Summary
The X-Men are among some of the most popular comic book characters everand have seen various adaptations for the silver screen and gaming. Created in 1963 by comic legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the X-Men featured mutants who each had their own powers being taught and led by Charles Xavier, known as Professor X, as they began their battle against Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The comics have seen incredible stories over the years, from Old Man Logan to The Phoenix Saga, which have been adapted to major motion pictures.
With a wealth of well-designed characters, all with their own goals and aspirations, taking roles within the X-Men team over the years, it’s not surprising that some members of the team have changed sides, leading to big implications for Marvel’s team of super-powered mutants. For a multitude of reasons, some members of the X-Men team have decided to switch allegiances, so which characters have betrayed the X-Men?
7Wolverine
Once Was Tricked Into Killing His Entire X-Men
Wolverine is one of the most recognizable X-Men, featuring in various major comic storylines and portrayed in live-action by Hugh Jackman. Always shown as a character who’s up for a fight in theWolverinecomic run, he’s shown to havehung up the claws, being referred to as Old Man Logan.
The reason for his refusal to use his claws is revealed inWolverine #70when a group of supervillains featuring Doc Ock and The Silver Samurai attack X-Mansion, Wolverine defends his home and tears his way through the supervillains. After killing them, it’s revealed to be a ploy by Mysterio, projecting an illusion and revealing there had been no attack, but Logan had slaughtered the X-Men. Despite him being under an illusion, the grief and trauma are palpable as the line “you’re supposed to be our friend” echoes from the page. This puts Wolverine’s slaughter on the listeven if it was under false pretenses.
6Colossus
The Huge Metal Man Has Switched Allegiances In The Comics
Colossus is known to be a mainstay of the X-Men team, rarely straying from the path set before him by Charles Xavier. However, this all changed inUncanny X-Men #304when Colossus decided to join Magneto’s Acolytes.
It’s important to note that Colossus had been going through a lot, having just lost his parents, brother, and then his sister.With Colossus growing more distant from the X-Menover the course of a few issues ofUncanny X-Men, at his sister Ilyanna’s funeral, Magneto arrives to offer members of the X-Men a place in his team, the Acolytes. After Magneto is attacked by Bishop, Colossus intervenes, siding with Magneto and placing the blame at Professor X’s feet, believing if he’d joined Magneto from the outset, his sister might still be alive. Colossus eventually found his way back to the X-Men, but seeing him betray the X-Men was a gut punch for fans.
5Angel
The Kind-Hearted Winged Hero Becomes Archangel
Angel was introduced in the original X-Men comic with the unique ability to grow wings and has proven himself to be heroic, saving his friends from a burning building and becoming the AvengingAngel before being recruited by Charles Xavier.
Angel was tempted to join Apocalypse after losing his wings, being promised in exchange for becoming his Horseman of Death, that he would regain his wings. Becoming the Dark Angel, he was able to sprout metal wings and coordinate attacks for Apocalypse. He was freed of Apocalypse’s control after being made to believe he’d murdered his friend Scott Summers, but his turn as theHorseman of Death was a betrayal that left the X-Men reeling.
4Magneto
The Most Famous X-Men Villain Has Also Been A Hero
Magneto has often been featured as a villain in theX-Menfranchise with a disdain for humans due to their cruelty towards mutant-kind, putting him at odds with Charles Xavier. However,Magneto has worked with the X-Men on many occasions.
In the comics,Magneto has led Xavier’s School for Gifted Students, but his leadership of The New Mutants led to disaster. Following this run, he became the leader of the Hellfire Club and went back to his villainous ways, stating his role at the school was to gain their trust and use them as a pawn in the future. Following this, normal service was resumed, with Magneto attacking the X-Men on countless occasions. Magneto’s betrayal of the X-Men may be expected due to his character, but it is no less horrible, as the fans have seen signs of change within the character.
3Cyclops
The Loyal Soldier Killed Professor X
Scott Summers is a steadfast member of the X-Men team,having been present since the very first X-Men comic. Over time, fans have seen Scott Summers grow into an excellent leader and his love story with Jean Grey is one of the most famous in the comics.
His levels of heroism make his betrayal even more gut-wrenching. At the climax ofAvengers vs. X-Men,Cyclops takes in the last part of the Phoenix Forceand Charles attempts to stop him, leading Cyclops to kill his leader and mentor. Thus, taking on all the Phoenix Force and laying waste to the planet, when he is eventually freed of the Phoenix Force, he accepts responsibility, and whilst regretting his actions, would do it all again to save mutant-kind. The death of Charles Xavier and the destruction that followed make this a devastating betrayal of the X-Men.
2Professor X
Charles Xavier has always been a manwho aimed to find peaceful solutions between humans and mutant-kind, believing that they can co-exist. Creating the School for Gifted Students as a home for mutants, he acts as a mentor for all mutants learning to control their powers.
This protective nature leads to Professor Xbecoming disillusioned with the X-Men inX-Men: From the Ashes.Learning that co-existence with humanity is not an option, Professor X makes a deal with Orchis to allow mutants to live on Krakoa. Part of the deal is destroying a passing ship that would stop Orchis’s plans, killing many innocent people along the way. This goes against everything Xavier and the X-Men stand for, underlining this betrayal. Even after the X-Men defeat Orchis, Charles is arrested for his crimes against humanity, and the X-Men’s leader is changed.
1Scarlet Witch
“No More Mutants” Is The Biggest Betrayal Of All
Wanda Maximoff is the daughter of Magneto and one of the most powerful characters in Marvel Comics. When she was initially introduced, Scarlet Witch was a part of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, before going on to join the Avengers.
Despite never being a member of the team,Wanda’s actions are not only a huge betrayal of the X-Menbut all mutants. During the House of M storyline, both Professor X and Doctor Strange aim to keep Wanda under control whilst she operates on Genosha.When both the Avengers and X-Men arrive to speak to Wanda, she creates an alternate reality showing both teams an idyllic world run by mutants. After the illusion is broken, Wanda laments Magneto for his actions and his belief in mutant supremacy and says the words “No more mutants”, stripping all mutants of their powers. This provided a huge change and a betrayal of all mutant kind, placing it at the top of the list of X-Men betrayals.
