18 must-read X-Men comic books of the 2000s
By Mark Lynch
![WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: Cosplay, or costume play, actors Eclectic Eevee (L) and Sweet Spectre dress as characters from the X-Men comic books during the first day of Awesome Con at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center June 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Thousands of fans of popular culture, fantasy and science fiction will gather for the three-day convention that includes comic books, collectibles, toys, games, original art, cosplay and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: Cosplay, or costume play, actors Eclectic Eevee (L) and Sweet Spectre dress as characters from the X-Men comic books during the first day of Awesome Con at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center June 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Thousands of fans of popular culture, fantasy and science fiction will gather for the three-day convention that includes comic books, collectibles, toys, games, original art, cosplay and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/97a820e30b03e79d9dfaf5f69a904dda3926d9df7d7af13ebcba70d508aa4ae9.jpg)
5. Deadpool
Writer: Gerry Duggan, Brian Posehn
Gerry Duggan and comedian Brian Posehn created a Deadpool run that perfectly showed who Wade Wilson is. The jokes and the killing are a big part of what made him popular, but it’s not what kept him there. His best attribute is how he fights every day to be a better person. This is why Wade was given an entirely new group of friends and family to love. It was great to see.
The other reason this season is fantastic is because you get to watch Wade lose everything. Deadpool is like Spider-Man and Wolverine. He’s not allowed to experience joy for too long. His fall from grace in this series became one of the most depressing.
4. Exiles
Writer: Judd Winick, Chuck Austen, Tony Bedard
Exiles are easily the most underrated mutant team Marvel has ever assembled. No matter who they put on the team, they succeeded. And, despite being thrown together, they became a family and protected the multiverse. Sure, other superhero teams have done that. The difference here is the Exiles did it with little to no rest. Even Beak helped on more than a few occasions.
This series reintroduced the world to Blink from the Age of Apocalypse. She went on to lead her team and do amazing things. Among them is defeating one of the scariest beings in the multiverse, King Hyperion.