One of the original X-Men, Warren Worthington has not had an easy life. Born into wealth, he was also saddled with a mutation almost impossible to hide. His wings, as the best mutations tend to be, are both blessing and curse. Archangel follows the heroic arc of champion who falls from grace only to rise again, better than before. After his wings were removed, Angel faked his own death and became one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse. He has since returned to the side of good and once again become on of the mutant population's most visible members. expires on Sep 10, 2010

Jean Grey is host to the most powerful entity in the universe. One of the original X-Men, Jean has become the symbol (and cruel joke) of death and rebirth among the mutant population. Partnered with the Phoenix Force, Jean has returned to the X-Men on several occasions. However, it's her first death that remains both memorable and significant to X-Men lore. Jean sacrificed herself, choosing to die as a human than live as a God. In a universe where self-worth is almost exclusive judged on power level, Jean held her humanity so dear she was willing to give up everything she loved. The strong-willed redhead is an integral part of the X-Men's legacy. expires on Sep 10, 2010

Can lower his own body temperature and free moisture around himself allowing for a multitude of creative applications
Bobby is the kid brother who never thought he could live up to expectations, so he didn't bother. Believe it or not, Iceman is one of the rare Omega mutants, a being potentially more powerful than Magneto or Xavier. This potential, however, may never be reached, because Bobby has little faith in himself. Despite his own personal issues, Iceman has been an X-Man almost his entire life. As with the best students, Bobby's time at Xavier's is about more than just The Dream -- it's about his own personal journey, one that sees him continuing to learn and grow. expires on Sep 10, 2010

Near-complete control over electromagnetic spectrum with mastery so fine he can actually redirect the flow of iron in someone's brain to effectively alter their mind
Magneto is Xavier's perfect foil. Yet he has also been one of the most compelling X-Men of all time. After surrendering himself to authorities and being acquitted of his crimes, Magneto took over Xavier's school for a brief period. It is only through the contrast from his malevolent actions that Magneto's good side can shine so brightly. For all of the "bad guys" who have converted to the X-Men, Magneto remains the true test to Xavier's Dream. When Magneto is finally swayed, The Dream can truly thrive. expires on Sep 10, 2010

For most, the X-Men is an extended family. It figures that with few internal conflicts for Piotr within the X-Men, it's his biological family that causes so much trouble. Insanity runs through the Rasputin's, as does premature death. Faced with repeated tragedy, Colossus continues to maintain a positive outlook on life. He is the perfect contrast. In battle, he is the strongest X-Man, a brute force few can withstand. In private, he is a sensitive artist, deeply in love with Kitty Pryde. expires on Sep 10, 2010

Hank is an original member of the X-Men and it would seem he'll be the very last to ever leave the mansion. He spends his days more often in the lab than in the trenches, but that makes him no less an X-Man. He is devoted to The Dream and firmly believes that man and mutant should live side by side as brothers. Hank has struggled with his animal form. He is, ironically, one of the most human of the X-Man, taking the opinions of others to heart. He shuts himself out from the world, often even from his teammates, to work in the lab and avoid the possibility of rejection for his looks. When the world can accept Henry McCoy, the X-Men will have succeeded in their mission. expires on Sep 10, 2010

Few characters in the history of comics have seen as many in-continuity changes as Ororo Monroe. She is Goddess and warrior, friend and elitist, leader and loner. These contradictions are born from Ororo. They are not troubles merely sprung on by desperate writers. Storm is a character fighting who she once was (a frightened thief), who she thought she was (infallible goddess) and who she must become (an unwavering leader). Though Cyclops may be the default leader of the X-Men, in particular because of his allegiance to The Dream, Storm is the better choice to be in charge. expires on Sep 10, 2010

Faith should have a prominent role in Xavier's Dream. However, almost all of the faith-based concerns fall on the shoulders of Nightcrawler. Deeply religious, Nightcrawler is feared and hated for his devilish appearance (and German accent). Oddly enough, he seems to receive more venom from religious zealots than most X-Men simply because of the way he looks. Religion is one of the few commonalities that could bring mutants and humans together and it is through his fait that Nightcrawler has stayed true to the X-Men for so long. expires on Sep 10, 2010

Absorb powers and memory through skin contact.
Rogue is the perfect example of why the Xavier Institute must exist. Any skin-to-skin contact causes Rogue to absorb the powers and memories of whomever she touches. Though Xavier's school never taught Rogue how to control her powers, it has helped teach her to deal with a world she can never truly touch. Long ago, Rogue was a villain, who absorbed Ms. Marvel's powers before being brought to the X-Men by her surrogate mother, Mystique. She's grown to become a vital member of the X-Men and proof that Xavier's methods can work and are, in fact, necessary expires on Sep 10, 2010

Healing factor, six adamantium claws capable of cutting through almost any material, heightened senses, immobilizing cigar breath
Though he may have become oversaturated, Wolverine is no less one of the greatest of all X-Men. Logan is a loner by nature and a man fighting to keep his animal instincts from controlling his actions. He argues regularly with his fellow X-Men and leaves the team often to pursue his own personal agenda. Yet his support of the X-Men rarely, if ever, wavers. He may not be a team player, but Logan has the best interests of the X-Men at heart. Despite his wandering ways, Wolverine has been one of the most reliable X-Men over the years. expires on Sep 10, 2010

It's Xavier's Dream the X-Men follow. Without Xavier, there would be no X-Men and no unified opposition to Magneto. He is, to put it bluntly, a prophet of the new age. His students, his followers, may interpret the meaning of his words and dream differently, but Xavier's core belief has remained intact through an entire generation of mutants. The Dream has grown to outpace the man. Xavier has lost faith in himself several times, abandoning his team for sometimes selfish reasons. While that can be acceptable for followers, a man like Xavier must maintain a strong front and never walk away from his children. expires on Sep 10, 2010

The student has become greater than the master. That's the nature of the world and so to is it with the X-Men Universe as Scott Summers has surpassed Xavier to become the greatest X-Man. A heavy burden was placed on his shoulders as a young man. He was chosen to lead a team of mutants on a crusade that would likely determine Homo Superior's place in the world. expires on Sep 10, 2010