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Hey there Comic Attackers! If you’re like me you can never get enough of the X-Men. Yet, there are so many mutants out there that they’ve become incredibly hard to keep track of, let alone stay up to date on what their current power levels are. That’s why I have taken up the task to power rank all of the active X-Men post Messiah Complex from the very least to the top beast! There are 75 mutants in all to rank and today we rank the number 2 mutant!!

So what are power rankings? Mostly used to rank sports teams on how well they are playing now, my power rankings are a list of X-Men based on what their power set is in current continuity (or most recent appearance). Other factors that determined a character’s ranking are: what their power potential is, what they’ve already proven they can do (so long as it is still relevant in current continuity), and their over all level of badassness. If you disagree with me that’s totally cool- please feel free to call me out and explain what your reasoning is. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, and while I believe this list to be very solid in its numbering, I’m interested to hear what you have to say! So here we go with #2!!

#2. Emma Frost: That’s right, Emma ranks in at #2 of our most powerful and bad ass X-Men in current Marvel continuity and for many reasons. For starters, she’s a natural born leader- from the Hellfire Club to the Hellions to Gen X to the New X-Men to the Uncanny X-Men to the Dark X-Men and now back to the Uncanny X-Men, Emma Frost has a tactical mind like no other with unshakeable poise, and with her telepathic powers she possesses the ability to lead a people. Skeptics may think that her recent leadership role with the Dark X-Men, her involvement with Norman Osborn’s Cabal, and the name change to the Black Queen (which has since been omitted) is evidence that Emma has betrayed the X-Men and will do it again.

Well, I strongly detest that sentiment as it was pretty clear that she and Cyclops were in it together in order to take down Osborn- Emma serving as a mole in Osborn’s operations while Cyke continued with business as usual on the outside. From the ending of Grant Morrison’s run on New X-Men, Cyclops has been completely trusting of Emma, relying on her as his trusted confidant, and even when she was confronted by the main man in the Marvel U in Norman Osborn (well, maybe not anymore after Siege), she stuck it to him which showed that she doesn’t trust nor like Osborn. Since Emma took on the role of second in command of the X-Men she has been nothing but a solid rock for Cyclops and her teammates to rely on. Making the tough calls and never flinching at a chance to get her hands dirty. Concerning her power level, Emma has taken down Xavier in a battle of the minds before (most recently in X-Men Legacy), answering the question as to who’s the more powerful telepath on the X-Men and why she beats him out in our rankings. More significantly, she endured the presence of The Void in her mind for a short time (yes, the same Void who is wrecking havoc in Siege right now) and even squared off with the evil entity in a battle of the minds- a battle that, with the help of her lover, she emerged the victor. Emma Frost is tough as nails, a strong leader with unmatchable cunning and wit. She deserves this #2 spot of the X-Men Power Rankings.

Powers: Emma Frost’s power potential as a telepath is a significant factor for her being ranked #2. Her diamond form helps too, but she is one of the most powerful telepaths of mutantkind, second only to Jean Grey (when not dead). As a telepath Emma can project blasts of psionic energy, broadcast and receive thoughts, mind-control, mind switch (where she can enter the consciousness of another living being and control their body as if it were her own), alter perceptions and memories, perform psychometry (the ability to obtain information about an individual through physical contact with the person or one of their belongings), and she can induce mental pain through touch. A unique skill Emma has over other telepaths is that she has absolute control over individual brain functions which allows her to manipulate their physical form- meaning that she can control her nervous system, the speed in which her injuries are healed, and even repair the harshest of disabilities.

Emma’s secondary mutation allows her to transform into organic diamond, granting her superhuman strength (she can lift up to 2 tons), enhanced stamina (considering it’s virtually impossible for her muscles to tire in this form given how they don’t produce any lactic acids being solid diamond), super durability- she needs no food, water, or air in diamond form, and she can resist temperatures as hot as 7, 362 degrees and as cold as -320 degrees Fahrenheit. She can only transform her entire body into diamond (not select parts like Iceman’s ability with ice), and if rendered unconscious her body would revert back to its normal state. However, like a real diamond, Frost can be shattered if struck in a certain flawed area, and while in this form she is unable to use her telepathic abilities. Emma is also an expert technician (having developed devices that amplify psionic energy), practically unbeatable on the astral plane, and a master seductress.

First Appearance: X-Men #129, 1980.

Click here for a listing of the 73 previously ranked X-Men!!

Check back in tomorrow for our #1 ranked mutant!

Andy Liegl
andy@comicattack.net