20 Mind-Blowing Facts You Didn't Know About X-Men

Created in 1963 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the X-Men are one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable superhero teams of all-time. A group of misfits hated and feared by those they are trying to connect, just about anyone and everyone is able to relate to them. Their impact in the world of comics has been significant, but so too has their time spent on the big screen. The X-Men franchise has now been around for 15 years, spawning a number of box office hits and spinoffs. Right now, the series is showing no signs of slowing down with three instalments - X-Men: Apocalypse, Deadpool, and Gambit - lined up for 2016. With more titles than you can count (it's not unusual for the X-Men to have at least three or four team books on sale at the same time) and decades worth of stories behind them, their history is obviously one which is both fascinating and full of hard to believe moments. Here you will find just twenty of the most mind-blowing facts about the X-Men including what they were originally supposed to be called, the iconic singer who came close to playing Professor X, and why they're responsible for perhaps the sexiest comic book of all-time...