Fox Totally Failed A Founding X-Men Member, But The MCU Can Fix Him

One of the founding members of the X-Men can have a better life in the MCU than he did in Fox’s X-Men universe. Only five years ago, the idea of the X-Men in the MCU would sound farfetched, given the state of Marvel and its ownership of cinematic rights. Yet, Disney struck the right deals, acquired 20th Century Fox, and gave Marvel the opportunity it needed. However, since the mutants' return to Marvel was teased back in 2019, the X-Men have yet to make an official MCU appearance. While it might be a slower rollout than many were hoping for, Marvel is laying significant groundwork for the X-Men to flourish.

Steadily throughout Phase 4, the MCU has introduced several mutants, and more MCU mutants will appear soon. The most remarkable inclusions include Ms. Marvel, who is an Inhuman in the comics, and Namor, who is not only one of Marvel’s first characters but also their first mutant. The big questions going forward are when and how the X-Men will be formally incorporated and who will number among their ranks at the start. Fortunately, Marvel has no shortage of fantastic X-Men to choose from, but some are more deserving than others.

Fox's X-Men Movies Failed Iceman (& Marvel Has Elsewhere Too)

Shawn Ashmore as Iceman in the Fox X-Men movies.

One of the original X-Men members is more than deserving of a second life in the MCU. Iceman (Bobby Drake) debuted alongside Professor X, Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Beast in 1963’s The X-Men #1, but he hasn’t been celebrated with the same prominence relatively to several of his teammates. Of course, many will remember Iceman from Fox’s X-Men film franchise, played by Shawn Ashmore. He started off as a supporting character in 2000’s X-Men, but he became more prominent in X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand. However, he never seemed to get quite as much focus as some of his teammates.

The X-Men films never showed Iceman off to his fullest extent. His story was largely focused on his relationship with Rogue, which now, in retrospect, is a disservice to the character. Like many great characters, Iceman suffered from the problems that plagued the Fox X-Men franchise, including narrative inconsistency and a hyperbolic focus on certain heroes over others. Yet, they are not alone in diminishing Iceman’s potential. Arguably, the X-Men’s best depiction is X-Men: The Animated Series, and Iceman was only featured significantly in one episode. Perhaps that could change in the upcoming reboot, X-Men ’97, just as the MCU has the opportunity to rectify Fox’s missteps.

Iceman Must Be Part Of The MCU’s X-Men Team

Iceman using his powers in the X-Men Comics

The MCU must take advantage of the opportunity available to them and include Iceman as part of their initial MCU team. Naturally, given the immense roster in the comics and the expansive nature of the MCU, this original team could be quite large. However, they shouldn’t overcommit and rather showcase the growth and development of the X-Men over the course of the next saga. They can begin small, just as in the comics, and in that case, there’s no better way to go than with the original team, including Iceman. In doing so, they can ensure that Iceman is a more central figure than he was in the Fox X-Men universe.

Iceman shouldn’t be left behind while Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Beast, in particular, get all the attention as is entirely possible. Such would be the best approach as it would give the team considerable room to grow and evolve, and given his life away from the team, Iceman’s inclusion in this can ensure a more thorough integration of mutants across the whole MCU. Not only does Iceman deserve more attention for narrative reasons, but the next movies can also do justice to Iceman's powers and look in a way that was only briefly touched on in X-Men: The Last Stand.

The MCU Can Showcase Iceman Better Than Fox Ever Could

On two important fronts, the MCU can show off Iceman better than Fox ever could. Primarily, his powers are incredible, greater than what many might presume from the X-Men films. They established the height of his powers and growth as a hero as his ice form, but that doesn’t even begin to scratch his full potential. In the comics, he is an omega-level mutant like Storm, Jean Grey, Magneto, and Franklin Richards. His powers go far beyond freezing things, creating skating platforms to travel, or encasing his body in ice. Iceman is so powerful that he could alter the ecosystem of the entire world and start a new Ice Age.

Fortunately, with the likes of other big hitters, such as Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, and Thor, in the mix, the MCU is already the proper home to showcase the full extent and scope of Iceman’s powers. The same goes for other omega-level mutants. Altogether, the MCU can ensure that X-Men’s vast potential is being utilized efficiently, mixing together Iceman’s sheer power and global or cosmic threats with Wolverine’s relatively lesser abilities and more street-level adventures.

Furthermore, Iceman does have a life outside the X-Men. In fact, his most significant depiction in animation isn’t even an X-Men series. It is Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, in which he teamed up with Spider-Man and Firestar, another mutant. This is a friendship and team-up the MCU could easily showcase in a major crossover event, but thanks to Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man is in need of new allies. It might be difficult to introduce Iceman so quickly that Spider-Man 4 could feature this trio, but it would definitely be a welcome sight.

If done right, Iceman’s tenure in the MCU can also see him join offshoots of the X-Men, like X-Force or the Marauders, or even the Fantastic Four. Since he has the full expanse of the MCU available to him, Iceman can flourish like he never could in an X-Men-only universe. He shares the fortunate prospects with many other mutants - from Wolverine joining up with Alpha Flight or the Avengers to mutants like Darkstar or Justice, who might not have stood a chance if there was only X-Men to explore.

Iceman’s Inclusion Is Incredibly Important

Ice man waves in front of a rainbow from Marvel comics.

Iceman’s introduction and authentic depiction are made all the more pivotal because he is one of Marvel’s biggest-name gay heroes. In 2015’s All-New X-Men #40 by Brian Michael Bendis and Andrea Sorrentino, it was revealed that Iceman is gay, and later, in Uncanny X-Men #600 by Bendis and Chris Bachalo, he officially came out. This moment was monumental not only to the X-Men but Marvel as a whole, and the MCU must incorporate Iceman accordingly.

There’s been a positive push for representation in the MCU in recent years, but it took until Eternals, the MCU’s 26th movie, for there to be a same-sex relationship fleshed out on-screen. The X-Men have always acted as an allegory for various civil struggles in the real world, and Iceman represents one aspect of that. He can help open the door to other queer heroes, and therefore, the MCU shouldn’t hesitate to include him in their X-Men roster right from the start.