Creating comic book characters is a bit tricky for some artists. Some would often create dozens of characters, but unfortunately few if any of these characters would take off, become comic book celebrities, or even gain their own cult following. Others, well, make legends.

In 1963, a duo of comic book creators decided to bring to life a new generation of superheroes and supervillains. The duo, none other than the now renowned geniuses Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Lee, Kirby, and other Marvel creators have already made great strides in the comics industry, producing legendary characters like the Fantastic Four, the Amazing Spider-Man, the Avengers, and a host of other colorful personalities.

But the couple decided that was not enough. Thus the X-Men were born. Created right in the middle of what was considered by others to be the renaissance of comics, the X-Men’s roster back then would forever change comics history.

The X-Men characters got their powers at birth with what the creators coined the “X factor.” These are imbued into each character’s genetic makeup, causing mutations that will forever shape the way they live.

Each of the personalities included in the X-Men character roster have their own unique abilities and skills due to their unique genetic makeup. But these superhuman powers would also present them with difficulties. Humans became wary of what they would eventually call mutants, sometimes even resorting to outright hostility.

It was a great premise, very analogous to the problem that was prevalent in society during that time: racism.

Since its inception way back in 1963, the X-Men’s roster of characters has undergone almost constant change. Some characters would leave for good, while others would take their place. This constant change contributed to the feeling that the series remained fresh despite its age.

Despite these changes, there are those who would remain staples in the X-Men character roster. These include superhero characters like Charles Xavier aka Professor X, Cyclops, and Beast. Classic supervillains that have remained largely unchanged since their creation include Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the Juggernaut, and the Blob.

As a testament to its popularity, several X-Men movies have been produced. With the burgeoning pool of talented comic book writers and designers, we can be sure that exciting new people will be included in the astounding roster of X-Men characters.