The X-Men comics justify the use of the comics medium as a viable means of social communication. It is evident that the X-Men comics vividly address a number of social issues that are alive and well in contemporary culture. This is perhaps one of the primary reasons for the success of this series. Individuals turn to comics as not only a form of entertainment or escapism, but perhaps more importantly for the lessons and hope that can be gleaned from them. X-men offers insight into contemporary cultural issues such as racism, anti-Semitism, and genocide. Characters act in a metaphorical sense as they illuminate the power and necessity of the individual in a culture. The concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism resonate throughout the exploration of such themes as diversity, individualism, religion and the concept of a subculture. Examination of the X-Men comics reveals the power of this futuristic mythos and how it acts as both a mirror and guide to contemporary culture.