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Maximum X-Men is a love letter to Chris Claremont and Jim Lee’s classic blue-and-gold team
The new Avengers-esque Maximum X-Men team is taking its cues from some of the most classic X-Men comics of all time
NewsbyGeorge Marston, Contributing writer
Published on Fri Aug 07 2026
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Maximum X-Men brings a new, more superheroic version of the mutant team to the forefront, but according to the title’s writer Christopher Yost, who creates the title alongside artist Tony Daniel, the biggest inspiration for his new take on the X-Men goes all the way back to the halcyon days of writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, right down to the visuals.
“I wanted a team that looked and felt like Chris Claremont and Jim Lee’s X-Men run, even to the point of leaning into the blue-and-yellow uniforms for most of the cast,” Yost tells AIPT, referring to the X-Men’s yellow and blue training uniforms from X-Men #275, which, though short-lived, have become a fan-favorite look for the team.
The roster of Maximum X-Men includes some of the team’s biggest names such as Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Iceman, and Bishop, with the additions of Firestar and Justice. Betsy Braddock rounds out the team, though Yost clarifies that she actually won’t be going by Psylocke in Maximum X-Men.
“Assembling an X-team is always fun, but we wanted big names with big powers, and of course it’s a shared sandbox, so I always look to be respectful of what the other X-writers are doing and who they’re using,” Yost explains. “There’s a little crossover here and there, but we’re more like an event book than ongoing drama. Although we are ongoing, to be clear. But characters like Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Betsy (who won’t be going by the name Psylocke here)… they just scream X-MEN.”
Though Maximum X-Men puts the team on the same level as the Avengers and includes former Avengers Justice, Firestar, Wolverine, and Storm the new squad isn’t a mash-up of the X-Men and Avengers, but a true X-team through-and-through
“This isn’t a merging of teams; this isn’t the Unity squad. This is the X-Men stepping up to do the job when the Avengers can’t,” Yost says. “One of my favorite moments of all time is during the ’80s Secret Wars, when the X-Men take on Galactus while the Avengers are dealing with the various super-villains. Did they get stomped on? Sure. But they stepped up. This is going to be a lot like that. They’re HEROES, first and foremost. This isn’t them fighting for survival; this isn’t them fighting each other… this is the X-Men protecting a world that hates and fears them.”
Maximum X-Men #1 goes on sale December 2.
Interested? Here’s where to find your closest local comic store, courtesy of Sweet, and here’s a guide to how (and where) to read comics online. If you’re looking for the best comics in recent memory, check out the Eisner Awards winners and the Harvey Awards nominees. And if you like free comics, here’s everything we know about Free Comic Book Day 2027.
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George Marston: George Marston is a media critic and journalist who has specialized in superheroes and comics for nearly two decades. Along with focusing on comics and superhero media at Newsarama, George has honed a critical voice exploring TV, movies, and video games with bylines at Total Film, SFX Magazine Online, Space.com, GamesRadar+, and more. During George’s time at Newsarama, the site received the 2020 Tripwire award for Best Comics-related Website / Publication. (They/Them)
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