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From Jean Grey to Martian Manhunter to Grifter, Jim Lee has drawn his share of comic book heroes with incredible mental prowess. And perhaps the reason for that is that Lee himself has a bit of the ol' psychic gene going through his head - at least, that's what we gathered from a three-decades-old instance of the current DC Comics publisher and CCO predicting the future. Let us explain.

In September of 1991, Jim Lee was one of the breakout new artists over at Marvel Comics, and as such, he was interviewed for the Marvel Age Magazine, a publication the House of Ideas used to run to both highlight upcoming storylines and talent and to explore the classic stories that put it on the map. Now at this time, Lee was embroiled in a hotly anticipated plan for an all-new X-Men #1, so it's hardly surprising that Marvel Age wanted his take on the franchise's titular X, one Professor Charles Xavier.

"I think I'd like to have him play a more active role," Lee said of the Marvel Mutants' founder, created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee all the way back in 1963. "He should be like Picard in Star Trek: the Next Generation; he doesn't go out in the field, but he is the leader behind the team."

That's right, a full nine years before the first live-action X-Men film came to theaters, Jim Lee was tying Patrick Stewart's destiny to that of Professor X. 'But Grant,' you say, 'That's not that special - didn't Wizard Magazine do exactly the same thing?' Well, yes, but not for another four years. 'OK,' you shoot back, 'Then what about the amStar Trek:TNG/X-Men crossover novel Planet X? Didn't that reference how similar those two characters were?' Again, it did, but not for another seven years, so you're wrong again.

Although I applaud your knowledge of niche X-Men media. 

Look, I'm not claiming that Jim Lee was the first person to fancast Stewart as Xavier - they are, after all, two bald white men who look like they take first dates to the opera. But what I am saying is that Lee was certainly an early adapter to the connection, and that the next time I hear him gives his thoughts on how should bring a comic book character to life, I'm paying close attention to any updates on that actor's IMDb page.

Jim Lee's 1990s X-Men run, written by Chris Claremont, is available to read now. Keep an eye out for any earl grey.

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!

• The best X-Men comics
• Every Omega-Level X-Men mutant ranked by power
• How to read the Marvel Comics' X-Men in order following the Krakoa era
• Why the Krakoan Age of X-Men was ended by Marvel
• How to watch the X-Men movies in order