not all, as she banishes the souls of humans who kill mutants to a prison of her own creation.
Lady Henrietta debuts inUncanny X-Men#14 by Gail Simone and David Marquez.
In addition, as a spiritual figure, she guards the mutant burial grounds at Haven House, where underneath is Penumbra, the hellish prison she condemns these souls to. She’s already etched a pivotal place for herself in X-Men lore, mutant history, and even Black history within the Marvel Universe.
1Ransom
Black Hole Kinetic Absorption Powers
Valentin Correa has emerged as the de facto leader of The Outliers, not only by debuting alongside them, but largely speaking on the team’s behalf when necessary and directing them on their missions. Personally-wise, Ransom has the potential to one daylead the official X-Men squadron, especially in Wolverine’s eyes, as Logan once called Ransom his"first draft pick.“He has all the characteristics of a leader.Ransom’s potential in theX-Menuniverse is sky-high, especially when considering his powers.
Ransom has a tiny black hole in his chest for a heart that allows him to absorb matter and energy.
One of the X-Men’s newest recruits has an utterly unique mutation. Ransom has a tiny black hole in his chest for a heart that allows him to absorb matter and energy. He’s nearly invincible to attack, as this same heart can withstand bullets and blasts. As someone who can withstand virtually anything dished at him, Ransom’s future with theX-Menlooks bright.
