10 X-Men Graphic Novels You Must Read Before You Die

These ten books will definitely create a Storm...

[alfomar]

The whole Claremont's run should be mandatory for any comic book reader. The real father of the X-men

[spiderneil]

John Byrne deserves more credit. He wasn't just Clearmont's penciller he Co plotted the iconic X-Men stories. The X-Men weren't as good before or since so Byrne was the X factor (pun intended).

[josephsokolowski]

Your Top Ten is pretty dead on. I just don’t agree with the order. The Dark Phoenix Saga gets move credit then it deserves. It absolutely is Top Ten just not #1 “God Loves, Man Kills” absolutely, without question deserves the top spot.

People who hate the X-Men could read only that story and admit to themselves it’s a great story, deserving of all the praise you can give it. That story is as fresh today as when I 1st read in in the 80’s because the theme, art and character development in the story is top notch. You don’t have to know a single X-Men or anything about mutants or Marvel comics in general to totally appreciate that story.

That’s why it deserves top billing.

[Ron]

I think Messiah Complex and Messiah War were great stories and even Avengers v X-Men where we see the Phoenix possess the likes of Cyclops and others...among other wild things.

[mgineman]

I really enjoyed BMB's all new x-men/Uncanny run a few years ago.

[xmn]

My personal favorite stories are: X-Tinction Agenda, Inferno, The Muir Island Saga, The Phalanx Covenant (particularly the X-Factor/X-Force/Excalibur chapter) Legion Quest, a majority of the 90s X-Force run (I prefer when Cable ain't there), Amazing X-Men (that series was too short), and the New Mutants in Asgard... The second time.

Also, I pretty much agree with this list, I would just switch the positions of a lot of these.

[theos]

The Fatal Attractions story is my favorite. Even though it was a short one it really impacted all of the X books for ten years

[TheYoungWolfI]

My tops are Uncanny X-Force by Remender, Astonishing X-Men by Whedon, New X-Men by Morrison, X-Men First Class by Parker, and X-Men 1 by Jim Lee

[LeGioNoFZioN]

not a huge fan of Morrison, Whedon and some of the newer runs, but you nailed all the important ones from the 80's.

[GoddessOfWhim]

X-Men Season One, THAT should be the MCU version

[mattchew]

The X-tinction Agenda is the Greatest X-story ever writen... ever

[Ellthom]

No Fatal Attractions or X-Tinction Agenda? I would have replaced House of M with any of of those personally. :(

Glad you included Hellfire though, very under rated :)

[artwithmichael]

Just read Schism and that was pretty powerful and meta.

[MardonNaLou]

I’ve read most of these. Still haven’t gotten to Age of Apocalypse. I will at some point. Great video as always.

[grahamcann]

I was thinking "God Loves, Man Kills, " would be number one. (Probably because it's my favorite graphic novel of all-time.) But though we may not share the same #1, I respect your logic, and knowledge. However I'd like to point out that the person who "saved the day" in that graphic novel was a non-mutant, police officer. A rather important part of the story I thought. (A non-mutant was the source of the "evil", but also, right on the edge of victory for Stryker, the day is saved by a non-mutant.)
I think I would have also included the "New Mutants" on your list. (The first X-men Graphic Novel (Marvel Graphic Novel #4, followed by God Loves Man Kills.)
Also I think the Phoenix saga is great! But I hate the evil alien menace that is the "Phoenix Force". When I was reading the original story it was very poignant (and awesome, I thought, ) that Jean Grey was transformed exactly the same way, (as was written, and drawn, ) as The Fantastic Four. She was a mutant who was exposed to cosmic rays and was enhanced. (Also like the U-Foes.) I feel the retcon has damaged much of the impact of the original story. And kind-of become like Oprah... "You get the Phoenix Force, and you get the Phoenix Force, and..." (Kind of like the Symbiotes.)
As always, thank you so very much for your X-citing video.

[KRob]

A cheat answer for me is Uncanny Avengers. Havoc finally getting the love he deserves on that run.

[ddsq]

House of M should legit be an MCU movie!

[rodimusrider]

3:17 says this while showing a picture of Beast in pain

[derrickhaggard]

Claremont's run is in my opinion mandatory reading for if you want to get into X-Men.

[nolastname]

Jim Lee's work on X-Men during the space adventures of the mutants were great too and I have a soft spot for the arc on mojo-world.
It's a good list. If after reading that you don't like X-men comics, you can give up.