Top 10 X-Men Facts
Think you know everything there is to know about the X-Men? Test your knowledge with these astonishing facts! Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 X-Men Facts.
Special thanks to our user claytonmartino12 for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 X-Men Facts
Top 100 Useless Disney Facts You Don't Need to Know
Think you know everything there is to know about the X-Men? Test your knowledge with these astonishing facts! Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 X-Men Facts.
#10: Mutant-Hatred is an Allegory for Racial Tensions in the United States
One of the major themes of the “X-Men” franchise is the relationship between mutants and humans, even the super-powered ones. To put it briefly, many of the public see mutants as dangerous and want to restrict their freedom. While some mutants, often led by Magneto, wish to subjugate or eliminate the human race completely. Co-creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby didn’t need to look far to come up with this theme – they wrote the comic in the 1960s during the civil rights movement when racial tensions in the United States were near a boiling point. As such, racism and prejudice have been cornerstones of “X-Men” ever since.
#9: Wolverine’s First Appearance Was Actually in the Incredible Hulk
Top 10 EPIC Wolverine Movie Moments
Arguably the most famous hero in the franchise, Wolverine’s first comic book appearance wasn’t actually in the “X-Men” comics. Instead, he first appeared in “The Incredible Hulk” #180. In this story, the Hulk finds himself in Quebec, Canada, where he wanders into a small cave and engages in a fight with the Wendigo because Canada totally has those. As the pair trade blows and nearly destroy an entire forest, a costumed creature with metal claws appears – the Wolverine! In the next issue, Wolverine defeats the Wendigo and then briefly battles the Hulk. Now that’s how you introduce a character!
#8:The X-Men Tax Credit
Top 10 Pixar Facts That Will Ruin Your Childhood
Are mutants humans or nonhuman creatures? This is one of the main issues in the series, but also became an issue in the United States Court of International Trade. When it comes to action figures, US law makes an important distinction between what constitutes a doll and what constitutes a toy. Simply, dolls are human while toys are nonhuman. This is important for toy companies because there is a higher tariff on dolls than toys. Toy Biz, which is part of Marvel Comics, argued that their action figures were not human and ended up winning the case in court. While the comic books would have you believe that mutants are people to, the tax man sees things differently.
#7: Who Else Could Have Directed The X-Men Films?
Top 10 Black Horror Films
Lately, it seems as though a new superhero film comes out every week. Back in the early 2000s, however, superhero films were not the cash cows they are today. Bryan Singer, who has directed four of the five “X-Men” films, initially turned down the offer to direct the first film, but reconsidered after reading the comics. Things could have been drastically different if he hadn’t changed his mind, however, as 20th Century Fox were considering several other prominent directors for the job, including Robert Rodriguez, Tim Burton, and, brace yourself comic fans, Joel Schumacher, the architect of the “Batman & Robin” disaster. Talk about a dodging a bullet.
#6: Mystique and Destiny’s Lesbian Relationship Was Banned
As members of the second Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Mystique and Destiny spent a lot of time together. Their relationship was more than just co-members of the brotherhood, however. Although it’s never mentioned specifically, it is pretty clear that the pair were in fact lovers. In “Marvel Fanfare” #40, they dance together as Mystique takes the form of a man. It was later revealed that the 1954 Comic Codes Authority forbade their gay relationship, but when Marvel dropped the code in 2001, their relationship was finally revealed.
#5: Sex-Men Issue 118
Top 10 Home Alone Facts That Will Ruin Your Childhood
Comic book illustrator Ethan Van Sciver isn’t the first person to sneak a hidden message into a comic book, but what he did in “New X-Men” #118 took comic book “Easter eggs” to a whole new level. Sciver attempted to put the word “sex” into each page of the issue. He at least maintains some form of subtlety, inserting the word into Jean Grey’s flowing hair or Emma Frost’s diamond skin. While Sciver was clearly just trying to have a little fun, it upset some readers and some attempts appear to have been edited out.
#4: They Were Originally Called the Merry Mutants
Top 100 Useless Movie Facts You Don't Need to Know
Whether you are a fan of the franchise or not, it would be difficult to find someone who doesn’t know what the name “X-Men” refers to. Things could have been drastically different, however, if Stan Lee had initially gotten his way. Lee wanted to call the series “The Merry Mutants” but was rejected by Marvel publisher Martin Goodman, who claimed that readers wouldn’t know what a mutant was. Instead, they went with the name “X-Men”, with the X referring to the mutants “extra power”.
#3: Bryan Singer Banned the Cast of X-Men From Reading Comic Books
Like him or hate him, Bryan Singer helped pave the way for the current success of superhero films. Hardcore comic book fans, however, have criticized Singer for failing to stay faithful to the comics. Singer didn’t seem to express much interest in following the comic book plotlines, and even banned comic books from the set because he wanted the actors to focus entirely on the script. According to Hugh Jackman, however, several actors traded comic books secretly without Singer’s knowledge.
#2: First Gay Wedding in Comics
Top 10 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets from My Best Friend's Wedding
Considering that X-Men revolves around prejudice and the desire to be treated equally, it’s no surprise that the series featured the first gay marriage in comic book history. The wedding occurred in 2012 in “Astonishing X-Men” #51, and was between Northstar and his partner Kyle. Northstar’s sexuality had actually been revealed nearly 20 years earlier, when he became Marvel’s first openly gay character. The publisher was praised by critics and fans alike for it’s progressive take on marriage. Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honourable mentions: Russell Crowe was Almost Wolverine Michael Jackson wanted a role in X-Men Rogue Was Initially a Villain Wolverine was Almost Called the Badger
#1: X-Men #1 is the Best-Selling Comic Book of All-Time
Top 10 Most Unexpected Brutal Deaths in Comic Book Movies
There have been hundreds of thousands of comic books released over the years, but only one can claim to be the best-selling book of all-time. That title goes to “X-Men” Vol 2 #1, which was published in 1991. According to the Guinness World Records, it has sold over 7 million copies. Part of the reason for its success is because the comic book industry boomed in the 1990s, with the “X-Men” series in particular increasing significantly in popularity. The best part may be the comic’s affordability – you can find this collector’s item for under $10 on Amazon. Do you agree with our list? What is your favourite X-Men fact? For more great Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
