The X-Men are Colossus, Wolverine, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix, and Storm. Period.
I realize there are eight billion other mutant characters, 17 different X-teams, and 500 overlapping alternate realities, and each character has died, come back to life, been cloned, lost their powers, died again, and had babies. I don’t care. Toss all that other stuff in the trash heap, give me that perfect original X-Men, and let’s call it a glorious day! [Edited to add: All right, Kitty Pryde gets a place of honor, along with Lockheed.]
First, the colored version (click the images for a larger view):
And black-and-white:
Vote for Smash here
I’m old enough to remember the original X-Men, Cyclops, The Beast, Angel, Ice Man & Marvel Girl (who latter became Phoenix). The team you mention was much latter.
Yeah, we like the later team. There is some overlap, however, with Cyclops and (as you noted) Phoenix, who began as Marvel Girl. But for our generation, it’s Wolverine’s claws, Colossus’s steel, Storm’s lightning, and Nightcrawler’s “Bamf!” all the way!
Ya gotta throw Kitty in there even though she showed up late to the party!
You’re right — how could I overlook Kitty and Lockheed the dragon? I’ve added them above. Good catch!
D: What about Iceman? He was one of the first!
Though Colossus was one of the best.
Never a big fan of Iceman. (Though I’d have liked him much better if he had some of the personality of Frozone from “The Incredibles.”) But I agree about Colossus!
What, no love for the Beast?
Bah! He’s just a furry Nightcrawler who doesn’t teleport.
Always loved colossus.