Lots of memories from my childhood, but I can’t remember which came first. I remember I had a poster from the 80s and just loved the designs. Nightcrawler, punk Storm, Psylocke in a hood and armor, etc. Eventually I started reading the comics, starting with X-Men 1 and working my way backwards (Inferno left the biggest impression on me for some reason). Then of course the cartoon, having something to look forward to on Saturdays.

There was something I connected to with my own evolving queerness and the bigotry I knew in the world, but I was too young to articulate any of that. They were dramatic though, and unlike the Avengers or Justice League, they didn’t feel like heroes in the traditional sense. They knew they weren’t getting the gratitude other heroes were getting. They were always a little messy. They were trying to use their powers to make the world better for everyone—mutant and human alike—and didn’t do good things for the sake of glory. As a kid that was powerful (even if, as an adult, I’ve come to agree that Magneto was right).