20 Of Our Favorite X-Men Characters
Jubilee (Image via Marvel)
2. Jubilee
Some people have called Jubilee a “useless” X-Man, but please let me persuade you to think otherwise. Yes, she was produced largely as a way to gain entry with 1990s teens in what was sometimes a blatant series of marketing moves. But there’s also a lot to love about Jubilee.
First of all, she is one of a growing number of POC characters in both the X-Men team and the wider Marvel universe. Jubilation “Jubilee” Lee was born to two Chinese immigrants in Beverly Hills. Things were going great for the young girl, who was a budding Olympic-level gymnast, until her parents were murdered by hitmen. Comics almost always have to slap a tragic backstory on their character, alas.
Instead of heading to an orphanage, Jubilee makes the reasonable decision to go live in the local mall. While running from security guards, she discovers her mutant powers – the ability to shoot explosive bolts of plasma from her hands, which she calls “fireworks”. Naturally, this attracts the attention of the X-Men and she eventually joins their team.
She teams up with Wolverine multiple times (though, to be fair, I dare you to name someone who hasn’t teamed up with Wolverine at this point). Jubilee quickly becomes an integral member of the X-Men family. Despite the rough start to her mutant life, she remains energetic and quick-witted. Jubilee eventually turns into a vampire, by the way. Yeah, comics can be weird.