Do you know Professor X's iconic catchphrase "To me, my X-Men" meaning and its history? If you're wondering where this catchphrase came from, you're not alone. We're here to talk about the line and its history.
"To Me, My X-Men" Meaning and History
Hearing Professor Charles Xavier's catchphrase "To me, my X-Men" in the revival of X-Men '97 brings pure nostalgia. But if you're a huge fan of the comic book, you might recognize that this line did not actually become a catchphrase until later.
As pointed out by a historian and X-Fan, the phrase did not appear on its own anywhere in the 60s. You can find the line in the final panel of X-Men #1 but not by itself.
Instead of "To me, my X-Men," Professor X actually says "And now, return to me, my X-Men!"
Throughout the 70s and 80s, the line is once again absent from the comics. Even when X-Men reached mainstream in the early 90s, it was never uttered by any of the characters again.
RELATED: Jean Grey Wears Cerebro in X-Men '97: What Did She See that Horrified Her?
Who Was the First to Say "To Me, My X-Men?"
Kevin (aka @MagnetoRocks) pointed out that Professor X was not the first to say the iconic line. In Excalibur #93 (published in January 1996), Pete Wisdom, a British secret agent wearing a bald cap, said this line.
After that, the line did not appear again until Onslaught: X-Men (1996), when Professor X summoned his students telepathically. He said: "Come to me, my former students! Come to me, my X-Men!"
In this scene, Professor X had been overtaken by a powerful psychic entity called Onslaught.
The historian then found the line to have been sneaked in between 1996 and 2001. The meaning of "To me, my X-Men" became a summon for the X-Men to gather much like "Avengers assemble."
RELATED: Storm's Haircut in X-Men '97 Explained: Meet Punk Storm
Why Cyclops Says Famous Quote in X-Men '97
Throughout history, the only ones to have said the iconic catchphrase were Professor X, Cyclops, Storm, Magneto, Jean Grey (for a time), and a few times when a villain would masquerade as the Professor.
In X-Men '97, Cyclops says the famous line since Professor X had died and he had become the new leader of the group.
Check out the reactions of avid fans after hearing this iconic quote:
Do you get goosebumps after hearing Professor X's famous line in X-Men '97? Let us know what your thoughts are in a comment below.
Follow our Facebook page for more news coverage and other explainer articles