Do we like them?

Do we like Professor X?

A character from X-Men (1963)

Our score: 7 out of 10. A brilliant, big-hearted mentor we'd back for the dream and the school, though with some wariness about how freely he uses his mind powers.

Charles Xavier is one of the most powerful telepaths on Earth. He uses a wheelchair and founds the School for Gifted Youngsters. It is secretly a training ground for the X-Men, a team of young mutants who protect a world that fears and hates them. He first appeared in X-Men #1 in 1963, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Xavier believes humans and mutants can live together. He teaches patience, control and compassion, and his old friend and rival Magneto argues the opposite. That clash of ideals drives much of the series.

Our score reflects a real hero with flaws. His ideals and his care for his students are admirable. But he has a habit of reading and nudging minds without asking, and of keeping hard truths from his own team. Writers have often used those choices to question whether his noble goals justify his methods. We'd still follow him, but we'd want some ground rules.