X-Men and the Mutant Metaphor (24 page)

In total, there were 281 characters who appeared in the series between
The Uncanny X-Men #394
and
The Uncanny X-Men #500
. Of these, 188 (66.9%) were male characters, 90 (32.0%) were female, and 3 (1.1%) had no applicable gender. Characters made 1,426 appearances. Of these, 959 (67.3%) were male, 461 (32.3%) were female, and 6 (0.4%) had no applicable gender.

Conclusion

So what does this analysis add to our understanding of the X-Men? The series does clearly and frequently use the concept of “mutants” to explore issues of prejudice. But, in the end, it frequently uses white male heroes supported by female characters to battle racial and ethnic minorities while employing that metaphor. This doesn’t necessarily limit the power of the metaphor, as the interpretation and application of the characters, the themes, and the metaphor are all open to the reader. But it does mean that the literal use of female and minority characters is uncomfortably aligned with old stereotypes.

The numbers would look much worse if not for the enduring use of Storm, the character with the second-most appearances as an X-Man in the series (just a few appearances short of Wolverine’s high number). She has by far the most appearances of any female character and any minority character. The other characters with the most frequent appearances, Wolverine, Professor X, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Angel, and Iceman, are all white males. Besides appearing frequently, Storm stands out as an independent character, a team leader, and a powerful addition to the team.

Particularly unexpected in this analysis was the regression that was seen after Claremont left the series. The series had become more balanced in both gender and racial representation, and both of those trends reversed in the two periods following his departure as writer. Some of this may be related to the issues that finally forced Claremont’s departure—creators wanted to revisit the earlier characters and scenarios that they had enjoyed when they were young readers, and this recycling of old cast inserted more white male characters into the mix and phased out the newer more diverse cast. Fortunately, because the X-Men franchise is ongoing, the trends can be reversed. In 2013, for example, Marvel relaunched the title
X-Men
with an entirely female team. Because of the expansive cast of characters in the X-Men universe, this all-female team is made up of long-established, popular, and nuanced characters with unique personalities and powers. It does not feel like any member of the group is a token addition to promote a feminist agenda. This demonstrates the success the X-Men franchise has had in creating enduring characters that break outside of the superhero genre’s mold of white male leads. But, clearly, more use of these characters is necessary to balance the history of the franchise that still carries too many markers of the genre it came from and the period when it was created.

Appendix A

X-Men Citations

The X-Men #1
(Sept. 1963). “X-Men.” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 8–31, print.

The X-Men #2
(Nov. 1963). “No One Can Stop the Vanisher!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 32–54, print.

The X-Men #3
(Jan. 1964). “Beware of the Blob!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 55–79, print.

The X-Men #4
(Mar. 1964). “The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 80–103, print.

The X-Men #5
(May 1964). “Trapped: One X-Man!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 104–129, print.

The X-Men #6
(July 1964). “Sub-Mariner! Joins the Evil Mutants.” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 130–154, print.

The X-Men #7
(Sept. 1964). “The Return of the Blob.” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 155–178, print.

The X-Men #8
(Nov. 1964). “Unus, the Untouchable!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 179–202, print.

The X-Men #9
(Jan. 1965). “Enter, the Avengers!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 203–226, print.

The X-Men #10
(Mar. 1965). “The Coming of . . . Ka-Zar!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 227–249, print.

The X-Men #11
(May 1965). “The Triumph of Magneto!” Lee, Stan (w), and Jack Kirby (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 252–274, print.

The X-Men #12
(July 1965). “The Origin of Professor X!” Lee, Stan (w), Jack Kirby and Alex Toth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 275–297, print.

The X-Men #13
(Sept. 1965). “Where Walks the Juggernaut!” Lee, Stan (w), Jack Kirby and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 298–320, print.

The X-Men #14
(Nov. 1965). “Among Us Stalk . . . the Sentinels!” Lee, Stan (w), Jack Kirby and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 321–343, print.

The X-Men #15
(Dec. 1965). “Prisoners of the Mysterious Master Mold!” Lee, Stan (w), Jack Kirby and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 344–366, print.

The X-Men #16
(Jan. 1966). “The Supreme Sacrifice!” Lee, Stan (w), Jack Kirby and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 367–389, print.

The X-Men #17
(Feb. 1966). “. . . and None Shall Survive!” Lee, Stan (w), Jack Kirby and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 390–412, print.

The X-Men #18
(Mar. 1966). “If Iceman Should Fail—!” Lee, Stan (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 413–435, print.

The X-Men #19
(Apr. 1966). “Lo! Now Shall Appear—The Mimic!” Lee, Stan (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 436–458, print.

The X-Men #20
(May 1966). “I, Lucifer . . .” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 459–481, print.

The X-Men #21
(June 1966). “From Whence Comes . . . Dominus?” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 482–507, print.

The X-Men #22
(July 1966). “Divided—We Fall!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 508–530, print.

The X-Men #23
(Aug. 1966). “To Save a City.” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 531–553, print.

The X-Men #24
(Sept. 1966). “The Plague of . . . the Locust!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 554–576, print.

The X-Men #25
(Oct. 1966). “The Power and the Pendant.” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 577–599, print.

The X-Men #26
(Nov. 1966). “Holocaust!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 600–622, print.

The X-Men #27
(Dec. 1966). “Re-Enter: The Mimic!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 623–645, print.

The X-Men #28
(Jan. 1967). “The Wail of the Banshee!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 646–668, print.

The X-Men #29
(Feb. 1967). “When Titans Clash!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 669–691, print.

The X-Men #30
(Mar. 1967). “The Warlock Wakes!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Jack Sparling (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 692–714, print.

The X-Men #31
(Apr. 1967). “We Must Destroy . . . the Cobalt Man!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
The X-Men Omnibus Volume 1: Collecting The X-Men Nos. 1–31
, ed. Cory Sedlmeier. NY: Marvel Comics, 2009, 715–737, print.

The X-Men #32
(May 1967). “Beware the Juggernaut, My Son!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 12 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #33
(June 1967). “Into the Crimson Cosmos.” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 12 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #34
(July 1967). “War—In a World of Darkness!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Dan Adkins (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 12 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #35
(Aug. 1967). “Along Came a Spider . . .” Thomas, Roy (w), and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 12 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #36
(Sept. 1967). “Mekano Lives!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Ross Andru (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 13 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #37
(Oct. 1967). “We, the Jury . . .” Thomas, Roy (w), and Ross Andru (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 13 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #38
(Nov. 1967). “The Sinister Shadow of . . . Doomsday!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Don Heck (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 13 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #39
(Dec. 1967). “The Fateful Finale!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Don Heck (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 14 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #40
(Jan. 1968). “The Mark of the Monster!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Don Heck (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 14 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #41
(Feb. 1968). “Now Strikes . . . the Sub-Human!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Don Heck (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 14 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #42
(Mar. 1968). “If I Should Die . . . !” Thomas, Roy (w), and Don Heck (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 15 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #43
(Mar. 1968). “The Torch Is Passed . . . !” Thomas, Roy (w), and George Tuska (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 15 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #44
(May 1968). “Red Raven, Red Raven . . . !” Thomas, Roy, and Gary Friedrich (w), and Don Heck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 18 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #45
(June 1968). “When Mutants Clash!” Friedrich, Gary (w), and Don Heck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
18 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #46
(July 1968). “The End of the X-Men!” Friedrich, Gary (w), and Don Heck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 18 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #47
(Aug. 1968). “The Warlock Wears Three Faces!” Friedrich, Gary (w), and Don Heck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 18 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #48
(Sept. 1968). “Beware Computo, Commander of the Robot Hive!” Drake, Arnold (w), and Don Heck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 19 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #49
(Oct. 1968). “Who Dares Defy . . . the Demi-Men?” Drake, Arnold (w), and Don Heck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 19 Jan. 2010, online.

The X-Men #50
(Nov. 1968). “City of Mutants.” Drake, Arnold (w), and Jim Steranko (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 20 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #51
(Dec. 1968). “The Devil had a Daughter!” Drake, Arnold (w), and Jim Steranko (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 21 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #52
(Jan. 1969). “Twilight of the Mutants!” Drake, Arnold (w), and Don Jeck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 21 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #53
(Feb. 1969). “The Rage of Blastarr!” Drake, Arnold (w), and Barry Windsor-Smith (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 21 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #54
(Mar. 1969). “Wanted: Dead or Alive—Cyclops!” Drake, Arnold (w), and Don Heck (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 22 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #55
(Apr. 1969). “The Living Pharoah!” Drake, Arnold (w), and Don Heck and Werner Roth (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 22 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #56
(May 1969). “What Is . . . the Power?” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 25 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #57
(June 1969). “The Sentinels Live!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 25 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #58
(July 1969). “Mission: Murder.” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 25 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #59
(Aug. 1969). “Do or Die, Baby!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 25 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #60
(Sept. 1969). “In the Shadow of . . . Sauron!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 26 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #61
(Oct. 1969). “Monsters Also Weep!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 26 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #62
(Nov. 1969). “Strangers . . . in a Strange Land!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 26 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #63
(Dec. 1969). “War in the World Below!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 26 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #64
(Jan. 1970). “The Coming of Sunfire!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Don Heck (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 27 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #65
(Feb. 1970). “Before I’d Be Slave . . .” O’Neal, Dennis (w), and Neal Adams (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 27 Jan. 2010, online.

X-Men #66
(Mar. 1970). “The Mutants and the Monster!” Thomas, Roy (w), and Sal Buscema (a).
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
. 27 Jan. 2010, online.