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Uncanny X-Men's Gail Simone breaks down what makes the Marvel mutants “more than just another comics team”

Gail Simone knows that fans of Marvel's Uncanny X-Men have a personal connection to each of the characters

The cover of Uncanny X-Men #7 — Image credit: Marvel Comics

News by Jules Chin Greene, Staff Writer

Published on Tue Feb 10 2026

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Gail Simone's interpretations of iconic comic book characters have a special place in my heart. When I read her and Nicola Scott's Secret Six run, I felt every cell in my body changing like Peter Parker's radioactive spider bite in the first Sam Raimi movie. Simone has a wonderful knack for writing misfits, which makes her a natural fit for writing Marvel's Merry Mutants.

Since Simone and David Marquez took the reins as the creative team on Uncanny X-Men in 2024, fans have been vocally supportive online of the story that the duo has been crafting. And, given the state of the world [gestures at everything], the X-Men have never felt more urgent. Luckily, Simone and Marquez have more than risen to the occasion.

On Bluesky, Gail Simone posted, "I know it sounds weird, but I really do think of the X-Men as more than just another comics team. People who are X-fans have a connection that you just don't always see with other books, it's not just about quality, it's about a feeling they are speaking to you directly. That's why I love it."

As a long-time X-Men reader, I couldn't agree more with what Simone posted. Because some of the first comics I ever read were X-Men books, I feel like they spoiled me early on, and it took me a while to adjust to the fact that every superhero team book wasn't going to have the same feeling as an X-book. Hell, I'll admit I have struggled to connect with lots of Avengers books because, well, the characters just don't feel as personal to me as the X-Men do.

All of which is to say: if there's an Avengers book equivalent of Uncanny X-Force, feel free to let me know.

To me, my X-Men fans. Want more about Marvel's mutants? You don't need Cerebro to find what you should read next... we made a list!

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Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.