The X-Men debuted in 1963 inX-Men#1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

At the time, the X-Men were teenagers, students brought together by Professor Charles Xavier.

Through the years, things have changed drastically.

Rogue Savage Land Variant Cover Art

The mutant heroes learned that nothing they could do seemed to change public perception of mutants.

However, she ended up aligning her views with the X-Men and eventually became a leader.

Emma led the team alongside Cyclops as the two developed a romantic relationship at the same time.

Comic book art: The Original Founding X-Men Team rush forward.

Captain America then chose Havok as the leader.

Alex had no agenda except to double-check his fellow mutants were safe, a goal he accomplished successfully.

Magneto

Thefirst villain the X-Men fought in comicswas Magneto.

8-TV-Shows-That-Had-An-Amazing-Pilot,-But-Went-Downhill-From-There

He ended up as their deadliest villain, and he was also a big reason the world fears mutants.

However, his friendship with Professor Charles Xavier ren deeper than his evil nature at times.

When Xavier had to leave Earth, he left Magneto in charge of his X-Men.

Split image of Emma Frost, Cyclops, Storm, & Prof. X sitting in his chair.

He currently serves on the Quiet Council of Krakoa where he helps govern mutantkind with Xavier and Apocalypse.

Unlike people like Magneto and Cable, Pryde was someone who followed her moral compass at all times.

She had more experience on the battlefield than someone like Kitty Pryde, who was younger and more naive.

Emma Frost walking into the room as the Stepford Cuckoos stand beside her in Marvel Comics.

He was someone who didn’t play well with others.

He was also someone who did what he wanted to do regardless of the backlash.

After Cyclops became more destructive with his leadership, it divided the X-Men.

X-Men’s Havok using his powers.

Cyclops led one team and Wolverine led a second to pursue different ideological purposes.

Cyclops

Cyclops was the first field leader for the X-Men.

He was also the first mutant that Charles Xavier brought in to join his school.

Cable with his guns leading X-Force.

Scott took the beliefs and teaching of Xavier and believed in them completely.

This made him a strong leader that successfully preserved Xavier’s dream of existing peacefully with humans.

Over time, Cyclops changed as hate crimes against mutants rose.

Magneto raising his arms while talking in X-Men comics

One of these was Storm, who eventually became a leader on her own.

Charles Xavier

Professor Charles Xavier has made many questionable decisions in his life.

As the first leader of the X-Men, he sent inexperienced teenagers into battle.

Kitty Pryde standing with her arms spread in Marvel Comics

He tried to force mutants to join his team and mindwiped anyone who rejected his invitation.

He altered Wolverine’s mind to force him to join and hid the death of an entire team.

Despite these choices , Charles Xavier always had strong dreams of saving mutants from those who hate them.

Jean Grey using her Phoenix powers on the cover of New X-Men

NEXT:10 Best Alternate Versions Of The X-Men

Wolverine puts his arms around Cyclops and Jean Grey whole holding a six pack of beer in X-Men comics.

Cyclops stands in front of the X-men with his arms outstretched.

Multiple versions of Storm fly in an abstract purple background.

Professor X sitting in his chair.

X-Men