The X-Men are a team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, they first appeared in The X-Men #1 in September 1963. The series introduces mutants, a subspecies of humans born with superhuman abilities activated at puberty, and explores themes of prejudice, discrimination, and social justice as the team fights for peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans.
Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, the X-Men operate out of his School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester, New York. The team's roster has included iconic characters such as Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, and Beast. Their primary adversary and occasional ally is Magneto, a mutant supremacist and former friend of Xavier, who believes mutants should rule over humanity.
After initial cancellation in 1970, the series was revived in 1975 under writer Chris Claremont, whose influential 16-year run transformed the X-Men into one of Marvel's most popular and commercially successful franchises. The series became known for its diverse international cast, complex character relationships, and allegorical storytelling addressing real-world issues of racism, homophobia, and other forms of bigotry. The X-Men franchise has since expanded into numerous spin-off titles, including New Mutants, X-Force, and Excalibur, and has become a cornerstone of Marvel's publishing line.
