THE TOP TEN MARVEL X-WRITERS

[Jim Lemoine]

<img src="http://pages.sbcglobal.net/harahap/top10xw1.gif" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>The Top Ten Marvel X-Writers
Assembled and Edited by Tan K.

No other comic book franchise within the last few decades has had as much impact upon the industry as the X-Men, and from the beginning, the X-Men have always been about exploring new frontiers and being first to uncharted ground. This franchise was the first to address the issue of rascism in a mainstream comic book, let alone as the theme of the title itself. Arguably, it was the first to utilize multiple, complex, and intertwining plots (the likes of which we see in virtually every comic series today) with such perfect execution. Obviously, there are hundreds of people who are responsible for the groundbreaking stature of the X-Men family of books, but in the end, it comes down to those magical individuals who transport their wild imagination through their inspired pen and onto paper: the writers.

There is no need to go into detail about all of the wonderful stories that have touched the comics we have held in our hands as a result of these writers. Joel Phillips and company took care of that (see the Top 40 X-Stories of All-Time (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22141)). There is no need to go into detail about all of the dynamic characters that have been born from these pages as a result of these writers. Al Harahap and his troops took care of that (see the Top 40 X-Characters of All-Time (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22097)). I hope I do not have to relay to you the accomplishment of the maintaining the top spot on the sales charts for nearly two decades (Uncanny X-Men & X-Men (vol.2)) as a result of these writers. Let the enormity of the last one simmer a little.

I truly cannot think of another group of writers that can compare with the quality of writers the X-titles have been able to assemble over the years. I can only speak for myself, but these writers have shaped the way I view the majesty of the story.

With that, we would now like to present to you the ComiX-Fan Top 10 X-Writers of All-Time.

* note * The X-Resumes below only contain ongoing serials. Many of the writers listed have contributed various limited series and one-shots to the X-Canon.

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#10: Warren Ellis
X-Resume: Excalibur, Wolverine (vol.2), Generation X, X-Man, X-Force

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/ellis.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/ellist.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>Known mostly for reinventing the superhero genre with The Authority, wherein characters are removed as far away as possible from cliche, scribe Warren Ellis first did some tweaking of the European-based X-team in their book, Excalibur. He would then proceed to oversee the revamp of the satellite X-books Generation X, X-Force, and X-Man under their own quasi-imprint, "Counter X." Inklings of what would become his trademark writing style seeped into these X-books -- the dark and bleak moods overlooming the superheroics, and the political skullduggery shaping the various adventures. Moreover, Ellis would take character archetypes and turn them upside-down and inside-out as a form of creative protest against the established norms and traditions of the old superhero guard, that for decades remained supreme. But a revolution in comics has arrived and Ellis is Major General. Undoubtedly, Ellis had paved the way for the stories and styles of Brit buddies Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Peter Milligan, and probably more to come, to be appreciated by both Marvel editorial and X-fans alike.
This entry written by Al Harahap

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#9: Scott Lobdell
X-Resume (ongoing series): Uncanny X-Men, X-Men (vol.2), Generation X, Excalibur, X-Factor (vol.1), Gambit (vol.3), Bishop: The Last X-Man

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/lobdell.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/lobdellt.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>For better AND for worse, Scott Lobdell is THE writer most associated with the X-Men franchise of the 1990's. Lobdell was brought on shortly after the departure of Chris Claremont in 1991, to script the plots of Jim Lee on both Uncanny X-Men and X-Men. But with Lee's departure to form Image, Lobdell took over Uncanny X-Men, a title he helmed through most of the decade. He also took on scripting duties for brief runs on Excalibur and X-Factor. His crowning achievement, though, was his and artist Chris Bachalo's brainchild, the deliciously offbeat Generation X. Though involved in many of the biggest crossovers of the 90's, it was his quieter, more personal tales that truly showcased Lobdell's gifts of dialogue, humor, pathos and strong relationships. He was as adept at making you both laugh and cry, often within mere seconds of each other. But his rather shallow portrayals of fan favorites like Rogue, Colossus and Magneto put many fans off. Combined with his awkward final story, Eve of Destruction, many readers have been left with a sour taste for Lobdell's run. But look deeper and you'll find a truly talented, if somewhat flawed, writer who's wit and style guided the X-Men franchise through one of its most popular...and reviled...decades.
This entry written by Jordan T. Maxwell

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#8: Stan Lee
X-Resume (ongoing series): X-Men (vol.1)

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/lee.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/leet.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>Stan "The Man" Lee, along with artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, created the X-Men, along with every other major Marvel franchise from the early sixties. Lee wrote the first 19 issues of X-Men, making him responsible for the creation not only of Xavier and the original five X-Men, but also some of their greatest foes: Magneto, the Blob, the Juggernaut, Sentinels and the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, to name a few. But it's not only Lee's position as founder of the franchise that earns him a spot on this list: Lee gets credit here because right out of the gate Lee made X-Men a title with a message. The themes of discrimination, of racial and social inequity, are here right from "go," making the X-Men deeper then your average superheroes. As if this wasn't enough, those first nineteen issues contain what is, in my opinion anyway, the single best pre-Giant Size X-Men #1 X-Men story: Among Us Stalk Sentinels, the original Sentinel story from X-Men #14-16. Stories like this one show that Stan Lee was more than an idea man, sitting back and bringing new titles to life, he was also as innovative and creative writer as the comic medium has produced. It's an easy call to place Stan Lee amongst the X-Men's greatest writers.
This entry written by Joel Phillips

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#7: Fabian Nicieza
X-Resume (ongoing series): New Mutants, X-Force, X-Men (vol.2), Cable, Wolverine (vol.2), Gambit (vol.3), X-Men Unlimited (various), Classic X-Men, Marvel Comics Presents (various),Uncanny X-Men Annuals, X-Factor Annual

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/nicieza.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/niciezat.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>In my memory, Fabian Nicieza burst on to the scene with the last issues of New Mutants (vol.1). Rob Liefeld may have been the creator of Deadpool and the soon-to-be X-Force, but Fabian Nicieza breathed life into them. Before Joe Kelly made Deadpool a cult classic of sorts, Nicieza made him worthy of his own title, and Shatterstar was actually cool (relatively). Nicieza then made his move to the big leagues while handling solo duties on X-Force (more on this later). He came in to relieve Scott Lobdell of his dual duties on the core X-Men titles and added a different and much-needed flavor to the mix. The 1990's have been received with mixed emotions by fans in regards to the X-Men and Uncanny X-Men, but if you can set aside the editorially enforced status quo edict, Nicieza proved to be able to deliver some heartfelt and compelling stories. In some ways he had a better handle then his partner. In my opinion, however, his X-Force tenure really defined his place in the X. He progressed many of the young members of X-Force into adulthood. It was this era that became the measuring stick for times to come. He also, and maybe most importantly, broke Cable of his one-dimensional nature. This was when I truly saw Cable as he was meant to be. This little paragraph can't do Nicieza justice, but his contribution to the X-canon during the 1990's was huge and lasting.
This entry written by Tan K.

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#6: Larry Hama
X-Resume (ongoing series): Wolverine (Vol. 2), Generation X, X-Men Annual, Cable, X-Men Unlimited

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/hama.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/hamat.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>Larry Hama's lengthy tenure on Wolverine did more for the character than arguably any other writer. Hama took the conflicted samurai Wolverine, left to him by Chris Claremont, and slowly evolved him into something more. This wasn't the kind of drastic, sudden change that often moves a character forward. Hama's work on Wolverine is an evolution, a steady push towards a character that is deeper and more complex than any writer before him had dared to imagine. Over the years Wolverine has had many personas, and the best of all of them can be found in Hama's rendition of the character. That's the greatest strength of the Larry Hama era on Wolverine: Hama never decides whether Wolverine is a warrior or a savage, a man or a beast; because Wolverine himself never knows which he'll be on any given day, in any given moment. Better than any other writer, Hama captured not only the variations possible in Wolverine's persona, but also the unique blend that is created by having all those tendencies active in a single body and mind. He deserves a spot on this list for helping to transform Wolverine from a misunderstood star character into a truly deep and complex character, worthy of the attention.
This entry written by Joel Phillips

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#5: Peter David
X-Resume (ongoing series): X-Factor (vol.1), Marvel Comics Presents (Wolverine stories), X-Factor (Vol. 1), Wolverine (Vol. 2), New Mutants Annual

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/david.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/davidt.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>X-Factor isn't the first title that pops to mind when the name Peter David is mentioned. His name was built building another franchise: the Incredible Hulk. His stay on X-Factor may have been curtailed, but the life that he was able to bring to the members of X-Factor (II) was astounding. What is even more amazing is his ability to utilize humor. He uses humor to create very three-dimensional characters. The paradox is that, typically, humor-based scripts usually mean thin plots, but Peter David has been able to deliver on some of the most compelling and entertaining stories to have ever graced an x-page. A prime example of this is X-Factor #87 (see X-Aminations on the Top 40 X-Stories of All Time (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22141)). I really cannot remember ever liking Quicksilver prior to this issue. Peter David truly defined much of how we view the cast of X-Factor (II). David's stay in the X-universe was a short one, but in that short time, he was able to leave a incredible impression in the minds of the readers.
This entry written by Tan K.

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#4: Grant Morrison
X-Resume (ongoing series): New X-Men

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/morrison.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/morrisont.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>An award winning playwright, lecturer and pop magician, Grant Morrison's true passion is for comic books. After revolutionary work on Animal Man, Doom Patrol and his meta-fictional opus The Invisibles, Morrison brought his storytelling skills to the X-Men. With the goal of stirring the franchise out of the stagnation that had plagued it for years, he injected the retitled New X-Men with his trademarked big ideas, weird science fiction and clever dialogue. Eschewing the traditional superheroics of his run on JLA, Morrison opted for a more iconoclastic approach: deconstructing the characters and giving classic tropes (evil twins, alien invasions, love triangles, dystopic futures, resurrections) a unique spin, while also adding his own elements to the canon (destroying Genosha, outing Xavier, the student body) to tell his own brand of serialized action-dramas. Rather than stories about saving the world, he told stories about changing it, shifting the focus from slugfests with the standard rotating stable of villains to the cultural and political ramifications of mutation, turning the X-Men into a more pro-active strike force. His bold choics provoked bold reactions, both positive and negative. But love him or hate him, Grant Morrison is a damn good writer who gave the X-Men a much needed boot in the arse.
This entry written by Jordan T. Maxwell

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#3: Louise Simonson
X-Resume (ongoing series): X-Factor (vol.1), New Mutants (vol.1), Warlock (Vol. 4)

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/simonson.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/simonsont.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>In the '80s, largely regarded as a golden age for X-books, there were two voices for the mutant set: Chris Claremont and Louise Simonson. While Claremont was the man behind the main team, Louise Simonson wrote the two X-spinoff titles, X-Factor and New Mutants. Simonson's tenure on the two titles included key contributions to the X-mythos writing parts of major X-overs like Mutant Massacre, Inferno and Fall of Mutants. But her solo accomplishments are no less praiseworthy. Her work on X-Factor gave the original five X-Men the character evolution they had been lacking since the new class of X-Men took over Uncanny. Simonson's New Mutants work was just as spectacular, taking great care to write teenage characters talking and acting like real teenagers, something not a lot of writers can do really well. Though Simonson never wrote a single-issue of a core" X-Men book, her contributions in other X-titles played a major role in transforming the X-Men from a single breakout title into a dominant comic book franchise.
This entry written by Joel Phillips

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#2: Barry Windsor-Smith
X-Resume (ongoing series): Uncanny X-Men, Marvel Comic Presents (Weapon X)

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/windsorsmith.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/windsorsmitht.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>Though having contributed only a small sampling of his formidable writing skills to the X-Men universe (his only writing on any of the actual titles amounts to two issues of Uncanny X-Men that he cowrote with Chris Claremont, including the incredible Lifedeath, which he also illustrated), Barry Windsor-Smith is notable both for the impact and artistry of his one solid solo writing effort in the X-Mythos: Weapon X. When he first created this serial work in Marvel Comics Presents (and I say created because he wrote, pencilled, inked and colored the entire piece), Wolverine was already immensely popular, a deep and complicated man torn between his humanity and bestial nature, his honor and savagery. Windsor-Smith took us to the roots of that conflict and made Wolverine somthing more than just a great character. He made him into a figure of mythic proportions. His contributions to this standard-bearer of the franchise resonated throughout the character, creating a legacy for future creators to follow. Indeed, many of the characters (Cornelius, Hines), concepts (Logan's claws being natural) and imagery (the spiked dreamscape) have made their way into more mainstream stories over the years, and the atmosphere and tone that he wove in that one tale has enveloped Wolverine ever since.
This entry written by Jordan T. Maxwell

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#1: Chris Claremont
X-Resume (ongoing series): Uncanny X-Men, X-Men (vol.2), X-Treme X-Men, Excalibur, New Mutants (vol.1), Wolverine (vol.2), X-Factor (vol.1), Captain Britain (vol.1), Marvel Comics Presents (Wolverine stories), Classic X-Men, X-Men Unlimited (various)

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/claremont.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/columns/top10xwriters/claremontt.jpg" border=0 align=left alt="Top 10 X-Writers"></a>From 1975 through 1991, if it had an X in the title, Chris Claremont was somehow involved. You want quality? He wrote on nineteen of our Top 40 X-Stories, including seven of the top ten. You want experience? Subtracting the reprint issues, Claremont wrote more issues of Uncanny X-Men then everyone else who has ever written the title COMBINED. You want influence? Claremont redefined every character he touched, often going so far as to change his own status quo. His creations include a dozen future X-Men, multiple X-spinoffs, and more mutant heroes and villains then I have space to name here. You want timelessness? Claremont's X-Treme X-Men shows month after month that he knows these characters just as well now as he did twenty years ago. Chris Claremont turned a failing title into one of the largest and most successful franchises in comic book history. If all that doesn't add up to a number one, I don't know what does.
This entry written by Joel Phillips

[TracyNichols]

Great choices! Totally agree with #1!

[Gat0r-ManX]

yea.. i guessed from the beginning that Chris would be number one!

Great List!

[Martin Dudek]

I'm glad CC got #1. If anyone diserved the spot its him. He's an incredable writer and a wonderful guy ta' boot. If it had been anyone else I'd have been mad

[eLIAS bOGAN]

I actually completely agree with this list.....

Thank God Austen isn't on this list for someone would have to be btched slapped.

No matter what happens, Claremont will always be # 1. Maybe Weezie and BWS should siwtch place though....

[NicholasRogue]

YAY CC"S #1!!!!

[DeadmanWade]

Joe Kelly not being on there BOOOOOO BOOOOOOOO BOOOOOO Deadpool and an awesome run on x-men BOOOOOOOO No offence to BWS but Joe should be on the list instead not in that spot but on the list!

[Mike Gonzalez]

Good to see Nicieza, Claremont, and Simonson on there.

[crozack]

Oy vey. Why do I even bother coming to these rankings anymore?

*sigh*

Claremont's of course number one and yet Byrne gets an underappreciated number three on the artists? Right.

I'm just going to go before I even start to get into the injustice done to Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicenza and Stan Lee.

[Alex Guillen]

yes, i agree with the list although i think morisson should have been at #3 and Simonson at #4.

Good job ranking Claremont as the #1 X-writer, it's really a no-brainer.

[Fantomex]

lol Great pic's, Morrison's picture is the best :p I haven't read much of Claremont's writing but I know enough about comics that he deserve's the #1 title. Good job, I'm enjoying all these's top lists.

[DarkBladeCB]

Well, there wasn't an awful lot of suspense as to who would be #1... Chris had this one in the bag the entire time. It's interesting some of the people on that list didn't get as high up on it as I thought they would.

[Jesse Baer]

Great list, predictable choice for number 1, but well deserving nonetheless.

[Philip A Moore]

You forgot to mention Chuck Austen he's as good as most of the writer on the list and better then others.

Not only that but were is Mark Millar?

Barry Windser Smith has not done enough to even rank

Warren Ellis should have been ranked allot higher he did reinvent almost the intire X line.

GOOD DAY

[coolyguy]

I agree with everyone on the list except for Louise Simonson, and that is mainly for her run on New Mutants.

[Justice Daye]

I loved the list guys, especially that guy at #1. What's his name?

And why is Morrison #4? I think Lobdell had more x-influence than him. GM may have been writing those big idea stories at first, but everything after "Riot"(though Weapon Whatever part 1 was one) has been those same insular stories that went nowhere and were critisized in the 90's. His new Planet X is even one of those. It concerns nothing and no one outside of the x-men. I thought Marvel had outlawed those stories.

Besides that, why is he ahead of Ellis (especially since Ellis can craft a story that reads like one and still maintains that subversive undertone, subtext, and context)?;) ;)

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Great list. I don't have any complaints none whats so ever. So 'nuff said.

[Wolverine]

I was really suprised that there were so many writers from the 1990's. I agree with 1 for sure

[Stormy]

Okay, those warped pictures are seriously disturbing. Although the Morrison one works surprisingly well.

There was never any doubt that CC would be #1, and much-deserved kudos for that. I kinda quibble with Morrison as #4 ... I think it'll take some time and distance after he's left New to see what sort of lasting impact he's had on the fans and the title. I'm not a Morrison hater at all, I just think his placement may be premature. Sure, his run started with an incredible bang, but really, were the Riot and Murder arcs that extraordinary? Not to mention his two Fantomex arcs, both of which are already regarded by many as misfires. It seems he's going out with a bang, though, so we'll see.

And, ahem ... to whoever said that Austen should be on this list?! Did you not read Holy War or Uncanny 427? I rest my case.

[Mike Gonzalez]

Originally posted by Stormy


And, ahem ... Austen on this list?! Did you not read Holy War or Uncanny 427? I rest my case.

Yeah, I read them and he belongs on the BOTTOM ten. I rest my case.


I like Morrison, but putting him that high is a bit of a stretch.

[magiklover]

Originally posted by Wolverine
I was really suprised that there were so many writers from the 1990's. I agree with 1 for sure

Well considering Chris and Louise were about the only 2 writers during the 80's and Chris Was the only one during the 70's, and Stan Lee kinda dominated the 60's , to fill up ten people they had to take 90's writers.

Great list Guys, Im glad Louise got ranked in the top 3 and CC had better have been number one or i woulda personally renounced comix-fan and renamed it Ive never read comix-fan.

[Storm_1118]

Larry Hama...anyone remember Pooka from Generation X? Nothing else to say.

[atxbomber]

Great list guys.

I personally would have had Fabian Nicieza a couple spots higher, but other then that, I'm on total agreement with y'all.

[spinarakboi]

I'm glad a lot of people are happy to see CC is the number one spot. For everything his done in the past present and hopefully future. I can't really complain about the list, it works for me although I thought Stan Lee would be #1 for some reason or #2 since him and CC created a lot of the X-Men we see today.

[Ultimate ZERO]

hmmm...gotta say Larry Hamma :? ...not in my top ten...don't get me wrong...he had some really good wolvie storys...but at some point after the age of apoc...it turned to sh!t...and don't get me started on his Generation X run...god that was crap...very happy to see Peter Davids name tho :D ...his run on X-Factor is one of my foundest comic memory...his was the best incarnation of X-Factor...so yeah...would have rather have seen someone like Mark Millar or Joe Kelly on this list...

[GuyX]

Good list.

What did you want me to add more? Swoon over your choices or curse one or two of them down like hellfire? Denouce the list? Give reason behind my madness!!?

We'll I'm sorry but thats all I have to say.

[silverboy]

What?! Larry Hama is #6 and Scott Lobdell is #9? That is utterly disgraceful! Hama completely destroyed everything Lobdell had done with Generation X. He took one of the best comics on the stands and turned it into one big humorless joke that I wouldn't use as toiletpaper with nowadays. I also noticed there weren't any Lobdell stories in the top 10. Give the guy some credit! I liked most of his run a lot more than some of Claremont's stories, especially recently.

[Iceboy Ben]

Lobdell, Nicieza, Louise Simonson & Stan Lee all belong above Barry Windsor-Smith, who wrote a great Wolverine story, but is a footmark in the forty year history of the X-Men. And as great as Peter David's X-Factor run was, it was too short to merit such a high ranking.

I really don't think Warren Ellis deserves a spot over Roy Thomas either.

This was probably my least favorite of the lists so far...too much credit given to people who did far too little, making me think this list was entirely personal preference for specific stories, not an objective look at which writers meant the most to the franchise.

Still well-written entries though :)

[Robb Welch]

Barry Windsor-Smith? Ugh?
Barry - ******* - Windsor-Smith??
Great guy. Great creator. But he did one thing. And that thin happens to be one of the most confusing and damaging thing in the x-iverse.
It was only a few issues, and hes number two???

[DragoonKain]

Yeah, a few of those guys contributed too little to the X-Men to warrent a place, but I guess there weren't many choice to begin with. Roy Thomas contributed a lot, but his writing was no where's near as good the guys on the list. And I think Louise Simonson deserved #2. BWS, though a great writer, had an easily forgettable run on X-Men. Although I have to agree with Peter David. His short run did make quite an impact. For the most part I agree though. As long as Chris is #1.

[Brandon Yates]

Originally posted by XZero-g
His new Planet X is even one of those. It concerns nothing and no one outside of the x-men. I thought Marvel had outlawed those stories.


Uh? I think you've misinterpreted the Marvel "decree" (loose as it is) so that you think it's the exact opposite. Marvel wants their titles more insular. They generally don't like crossovers or cross-title continuity (for example, not showing Asgard hovering over NYC in the other books), and want their series as self-contained as possible.

I like the list, guys, although Larry Hama and BWS raised an eyebrow.

[Dragon]

I agree with the list completely..Except for Morrison at #4. I won't say where i beleve he should be on the list. WHere is Mark Millar his Run on Ulitmate X-men was one of the best ever.

Hail of course to the King of X-men Mr. Chris Claremont, the one and only Person who knows how to write the X-men to perfection

[doctorx]

Barry Winsdor Smith?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Huh?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Lifedeath and Weapon X pushed him even on the list?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[magnus4001]

Who did those crazy superimposed pics? Morrison's is the best!

[Kavalier]

Great list. I would have wept openly if the concensus had not been the CC was #1.

K

[Chamber]

Claremont is #1 by a large margin... Undisputable... Morrison's #4 is also warranted IMO.. Afterall, he did produce great stories and change the status quo in his tenure

[FrodoLives]

Very good list. David, Claremont and Morrison definitely deserved spots on the list. great job

[atxbomber]

Originally posted by doctorx
Lifedeath and Weapon X pushed him even on the list?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Quality over quantity.

[spaceboi]

I agree with Chris Claremont as #1. I find his X-Treme X-Men stuff a bit flat, but there is no denying the influence and amazing stories he has conceived over the years. Phoenix, Dark Phoenix, Days of Future Past, Mutant Massacre, the Brood Saga, Inferno, the Siege Perilous stuff...you can go on and on.

I also am so glad Grant Morrison is way up on that list. Quality over quantity. Morrison's vision has already shaped most of the X-Universe today. His ideas are so wild and original, and even when they're not, they still excel over the crap on Uncanny X-Men and the other titles. He will be greatly missed by me.

I'm not much of a Lobdell fan, but I agree that he has done some great work over the years.

Very glad the Nicieza was on the list. He's often a writer that many X-fans forget about, and yet he's written many great stories.

[dasklein83]

Once again, I list that I really agree with. Siminson's run on X-Factor was amazing up through Inferno, where it dropped of afterwards and I am glad to see her getting the recognition she deserves. I still think that she writes the best Cyclops, even better than Claremont or Niceza.

[atxbomber]

Originally posted by spaceboi
Very glad the Nicieza was on the list. He's often a writer that many X-fans forget about, and yet he's written many great stories.

Totally agree. Nicieza's run on X-Men was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise pretty dismal era IMO.

[Wolfman]

Claremont, Fab Nic, Hama, Simonson,
This list is spot on. I had some serious hate days when it came to Lobdell but he definitely deserves to be on this list. Someone mentioned Hama's run on Gen X earlier... do what I do, forget it ever happened. so traumatic it's been blotted from my mind. For me Hama and Wolverine will always be linked. Hama's Wolverine is Wolverine. (Hama must have eaten something disagreeable the day he wrote Gen X, maybe he had food poisoning for the entire run :p )


But seriously the list is great, all these guys rule. I'm not that fond of Morrison but can't deny the impact or the talent.

Wolfman

[EnriquefromMTY]

Mr. Claremont # 1!!!! Excelent

[ronaldmcdonald]

chris claremont deserves to be at the no. 1 spot.
and i agree with the rest.

[X-Corps(NZ)]

Claremont definitely deserves the #1 spot, but I'm glad Morrisons overwhelming contributions to the X-Men of today saw him up there as well as Stan Lee who laid the groundwork in the first place. The pictures are really cool especially Grants.

[lavar78]

For all of the good work Simonson did on X-Factor, she was spectacularly and consistently awful on New Mutants.

The "quality over quantity" argument should've pushed Peter David to #2 and allowed Kelly and possibly Seagle to make the list. Otherwise, not bad. Except for BWS being #2 -- that's just funny.

[Kevin Sutton]

CC at #1 is no surprise to anyone, but GM had the best picture easily. I dunno about Hama, but Barry Windsor Smith? #2? :?

[Joey Meyers]

Not a bad list, although I'm surprised Louise Simonsen is so high. Yes, she did a good job of ressurecting X-Factor after those awful first few issues, but her New Mutants? That was just a black hole of blech (and don't get me started on her treatment of Cypher and Magik). Not suprised about Warren Ellis, I think his only bad X-Work was Counter X X-Force, his other stuff was rather good. Love the work or hate it, Morrison has left his mark on the x-world, so I think his placement is just. Larry Hama also pretty much wrote one of the most defintive Wolverine's...but his Generatin X was a confusing mess. Peter David's time was short, but incredible, from X-Factor, to the New Mutants annual #6 back-up story "Tribute the second" to Rahne of Terra, he did some outstanding stuff. And Fabian Nicieza probably had one of the best runs on the pre-Milligan/Alred X-Force.

[Anthony Cordova]

Originally posted by crozack
Oy vey. Why do I even bother coming to these rankings anymore?

*sigh*

Claremont's of course number one and yet Byrne gets an underappreciated number three on the artists? Right.

I'm just going to go before I even start to get into the injustice done to Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicenza and Stan Lee.

Crazy, isn't it? Louise Simonson comes before FabNic and Lodbell? Eh, I don't think so, guys.

[gaptandil]

I thought the list was good, Morrison totally deserved 4th spot (actually, I think BWS should be under Morrison...). He's contributed so much to the franchise in so few years, made many stale characters interesting again and pumped a lot more juice out of the idea of the X-Men. And his picture looks undeniably cool... what else needs to be said?
I really dislike X-Treme X-Men, but I guess Claremont deserved to be 1st, he's made the franchise what it is and had lots and lots of stories (many of them great, most of them defining) throughout the 80s.
I do have a few minor quibbles:
Lobdell? He's has a mixed bag, and that inconsistency pushes him out of my top 10.
MILLIGAN! :( can't believe you left him out. X-Force/X-Statix is funny, touching, relevant and challenging month after month. He truly deserves a spot... maybe not very high (cause, granted, he hasn't written much yet, almost nothing on established/core characters; even if he advanced the X-Men franchise by showing what happens to mutants when they do achieve Xavier's dream), but at least 10th, 9th.
MILLAR! :( As others pointed out, his run Ultimate X-Men truly deserves recognition, because he's reinvented the X-Men for a whole new generation, while still keeping a lot of the core roots firm. The out-and-out Cyclops-Wolverine almost-slugfest during Hellfire and Brimstone develops further a tension and conflict that was could not be pushed further with the established core characters.
Anyway, good job anyway, really enjoyed it.

[number1958]

I was surprised that BWS ranked so high, but I just knew CC would be #1!

[lavar78]

Originally posted by lonewolf21
Not a bad list, although I'm surprised Louise Simonsen is so high. Yes, she did a good job of ressurecting X-Factor after those awful first few issues, but her New Mutants? That was just a black hole of blech (and don't get me started on her treatment of Cypher and Magik). Not suprised about Warren Ellis, I think his only bad X-Work was Counter X X-Force, his other stuff was rather good. Love the work or hate it, Morrison has left his mark on the x-world, so I think his placement is just. Larry Hama also pretty much wrote one of the most defintive Wolverine's...but his Generatin X was a confusing mess. Peter David's time was short, but incredible, from X-Factor, to the New Mutants annual #6 back-up story &quot;Tribute the second&quot; to Rahne of Terra, he did some outstanding stuff. And Fabian Nicieza probably had one of the best runs on the pre-Milligan/Alred X-Force.

I think we were separated at birth. I completely agree ... particularly WRT "Tribute the Second," which is better than over half of the stories that made the top 40. And Ellis's Counter-X-Force was quite possibly the worst X-story ever (well, until Austen wrote "Holy War" and removed all doubt).

[Brett White]

Enjoyable list, but I have to agree with all who have stated that Larry Hama doesn't deserve to be on the list. Really, no matter how great his Wolverine run was, his Generation X was enough to have him banned from comics altogether. I can't even place into words how much I loathe that writer's Gen X run.

I'm glad to see X-Force getting some moderate respect in the writing department after getting the shaft in the story and characters list. He wrote the definitive X-Force and laid the groundwork for the rest of the amazing series...just up until Warren Ellis screwed it all up... Fabian Nicieza's X-Men run is also equally great.

Peter David is amazing. He deserves all the praise he gets. As much as I love X-Force, no other writer in the 90s has had as clear and consistently great run as his. Yeah, it was short, but oh so sweet.

Maybe Scott Lobdell shouldn't be higher up, but I do believe he should be above Larry Hama. I haven't read much of Hama's Wolverine, but I can't imagine how his Wolverine would be better than Lobdell's Gen X. Lobdell is definitely a more solid writer than Hama.

This has been a pleasant month indeed.

[JayQ]

Nice list!
Just wanted to add a quick point about simonson...she was I believe, the editor of x-men during the claremont/byrne days. I dont know if it was for the whole thing, I know it was for days of future past for sure. So its a good thing she ranked so high

[Mike Gonzalez]

I wonder what the last thing Louise did for Marvel was.

[Joey Meyers]

Originally posted by Bebi
I wonder what the last thing Louise did for Marvel was.

I'm not certain, but I believe it was the short-lived Warlock series that was part of the M-Tech line. It was actually a very good book in my opinion, with nice art from Pasqual Ferry.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by kotsin
yes, i agree with the list although i think morisson should have been at #3 and Simonson at #4.

Good job ranking Claremont as the #1 X-writer, it's really a no-brainer.

:D heh heh...they'll never know just how close the universe came to unraveling for a moment there, will they Al? ;)


Originally posted by opticblast
Great list, predictable choice for number 1, but well deserving nonetheless.

Like i said for the "Dark Phoenix Saga" entry...sometimes the top slot is predictable for a reason. Because every other choice in the world would be stupid. :D


Originally posted by Philip A Moore
You forgot to mention Chuck Austen he's as good as most of the writer on the list and better then others.

If he is, he sure hasn't been showing it lately...

Originally posted by Philip A Moore

Not only that but were is Mark Millar?

In Scotland. ;)

Originally posted by Philip A Moore

Barry Windser Smith has not done enough to even rank

Like my fellow Austinite Travis said, quality over quantity. While I don't feel he should have ranked THIS high, his ONE story was of higher quality and more impactful (even if just on one character) than entire runs of other writers.

Originally posted by Philip A Moore

Warren Ellis should have been ranked allot higher he did reinvent almost the intire X line.


He reinvented a group of second tier titles, wrote them for one story arc and then left them be...i'm sorry, served as "creative consultant." Which means he came up with the ideas and had others write them. I think he's a fine writer, though his stories often lack a great degree of depth and he retreads himself quite often. I think he's earned his place on this list, and his ranking.

Originally posted by magnus4001
Who did those crazy superimposed pics? Morrison's is the best!

Why, that would be ComiX-Fan's own mad genius, Mr. Al Harahap. :D

Originally posted by Travis


Totally agree. Nicieza's run on X-Men was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise pretty dismal era IMO.

Here here...


Originally posted by Wolfman

But seriously the list is great, all these guys rule. I'm not that fond of Morrison but can't deny the impact or the talent.

Wolfman

Wolfman...you have no idea how long i've been wanting to hear someone say that exact phrase. Dislike, but respect. I mean, hell, i don't like listening to a lot of Led Zeppelin but i know they're a talented band and influenced modern music on multiple levels. They're just not my thing. I think it's the same for a lot of people with Grant Morrison (and other writers and artists...heck, all creative people!). I know it sounds weird, but just because you don't like something doesn't make it bad. :cool:

Originally posted by DigsyMadrox

Maybe Scott Lobdell shouldn't be higher up, but I do believe he should be above Larry Hama. I haven't read much of Hama's Wolverine, but I can't imagine how his Wolverine would be better than Lobdell's Gen X. Lobdell is definitely a more solid writer than Hama.

This has been a pleasant month indeed.

Read Hama's Wolverine. And then you'll understand. :D

[doctorx]

Originally posted by Travis


Quality over quantity.

I can see that, but this seems ridiculous and quite bizarre
What about John Bryne then?

[Mike Gonzalez]

I'm sick of the 90's bashing. I found nothing wrong with the actual storylines in the 90's outside of the ridiculous Cable/Bishop crap. Hell, I even liked X-Man.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by doctorx


I can see that, but this seems ridiculous and quite bizarre
What about John Bryne then?

Personally, i never found any of his writing on the book to be all that "blow me away fantastic" like many of the other writers on this list. Good, but not memorable. And "Hidden Years" was just...well, let's just say it wasn't the standard he's set for himself on terrific stuff like Fantastic Four.


Originally posted by Bebi
I'm sick of the 90's bashing. I found nothing wrong with the actual storylines in the 90's outside of the ridiculous Cable/Bishop crap. Hell, I even liked X-Man.

Just understand...you're in a bit of a minority.

[atxbomber]

Originally posted by doctorx


I can see that, but this seems ridiculous and quite bizarre
What about John Bryne then?

Well, you'll have to get an explanation from the people that slaved away on these lists.

Personally, I have no problems with BWS being #2 here, because Weapon X is among my all time favorites storylines, and the Lifedeath issues are, IMO, the best issues of Uncanny X-Men EVER.

Originally posted by Bebi
I'm sick of the 90's bashing. I found nothing wrong with the actual storylines in the 90's outside of the ridiculous Cable/Bishop crap. Hell, I even liked X-Man.

Actually, I don't think there's enough of it! ;) (kidding of course).

[doctorx]

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell


Personally, i never found any of his writing on the book to be all that &quot;blow me away fantastic&quot; like many of the other writers on this list. Good, but not memorable. And &quot;Hidden Years&quot; was just...well, let's just say it wasn't the standard he's set for himself on terrific stuff like Fantastic Four.


No, no, no.....what I meant was that if Barry Winsdor Smith gets in alone on the strength of Weapon X and Lifedeath to be number 2, I think John Bryne deserves that spot based on him co-writing the Proteus arc, Days of the Future Past, and the Dark Phoenix Saga.

[Eric J. Moreels]

Originally posted by eLIAS bOGAN
Thank God Austen isn't on this list for someone would have to be btched slapped.

If this were my list, Chuck would be at around 5th or 6th. Joe Harris would've been on there too, along with Judd Winick.

[Justice Daye]

Originally posted by Brandon Yates
Uh? I think you've misinterpreted the Marvel &quot;decree&quot; (loose as it is) so that you think it's the exact opposite. Marvel wants their titles more insular. They generally don't like crossovers or cross-title continuity (for example, not showing Asgard hovering over NYC in the other books), and want their series as self-contained as possible.

I like the list, guys, although Larry Hama and BWS raised an eyebrow.

By insular I meant those stories plots that aren't progressive. Villians fighting the x-men and it only hurting the x-men. Murder, Weapon 12, Assualt, Imperial and some single issues(like the one where Jean found out about Scott & Emma); These storylines cause the book to stagnate because they don't progress the book or it's purpose, but merely change the characters leaving the status quo around them maitained. This is what happened in the 90's and this what I thought was banned. Only Germ Free, E, and some of the single issues progressed the x-men in any way and any progressive ideas he's had, he dropped. This is why I think he shouldn't be on the list.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by XZero-g


By insular I meant those stories plots that aren't progressive. Villians fighting the x-men and it only hurting the x-men. Murder, Weapon 12, Assualt, Imperial and some single issues(like the one where Jean found out about Scott &amp; Emma); These storylines cause the book to stagnate because they don't progress the book or it's purpose, but merely change the characters leaving the status quo around them maitained. This is what happened in the 90's and this what I thought was banned. Only Germ Free, E, and some of the single issues progressed the x-men in any way and any progressive ideas he's had, he dropped. This is why I think he shouldn't be on the list.

I fail to see how you can change characters while maintaining the status quo. Especially in such a character focused book. Heck, he set up a new broad status quo, and then played in it. What's he supposed to do, change the world every issue? And heck, i think he's done plenty in the interim to screw with his own given circumstances, so this argument really confuses me since i don't see what you're seeing...or rather, i see what you don't see. One or the other, i don't know...see, you've got me so confused. :D

[Mitch Brown]

You know, my biggest gripe with X-Men comics during the 90s (And my reason for dropping them altogether) was that Xavier's Dream, the central crux of the entire comic line, seemed to be like a throwaway tagline inserted into stories to give them an X-Men feel. Half the 90s stories could have used any number of superheroes, there was nothing that gave the X-Men anything that set them apart from regular superheroes in my opinion. ANY superhero team can repel an alien invasion, ANY super team can stop the bad guy of the month....the X-Men have always been different. In the 90s, I swear editorial meetings were like "ok, bad guy comes up with evil scheme to take over the world...oh wait we need to work mutants into it..oh yeah, there's that whole Dream thing, okay, well we'll make him a mutant and then have Storm or Jean Grey make some kind of monologue about mutantkind..yep sounds good."

Then Morrison comes in, reboots the dream, gives the school purpose again and brings the humans/mutants conflict some sense of MEANING and FOCUS again. THIS is what he has given the franchise. Gripe about him "re-using" Phoenix or Weapon X/Plus all you want, his real strength comes in the more subtle aspects of his writing. Dialogue between Jean and Xavier, Quentin's teenage angst, the U-Men's desire to be mutants (there's a lot more to this concept than appearances...a lot of subtext in the U-Men that I think many people miss, but this isn't the place for it)...this makes him a GREAT WRITER deserving of #2 in my opinion (though I'm not that fond of CC's current work, there's no doubting he MADE the X-Men for all intents and purposes..sorry Jack & Stan).

Mainstream comics are always about status quos. We all know Marvel won't kill off Wolverine. We all KNOW Magneto won't ever stay dead. Peter Parker will ALWAYS be Spider-Man despite the Ben Reily's of the Marvel U. It's the creativity inside the framework of the Status Quo that brings home the bacon for mainstream superhero comics.

Anyway, hats off to the guys who came up with this list, I would've shuffled it around a small tap but I can't argue with those who made it on there, good job guys must have been hard coming to a consensus!!

on another note, I've really got to post to something that doesn't involve Grant Morrison.......

[Anthony Lucynski]

Fantastic list. I "approve" (like my approval matters) of this list a heck of a lot more than the artist list.

Every one of those entries make sense.

A few points: If you're going to back up Scott Lobdell, but then turn around and bash Larry Hama, then you are a fool. Both men had stinkers of stories in their arsenal, but both men also had definitive runs (like it or not) on their respective properties. For YEARS Larry Hama was THE Wolverine writer. He is to Wolverine what Chris Claremont is to the core X-Books. That's not even debatable, so dont try it. You'll make yourself look like a fool if you do.

Next, BWS. His one "little" contribution to the X franchise was the story that defined Wolverine for YEARS to come, something that Larry Hama, Grant Morrison, Frank Tieri, Chris Claremont, "pick an X-writer" built upon (or deconstructed/confused us all) over the years.

This may change from person to person, but when I think Wolverine, I think "Weapon X".

I think it's a safe bet to say that the majority of comic book readers think that as well.

Again, it's something you cant even debate.

Anthony L

[Tan K.]

Originally posted by Eric J. Moreels


If this were my list, Chuck would be at around 5th or 6th. Joe Harris would've been on there too, along with Judd Winick.
Which was why we had to work in hiding and kept the big guy out. :p



So many things to write about.

First, there came a point when Grant Morrison barely made the final cut. Of course he made it to #4 on the final rankings, but if Cockrum/Paul Smith/Neal Adams was any indication, I could not imagine the hoopla (or celebration) over that.

Second, I actually felt Joe Kelly and Jeph Loeb shoulda made the list. Even in an editorially enforced era, Kelly shined like no other on the X-Men. That says a lot. Loeb's X-Force was probably my favorite time on the book.

Third, the people I would not included: Lobdell and initially BWS (now looking back, it was good he got in). Lobdell did have a lot of influence. A lot of bad ones. He gutted the whole franchise, pushed characters to the back or made them one-dimensional (Storm, Archangel, Cylops, Jean, & Colossus to name a few). I enjoy soap opera like stuff, but he took it down to a whole new level. He is the one that made continuity a bad word. He is the one that made it difficult for new readers to get into it. If it wasn't for him (and the editors), nonsense words like consistency wouldn't have existed. To be fair, he had the bad luck to have to follow CC, and in my eyes, no one really could have filled those shoes. He did have some good stories and a couple great ones. Overall, I felt he just destroyed alot of what made the X-Men so great and recycled many of the things that made them so great thereby diluting the impact.

Louis Simonson was a definite #2 for me.

Austen: please....

Millar: Just because he put up some pretty rehashed and second rate stories and is mainly about shock or just doing something different really doens't justify his snubbing on this list :rofl:. Would his stories been considered anything if the characters of the X-Men and the name of the X-Men weren't attached? No.

As much as I am not the biggest fan, it would have been a travesty had GM not made this list.

Remember, these lists were not about influence. Stan Lee, CC would have been top 2 for sure. This was a combination of various factors.

John Byrne: even though he was a integral part of the golden age, he did not write anything that great during his time. As mentioned, Hidden Years was not the stuff top 10 lists are made for.

[Roberto Polanco]

I'm pleasantly surprised with BWS being so high. He's the man:)

[ChaosPhoenix]

Great List, folks. :D

I think Claremont definitely did deserve #1 and Morrison #4 though I could see him a bit higher.

Scott Lobdell got better as he went along. FabNic was good when he wasn't making messes out of continuity or drenching his stories with continuity. X-Men 28 is one of my favorite issues.

[Sidewinder]

Good list. But just curious, where was John Byrne on the list? Have fans already forgotten how much we loved X-Men: The Hidden Years?

[silverboy]

Originally posted by Travis


Quality over quantity.

I'm not sure you can say that the #1 man, Chris Claremont.

[Tan K.]

Originally posted by ChaosPhoenix
Great List, folks. :D


Scott Lobdell got better as he went along. FabNic was good when he wasn't making messes out of continuity or drenching his stories with continuity. X-Men 28 is one of my favorite issues.
:? Uhmmmm.....you shure you arent' mixing the two up. The former was the main culprit of the messes and drenching.


Originally posted by Sidewinder
Good list. But just curious, where was John Byrne on the list? Have fans already forgotten how much we loved X-Men: The Hidden Years?
The Hidden Years was good, but not at the level of the top 10 IMO.

[Kevin Sutton]

Originally posted by Tan K.
Millar: Would his stories been considered anything if the characters of the X-Men and the name of the X-Men weren't attached? No.


Now that's just stupid. I guess you've never heard of such critical and sales successes as Superman:Red Son, The Authority, or The Ultimates?

[ChaosPhoenix]

Originally posted by Tan K.

:? Uhmmmm.....you shure you arent' mixing the two up. The former was the main culprit of the messes and drenching.



The Hidden Years was good, but not at the level of the top 10 IMO.

Nah I'm talking about FabNic's complications done to Psylocke with the Revanche thing as well as X-Men Forever and the attempt to retcon over the intentions of the classic backstories in reference to Jean/Phoenix, as well as issues like the Magneto War Prologue which summarized just about every story Magneto was ever involved in and the Wolverine issues during the Twelve in which had way too many flashback panels and pages and characters explaining so much past continuity.

As well as trying to make Magneto into a Gypsie instead of a Jew. etc

FabNic could write characters with personality though- I can give him credit for that. He understood their personalities and wrote that part very well. Don't get me wrong I loved some of his stuff like X-Men 28 and 30 and the Apoclayse Manifesto etc.

Lobdell had problems with toning down a lot of the characters like Storm and Jean and bringing things out of the blue sometimes. I don't think he was quite as bad with continuity and his final stuff was a lot better than his initial stuff, imo.

[Tan K.]

Originally posted by SuperMutant


Now that's just stupid. I guess you've never heard of such critical and sales successes as Superman:Red Son, The Authority, or The Ultimates?
I was just referring to his Ultimate X-Men stuff. The other stuff speaks for itself.

Originally posted by ChaosPhoenix


Nah I'm talking about FabNic's complications done to Psylocke with the Revanche thing as well as X-Men Forever and the attempt to retcon over the intentions of the classic backstories in reference to Jean/Phoenix, as well as issues like the Magneto War Prologue which summarized just about every story Magneto was ever involved in and the Wolverine issues during the Twelve in which had way too many flashback panels and pages and characters explaining so much past continuity.

As well as trying to make Magneto into a Gypsie instead of a Jew. etc

FabNic could write characters with personality though- I can give him credit for that. He understood their personalities and wrote that part very well. Don't get me wrong I loved some of his stuff like X-Men 28 and the Apoclayse Manifesto etc.

Lobdell had problems with toning down a lot of the characters like Storm and Jean and bringing things out of the blue sometimes. I don't think he was quite as bad with continuity and his final stuff was a lot better than his initial stuff, imo.
I agree Nicieza had his hand in the continuity grinding cookie jar, but Lobdell was the ringmaster (along with the editors).

[LoganBane]

What no Joe Casey, or Chuck Austen? What is this world coming to?!? :rolleyes: :p

[harlekein]

Excellent list. Can't say much to argue with it.

[Al Harahap]

Re: all the hoopla about BWS at #2

I myself would not personally put him at #2, and I realise the very small amount of his contribution may be perplexing as to even his inclusion, but you have to understand that outside of Claremont and Simonson, who encompassed nigh the totality of X-books, everyone else has relatively limited runs or long runs on a small blotch of the X-books. So other than those two, I'd say the rest is pretty much fair game.

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell
:D heh heh...they'll never know just how close the universe came to unraveling for a moment there, will they Al? ;)

Universe unravelling? Talk about averting Crisis on Infinite Lists. ;)

Originally posted by memeticwar
good job guys must have been hard coming to a consensus!!

Blood. :# Sweat. :tired: Tears. :~(

[X-iom]

Okay, CC on # 1 is a good (if predictable choice). Lobdell should be # 2 (IMO). Leaving out Joe Kelley is a big oversight, however. BWS on # 2 and Weezie on # 3 just doesn't make sense. Agree with Peter David though.

[FreakyFlyBry]

I knew Chris Claremont would be #1... well-deserved for all the contributions he made to the X-titles. But Barry Windsor-Smith #2? :o I totally wasn't expecting that! I would've ranked Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza ahead of him.

[salvador]

Funny pictures...:D
BTW, I would have put the top 3 in this order:

3- Scott Lobdell
2- Grant Morrison
1- Chris Claremont

I'm really glad that X-Chris is still considered the best writer, even if some old episode wasn't so great. Intiifada is gonna be wonderful, and.. well, Grant Morrison deserved a better rank.

Oh GoD! I forgot Fabian Nicieza! How could I? Well, let's say... 4th rank, at least?

[Tan K.]

Originally posted by X-iom
Okay, CC on # 1 is a good (if predictable choice). Lobdell should be # 2 (IMO). Leaving out Joe Kelley is a big oversight, however. BWS on # 2 and Weezie on # 3 just doesn't make sense. Agree with Peter David though.

People, listen. Being the writer for the longest amount of time is not what defines being top. Lobdell had a looooooong run. Did that translate to quality? In some instances it did. In others it didn't. There is a reason his run was met with approval and disgust. Sure the prospectors leaving the industry caused the drop in sales, but Lobdell didn't help at all. It is no coincidence that so many readers left during his tenure.

I know many of you came on during the 90's and maybe as a result of the cartoon, so their is your emotional attachment. I understand that. My opinion is different from ya'lls because I got to experience CC's run first hand, and anyone after him unfairly was judged against his stuff.

L Simonson in the top 3 is a given. She was X-Factor during the best of its times. The original 5 were given a new lease on life and progressed so much under her. So what you get is quality (little doubt on that....her New Mutants were met with mixed emotions though) and quantity. If you followed the X-Men for more than 10 years, L Simonson's contributions are set in stone.

BWS IMO was ranked too high, but his stuff was quality soaked.

Again, Kelly under the same or worse cicumstances than Lobdell was able to revive excitement and brought back life to the X's. I would love for him to come back.

[Papillon]

Originally posted by coolyguy
I agree with everyone on the list except for Louise Simonson, and that is mainly for her run on New Mutants.

And I agree wholeheartedly with you. She did a good job on other titles, like X-Factor (especially with--and I know you'll laugh--Power Pack), but that doesn't make up for her sloppy handling of once-great characters and stories in New Mutants. After all, remember how she wrote herself into a corner in the Inferno stories and pretty much tried to escape by having her characters say "I guess we'll never know what happened" because SHE didn't know what happened or how to explain it. I'm not saying she's a hack, but she's the only ranking I have issue with (and even then, it's where on the top ten).

And by the way, thanks for including Peter David.

[doctorx]

Originally posted by Tan K.


John Byrne: even though he was a integral part of the golden age, he did not write anything that great during his time. As mentioned, Hidden Years was not the stuff top 10 lists are made for.

Are you guys forgetting? :? He cowrote Proteus, Days of the Future Past, and the Dark Phoenix Saga. Does it not count since it was written with CC? :?

[ImpossibleM]

Originally posted by Papillon


And I agree wholeheartedly with you. She did a good job on other titles, like X-Factor (especially with--and I know you'll laugh--Power Pack),

Yes, it's great someone mentioned her work on Power Pack. Hey, if you liked it, it was there, and it was well written for that audience. But I've gotta echo other folks: her X Factor work (as well as Power Pack) was phenomenal, but her New Mutants was excruciating. From focused, nuanced characters under CC, NM shifted to plot heavy mechanics laden with throw away minor characters.

Still, it's a great list, good job, it's generating a lot of intelligent responses.

[Kevin Sutton]

Originally posted by Tan K.
I was just referring to his Ultimate X-Men stuff. The other stuff speaks for itself.

I disagree very much with that assessment then.

Originally posted by Al Harahap
Universe unravelling? Talk about averting Crisis on Infinite Lists.

Now what interests me is, who wouldn't have him at number one? ...or who would they suggest as #1? That would be interesting to discuss. (Maybe Why I think ____ was better than CC would make an interesting column)

[Tan K.]

Originally posted by doctorx


Are you guys forgetting? :? He cowrote Proteus, Days of the Future Past, and the Dark Phoenix Saga. Does it not count since it was written with CC? :?

Co-plotting is not the same as co-writing.

Originally posted by SuperMutant


I disagree very much with that assessment then.



Now what interests me is, who wouldn't have him at number one? ...or who would they suggest as #1? That would be interesting to discuss. (Maybe Why I think ____ was better than CC would make an interesting column)

1st part: your right to disagree with me. all it means is that you're wrong :p.

2nd part: nyet, nyet. It had nothing to do with CC not being number 1 (even though there may have been a ninkumpoop or two who didn't). It dealt with Morrison. That's all I can say.

[dredweezul]

If Chris didn't make #1, I would have been very upset! I'm glad to see Weezie made the list too!

[lavar78]

Originally posted by Anthony Lucynski
This may change from person to person, but when I think Wolverine, I think &quot;Weapon X&quot;.

Well, when I think of Wolverine, I think of the Wolverine miniseries. I'm sure I'm not alone.

Where is the bad in Peter David's run? As near as I can tell, David and BWS are the only two on the list who haven't written any X-story I'd call subpar. What is the thinking that puts Simonson above David but below BWS? Hell, David did a better job with X-Factor (compared to Simonson) with a (considerably) lesser cast.

Along with Dark Phoenix as the #1 story, Claremont at #1 is the one thing on all of these lists with which I agree completely. With all due respect to Stan, Chris is undoubtedly "The Man" when it comes to the X-Men.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by LoganBane
What no Joe Casey, or Chuck Austen? What is this world coming to?!? :rolleyes: :p

well, Casey's a contender for my personal top ten, though he'd make the lower half (sorry, as much as i defend Poptopia for what it SHOULD have been, there has to be a reckoning...lol). I just feel like he, along with Morrison and Claremont, made the X-Men cool again. And then he left. And Warren got a loin cloth. ::shudder::


Originally posted by Al Harahap
Re: all the hoopla about BWS at #2

I myself would not personally put him at #2, and I realise the very small amount of his contribution may be perplexing as to even his inclusion, but you have to understand that outside of Claremont and Simonson, who encompassed nigh the totality of X-books, everyone else has relatively limited runs or long runs on a small blotch of the X-books. So other than those two, I'd say the rest is pretty much fair game.


Yeah, BWS wouldn't make my personal #2. Heck, i had him at three in my personal rankings (that's a lot of my personal taste...i ADORE Weapon X). I figured others would vote him lower and it would even out...that...didn't happen. :)

Originally posted by Al Harahap

Universe unravelling? Talk about averting Crisis on Infinite Lists. ;)


Would that make Tan the Anti-Monitor? lol


Originally posted by Tan K.


Co-plotting is not the same as co-writing.


Amen.

Originally posted by Tan K.

2nd part: nyet, nyet. It had nothing to do with CC not being number 1 (even though there may have been a ninkumpoop or two who didn't). It dealt with Morrison. That's all I can say.

And that's all you WILL say, Tan. We swore we would never speak of that fateful day in public...on the holy book, we swore! (actually, it was just Joel Phillips' copy of the Marvel Universe Handbook...but still...)

[Anthony Lucynski]

Well, when I think of Wolverine, I think of the Wolverine miniseries. I'm sure I'm not alone.

Like I said, it will change from person to person. But for an entire generation of readers, Weapon X is forever linked to Wolverine. It may not be your favorite story (in your case, it's not even something you even think about) but for A LOT of people, WeaponX=Wolverine, and vice versa. Which is one of the reasons why it's been continually revisted and expanded upon.

Like I said, you can try to debate it, but it's a excersise in futility if you do ;)

In fact, I challenge anybody to honestly say that when describing Wolverine to a non-reader, would you NOT mention Weapon X?

How could you not? You cant.

"How did Wolverine get his Adamantium?"

Answer (without using Weapon X): "Um...that's not important"

"What's up with Wolverine's past? Why cant he remember anything?"

Answer: (without using Weapon X: "Um...he forgot"

And it would go on and on in that vein. ;)

Anthony L

[atxbomber]

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell
well, Casey's a contender for my personal top ten, though he'd make the lower half (sorry, as much as i defend Poptopia for what it SHOULD have been, there has to be a reckoning...lol). I just feel like he, along with Morrison and Claremont, made the X-Men cool again. And then he left. And Warren got a loin cloth. ::shudder::

You're reading my mind again, aren't you?

[lavar78]

Originally posted by Anthony Lucynski


Like I said, it will change from person to person. But for an entire generation of readers, Weapon X is forever linked to Wolverine. It may not be your favorite story (in your case, it's not even something you even think about) but for A LOT of people, WeaponX=Wolverine, and vice versa. Which is one of the reasons why it's been continually revisted and expanded upon.

Like I said, you can try to debate it, but it's a excersise in futility if you do ;)

In fact, I challenge anybody to honestly say that when describing Wolverine to a non-reader, would you NOT mention Weapon X?

How could you not? You cant.

&quot;How did Wolverine get his Adamantium?&quot;

Answer (without using Weapon X): &quot;Um...that's not important&quot;

&quot;What's up with Wolverine's past? Why cant he remember anything?&quot;

Answer: (without using Weapon X: &quot;Um...he forgot&quot;

And it would go on and on in that vein. ;)



You misunderstood me. I'm not arguing Weapon X's importance -- I think it's a good story (albeit overrated here). Nevertheless, I consider the Wolverine miniseries to be the definitive Wolverine story. First of all, I admit I'm not a big fan of Wolverine. That being said, I think the strength of the character is in his present, not his past. Of course, this is more of a criticism of Origin than Weapon X, but you get my point -- I prefer my Wolverine with a past shrouded in mystery (and only in 1-2 titles per month).

[Tan K.]

If Joe Casey had written from the start the way he did post X-Corps (and maybe some of X-Corps), I may have voted for him as well. His Cable was one of the best. His Pooptopia was just so horrible, and then it still took him another few issues to get going.

I have to agree. Casey advanced Warren further than anyone...EVER. I started to see a 3-D Warren, but that all got changed when the loin cloth came (so I borrowed the same put down from Jordan. I am the Anti-Monitor).

[W. Molstad]

Where's Alan Davis?!?? His run on Excalibur was incredible! Do people just ignore Alan Davis for some reason? Also, Peter Milligan deserves to be up here far more than many others. X-Statix/X-Force is just so high quality in the writing - even if you don't like Allred's art (which I love, personally) Milligan's writing and creativity has been top notch and unique.
So many in the X-books wish that they had something that compared to X-Statix. And I have to say that Windsor-Smith is not the number 2 in my opinion. Otherwise, great list, but some big misses...

Your ranking of Lobdell and Nicieza is deserved... both of them contributed a lot, but the quality of their long runs can be highly questioned.

I have to say that these lists may please mainstream X-Fans, but they don't feel critically correct to me, I guess...

[Justice Daye]

Originally posted by Jordan T. Maxwell
I fail to see how you can change characters while maintaining the status quo. Especially in such a character focused book. Heck, he set up a new broad status quo, and then played in it. What's he supposed to do, change the world every issue? And heck, i think he's done plenty in the interim to screw with his own given circumstances, so this argument really confuses me since i don't see what you're seeing...or rather, i see what you don't see. One or the other, i don't know...see, you've got me so confused. :D

By status quo, i meant no progression in the one area that is supposed to be most important, mutat affairs. These were the stories that happened i the 90's. While I loved alot of 90's, they weren't a very foward moving time for the x's. Germ Free and E were GM's most powerful and progressive stories for the x-men. After that, he really stopped moving the x-men forward or introducing any new concepts And IMO, since he's stopped doing what I thought got him on the list (being progressive), has stopped. Other then those first two arcs, he hasn't done anything (at least x-men wise) to be on the list. And I thought the criteria was at least an entire, relevant arc. He's not finished and only his first 2 and last 2 arcs were(will be) progressive or important to the x-verse in any way. If he's going to be on the list for the stories where something actually happened, then okay. But, he should be around the same place Ellis is.

[W. Molstad]

Originally posted by XZero-g


...Germ Free and E were GM's most powerful and progressive stories for the x-men. After that, he really stopped moving the x-men forward or introducing any new concepts...

XZero-g - I think that the impact of Grant's arc remains to be seen - he has, to me at least, revitalized the X-line and the company along with Milligan and Claremont, who's finally getting back into form with X-Treme. Still there are so many unanswered questions - are people going to continue to use Morrison's creations/ideas, is Morrison going to let them or give them back a clean slate (ala the Xorn/Mags thing), and how will all of his plot lines pull together when he's done with things?

The staff here seem very pro-Grant Morrison, and I love him. They're going to draw lots of fire though from those that want to see typical stories. And I didn't like the Mags/Xorn revelation...

Anyway, back on my track. Alan Davis? Come on.... anyone?

[Jim Lemoine]

Colossal Gambit, I didn't vote on this particular list... but if I had, rest assured that I'd be right there with you on Davis. His run on Excalibur are some of my very favorite comics to read, and his X-Men was surprisingly good (up until the editors forced him to write that Twelve nonsense).

Davis' run on Excalibur is, sadly, a bit far from the mainstream for recognition in a list like this... and most people tend to judge his X-Men run by the end of it, which was pretty horrible. Too bad, because the beginning and middle were so good...

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by XZero-g


By status quo, i meant no progression in the one area that is supposed to be most important, mutat affairs. These were the stories that happened i the 90's. While I loved alot of 90's, they weren't a very foward moving time for the x's. Germ Free and E were GM's most powerful and progressive stories for the x-men. After that, he really stopped moving the x-men forward or introducing any new concepts And IMO, since he's stopped doing what I thought got him on the list (being progressive), has stopped. Other then those first two arcs, he hasn't done anything (at least x-men wise) to be on the list. Ad I thought the criteria was at least an entire, relevat ru. He's not finished and only his first 2 and last 2 arcs were(will be) progressive or important to the x-verse in any way. If he's going to be on the list for the stories where something actually happened, then okay. But, he should be around the same place Ellis is.

It's amazing. I disagree with EVERYTHING you just said. I mean, other than the spelling of the words, I can't find one thing in that statement that I agree with. I mean, I figured that was some kind of statistical impossibility. Hey Joel, check it out...someone i disagree with more than you! :D


Originally posted by Jim Lemoine
Colossal Gambit, I didn't vote on this particular list... but if I had, rest assured that I'd be right there with you on Davis. His run on Excalibur are some of my very favorite comics to read, and his X-Men was surprisingly good (up until the editors forced him to write that Twelve nonsense).

Davis' run on Excalibur is, sadly, a bit far from the mainstream for recognition in a list like this... and most people tend to judge his X-Men run by the end of it, which was pretty horrible. Too bad, because the beginning and middle were so good...

Actually, i would never put Alan Davis on a top writers list of mine. His Excalibur stories never resonated much with me, it was like a tinny piano to Claremont's baby grand. And while the Twelve was truly atrocious, i found his entire run on X-Men to be pretty bad (though to a far lesser degree than, ugh, the Twelve...could've been such a great story if they'd actually done something with the ACTUAL story that had been building for years). To the point where i was just picking up the X-Men books out of habit and finishing them off pretty quick to get to the good stuff i was buying from Vertigo. nearly dropped the books until Claremont came back on...i know i'm in a minority, but i liked his Revolution stuff at the very beginning before the editors started snooping around, mixing acids and bases and other such metaphors.

At least that's one thing we can agree on, Jim...damned editors. ;) Can i have a column now? lol

[Tan K.]

I really liked Davis's Excalibur stuff, but his X-Men run was pretty bad. To me that totally washed out any of the good he did on Excalibur.

[Morgan-Paladin71]

Definately agree with number 1. Claremont has been and always will be(at least in my mind) the standard by which all X-men titles are judged(perhaps that's part of the problem Austen is having?).

[lavar78]

Originally posted by Jim Lemoine
Davis' run on Excalibur is, sadly, a bit far from the mainstream for recognition in a list like this...

Just like New Mutants? At least the Cross Time Caper got a mention.

Originally posted by Morgan-Paladin71
Claremont has been and always will be(at least in my mind) the standard by which all X-men titles are judged(perhaps that's part of the problem Austen is having?).

No. Austen stuff doesn't even compare favorably to Onslaught or the Twelve. Holy War? 'Nuff said.

[Anthony Lucynski]

His run on Excalibur was incredible! Do people just ignore Alan Davis for some reason?

I know i'm going to get screamed at for this, but I think Excalibur on the whole gets ignored, not just Alan Davis. Excalibur was the X-book that wasnt an X-book. It had some X-characters, and there was a connection, but I never really considered it as such. Similarly how I view books like Deadpool or Gambit. X-books, but not really.

As for Alan Davis, I never really liked him. At all. In fact, his writing is what made me drop the X-books for the first time ever when he was on them before Chris Claremont came back (and then I picked them up, and dropped them again when Chris came back)

It wasnt until Morrison and Casey came on the books that I started collecting them regularly again. I soon dropped Uncanny, but never did drop New.

Anthony L

[crawler_17]

Nice list. I also think Chris should be number one. However I think I might have put Nicieza higher on the list.

[gaptandil]

Originally posted by Colossal Gambit
Also, Peter Milligan deserves to be up here far more than many others. X-Statix/X-Force is just so high quality in the writing - even if you don't like Allred's art (which I love, personally) Milligan's writing and creativity has been top notch and unique.
So many in the X-books wish that they had something that compared to X-Statix.

Finally! Not only was Milligan not on the top-10 list, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone but colossal gambit and me! For all it's worth, I completely agree with you. Milligan's run on X-Force/X-Statix is awesome, and no matter how distinct and weird Allred's art is, it's a perfect fit for the book, unique, simple, direct, and inventive.

[pdm]

Yup, Claremont's a no-brainer for #1.

However, I'd place Stan the Man as #2---and Roy Thomas (who, shockingly, did not even make the list :O) as #3----it was he who really pumped up the idea of mutants as, to paraphrase the John Lennon song, the blacks/Jews/etc. of the Marvel Universe.