10 Characters Who’ve Been X-Men And Avengers

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When you think of superhero teams – aside from those in DC like the Justice League – the first ones you think of tend to include the X-Men and the Avengers, both of whom are of Marvel comic books fame.

When it comes to each team, there are characters you undoubtedly strongly associate solely with them. In the case of the X-Men, it’s probably the likes of Professor X, Cyclops and Jean Grey and, in the case of the Avengers, it’s probably the likes of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor – but did you know there are an abundance of characters who have been fairly prominent members of both teams?

Of course, there are countless iterations of both teams, so we’re not necessarily referring to the core versions of them – we may be referring to spin-off teams and whatnot – but they’re still X-Men and Avengers teams nonetheless.

Here are just ten of the characters who have been both X-Men and Avengers in their times…

Cannonball

Cannonball

Cannonball

Cannonball is an American human mutant whose real name is Samuel Zachary “Sam” Guthrie. He first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4: The New Mutants in 1982 and has been a member of various X-teams as well as a member of the Avengers.

His mutant powers include jet propulsion and the ability to create an impenetrable “blast field” while he’s in flight, which enables him to fire powerful blasts of energy from pretty much any part of his body.

He first joined the X-Men in X-Force, vol. 1 #44 in 1995 and has gone on to be a part of the likes of the New Mutants, X-Force, X-Corporation and the X-Treme X-Men. In Avengers vol. 5 #1 in 2012, after the Avengers vs. X-Men event, he was recruited by Captain America himself to become an Avenger.

Sunfire

Sunfire

Sunfire

Sunfire is a Japanese human mutant whose real name is Shiro Yoshida. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #64 in January of 1970 and has been a member of a couple of X-teams and a member of an iteration of the Avengers.

His mutant powers include basic flight, the ability to fire powerful plasma blasts, the ability to view the infrared spectrum and almost complete immunity to all forms of radiation.

The character first joined the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975 and has gone on to be a part of related teams that include the X-Corporation Mumbai. Like Cannonball before him, he was recruited into the Avengers by Captain America himself in the aftermath of the Avengers vs. X-Men story – in his case, it was in Uncanny Avengers #5 in February 2013.

Havok

Havok

Havok

Havok is an American human mutant whose real name is Alexander “Alex” Summers – he’s the younger brother of the more well-known Cyclops AKA Scott Summers. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men No. 54 in March of 1969 and has been a member of various X-teams, as well as an iteration of the Avengers.

His mutant powers include powerful energy blasts, the ability to absorb cosmic energy and, interestingly, complete immunity to his older brother Cyclops’ optic blasts.

He first joined the X-Men in The X-Men, vol. 1 #65 in 1970, but has gone on to represent other related teams including X-Factor and X-Factor Investigations. Like both Cannonball and Sunfire, he was recruited into the Avengers by Captain America himself after the Avengers vs. X-Men event – in his case in Uncanny Avengers #1 in October 2012.

Sabretooth

Sabretooth

Sabretooth

Sabretooth is, of course, classically known as a villain, but he has also been a hero and a member of versions of both the X-Men and the Avengers. A human mutant with relatively unknown origins, but whose real name is Victor Creed, Sabretooth first appeared in Iron Fist #14 in August of 1977.

His mutant powers include a regenerative healing factor, retractable claws and incredibly sharp teeth, superhuman strength, senses and reflexes, feline-like attributes and extended longevity.

After a long stint of villainy, Sabretooth first joined the X-Men in X-Men, vol. 2 #192 in 2006. He’s also been a member of related teams like Team X. Then, in Uncanny Avengers #1 in January of 2015, he joined the Avengers Unity Division. He has also been associated with the likes of the Astonishing Avengers.

Cable

Cable

Cable

The incredibly powerful Cable is an American human mutant whose real name is Nathan Christopher Charles Summers – he’s the son of key X-Men member Cyclops AKA Scott Summers. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #201 in January of 1986. He’s been a fellow X-Man to Cyclops, as well as being part of other X-teams, and he’s been an Avenger too.

His mutant powers include telepathy, telekinesis, technopathy and superhuman physical attributes – all of which can be enhanced to god-like levels in certain conditions. He’s also an expert marksman and has cybernetic parts.

He first joined the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #381 in 2000 and has also been a part of related teams including X-Force and the New Mutants. He first joined an iteration of the Avengers as recently as Uncanny Avengers #3 in December of 2015.

Deadpool

Deadpool

Deadpool

Deadpool is a Canadian-American human mutate – i.e. NOT a mutant – whose real name is Wade Winston Wilson. He first appeared in The New Mutants #98 in February of 1991. Although he is indeed not a mutant, he has been a part of various X-teams and indeed various Avengers teams.

Having been subject to various experiments, Deadpool’s powers include a regenerative healing factor and increased longevity verging on immortality, while he also has a teleportation device. He’s also an incredible skilled fighter and marksman.

He first joined the X-Men as a probationary member in Cable & Deadpool #8 in 2004, but has also been a part of related teams like X-Force. He was first given membership to the Avengers Unity Division by Captain America himself in Avengers #0 in October of 2015.

Storm

Storm

Storm

Storm is a Kenyan-American human mutant whose real name is Ororo Munroe. She first appeared Giant-Size X-Men #1 in May of 1975. She is one of the senior leading members of the X-Men, but has also been a member of the Avengers in her time.

Her powers include weather manipulation – she can create storms of almost any kind imaginable – and flight, while she also has ecological empathy. She’s a capable fighter and brilliant leader as well.

She first joined the X-Men in her very first appearance in the aforementioned Giant-Size X-Men #1 in May of 1975, but she’s also gone on to be a member of the likes of the X-Treme X-Men and X-Treme Sanctions Executive. As far as her Avengers membership is concerned, that happened in Avengers vol. 4 #19 in November of 2011, but it was only brief.

Rogue

Rogue

Rogue

Rogue is an American human mutant named Anne Marie – her full name is yet to be revealed – who first appeared in Avengers Annual #10 in November of 1981. She’s a key member of the X-Men, but has also been a member of a version of the Avengers in her time.

Her mutant powers include the absorption of other characters’ powers, skills and memories by touch, while she has formerly displayed things like super-strength and flight.

She first joined the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #171 in 1983 and has even led the team. She’s also been a part of related teams like X-Treme Sanctions Executive. She first joined the Avengers after the Avengers vs. X-Men event, when Captain America himself recruited her in Uncanny Avengers #4 in January of 2013.

Beast

Beast

Beast

Beast is an American human mutant whose real name is Henry Philip “Hank” McCoy. He first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1 in September of 1963 and has gone on to be a prominent member of both the X-Men and Avengers, as well as other teams related to both of them.

His mutant powers include an animal-like physiology with razor-sharp claws and teeth, as well as enhanced physical attributes and pheromone manipulation. It also makes him blue. He has a genius-level intellect to boot.

He first joined the X-Men in The X-Men, vol. 1 #53 in 1969, but he has also been a member of the likes of X-ClubX-Factor and X-Terminators. He first became a member of the Avengers in Avengers #151 in September of 1976, but has gone on to work with the likes of the Secret Avengers as well.

Wolverine

Wolverine

Wolverine

Of course, the most famous entry on this list had to be Wolverine. Wolverine is a Canadian human mutant whose real name is James “Logan” Howlett. Having first appeared in a cameo in The Incredible Hulk #180 in October of 1974, he has gone on to be a very prominent member of various X-teams and versions of the Avengers.

His mutant powers include a rapid regenerative healing factor, nigh-immortality and superhuman senses, reflexes and animal-like attributes. But he also has incredible fighting skills and, most prominently, an adamantium-plated skeletal structure and retractable claws.

He first joined the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975 and has gone on to join related teams like X-Force, Team X and X-Treme Sanctions Executive. He first joined the New Avengers in New Avengers #6 in June of 2005, but has gone on to be an active member of the main team.

What do you think? Are these the main ten characters who have been both X-Men and Avengers? Are there better examples? Have your say below!

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