This Collider feature offers a beginner-friendly reading guide to essential X-Men comics, timed to renewed interest in the team following the announcement of the X-Men cast at Disney's D23 convention and Jean Grey's (Sadie Sink) upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. With decades of complex, interconnected storylines to navigate, the article aims to help newcomers find accessible entry points before the characters appear more widely on screen, including in the anticipated Avengers: Doomsday.

The list highlights ten recommended titles, opening with modern retellings and acclaimed runs. These include X-Men: Season One (2011), a streamlined, teen-focused retelling of the original 1960s team by Dennis Hopeless and artist Jamie McKelvie; Grant Morrison's New X-Men (2001–2004, issues #114–154), praised as one of the best runs since Chris Claremont's 1990s era for its bold changes to the status quo, including pairing Cyclops with Emma Frost; and Claremont's own influential four-issue Wolverine (1982) mini-series, noted for its iconic cover art.