I think I talked to someone who firmly believed Iceman that iceman is the strongest mutant in the world. -__- I think he can be really powerful but I don't think he could rule the world.

Iceman??? That is so random to me.

I don't agree-- BUT It's cool that people support him and think so. I like Iceman-- he is cool. No pun intended. lol

@Lordhuck said:

Iceman could do it. He can take massive amounts of damage and "heal" from it. He can use a myriad of ice weapons, blades included. He is both a ranged and melee fighter. Dynamic power set that can adapt to almost any situation. Enough power to operate against powerful foes or entire organizations single handed Under used and poorly written for years.

Iceman could do it, but like you mentioned, he had been written terribly for the last couple of years and he would have to be in many good stories to get to that level of popularity.

@Jmush: Right. hmm.. I wonder if Rogue can absorb vampire powers.. or if that would make her a vampire..

@Lordhuck: these are all good points. But, as much as I like Iceman, I just don't think he has that kind of "it" factor. It would sort of be out of character for him, to be that guy, and I can't help but feel that he'd lose a lot of what I like about him if he were in that position.

Iceman could do it. 
 
He can take massive amounts of damage and "heal" from it. 
 
He can use a myriad of ice weapons, blades included. 
 
He is both a ranged and melee fighter.  
 
Dynamic power set that can adapt to almost any situation. 
 
Enough power to operate against powerful foes or entire organizations single handed 
 
Under used and poorly written for years.

@dangallant984: That she's a vampire, obtaining all of those powers. I figured she just died off in the Marvel Universe.

@Jmush said:

@dangallant984: Is that true?? One person I haven't cared to keep up with is Jubilee. Did they finally turn her into Rogue?

sorry, I'm not sure I understand this question..

@dangallant984: Is that true?? One person I haven't cared to keep up with is Jubilee. Did they finally turn her into Rogue?

@ssejllenrad said:

Cyclops with all the "Cyclops was right" sympathy both in and out of fiction, I think he can overtake Wolvie's position given that he gets written justly and he does some good redemption of himself.

I have a feeling that Marvel might make Cyclops like how Wolverine used to be and since many fans of Wolverine liked his tough loner attitude, I wonder if they'll do the same thing with Cyclops?

Cyclops with all the "Cyclops was right" sympathy both in and out of fiction, I think he can overtake Wolvie's position given that he gets written justly and he does some good redemption of himself.

@Matchstick said:

Nobody. Wolverine is one of the most popular characters in the entire Marvel U, there are currently no characters that could duplicate that. Though there are a few that could make a decent run at it, if Marvel really got behind the character and didn't mess anything up. I'd say Magneto, Storm, or Iceman have the potential.

This

None of them.

Sure some can come close (Storm, Jean, Cyclops, Gambit) but none of them are reaching his level, few Marvel characters period can take his place. The only Marvel characters on his level are Spider-Man (the only one who is undoubtedly more popular than him), Iron Man (other than Spider-Man the only one you could argue is more popular than him), Hulk, Thor and Captain America. He's just been too popular for too long to be supplanted.

@RawrImADragon said:

she's basically Wolverine already...

haha! yeah.. but that's kinda cool.

@poisonfleur: yes, much!

@dangallant984 said:

@poisonfleur said:

Storm

..but hopefully never back in that outfit..

IKR-- I didn't like that outfit either!! LMAO

Here--- Is this better? LOL

@dangallant984 said:

@Jmush said:

@Rabbitearsblog: She's really only good for July 4th. And baseball games.

haha! well, maybe you could argue that before (although, as someone who's had fireworks shot at them before, I wouldn't), but now she's also a vampire.

So, y'know, super strength, speed, senses, healing, oh and I think that means she's basically immortal.

Plus, y'know, being shot at with fireworks kinda really sucks.

she's basically Wolverine already...

make an x-men animated series with minimum wolverine then starr any one of the x-men you want to make popular give him/her cool moments and then you get a character more popular than wolverine.

@poisonfleur said:

Storm

..but hopefully never back in that outfit..

Storm

@Jmush said:

@Rabbitearsblog: She's really only good for July 4th. And baseball games.

haha! well, maybe you could argue that before (although, as someone who's had fireworks shot at them before, I wouldn't), but now she's also a vampire.

So, y'know, super strength, speed, senses, healing, oh and I think that means she's basically immortal.

Plus, y'know, being shot at with fireworks kinda really sucks.

@Rabbitearsblog: She's really only good for July 4th. And baseball games.

@Jmush said:

And let's be real guys. Jubilee would definitely rise up and take over Wolverine's spot. I mean, come on.

I think Jubilee could take over too, if only Marvel hadn't messed with her character over the years.

And let's be real guys. Jubilee would definitely rise up and take over Wolverine's spot. I mean, come on.

@Madame_Mist: I hope they change up how Jean Grey deals with stuff. I was always rolling my eyes whenever she got a "headache" after moving a chair or something. And I hope the phoenix has nothing to do with her from now on.

I thought about the question, which means I had a couple of drinks, and i wouldn't wish that curse on any character. I can't help but to roll my eyes each time I see Wolverine now. I know there are people out there who will buy anything with Wolverine in it, and the problem is Marvel knows it too. That's why that A-hole is in ten different books......

@dangallant984 said:

@Rabbitearsblog: yeah, it's not really even fair to compare them, they're so different.

Exactly! :D

@Rabbitearsblog: yeah, it's not really even fair to compare them, they're so different.

@dangallant984 said:

@Rabbitearsblog said:

Definitely agree with this, although I'm not sure how AOA Nightcrawler will become more popular than 616 Nightcrawler in the future.

I really doubt that he could. Nightcrawler has one the most perfectly simple, classic origins of any X-man, as well as being one of the most relatable, beloved characters. His AoA counterpart may be fun, but between his contrived, Xavier-less origin and his lack of compassionate humanity, he misses too many marks that made the original so endearing.

I agree. That's why so many fans loved 616 Nightcrawler because of his kind nature. AOA Nightcrawler hasn't exactly been around long enough to establish a firm fan base, not like 616 Nightcrawler has over the years.

Nobody

All the other characters like him have nowhere near the development to eclipse him, and all the characters unlike him attract a different kind of fan. There could be another character that matches his level of popularity, but it would not be in replacement of him.

Certain characters over time generate such a long term fanbase it is extremely hard to unseat them.

Well, Cyclops is like his "bad brother" right now, turning into a new Magneto, so I think Cyclops could... (and Cyclops Was Right !)

@Rabbitearsblog said:

Definitely agree with this, although I'm not sure how AOA Nightcrawler will become more popular than 616 Nightcrawler in the future.

I really doubt that he could. Nightcrawler has one the most perfectly simple, classic origins of any X-man, as well as being one of the most relatable, beloved characters. His AoA counterpart may be fun, but between his contrived, Xavier-less origin and his lack of compassionate humanity, he misses too many marks that made the original so endearing.

@SavageDragon said:

Gambit, Deadpool or AOA Nightcrawler.

Definitely agree with this, although I'm not sure how AOA Nightcrawler will become more popular than 616 Nightcrawler in the future.

Gambit, Deadpool or AOA Nightcrawler.

Ororo Munroe aka Storm

Captain Britain

@Rabbitearsblog said:

I agree that Wolverine will always have the Weapon X storyline that will make him stand out from the other characters, although Storm has the back story about her encounter with the Shadow King and Rogue had a past history about being a villain and stealing Ms. Marvel's powers.

And besides having good back stories, they are all very multifaceted character that work well in many different milieus. Storm, Rogue, Wolverine, and even Cyclops, all work well at being especially superhero-y, and especially not. Gambit's somewhere in the middle, never quite reaching either end.

@RawrImADragon said:

I also say, if given the chance and the right push, that this guy could definitely be the most popular face of the X-Men. He's already the most distinctly featured, the most easily recognizable, and the BAMF! is already so iconic. Plus, everyone loved his fight scene in the X2 movie. Hell, growing up he was one of my favorite X-Men, I would always play as him on my Sega Genesis game after reading some comics.

yeah, he would be an especially good candidate too; super fantastic, but very human as well.

Now that she's grown up and stopped the Phoenix, Hope should go back in time and sacrifice herself to save him. X-men do that now, right?

@dangallant984 said:

@Rabbitearsblog said:

@TDK_1997 said:

Gambit is a character that I once thought that he is the most popular X-Men character and I believe that if he is used more he may replace Wolverine if he gets out of the spot for a moment.

I agree that Gambit might have the most potential in taking over Wolverine's popularity, but Marvel would really have to try to promote Gambit's popularity to the public to be more effective.

I think Gambit may be one of the best candidates too, but I think one of the things that he (and a lot of the X-men) probably has working against him is his lack of iconic quality. Sure, most people probably recognize Gambit, and he works better on his own than most X-characters, due to having been an adventurer prior to joining (ie, having a past), but he's not the sort of consummate superhero that Wolverine is.

Which is a lot of what I like about him, really, but I don't see him representing mutant kind on the Avengers, for example. His appeal is that he's a wild card, where as Wolverine is more of a rock, more of a core character, more representative of something besides himself.

For all of these reasons, I would have to consider characters like Storm, Cyclops, or even Rogue, to have a bit more of a better chance.

I agree that Wolverine will always have the Weapon X storyline that will make him stand out from the other characters, although Storm has the back story about her encounter with the Shadow King and Rogue had a past history about being a villain and stealing Ms. Marvel's powers.

I also say, if given the chance and the right push, that this guy could definitely be the most popular face of the X-Men. He's already the most distinctly featured, the most easily recognizable, and the BAMF! is already so iconic. Plus, everyone loved his fight scene in the X2 movie. Hell, growing up he was one of my favorite X-Men, I would always play as him on my Sega Genesis game after reading some comics.

@Timandm said:

This is a good point. But there's a trend. Consider this list. Kitty Pryde, Jubilee, Armor... At one point or another they have all been Wolverine's sidekick. And each time, it worked well... But, unfortunately, they eventually get tossed aside and replaced. Now, Kitty currently is getting quite a bit of on panel time... but there were a number of years where she seemed to just... not be around... And of course, she did get shot into space inside a giant bullet for a long while....

With Jubilee, I think Marvel has tried a couple of times to bring her to the forefront, but it hasn't 'taken.' The story with the vampires was, IMO, rather stupid but still kewl on some level and what they did with Jubilee, making her a vampire... I think that was another shot at bringing her to the forefront. Personally, I'd like to see her come back to the X-Men as a vampire WITH her mutant powers restored....

Who knows, maybe a mini-series with Kitty, Armor, Jubilee, and Pixie... Pixie was 'almost' a Wolverine Sidekick...

Though she may be the first and most classic example of this trend, I don't think Kitty should be counted with those other characters for one main reason; when Kitty first developed her relationship with Wolverine, she was the main character of the X-men, a role that Wolverine wouldn't really take, despite his popularity, until after she left (to become the main character of Excaliber).

Jubilee, on the other hand, definitely started out as Wolverine's sidekick, and eventually became a more central character by the time she left to join Generation X, but she was rarely as central to the stories stories as Kitty had been. For the first half of the 80's, X-men was largely Kitty's story.

And, yeah, all X-men leave the team at some point, but the only time when Kitty was strictly "not around", was when she went to college. Other than that, she's spent most of her existence as the main character of whatever book she's in..

@Markus_Langbourn said:

None of them. The thing about Wolverine, like him or hate him, is that he is just so cool on the surface. You know nothing about the X-Men, but the first time you see all of them, they're showing off their powers. One guy shoots lasers from his eyes, another tells the wind to blow and lightning to fall, a redhead dies and comes back five times, a guy has wings, whatever, then there's this short, gruff dude. Suddenly, three claws spring from his hands and he lunges forward, cutting stuff up. The first thing any kid will do after seeing the X-Men is go "SNIKT!" and there's nothing wrong with that. Hell, it makes sense. It's a power that is fun to reenact, and very exciting. After that, well, most people are going to keep loving the guy. Those that don't are likely to gravitate to other characters for whatever reason, rather than standing behind that one "super-cool" character.

I feel like placing a crown on your head. Spot on.

None of them. 
 
The thing about Wolverine, like him or hate him, is that he is just so cool on the surface. You know nothing about the X-Men, but the first time you see all of them, they're showing off their powers. One guy shoots lasers from his eyes, another tells the wind to blow and lightning to fall, a redhead dies and comes back five times, a guy has wings, whatever, then there's this short, gruff dude. Suddenly, three claws spring from his hands and he lunges forward, cutting stuff up. The first thing any kid will do after seeing the X-Men is go "SNIKT!" and there's nothing wrong with that. Hell, it makes sense. It's a power that is fun to reenact, and very exciting. 
 
After that, well, most people are going to keep loving the guy. Those that don't are likely to gravitate to other characters for whatever reason, rather than standing behind that one "super-cool" character.

@dangallant984 said:

@RawrImADragon said:

She used to be his sidekick... so why not push her into the direction of her mentor:

I think this is one of the most interesting ways to handle Jubilee; ley's face it, she wasn't really that cool or distinct until Generation X, that's where she really came into her own, and it was as his obvious successor. I don't really think she could come to be as iconic as the Wolverine, but, more than any other character, she's been groomed for the position.

This is a good point. But there's a trend. Consider this list. Kitty Pryde, Jubilee, Armor... At one point or another they have all been Wolverine's sidekick. And each time, it worked well... But, unfortunately, they eventually get tossed aside and replaced. Now, Kitty currently is getting quite a bit of on panel time... but there were a number of years where she seemed to just... not be around... And of course, she did get shot into space inside a giant bullet for a long while....

With Jubilee, I think Marvel has tried a couple of times to bring her to the forefront, but it hasn't 'taken.' The story with the vampires was, IMO, rather stupid but still kewl on some level and what they did with Jubilee, making her a vampire... I think that was another shot at bringing her to the forefront. Personally, I'd like to see her come back to the X-Men as a vampire WITH her mutant powers restored....

Who knows, maybe a mini-series with Kitty, Armor, Jubilee, and Pixie... Pixie was 'almost' a Wolverine Sidekick...

@Rabbitearsblog said:

@TDK_1997 said:

Gambit is a character that I once thought that he is the most popular X-Men character and I believe that if he is used more he may replace Wolverine if he gets out of the spot for a moment.

I agree that Gambit might have the most potential in taking over Wolverine's popularity, but Marvel would really have to try to promote Gambit's popularity to the public to be more effective.

I think Gambit may be one of the best candidates too, but I think one of the things that he (and a lot of the X-men) probably has working against him is his lack of iconic quality. Sure, most people probably recognize Gambit, and he works better on his own than most X-characters, due to having been an adventurer prior to joining (ie, having a past), but he's not the sort of consummate superhero that Wolverine is.

Which is a lot of what I like about him, really, but I don't see him representing mutant kind on the Avengers, for example. His appeal is that he's a wild card, where as Wolverine is more of a rock, more of a core character, more representative of something besides himself.

For all of these reasons, I would have to consider characters like Storm, Cyclops, or even Rogue, to have a bit more of a better chance.

@TDK_1997 said:

Gambit is a character that I once thought that he is the most popular X-Men character and I believe that if he is used more he may replace Wolverine if he gets out of the spot for a moment.

I agree that Gambit might have the most potential in taking over Wolverine's popularity, but Marvel would really have to try to promote Gambit's popularity to the public to be more effective.

Gambit is a character that I once thought that he is the most popular X-Men character and I believe that if he is used more he may replace Wolverine if he gets out of the spot for a moment.

@fury714 said:

Gambit for the sake of being the cool one. Although Wolverine has all bases covered. Comics, Movies, Animation, Toys..

I agree since Gambit was pretty popular during the 90s and he currently has his own solo series.

Gambit for the sake of being the cool one. Although Wolverine has all bases covered. Comics, Movies, Animation, Toys..

Nobody. Wolverine is one of the most popular characters in the entire Marvel U, there are currently no characters that could duplicate that. Though there are a few that could make a decent run at it, if Marvel really got behind the character and didn't mess anything up. I'd say Magneto, Storm, or Iceman have the potential.

Deadpool has been on the move lately. Does it have to be a mutant. If so, then I don't see anyone replacing him

@dangallant984 said:

@RawrImADragon said:

She used to be his sidekick... so why not push her into the direction of her mentor:

I think this is one of the most interesting ways to handle Jubilee; ley's face it, she wasn't really that cool or distinct until Generation X, that's where she really came into her own, and it was as his obvious successor. I don't really think she could come to be as iconic as the Wolverine, but, more than any other character, she's been groomed for the position.

I agree that Jubilee was in the position of being Wolverine's sidekick of the 90s. Can't believe they messed up her character over the years...

@RawrImADragon said:

She used to be his sidekick... so why not push her into the direction of her mentor:

I think this is one of the most interesting ways to handle Jubilee; ley's face it, she wasn't really that cool or distinct until Generation X, that's where she really came into her own, and it was as his obvious successor. I don't really think she could come to be as iconic as the Wolverine, but, more than any other character, she's been groomed for the position.

@spinningbirdcake said:

Well in terms of a similar personality I like the ones listed very much. In terms of popularity? None of them have a chance. Not until one of them gets a solo movie, and ends up on several different teams/books a week/month and has a couple ongoing titles.

I agree that the other X-Men characters can become more popular if they get their own solo series. I guess it would all depend on the fans beyond that point.