Tragic Backstories Of Your Favorite X-Men

So often as consumers of media, we find ourselves drawn to the extremes of drama, tragedy, and fear. Whether this is because those circumstances reflect our reality or because they inject a little excitement into our mundane lives, the effect is the same — we're into it. No group of characters embodies this entrancing intensity quite like the X-Men. Though they hail from all walks of life, as mutants, they are all marked as "other" by a suspicious and fearful society. They might fight for what's right, but it's only because they've experienced the worst the world has to offer.

Whether in a comic from decades past or a recent X-Men movie adaptation, Marvel's maligned mutants carry the burdens of history. Every member of the X-Men claims their own unique origin story, tailored to suit the era they emerged from — yet the vast majority of them skew tragic. Whether they were born into a wealthy family or raised on the streets, the X-Men reflect the darkest complexities of humanity. Join us as we plumbs the depths of their origin stories — just be sure to have a tissue ready.

Scott Summers has typically been Professor Xavier's right-hand man, eventually succeeding the telepathic founder as the headmaster of the School for Gifted Youngsters. But aside from his angst over how difficult his laser-eyed mutant ability is to control, Scott has a past — and a present — full of conflict. 

Scott's childhood was torn apart by a deadly plane crash. His parents sacrificed themselves for their sons' safety, equipping Scott and his brother Alexander with parachutes and tossing them out of the aircraft. Though both boys lived, their lives were indelibly marked by the event. Both became wards of the state, but Scott ran away after his powers began to manifest. After years of mistreatment, he was taken in by Professor Xavier. The fickle nature of Scott's mutant ability is, in some narratives, blamed on brain damage he sustained in the fall from the plane, while other stories chalk it up to a mental block created by the trauma of the ordeal. Couple this with his complicated on-again-off-again relationship with Jean Grey (not to mention her own deaths and resurrections), and Scott has been toting around a whole lot of baggage his entire life.

A powerful psychic, Jean Grey's abilities were honed with specialized help from Professor X himself. Jean's romance with Scott Summers, and her multiple deaths and reawakening as the Phoenix (and sometimes Dark Phoenix) give her plenty of dramatic allure. To some, her telepathy may not seem all that exciting in comparison, especially against mutant powers like weather control or creating explosions. But it is, in fact, a uniquely powerful talent — with uniquely intense costs. Jean might not be able to summon a blizzard, but, empowered by the Phoenix Force, she can incinerate entire planets.

Jean's powers first manifested in childhood, when her best friend was killed in a car accident. Young Jean reached out mentally and linked with her friend, nearly dying in the process herself. She was awakened from her subsequent coma by Professor X, who sealed her abilities away until she was old enough to control them. Though Jean's home life was a happy one, her incredible mental powers, and the toll they take on her body and mind, set her apart from many of her fellow mutants.

Some mutants are more obviously mutated than others. Jean Grey can walk down any street and not be gawked at — but it's hard not to stand out when you're blue, hairy, and have a pointed tail like Kurt Wagner. Abandoned as an infant, Kurt was found and raised by Margali Szardos, a sorceress working in a Bavarian circus. He enjoyed a happy childhood, as the circus members held no prejudices towards mutants and his acrobatic abilities were popular with audiences. Though he has always had his unique appearance, his powers of teleportation did not make themselves known until he was a teenager. Shortly after, his happy life in the circus was shattered. 

Kurt is, in fact, the son of the shapeshifter Mystique and the demonic warlord Azazel. His parents' less-than-savory reputations have marked him his whole life, despite his own devout Catholicism. After a stint in the freak show of an American circus, Kurt set out for Germany to find his foster brother, Stefan, who he learned had apparently murdered several innocent children. The townspeople, seeing Kurt's demonic appearance, assumed he was the murderer. Before they could enact vengeance, Professor X stepped in to save him. Despite the complications of his origins and the prejudice that his devilish form invokes, Kurt is frequently depicted as upbeat and friendly, proving that some people can push through their own darkness and emerge stronger for it.

Born Anna Marie (with no known surname other than her married one, LeBeau), Rogue was raised in a Mississippi hippie commune. The members of the commune attempted to use Native American mysticism to reach the "Far Banks," but their failure to do so properly resulted in her mother's disappearance. Rogue was then cared for by her Aunt Carrie, whose grief at the loss of her sister made her a strict disciplinarian. Though Rogue loved her aunt, she was a rebellious teenager, and ultimately ran away from home. 

Rogue grew close to a boy named Cody who, after impulsively kissing Rogue, was left in a permanent coma — the first victim of her life-draining powers. The guilt and the fear of what she had done weighed so heavily on Rogue that she adopted a completely body-covering outfit that fans readily recognize today. She was eventually adopted by Mystique and began her mutant exploits with Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants, eventually joining the X-Men after absorbing Ms. Marvel's psyche along with her Kree powers. Rogue's struggle with her superhuman abilities is a huge part of her character — though workarounds have been developed, she never quite gets to let her guard down entirely.

It's always been hard for Warren Worthington III to hide his mutant side, thanks to the feathered wings that grew from his back in adolescence. For a while, he felt like an outsider ... until he realized that his flying ability allows him to swoop in and rescue people like a very literal guardian angel. He borrowed a costume from the drama department of his school, the real-world Phillips Exeter Academy, to rescue his friends from a burning dormitory building, and a whole new passion was born. Warren worked as a solo vigilante until Charles Xavier recruited him for the X-Men.

Warren ended up dying while on a mission in the Savage Land, and was resurrected by "The Creator," AKA Magneto, sans recognizable costume. Magneto provided Warren with a new look, which contained a device that allowed Magneto to control Warren's mind. Amidst all of this upheaval, Warren discovered that his own uncle murdered both of Warren's parents in an attempt at stealing the Worthington fortune. Warren has done a lot of team-hopping over the years, shifting between the identities of Angel and Archangel. What never changes are his trademark wings — though they are sometimes made of "techno-organic" metal.

As we've already seen, some of the best heroes start out as villains. No one exemplifies that more than the icy Emma Frost. Born into a wealthy Boston family, Emma was emotionally neglected by her extensive family. Moreover, she was bullied at school — but when her psychic abilities manifested, she began a promising career as a teacher, tutoring her peers with the support of her own mentor, a man named Ian Kendall. Her father soundly rejected this pursuit, and was further angered by video footage of Emma kissing Ian after she discovered, telepathically, that he found her attractive. The footage, taken by Emma's sister, was intended to be used as evidence to get Ian fired, but Emma decided to blackmail her father instead. Surprisingly, her father was impressed with his daughter's strength of will, and offered her the family fortune. Emma refused, choosing to make her own way in the world, away from the bonds of her stifling home environment. 

Emma then entered a period of homelessness, which saw her become the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, positioning herself directly opposite Professor X and his Academy. Years later, she would become co-headmistress of Xavier's school alongside Cyclops. Emma might be catty, aloof, and judgmental, but her difficult upbringing instilled in her an ironclad respect for hard work and responsibility. She might not always be nice, but she's definitely become heroic.