Dark X-Men: The Beginning

Marvel’s Dark X-Men: The Beginning (2009) is a three-issue miniseries that set the stage for the Dark Reign era, introducing a new team of X-Men assembled under Norman Osborn’s authority. Written by Paul Cornell, Rob Williams, and Shane McCarthy, with art from Ibraim Roberson, Leonard Kirk, and Paco Diaz, each issue spotlights a different recruit—such as Daken, Mimic, and Omega Sentinel—exploring their motivations and conflicts before they officially take the spotlight. This series matters as a concise, character-driven prelude that redefined the X-Men’s role during a pivotal moment of Marvel’s political landscape.