7. Wolverine And The X-Men, Volume 1
With the X-Men splitting into two ideologically opposed groups in the aftermath of X-Men: Schism, Wolverine and the X-Men follows Logan and his band of mutants as they return to Westchester (the home of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters), to open the new Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. Although the idea of having a school run by a clawed headmaster that is prone to bouts of "berserker rage" may seem ridiculous (several of the X-Man's allies and foes certainly thinking so), Jason Aaron's Wolverine and the X-Men has been a surprisingly endearing and entertaining title. The Jean Grey School provides the perfect platform to showcase the more surreal elements of the Marvel Universe - the school having been built on a living island called Krakoa and the series' primary antagonists being a psychotic group of 12 year old arms manufacturers to name just a few examples of the absurdities the staff and student body of Wolverine's school encounter. However, Wolverine and the X-Men's strength is in the superb character development of both the Jean Grey School's staff and faculty. Wolverine's transition from renegade X-Man to responsible professor is delicately handled, Logan's new responsibilities adding new depth to the comic icon as opposed to contradicting the characteristics that have earned Wolverine his enduring popularity. Likewise, the student body - which includes Broo the friendly brood; Kid Omega, a wannabe Mutant revolutionary and Genesis, the child clone of mutant super-villain Apocalypse - make for surprisingly welcome additions to the already over-saturated X-Men roster, Aaron developing previously mayfly characters to the extent that the ragtag Jean Grey students have easily eclipsed some of Marvel's longer running teen X-Men teams in the likability stakes.