X-Treme X-Men #1

Released in July 2001, X-Treme X-Men #1 marked a significant shift in the X-Men franchise as part of the broader 'X-Men Evolution' relaunch led by writer Chris Claremont. Tasked with steering the mutant team into a new millennium, Claremont and artist Salvador Larroca focused on a splinter group of mutants operating outside the established X-Men hierarchy, essentially functioning as a clandestine unit protecting the world from threats that went unnoticed by the core team.

The design and visual tone were heavily influenced by the turn-of-the-century aesthetic, emphasizing tactical, leather-heavy costumes and a darker, more cinematic color palette. While the title was initially met with excitement due to the return of Claremont to his flagship characters, it eventually became a subject of debate among fans regarding the over-saturation of X-Men spin-off titles, though it remains a definitive example of the high-stakes, action-oriented comic book storytelling popular in the early 2000s.