X-Men: 10 Best Sabretooth Comics Ever

Sabretooth has returned after a long absence in X-Men comics, beginning a new and fascinating chapter in the latest Sabretooth series. His return is an occasion for fans to consider the best comics to ever feature the iconic supervillain, and there are many. Sabretooth is a key aspect of many classic stories and events going back nearly five decades at Marvel Comics.

Though he is most associated with his bitter rival Wolverine, Sabretooth has rivalries and connections to other significant characters in the Marvel Universe. Some of his best comics put him into new and unexpected situations, delving into his horrifying capacity for evil and sometimes, exploring his surprising potential to be a hero in alternate realities in the comics.

10 Iron Fist #14

One of the best Sabretooth comics is his very first appearance. Iron Fist #14 is key for introducing him as a villain of Danny Rand, with amazing art and story by the all-time classic X-Men writer/artist duo of Chris Claremont and John Byrne.

Sabretooth faces off against Iron Fist, one of the best Marvel martial artists, as a ‘pirate’ who leads the assassins trying to capture Danny Rand and Colleen Wing. Much of Sabretooth’s powers and abilities are established here, though his backstory would evolve a lot.

9 Sabretooth #1 (2022)

The first issue of the brand new Sabretooth series is arguably one of the best for giving him a fascinating new narrative direction. This issue reveals that Sabretooth has become the king of the Krakoan Hell, though it comes with a massive catch.

Sabretooth was imprisoned in the depths of Krakoa early in the House of X era, but this issue reveals he is living out his reign of Hell in his mind. Perhaps; the first issue ends with a reveal that suggests everything might not be what it seems.

8 Sabretooth #1 (1993)

Sabretooth #1 from 1993 is a standout in the character’s comic book history for being his first-ever solo title. It features amazing art by Mark Texiera, full of heavy dark lines and lots of ink splatter that lends itself well to the gory exploits of the supervillain.

The issue also features a story by legendary Marvel Comic writer and editor Larry Hama. Sabretooth begins a brief period of being an anti-hero here, seeking out ‘the glow,’ a psychic remedy that helps calm his urges for violence.

7 Ultimate X-Men #12

Wolverine and Sabretooth are bitter enemies in virtually every reality in the Marvel multiverse, and Ultimate X-Men #11 features one of their best battles. This battle is distinguished in how much more powerful this Sabretooth is.

Armed with adamantium claws of his own, the Ultimate Sabretooth takes Wolverine to the limit. Their epic fight ends with Sabretooth seemingly falling to his death off a cliff, but he would return as he always does to menace Wolverine again.

6 Uncanny X-Force #11

There are many powerful versions of Sabretooth in Marvel Comics and one of them fights Wolverine in Uncanny X-Force #11. This vicious fight makes for one of their best and grimmest in the modern era, during what is arguably the darkest period for Logan.

X-Force travels to another dimension where they encounter a variant of the Age of Apocalypse Sabretooth. The fight becomes nasty immediately but is unique in that it ends relatively quickly with the two uneasy allies, thanks to this Sabretooth being more of a good guy.

5 X-Factor #52

One of the best Sabretooth issues and one of the best X-Factor comics ever is issue #52. This issue features an all-out brawl between Sabretooth and Archangel, two of the most powerful and darkest characters of this period in the late 1980s.

The issue takes place in the aftermath of the Mutant Massacre, one of the first major X-Men crossovers, and has Sabretooth hunting down survivors of the massacre. He gets an unexpected fight in Archangel, and fans get a major battle with great action and art.

4 X-Men Unlimited #3

X-Men Unlimited #3 follows Sabretooth out of his first mini-series and it’s a great story that sees him unhinged once more and on the loose. With the loss of Birdy, he no longer has ‘the glow’ to keep him in check and gets into a huge battle with some of the X-Men.

The issue escalates to an all-out battle between Sabretooth and the Silver Samurai and his minions. It’s full of great action and features an iconic cover by iconic artist Bill Sienkiewicz.

3 Exiles #59 (Vol. 2)

One of the best Sabretooth comics of the early 2000s sees him tested as a hero to his ultimate limits. Sabretooth faces his biggest challenge possibly ever in trying to keep a variant of Franklin Richards from succumbing to his powers and turning evil.

Sabretooth fails, but not without trying, showing his capacity for good. The issue is also another excellent chapter in his unique relationship with Blink, established in the alternate reality of the Age of Apocalypse in the 90s.

2 The Astonishing X-Men #2

The Age of Apocalypse is one of the darkest timelines in Marvel Comics, but it’s also arguably one of the best times for Sabretooth. The Astonishing X-Men #2 is a fantastic issue for showcasing how great a hero Sabretooth can be as he faces off alone against a far more powerful foe in Nemesis.

The issue explores his fatherly bond with Blink, a major feature of future Exiles comics, and also gives fans an epic battle with amazing art by Joe Madureira that still holds up today.

1 Uncanny X-Men #213

There are many great battles between Wolverine and Sabretooth in the comics, but one of the best takes place in Uncanny X-Men #213. This is one the earliest and most vicious fights between the two, with classic art by Alan Davis, who would go on to pencil Excalibur.

This one-on-one battle for the ages demolishes a lot of the X-Mansion after Sabretooth initially goes after Psylocke. It ends as their fights often seem to with a fall off of a cliff, but not before fans get what might be the highlight of a historic rivalry.

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