Draft:Alternative versions of X-Men
Various incarnations of comic book superhero team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The X-Men are a superhero team that was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and has been published in a variety of Marvel Comics book titles since its premiere in 1963. There have been several versions of X-Men over the years, throughout the mainstream 616 universe and throughout the Marvel Multiverse.
Jack Kirby
| X-Men | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The X-Men #1 (September 1963) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| See also | X-Men in other media X-Men in video games X-Men in television X-Men in film |
Many notable X-Men come from alternate universes, including time-travelers like Rachel Summers and Lucas Bishop, as well as Jimmy Hudson, who originates from the Ultimate Marvel universe. The X-Men have appeared in many alternate universe settings, notably the Ultimate Universe and Age of Apocalypse, as well as future X-Men groups like X-Men 2099.
X-Men and related titles have had many time-travelling and alternate universe adventures, with sub-groups like Excalibur and Exiles routinely visiting alternate universes.
Mainstream reality
The X-Men are notable for having many sub-groups and associated superhero teams, including X-Factor, X-Force, New Mutants, and Excalibur. Throughout the X-Men's history the teams have been split, usually appearing in their own titles.
Blue and Gold teams
In the 1990's, the roster of the X-Men had grown so much that they were split into two teams; the Blue and Gold teams. These teams appeared in the two mainline X-Men titles, Uncanny X-Men and X-Men (Vol. 2). In 2017s ResurrXion relaunch, the X-Men Gold and X-Men Blue titles referred to the X-Men and the time-displaced X-Men from All-New X-Men.
X-Treme
The X-Treme X-Men (later X-Treme Sanctions Executive) are a splinter team of X-Men formed by Storm.
Schism
In the final issue of 2011's X-Men: Schism, the X-Men seperate into two teams; one led by Cyclops on Utopia, and the other led by Wolverine in the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.
Red
A team of X-Men led by Jean Grey.
Alaska and Louisiana teams
During the X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch, there are two X-Men teams, the Alaska team led by Cyclops and the Louisiana led by Rogue.
Sub-groups and short-lived teams
Villainous teams
- 3K X-Men: A team of former Orchis agents with artificial mutations; debuted in X-Men (Vol. 7) #1 (July, 2024).
- Cerebros X-Men: Artificial constructs created by Cerebro; debuted in Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #360 (October 1998).
- Dark X-Men: A villainous team created by Norman Osborn during the Dark Reign event; debuted in Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #513 (September 2009).
- X-Men Green: A group of eco-terrorists led by Lin Li; debuted in X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic (Vol. 1) #7 (October, 2021).
- Lobe's X-Men: A group of humans imbued with artificial mutant powers; debuted in Uncanny X-Men #530 (November, 2010).
Alternate realities
Age of Apocalypse (Earth-295)
An alternate future created by Legion accidentally killing his father, Charles Xavier in the past before he formed the X-Men. This allows Apocalypse to rise to power and create a mutant ethnostate in North America. The X-Men are formed by Magneto to oppose Apocalypse's regime.[1][2] This reality was the main setting of the 1995-1996 crossover series, relaunching all X-Men titles at the time, creating nine renamed titles. The timeline has been revisited in a 2005 one-shot and miniseries, and a 2012 14-issue ongoing series, as well as in other X-Men media.
Notably this universe has had a number of characters cross to the mainstream reality. Blink, a member of the X-Men in the Age of Apocalypse soon joined the reality hopping superhero group, the Exiles, being the most prominent member of the team, and boosting the character's popularity after the mainstream version's death during the Phalanx Covenant event.[3][4] Nate Grey, the alternate reality son of Jean Grey and Scott Summers, was transported to the mainstream reality alongside Holocaust. Nate Grey had his own comic series and was responsible for the Age of X-Man event. Other notable refugees include Nightcrawler and Sugar Man.
Age of Revelation (Earth-TRN1498)
The Age of Revelation is a 2025 crossover event in which Apocalypse's new heir, Revelation, takes over North America, similar to the Age of Apocalypse. Following the X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch, the Age of Revelation debuted in X-Men: Age of Revelation Overture #0 (October 2025) and ended with X-Men: Age of Revelation Finale #1 (December, 2025). The series launched over a dozen miniseries and one-shots, all detailing different characters during the event.[6]
Age of X (Earth-11326)
The Age of X is a pocket reality created by Legion, in which harsh anti-mutant policies force the mutant population into a never ending fight against human forces to defend Fortress X.[7] First appearing in Age of X: Alpha #1 (January, 2011), this reality was created when Doctor Nemesis tried to cure Legion's fractured mind, creating a new persona in the form of Moira MacTaggert to create a new reality.
Age of X-Man
The Age of X-Man is a pocket reality created by Nate Grey after a conflict with many mutant heroes in Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 5) #10 (January, 2019). This reality debuted in Age of X-Man Alpha #1 (January, 2019), and served as a relaunch for X-Men titles, closing Red, Blue and Gold titles.[7] This reality was created with a Life Seed, serving as a mutant utopia.
Amalgam Comics
Amalgam Comics is a comics imprint that specialized in merging DC Comics and Marvel Comics characters and teams to create new characters. Many X-Men members and teams were merged into these new amalgamations.
Askani World (Earth-4935)
The reality of the Askani and Stryfe, and the future in which Cable spent much of his life, Earth-4395 is set in the 37th century in which Apocalypse rose to power. Debuting in X-Factor #67 (April, 1991), this reality served as the setting for the 1994 miniseries Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix.[8]
An animated variant of this reality was teased in the final episode of X-Men '97.[9]
Bishop's future (Earth-1191)
In Bishop's future, mutants are rounded up and imprisoned.[10] The reality debuts in Uncanny X-Men #287 () and featured further in XSE (November 1996-February 1997), and the sequel Bishop: Xavier's Security Enforcers (January–March 1998). During the Messiah Complex storyline, it is revealed to Layla Miller and Jamie Madrox that Hope Summers is the cause of this future when she accidentally kills a million people, causing the government to pass harsh anti-mutant laws, causing the death of many of the X-Men.[11]
Other notable characters of this reality include Trevor Fitzroy, Shard, Ruby Summers, and the Xavier's Security Enforcers.
Days of Future Past (Earth-811)
The event Days of Future Past debuted in Uncanny X-Men #141-142 (January-February, 1981). In the year 2013, Sentinels have conquered North America, detaining or killing all mutants. Kitty Pryde's consciousness is sent back in time into her past self's body by Rachel Summers to prevent this future from occurring.[3] Rachel Summers would also go back in time and become stranded in the mainstream 616 universe, becoming a long-term member of mutant teams, including the X-Men and Excalibur.
This alternative future has been revisited numerous times, including Days of Future Present, "Days of Future Yet To Come", "Days of Future Tense", as well as reimagined for other media, most notably the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past, set in the original timeline of the Fox X-Men universe.[1][8]
Days of Future Past has been praised as one the best X-Men storylines of all time.[5]
House of M (Earth-58613)
House of M was an alternate plane created by the Scarlet Witch, in which mutants are the dominant species, and humans a minority.[7][1][8][12]
Layla Miller was a key character in this series, due to her ability to restore the memories of characters to that of their mainstream counterparts.
Marvel 1602 (Earth-311)
Marvel 1602 is an alternate history reality where many classic superheroes are present during the times of Colonial America. In this reality, the classic X-Men team are reimagined as Carlos Javier's "College for the Sons of Gentlefolk", where he offers sanctuary to the so-called "Witchbreed". The classic team of X-Men take on new names as Roberto Trefusis, Scotius Summerisle, Hal McCoy, Werner, and "John" Grey.[1][2][13]
Mutant X (Earth-1298)
Mutant X is a 1998-2001 comic book featuring the mainstream Havok transported into an alternate reality. In this reality, the X-Men are known as the Six, consisting of alternate versions of mainstream X-Men. A notable member of this team is Bloodstorm, a vampire version of Storm who was transported to the mainstream reality.[3][1]
Marvel Noir (Earth-90214)
In the Marvel Noir reality set in the 1930s, the X-Men are a group of delinquent teenagers led by Charles Xavier who believes that sociopathy is the next step in human evolution.
Ruins
The X-Men do not appear, instead alternate versions of members and villains are shown to have suffered under horrific circumstances. Charles Xavier is a tyrannical President of the United States, Jean Grey is a prostitute, Magneto and Mystique die, Wolverine suffers from poisoning from his adamantium skeleton, Emma Frost heads the Church of the Next Generation and forces children of her followers to undergo surgery, Cyclops as well as Nightcrawler and Kitty Pryde are imprisoned at a Texas jail and Sabretooth is part of a fascist cannibalistic militia based in Oklahoma alongside Bucky Barnes and Jack Monroe.
MC2 (Earth-982)
In the Marvel Comics 2 line, Jubilee founded the X-People
Ultimate X-Men ()
Ultimate X-Men is a title in the Ultimate Marvel line, debuting with Ultimate X-Men #1 (February, 2001), running from 2001 to 2009.[7][2] The Ultimate Marvel line was known for its darker reimagining of established characters, with many prominent members of the X-Men dying in this universe. The series ended with its 100th issue, following the Ultimatum event.
New Ultimate Universe ()
When the Maker remade the Ultimate Universe, a new Ultimate X-Men debuted with Ultimate X-Men (vol. 2) #1 (March, 2024). Featuring alternate versions of characters like Armor and Surge, it also debuted original characters like Maystorm.[7] The title has very little similarities with the typical X-Men formula, despite sharing characters and elements. The "X-Men" are instead formed by a loose collection of young mutants.
Old Man Logan
What If...?
The X-Men appeared in a number of "What If" stories, detailing alternate realities of their previous adventures. Issues centred on the X-Men include #6[14][15][16], #9[16][14], #12[2][14], #13[14], #24[2], #27[17][18], and #66.[19][20]
- What If Sinister Learned the Greatest Secrets of the Marvel Universe?
- What If Rogue Possessed the Power of Thor?[21]
Moira X (Moira 1-10)
During the Krakoan Age of X-Men comics, it was revealed that long-time human ally Moira MacTaggert was actually a mutant with the ability to reset her personal timeline upon death, resetting the universe while keeping her memories. During each of her lives, the events of the universe in her lifetime changed, reflecting her choices.[22]
Moira Engine
Mister Sinister created the Moira Engine, a machine harnessing the mutant abilities of a cloned group of Moira MacTaggerts, capable of creating and maintaining multiple ongoing alternate realities in which he could experiment with world domination tactics. The team known as the Dead X-Men ventured into the realities of the engine.
Sins of Sinister
Sins of Sinister was a 2023 crossover storyline in which Mister Sinister used his control over the Krakoan cloning process to enslave much of Earth's population and proceed to take over the universe. Immoral X-Men, Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants, and Nightcrawlers were miniseries during the storyline.[23][8][24][25] The event reintroduced the popular character Rasputin IV, who was able to cross into the mainstream reality to fight against Sinister's rise to Dominion.[26]
X-Men 2099 (Earth-928)
X-Men 2099 is a version of the X-Men set in the year 2099, as part of Marvel 2099. Debuting in X-Men 2099 #1 (August, 1993), the characters were created as an entirely new roster of mutants for the series. [2][27]
X-Men: The End (Earth-41001)
X-Men: The End is an alternate reality detailing the last days of the X-Men.[2] The miniseries had three six-issue books from 2004 to 2006, as part of the larger The End line. In the series, many of the X-Men are killed by Mister Sinister and Cassandra Nova. Years after the defeat of the villains, the X-Men are disbanded.[28]
X-Men Forever (Earth-161)
X-Men Forever was an alternate reality history created by longtime X-Men writer Chris Claremont, debuting in X-Men Forever #1 (2009).[2] This series functioned as a retelling of what Claremont planned for the future of the X-Men if he had not left the series.[29][8][30]