Source: womenwriteaboutcomics.com
3. Iceman
AKA Rampage AKA Frosty AKA Iceheart AKA Robert “Bobby†Drake
Joined: X-Men (1963) # 1
Iceman is my personal favorite X-Man of all time. And I know that’s a weird pick. Most people would go for Wolverine or Kitty Pryde or Cyclops but not me. I just absolutely love Bobby Drake. Bobby came from a pretty normal home but in his early teenagerhood, he was attacked by a bully and recponded by encasing the dude in solid ice. The town panicked and Professor Xavier came and rescued him, making him the second X-Man. Bobby was the youngest of the original team and had a sort of immature jokester mentality.
However beneath all that, he’s been revealed as an omega level mutant with incredible potential. Over the years, he has really grown up, becoming a brave and strong while still maintaining his sense of humor. A few years ago, with the help of a time travelling younger version of himself (just go with it), Bobby finally came to terms with his sexuality and came out of the closet as a gay man. And, as a straight guy who loves Iceman and related to him more than any other X-Man… I like it.
And TBH it doesn’t make me relate to him any less. I mean, I’m not gay myself but I also can’t shoot ice out of my hands and that never stopped me. Plus the Sina Grace-written Iceman series is one of the most fun Marvel comics in a few years. And not only is it cool to have an openly gay founding X-Man, Iceman possibly being gay was hinted at since all the way back in the ‘80s so anyone who tells you it “came out of nowhere†just plain doesn’t know their comics.
