The legacy ofStormis more than just her time as an X-Men member, or evenher new path as an Avenger. The iconography of Ororo Munroe has effectively superseded anything she’s achieved as part of a super-team. When Marvel readers hear the name Storm, they don’t think of her allegiances, but her achievements as a solo hero.
Her commanding presence, her chilling lines of dialogue,her unforgettable costumes, her unbelievable feats of strength and power - all of which ring to mind when the name Storm is ushered to fans. In these same cases, the word “badass” rings to mind as well whenever thinking of Storm, and these are her most notable examples of badassery.
10Storm Defeats Cyclops to Become the Leader of the X-Men
The Uncanny X-Men #201 by Chris Claremont and Rick Leonardi
One issue after Professor X’s departure and Magneto replaces him as headmaster, Cyclops is at a crossroads after his wife, Madelyn Pryor, has their first child. With Scott Summers torn between the decision to leave the team to become a father and his responsibilities as an X-Man, Storm challenges him to a skirmish in which the winner will decide his fate.
After a lengthy duel, Storm wins, and Cyclops concedes that"the best X-Man won.“This was a symbolic passing of the torch for Storm.Storm wasn’t just a natural leader, but surpassed the longstanding leader of the X-Men, and this early in her career, that’s not an accolade to take lightly.
9Never Bring a Storm to a Knife Fight
The Uncanny X-Men #170 by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith
Her battle with Cyclops wasn’t the first time that Storm fought for leadership, as 31 issues earlier, she fought Callisto one-on-one for the right to lead the Morlocks. Storm wasn’t allowed to use her powers or risk a captive Kitty Pryde’s throat being slit, so instead, she settles on having a knife fight.
One blade against the other, Storm manages to stab Callisto in the heart with relative ease in a short fight to the death without remorse. Storm was already positioned asan all-powerful Omega-level mutant, but this feat proves that she’s equally skilled in combat as she is in power.She has great power, but Storm doesn’t need power to be great.
8Storm Emerges as the Regent of Mars, and Puts Doctor Doom in His Place
S.W.O.R.D. #6-7 by Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti
This moment is twofold, as the first moment of badassery is when Doctor Doom appears on Mars demanding to see the ruler of Mars, only to be met by a thunderous entrance from Storm. It’s a clever reversal of her first meeting with Doctor Doom when Ororo stormed Latveria demanding to see its leader years earlier.
Then, this would lead toa surprisingly flirtatiousdinner in which Doom tried to make threats and assert his dominance verbally. Storm made it clear that this would not be the case.Intimidation tactics don’t work on Storm, and to even attempt to intimidate a goddess is a bold move that anyone, even Doom, will surely immediately regret.
7Humbling Thor, and Wielding Mjölnir
The Immortal Thor #4-5 by Al Ewing and Martin Coccolo
The goddess moniker was always a metaphorical sobriquet for Storm rather than a literal one, unless characters in the Marvel Universe speak to Thor on the matter Thor. He, on the other hand, was always convinced that she is deserving of being calledThe Goddess of Thunder, not to mention deserving of standing by his side in the Thor Corps.
She does exactly that, officially securing her Goddess status by lifting Mjölnir.However, it wasn’t a matter of Storm earning the right to team with Thor, but Thor earning the right to team with Storm, reaffirming that in any agreement, Storm is the prize. She repeatedly refuses his offer, even striking Thor with lightning. Withstanding her punishment drove a hard bargain.
6Storm Outwrestles Crimson Commando and Outsmarts His Cronies
The Uncanny X-Men #216 by Chris Claremont, Jackson Guice, and Dan Green
At this point in time,Storm has lost her powers. Obviously, that doesn’t slow down the opposition from challenging her. As she tries to outrun WWII-era villains Crimson Commando, Stonewall, and Super Saber, Storm decides she’s tired of running. Instead, she sets traps for her would-be-captors that prove effective before a final confrontation with Crimson Commando.
Storm is not only a competent fighter without her powers, but knows how to outmaneuver and outsmart her opponents, turning the battlefield into her hunting ground.
She wins, forcing the Commando to surrender. This is a moment that highlights once againhow much of a true warrior Storm is. Storm is not only a competent fighter without her powers, but knows how to outmaneuver and outsmart her opponents, turning the battlefield into her hunting ground. With proficiency at setting traps, Storm knows exactly how to play predator to her prey.
5Bonding with The Acanti
Uncanny X-Men #165 by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith
Once infected by the Xenomorph-esque Brood alien, Storm is on the brink of death when she is visited by the ancient Acanti race. To heal her soul, the celestial beings form a psychic connection with Storm, thus bonding with the mutant. This instantly elevates Storm on a cosmic level beyond anything seen by her before.
Her mastery over thunder and lightning had long-established that Storm was physically powerful, but by connecting with the Acanti, Storm suddenly transcends into a spiritual power. In one instance, Storm is made to be powerful in a way that no other member of the X-Men could match up to, giving her another edge in the X-Men’s power rankings.
4Creating a Red Sun in Her Final Form
Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants #3 by Al Ewing and Alessandro Vitti
The “Sins of Sinister” event splintered off into an alternate timeline in which Mister Sinister has overtaken the world in his image. Storm becomes the last hope for the universe as the only mutant immune to his infection.1000 years into the future, a resurrected Storm achieves the most powerful stage of her life.
In putting her power upgrade to good use, she produces an entireRed Sun strong enough to kill Supermanif she so wanted to. Storm, on her own merits, is a powerful threat to behold, but at her most powerful, she can harness inconceivable amounts of power never before seen by her and may never be seen again.
3Launching a Full-Blown Attack on Genosha, Unleashing an Island-Wide Storm
X-Men: Red (2018) #8 by Tom Taylor and Carmen Carnero
Just as she was in the midst of trying to salvage relations between mutants and humans by speaking with the United Nations, Jean Grey is framed for the murder of a U.N. ambassador. After it is uncovered thatCharles Xavier’s evil twin Cassandra Novais the culprit, Storm is quick to take action.
As soon as she learns Nova has been hiding out on the abandoned island of Genosha, she immediately heads to her location. Not to risk Nova seeing her coming or infiltrating her mind,Storm generates a massive tidal wave that totally engulfs Genosha all at once. Jean can no longer feel Nova’s presence, insinuating that the antagonist has received her comeuppance.
2Carrying the Power of a Thunderstorm
The Fall of the House of X #4 by Gerry Duggan, Jethro Morales, and Lucas Werneck
Her cosmic prowess would continue to be explored and expanded upon in the coming years, particularly during the Krakoa Era. Cyclops leads the mutants in one final battle against Orchis on the moon.Storm enters the fight in style, bringing with her a super-storm she created on Earth and dragged with her to the moon, which should be scientifically impossible.
Storm unleashes a full powerthat not even X-Men adaptations have tapped into yet. There has been much debate on whether Storm truly should be considered a goddess, as she’s often referred to. At the very least, such a feat at least starts the conversation of her being a god-tier Omega-level mutant, if not a literal living god.
1Storm Defeats Vulcan Not Once, But Twice
X-Men: Red (2022) #2 and #10 by Al Ewing and Stefano Caselli (with Jacopo Camagni in #10)
Once Mars is terraformed into the mutant land of Arakko, Storm is appointed the Regent of Sol on the Great Ring. Feeling forgotten and overlooked in all this change, Vulcan has a violent confrontation with Storm, wherein he refers to himself as an emperor, an X-Man, son of Summer, and son of Mars. Her response?“And I am the mother.“Storm disposes of Vulcan with ease.
The two have a longer fight eight issues later, but the result remains the same. What makes this encounter so fascinating is that Vulcan is, like Storm, one ofthe most powerful Omega-level mutants ever. In theory, an Omega vs. Omega bout should be evenly matched, but between Storm and Vulcan, it’s not even close.Stormis still a cut above the rest.
