"I Don't Know Who You Are": 15 Best Insults from X-Men's 2019-2024 Krakoan Era

Summary

• After 5 years of epic storytelling, X-Men’s ambitious Krakoan Era has finally come to an end – the perfect time to look back at the wittiest and cruelest X-Men insults of the last five years.
• Mister Sinister appears multiple times, as the callous villain lays bare his disdain for everyone who isn’t ‘Sinister.’ Villains Apocalypse and Doctor Doom also get to cut the X-Men down to size.
• However, the deepest cuts come from your allies, as Storm, Magneto, Iron Man and Emma Frost all deliver incendiary putdowns.

After 5 years of epic storytelling, X-Men‘s ambitious Krakoan Era has finally come to an end. For years, the X-Men ran a new mutant homeland on the island of Krakoa, where they welcomed all mutants – even former villains – to join them in forging a new society where they would no longer be hated and feared. Indeed, for much of this period, the X-Men couldn’t even die, having developed Resurrection Protocols which allowed them to bring back fallen mutants.

Of course, it wasn’t all roses, and the years of politicking and living alongside despicable villains led to some of the best insults in X-Men history, ranging from the impressively witty to the cruel-but-true. We’ve collected the 15 biggest burns of the X-Men’s Krakoan Era, delivered to or by mutants. Don’t forget to vote in our end-of-article poll for the best insult of X-Men’s 2019-2024 Krakoan Era.

15 “Wealthy Himbo Mothman” – Doctor Nemesis Mocks Angel, Nightcrawler & Mister Sinister

Legion of X #8 by Simon Spurrier, Netho Diaz, Sean Parsons, Federico Blee and Clayton Cowles

Thanks to a spell cast by Nightcrawler’s adoptive mother Margali Szardos, several mutants with physical mutations found themselves transforming to monstrous new extremes, coupled with a growing animalistic rage. In Legion of X, the X-Men’s resident mad scientist Doctor Nemesis calls out Nightcrawler’s horns and Angel’s stooped appearance, asking how a minor genetic aberration could lead to “a pair of second-string X-people becoming Herr Minotaur and Wealthy Himbo Mothman.”

While Nemesis is tactless at the best of times, the jab at Kurt and Warren was likely due to his irritation at them having asked rival geneticist Mister Sinister for help, with Nemesis rightly pointing out, “His name is literally a synonym for evil. We don’t need him!”

14 “My Blood’s Useful” – New Hero Jon Ironfire Shows His Disdain for Mister Sinister

Sins of Sinister: Dominion #1 by Kieron Gillen, Paco Medina, Lucas Werneck, Bryan Valenza and Clayton Cowles

Jon Ironfire was one of the major new additions to the X-Men’s ranks during the Krakoan era, with the ability to turn his blood into any kind of metal. In the dystopian timeline of the Sins of Sinister event, Jon watches as – for a thousand years – Sinister’s attempt to corrupt the X-Men brings ruin to the entire solar system. Worse still, when Jon is finally close to setting things right, Sinister shoots him in the back of the head. Thankfully, Jon is okay, having taken the precaution of lining his bones with protective metal before turning his back on Sinister. When Sinister asks how he could possibly have survived, Jon retorts:

My blood’s useful. Your blood? All it’s doing is keeping you alive. That’s no use at all.

13 “You Had a Plane to Catch” – Cable Skewers Thunderbird with a Burn 49 Years in the Making

X-Men Red #1 by Al Ewing, Stefano Caselli, Federico Blee, Fernando Sifuentes and Ariana Maher

One of the longterm changes the Krakoan Era made to X-Men lore was bringing back John Proudstar, aka Thunderbird. Thunderbird joined the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1, at the same time as icons like Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus. However, Marvel editorial judged that as a lone wolf brawler, he was too similar to Wolverine, and killed him off in Chris Claremont, Len Wein and Dave Cockrum’s X-Men #95, with John recklessly attacking Count Nefaria’s plane and being killed in the resulting explosion.

In the Krakoan Era, Thunderbird was finally resurrected, but was angered by how the X-Men had co-opted his memory and recruited his younger brother Warpath (aka James Proudstar) into their ranks. When Cable tries to shut down a bar brawl, Thunderbird gets in his face, saying he’d never have let the X-Men turn Warbird into their soldier if he’d been around to stop them. In a brutal putdown, Cable replies:

But you weren’t there, were you, John? Not for James. Not for anyone. You had better things to do. You had a plane to catch.

12 “Jean’s Comfort Animal” – Iron Man Casually Hits Wolverine With Maybe His Best Insult Ever

A.X.E.: Eternals #1 by Kieron Gillen, Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth and Clayton Cowles

In the epic A.X.E. – Judgment Day event, the Avengers, X-Men and Eternals teamed up against a rogue Celestial threatening all life on Earth. To defeat the space god, they assembled a crack team, sending them deep into its gigantic body. Despite the presence of heavy hitters like Jean Grey and Sersi, Iron Man wasn’t exactly happy with the roster he’d been given, complaining about various members but admitting he understood why Wolverine was chosen, saying:

I get Wolverine. Sneaking, stabbing and Jean’s comfort animal.

Tony Stark’s joke references the long-simmering romantic tension between Wolverine and Jean Grey. Krakoa seemingly settled that iconic love triangle with strong implications that Cyclops and Jean now had an open relationship – something which incoming X-Men senior editor Tom Brevoort has taken pains to insist wasn’t ever explicitly confirmed in canon.

11 “You’re All Cockroaches” – Mister Sinister Blasts… Everyone Else on the Planet

A.X.E. – Judgment Day #2 by Kieron Gillen, Valerio Schiti, Marte Gracia and Clayton Cowles

Another member of the team trying to shut down Judgment Day‘s Celestial was Mister Sinister – a former enemy of the X-Men who was offered amnesty thanks to his contribution to their new Resurrection Protocols. However, while he might have been forgiven, Sinister was never redeemed, and was eventually revealed to be playing the long game, with plans to clone himself and establish a new Sinister society as the dominant species on the planet. Thus, when the Eternals reveal he’s partly to blame for the world being at risk, he’s willing to help, but only for his own reasons, replying:

Oh, woe is me. Now I understand why you kidnapped me. I feel so responsible and guilty. Of course I’ll help. It’s my planet too. Literally. It’s my planet, and you’re all cockroaches.

10 “A Savage Who Thinks He’s a Gentleman” – Wolverine Vows to Kill Beast as One of X-Men’s Oldest Friendships Collapses

Wolverine #35 by Benjamin Percy, Juan Jose Ryp, Frank D’Armata and Cory Petit

One of the major shocks of the Krakoan era was Beast’s slide into villainy, as his command over the black-ops X-Force team turned his arrogance into outright authoritarianism. After assembling death squads and experimenting on prisoners, Beast graduated to creating brain-damaged clones of Wolverine to do his dirty work. Having vowed to kill his former ally for his crimes, Wolverine approaches his base with the mercenary Maverick, warning him not to underestimate Hank McCoy:

You don’t know Beast like I know Beast. What you have to remember about him is he’s a savage who thinks he’s a gentleman. He might serve you your heart, but it’ll be on silver and white linen. He loves to talk. So we got time. And we’ll use it.

9 “You Are All Wolves” – Magneto Founds the Mutant Nation with a Caustic Callout of Humanity

House of X #1 by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and Clayton Cowles

The founding of Krakoa got off to a rocky start, as Magneto gave a group of ambassadors a tour of mutantkind’s new nation, only to discover they’re all plants from various intelligence organizations. Magneto disarms the agents but allows them to stay on the ‘tour’ in order to deliver a final message, one of the most iconic lines of X-Men‘s massive revamp:

Some would be offended at a wolf presenting as a sheep, but I have learned hard lessons from your kind – so I know the truth. You’re all wolves.

And it’s good that you are here – all of you – as you really are. So you can run home and tell your masters what you have learned. I want you to tell them. Charles Xavier has made you an offer – one full of grace and brotherly love – but one that is also written in stone. This is not a negotiation. … You have new gods now.

8 “Frauds Tend to Flee at the Sight of a True Aristocrat” – Namor Isn’t Impressed with Xavier’s New Nation

X-Men #21 by Jonathan Hickman, Sara Pichelli, Nick Dragotta, Russell Dauterman, Lucas Werneck, Matt Wilson, Sunny Gho, Nolan Woodard, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles

Despite Magneto’s boast of godhood, some Marvel characters weren’t buying it, and foremost among them was Namor the Sub-Mariner. Technically a mutant, Namor has fought alongside the X-Men before, seeing it as a matter of honor to safeguard a group of innocent people under attack because of bigotry and ignorance.

Namor respected Cyclops, who was leading mutantkind at the time, however, he didn’t think as highly of the X-Men once they became a global power. Namor turned down an offer to join the mutant nation as one of its leaders on the ‘Quiet Council.’ In typical Hickman style, Namor takes Xavier and Magneto to task after being asked what he thinks of their offer.

I think if I stepped one foot into your council chamber, there would be a rush to surrender a seat to me… even if one were not available. Frauds tend to flee at the sight of a true aristocrat. I am a real king, Erik. Never forget this.

… I tell you truly, Charles. At night, when I dream, I dream of this entire world under my thumb. Me seated on a throne of thrones, and the people – human, mutant and all living things under the sun – they cry out and cheer with love and affection. For the blind can finally see me as I really am. Which I assure you, is not my being on a council with those who pretend to be my peers.

I have dominion over 70 percent of this planet, gentlemen. You currently control, what… an island? Get back to me when you have something more to offer.

7 “So… Human” – Apocalypse Proves Wolverine Isn’t in His League

X-Men #35 by Gerry Duggan, Joshua Cassara et al.

The Krakoan Era finally came to an end in X-Men #35, in which the mutants said a bittersweet farewell to their nation, which evolved into a new form outside their reach. One person who took this twist particularly badly was Apocalypse, who has been fighting for millennia to force mutantkind to evolve through his doctrine of “survival of the fittest.” Seeing his past efforts as a failure, Apocalypse attacks the X-Men, declaring:

You are not ready for the quest. You do not have the proper leadership. Once more, I must bear the load. For I am the Apocalypse – the Revelation unending. And if you hate me for what I must reveal? Know that I love you, as I always have, even as I break you to the work.

During the fight, Deadpool and Wolverine attempt to do some damage, with a bloodied Apocalypse declaring, “These loathsome metal claws. So… human.” It’s an insult that comes from the heart of Apocalypse’s mutant-supremacist philosophy, and one he punctuates by using his superior strength to impale Wolverine with his own claws.

6 “You Are Insulting, Charles” – Doctor Doom Actually Has a Point About Xavier

X-Men/Fantastic Four #3 by Chip Zdarsky, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Ransom Getty, Laura Martin, Pete Pantazis, Andrew Crossley amd Joe Caramagna

A world leader who is used to being cast as the tyrannical leader of a rogue state (because he is), Doctor Doom was surprisingly supportive of Krakoa from the beginning. While he refused the island’s unique medicines, he did formally recognize its nationhood, however when he met up with Xavier and Magneto in X-Men/Fantastic Four, he made it clear that he had no interest in honoring the X-Men’s request for diplomatic immunity. Revealing a similar perspective to Namor, Doom makes it clear that he finds Professor X’s performance of statesmanship unacceptable, saying:

While I have little respect for traditional “diplomats,” Doom at least recognizes that they are supposed exceptional examples of an underwhelming populace. You, however, have decided to make all your citizens free to do what they will in countries that come begging for your plants. Make no mistake: Doom recognizes the country of Krakoa. But I do not recognize that having claws protrude from your body makes you worthier than a human who dedicates their life to diplomacy and the study of culture. It is insulting. You are insulting, Charles, with this pretense of superiority.

5 “Do You Really Want to Discuss Our Respective Marriages?” – Storm Gives Doctor Doom the Second Worst Burn of His Life

S.W.O.R.D. #7 by Al Ewing, Stefano Caselli, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo and Ariana Maher

Doctor Doom suffered a major humiliation shortly after his dressing down of Xavier, with his marriage to Latverian hero Zora Vukovic leading to disaster. Doom had empowered the new hero ‘Victorious’ with the Power Cosmic and was marrying her in order to cement her position as his heir apparent. Unfortunately, Zora cheated on Doom with the Human Torch, with the truth coming out at their state wedding, embarrassing Doom on the national stage.

This humiliation returned during a diplomatic dinner with Storm, who had taken a leadership role over Arakko – a new mutant society founded on the terraformed planet Mars. Bantering with the hero, Doom mentions that being a queen suits her far better than her former position in Wakanda, where her marriage to the Black Panther turned her into merely “a king’s wife.” Wiping the smirk off Doom’s face, Storm replies, “Victor… do you really want to discuss our respective marriages? So soon?”

Relations deteriorate from there, and after Doom makes patronizing offers to ‘teach’ Arakko how to act as a nation, Storm obliterates their table with a well-placed lightning bolt before replying:

Dinner is over. Brandy and cigars will not be served. And while I thank you for your generous offer to help us learn to crawl, it comes too late. We are already flying. Do we have more to learn? Of course – for we have always been a school. But why would we need you to teach us, Victor? With all that is on your hands, all that can be laid at your door, why would we need you?

4 “I Can’t Make Your Boyfriend Like You” – Emma Frost Has the Meanest Possible Take on Elektra/Daredevil

Devil’s Reign : X-Men #2 by Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto and Clayton Cowles

As part of its tie-in to the Devil’s Reign event, X-Men revealed Emma Frost’s past working for the Kingpin. When Elektra comes to the telepathic Emma for help saving an innocent during her time working as Kingpin’s assassin, Emma is still at the height of her villain era, and replies to the request with:

Let’s say I could help you, Elektra. Why would I? What’s in it for me? I can’t make your boyfriend like you, by the way.

The cruel barb about Elektra’s fraught relationship with Matt Murdock’s Daredevil is enough to make her turn and walk away, though thankfully Emma is intrigued enough to call her back and hear her out. The flashback story came at a point when Elektra had taken over Matt Murdock’s role as Daredevil – something he only allowed after she proved to him she could do the job without killing. Emma’s insult cut so deep because it’s functionally true – Daredevil is deeply in love with Elektra, but for most of their relationship, he’s treated her as someone who desperately needs to be redeemed.

3 “Nobody Important” – The X-Men’s Leaders Unite to Insult, Dismiss and Replace Fabian Cortez

S.W.O.R.D. #5 by Al Ewing, Valerio Schiti, Marte Gracia and Ariana Maher

Fabian Cortez is one of X-Men’s most detestable villains – an anti-human bigot who uses his addictive power-enhancement abilities to control other mutants. However, when the mutant space program needed someone who could kick its teleporter crew into overdrive, they made the difficult decision to bring Cortez aboard. Cortez spent his time with S.W.O.R.D. attempting to win favors and push Krakoa’s leadership to rescind their law against killing humans. He also assumes that he has Magneto’s respect, belittling coworker Peepers because of his non-combat-focused powers.

In S.W.O.R.D. #5, Magneto has had enough. The Master of Magnetism has Cortez brought before the ruling Quiet Council – ostensibly to table the idea of making it legal to kill humans, but actually to humiliate the unrepentant extremist. Cortez is brought straight from Resurrection by Jean Grey, who expains “I drew the short straw and put your mind back, by the way. It didn’t take long.” Cortez isn’t given the chance to grab any clothing, standing naked before the Quiet Council, who are joined by their special advisor Peepers – present because of Magneto’s deep respect and trust for his perspective.

The Quiet Council expose the deep ugliness at the heart of Cortez’s beliefs, leaving him ranting and raving about how integral he is to the space program. It’s at that moment that Kuga arrives – Cortez’s replacement on the team, who possesses his enhancement power with none of the drawbacks. Mutantkind’s leaders leave Cortez naked and shamed, and when Xavier is asked by another mutant if he’s free for another meeting, he confirms that nobody else is demanding his time – at least, “nobody important.”

2 “I Don’t Know Who You Are” – Magneto Cuts Anti-Mutant Extremist Feilong Down to Size

Invincible Iron Man #18 by Gerry Duggan, Creees Lee, Walden Wong, Bryan Valenza and Joe Caramagna

Introduced as a nemesis to Iron Man, Feilong (aka Kelvin Heng) is the human son of two mutants. A billionaire business mogul, Feilong had plans to colonize Mars that were scuppered when the X-Men got there first. This prompted Feilong to join the anti-mutant group Orchis, helping to orchestrate the mass murder of the X-Men at their third Hellfire Gala. He also managed to steal Tony Stark’s company, developing an army of deadly mutant-killing Sentinels using Tony’s technology.

Feilong truly hates mutants and helped to deal them a devastating blow. During the final battle, he’s forced to team-up with Iron Man and Magneto after the AI members of Orchis turn on humanity, but can’t resist greeting the Master of Magnetism with an aggressive, “You stole Mars from me, Magneto.” Baffled, Magneto replies:

I don’t know who you are.

What’s great about this moment is that Magneto spent a significant chunk of the Krakoan Era dead, having first moved off-Earth for a new life on Arakko. That meant his words to Feilong aren’t just an insult – Magneto generally wasn’t around for the period in which Feilong was a threat. While Iron Man ended his rivalry with Feilong by burying him alive, Magneto’s 6-word insult may have actually been worse.

1 “I’m Sorry, I Don’t Own a TV” – Mister Sinister Delivers X-Men’s Best Insults Back to Back, Belittling Exodus and the Avengers

Hellions #12 by Zeb Wells, Stephen Segovia, David Curiel and Ariana Maher

The Krakoan Era has some of X-Men’s best lines of all time primarily because it allied them with Mister Sinister – a truly evil eugenicist whose catty personality is literally designed to make people underestimate him (indeed, Sinister notes that he used Deadpool as a major ‘ingredient’ in his fake persona.) Sinister gets to cut loose at the first Hellfire Gala, where the villain is suddenly in the presence of Marvel’s greatest heroes without any chance they’ll be allowed to punch him in the face.

Sinister bores Black Panther and Thor saying, “What are you guys? Kings? Gods? I’m pretty much those too,” but his best line comes on meeting Captain America and Iron Man (who are both in full costume), and saying:

So… which one is Captain America and which one is Iron Man? I’m sorry, I don’t own a TV.

Sinister also takes the opportunity to snipe at fellow Quiet Council member Exodus, who he has previously accused of wearing larger epaulettes to compete with his own costume (“You want to go down that road, I will be on your ass every step of the way. Mister Sinister’s shoulder ornamentation will not be outdone.”) When Exodus approaches Sinister to tell him to get his Hellions team under control, Sinister replies:

Why in God’s name would you want to stand next to me, Bennet? The comparison is absolutely brutal.

As Marvel’s X-Men comics enter a new era with July’s ‘From the Ashes’ relaunch, fans are left missing Krakoa for a number of reasons, but perhaps first among them is how many witty insults came out of forcing the X-Men to live on a relatively small island with pretty much every mutant who ever tried to kill them – don’t forget to vote below for your favorite insult in this list.

• 

  X-Men

  Comic Release Date:

  213035,212968

  First Film:

  X-Men (2000)

  TV Show(s):

  X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989), X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine (2011), Marvel Anime: X-Men (2011), Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)

  Movie(s):

  X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants (2020), Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

  Character(s):

  Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23

  Video Game(s):

  X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)