The X-Men are one of the most important groups in the Marvel Universe. Not only do they defend the world from some of the most dangerous villains around but they also fight for equality, their battle for mutant rights is arguably the most important thing they fight for. The members of the team are some of the respected heroes around, fighting the good fight with aplomb.
Over the years, some members of the team have proven nigh incorruptible, never straying from the heroic path. However, there are others who are habitual line crossers, showing their true colors more often than not.
10 Could Never Turn Evil: Wolverine Would Never Willingly Choose Evil
Wolverine is one of the most important X-Men and while there are some who would say his penchant for killing makes him one of the closest to being evil. However, while Wolverine has done some things he’s not proud of, he’s never done them willingly. He’s been brainwashed but, on his own, would never choose to be evil.
Wolverine has been through a lot in his life and has made his friends into his family. He would never fight them without the kind of manipulation that would completely transform him into someone else and even then, he would fight against it.
9 Turns Evil Often: Attacking The Surface World Is One Of Namor’s Hobbies
Even though Namor’s mutant status has been known for ages, it was only relatively recently that he joined the X-Men. His time with the team was full of ups and downs but one thing he didn’t do during his tenure with the team is exercise one of his favorite past times- attacking the surface world.
Namor spends nearly as much time as a villain as he does a hero and while he’s never changed sides while he was an X-Men, that doesn’t mean it would be out of the realm of possibility. Namor’s a mercurial man and it historically hasn’t taken much to get him to go from hero to villain.
8 Could Never Turn Evil: Nightcrawler Is As Pure As They Come
Nightcrawler is one of the most beloved members of the X-Men. He made the team his home and the members are like family to him. Of all the members of the team, him turning evil would be a surprise but not one that would be unwarranted- the events of his life could be looked at as ample motivation for a heel turn.
However, Nightcrawler is as pure as they come, his devotion to his religion and belief in Xavier’s dream enough to keep him on the side of angels. There would be few bigger surprises than Nightcrawler becoming a villain but it’s not something anyone is scared of happening.
7 Turns Evil Often: Sabretooth Has Betrayed The Team Every Time He Joined It
Most people don’t think of Sabretooth when they think of the X-Men but he’s actually been a member of the team pretty often. While it’s kind of weird for one of Wolverine’s greatest foes to be an X-Man, the team has tried their best to redeem him on several occasions and it’s always come back to haunt them. Sabretooth is a villain through and through.
Honestly, it’s more surprising that the X-Men let him on the team than the fact that he goes back to being a villain. Every time they give him a chance, he spits in their faces and goes back to doing what he does best- killing.
6 Could Never Turn Evil: Cannonball Is A Hero Through And Through
While Cannonball spends more time with his Shi’Ar Superguardian wife Smasher than with the X-Men, there’s no questioning his inherent heroism. Cannonball joined the New Mutants at an early age and internalized the teachings of the Xavier Institute, always using his powers for good. He rose through the ranks, leading the New Mutants and X-Force, graduating to become an X-Man, and even joining the Avengers.
Cannonball has never even gotten close to becoming a villain. There’s just something about him that keeps him from turning evil- no matter what happens to him, he always fights for the right things.
5 Turns Evil Often: Magik Has To Work Hard To Keep From Going Demonic
Magik is one of the most powerful members of the X-Men, her teleportational powers augmented by a mastery of magic she learned while trapped in the demonic realm of Limbo. It’s this magical skill that holds the most peril for Magik, as she can tap into unprecedented reservoirs of power by giving into her Darkchylde side, a legacy of her title of Queen of Limbo.
However, this also makes her into a monstrous threat. Magik has to work hard to keep this side of her under control, denying the demon inside her a chance to come out and wreak havoc. It’s happened many times over the years and it makes her a danger to enemies and allies alike.
4 Could Never Turn Evil: Kate Pryde Has Never Been Tempted By Villainy
Kate Pryde joined the X-Men as a teenager and has grown up with the team. This has helped develop her moral compass to such an extent that she’s pretty much incorruptible. Kate has been through a lot in her life but none of it has ever made her question her devotion to doing the right thing.
Kate Pryde learned from some of the best around and she internalized all of their teachings, becoming a hero everyone is proud of. Kate Pryde’s heroism is such that one could set a clock by it- it’s as sure as anything in the world.
3 Turns Evil Often: Mystique Always Goes Back To Being Evil
Mystique is yet another villain who the X-Men have allowed to join the team. As a member of both the X-Men and X-Factor, she’s proven that she’s just as dangerous a hero as she is a villain but she’s also shown a distressing tendency to jump sides. In fact, more often than not, it seems like the only reason she joins the X-Men is to take advantage of them.
Mystique has some good qualities- she’ll do anything for the people she loves, like Destiny or Rogue- but she also is pretty manipulative and has no problem selling out people she doesn’t care about, like the X-Men. Every time she’s around the X-Men, everyone is waiting for her to stab them in the back.
2 Could Never Turn Evil: Storm Is The X-Men’s Paragon Of Virtue
Of all the X-Men, there is none more morally upright than Storm. While other X-Men have fallen to temptations of all manner, Storm has remained steadfast, always doing good. No member of the team can match her selfless devotion to heroism and she’s an inspiration for all of them.
Storm is the one X-Man that would surprise everyone the most if she went evil because it honestly seems impossible. Her moral rectitude is unmatched; even when she’s brainwashed, she’s quickly able to fight out of it and do the right thing. This is a woman gifted with her Asgardian hammer, Stormcaster. They don’t give those to just anybody.
1 Turns Evil Often: Magneto’s Mania For Mutant Survival Leads Him To Some Dark Places
Magneto was the X-Men’s first and greatest enemy but has come around to the team in recent years, as they were all that stood between the mutant race and annihilation. It’s not the first time he joined the team- he ran the Xavier Institute in Xavier’s absence for a time- but it’s the longest he’s gone without attacking the team.
However, that doesn’t take it out of the realm of possibility because there are no lengths Magneto won’t go to ensure mutant survival. He’s turned back to villainy just about every time he’s been a hero and if he felt the X-Men were impeding mutant survival, he would go back to being a villain in a heartbeat.
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