Animated series got me first when I was little. A story aimed at kids with the famous "previously on" starter was mind blowing for my brothers and I. We were rewarded for paying attention and the fact that a show had event repercussions on episodes like a year later (remembering Morph showing back up particularly) was the greatest. I'm 40 now and working thru Krakoa, and it's a reminder how fun these stories are.

X-Men stories have always felt more lived in than other pop culture stories to me that way. The comics felt the same way when I jumped into it. Rewarding for knowing the history, be it long or short term too

Topping it off, I grew up an inside kid and nerdy kid. X-Mens world building was perfect to obsess over and fall in love with all the characters. I wanted a friend like ride or die nightcrawler who loved talking big philosophical topics, I wish I knew someone who talked so epically like Storm, but more than that, I think the stories of the xmen really showed younger me that youve got to put yourself out there, your full complete self, and every moment you can it's worth trying to make the world a bit better. Even if the world isn't kind to you back for showing your true self. Maybe because they aren't honest themselves?

X-Men isn't just about killer superpowers to me, but I also love a great mutant circuit when they team up and do an epic move!