How to Make an X-Men Character
The X-Men rank among the most popular superheroes in the world, bolstered by decades of comic book success, a lucrative film franchise and a number of animated children's shows. The X-Men are mutants---which means they were born with their powers rather than gaining them through some accident or later event. Mutants are hated and feared in the X-Men's universe, a perception which the X-Men try to combat by acting as humanity's protectors. Their founder, Professor Charles Xavier, runs a school for mutants in upstate New York, which doubles as a base for the X-Men's operations. Literally hundreds of characters have served with the X-Men over the years, and it may make for a fun exercise to create your own unique mutant to serve alongside them.
Instructions
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1
Come up with a basic idea for your X-Man: his powers, his code name and a general notion of what he looks like. With mutants, you don't need to design a complicated origins story: just find a power you think is cool---along with any weaknesses which it engenders---and give the character a code name to match.
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2
Develop your character's history, background and personality, including where he comes from and how he found his way to Professor Xavier's school. Most mutants in the X-Men universe manifest their powers with the onset of puberty, though some evince their abilities at birth. It rarely goes well for them when they do, and many of the come to the school because they have nowhere else to go. Detail the experiences of your character as much as you can and consider how they influence his emotions and outlook.
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3
Explain what role your character serves on the team and how he interacts with other prominent X-Men. The team has shifted over the years to include all manner of mutants, but many of the most prominent figures---such as Wolverine, Storm and Cyclops---remain more or less perennial. You should know what your character thinks of such figures, how they respond to him, whether they like him or accept him only grudgingly, and so forth.
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4
Describe your character's relationship with other mutants in the X-Men universe and any adversaries he might have. Has he been tempted to join the ranks of Magneto's minions? Maybe he's tangled with the likes of Mystique or Avalanche. Perhaps he has a blood vendetta against the Juggernaut. Heroes are nothing without good villains, and while your character likely has the same antagonists as the other X-Men, it pays to add a few personal touches to make his conflicts with them more interesting.
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5
Write up a formal description of your hero based on the information you gathered in Steps 1 through 4. Include his height, weight, eye color, hair color, a discussion of his powers, a breakdown of his history and a few paragraphs describing his personality. If you're artistically inclined, you may want to draw a picture of him, or you can use online resources like Hero Machine or Marvel's Create Your Own Superhero system. (See Resources below.)
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Tips & Warnings
Try to give your hero a sense of originality. Everyone loves Wolverine, Nightcrawler and the other X-Men, but if your hero emulates them too closely, he'll become redundant. Make your X-Man vibrant and imaginative, someone who stands out on his own rather than just aping another hero's shtick.
Beware of Mary Sues: excessively powerful characters who dominate the spotlight, can do everything better than everyone else, and generally suck the drama out of every story they're in. Your mutant should have a good mixture of strengths and vulnerabilities, allowing him to mesh in with the team rather than dominating it. Think hard about what kind of weaknesses he may have and how that might leave him open to attack, rather than making him an all-powerful demigod.
