Oh Look, It’s Professor X Again!

Guess who’s back in his signature wheelchair? That’s right, our favorite telepath, Professor Charles Xavier! If you’ve been living under a rock, the latest teaser for Avengers: Doomsday is here, and it shows Patrick Stewart donning the bald look once more, sharing screen space with Magneto, played by the ever-charismatic Ian McKellen. It’s like a reunion of old pals from the 2000s X-Men movies, but this time, the stakes are a little higher since we’re dealing with the end of the Marvel Multiverse. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t sound good for Professor X!

Professor X’s History of Hitting the Big Sleep

Let’s face it, Xavier’s exit won’t be shocking news. He’s had more curtain calls than your average Broadway star. A quick recap: Stewart’s Professor X has met his Maker not once, not twice, but three times throughout the X-Men cinematic saga. (And trust me, if you count X-Men: Days of Future Past, you need to look up what “death” means, because time travel complicates things.) So, before we gear up for Stewart’s latest on-screen departure, let’s rank his previous death scenes — because why not? Death is just another Tuesday for ol’ Chuck!

3. Explosive Retirement in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Starting out as the shining beacon of hope in the 1960s comic scene, by the ’80s, Charles was living in a bit of a gray area. He was still that empathetic mentor aiming for peace between humans and mutants, but who knew he was capable of a little manipulation and villainous behavior? Enter X-Men: The Last Stand, where things really took a turn. Here, we discover that Chalkboard Charlie put the brakes on Jean Grey’s insane power, fearing she couldn’t handle it. Spoiler: he was right! After Jean comes back from the dead, she takes down Cyclops and—wait for it—Professor X himself. Talk about a family drama!

Now, in theory, having Xavier bite the dust due to the very thing he was trying to stop makes for some poetic drama. But let’s be real, in reality, the scene is more like a cheesy magician’s trick. Jean uses her fiery powers to levitate him, and right before he pops, he gives Logan a grin like they’re sharing a laugh at a dad joke. Then boom! Professor X explodes! But don’t despair; in a post-credit twist, he apparently hops into the body of a coma patient. Villainous behavior or romantic gesture? You decide!

2. Neck Snapper in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Next, we have our gal Wanda Maximoff! Instead of diving into the Dark Phoenix Saga, this sequel whips up something a little different—a power trip gone wrong! Wanda takes a hard left into evil territory, and guess who’s caught in the crossfire? Charles Xavier! Tasked with playing superhero psychologist, he enters Wanda’s mind only to be greeted by her corrupted self, resulting in, let’s say, a not-so-great day for our telepathic friend.

Here’s the rub: while we could’ve had a heartfelt moment, things go haywire fast. Wanda, instead of accepting a hug, opts for a quick neck snap, and just like that, it’s lights out for our dear Professor. Sure, there’s a lot of love-hate toward this scene, especially from die-hard WandaVision fans, but kudos to Sam Raimi for throwing in some horror flair! Watching Xavier’s demise feels like a slapstick routine; we laugh, we cry, and we mostly just scratch our heads in disbelief.

1. A Dignified End in Logan (2017)

Nothing can overshadow Stewart’s remarkable performance in Logan. Here, like a fine wine, the impact just gets better with time. Set in a gritty future, we see Xavier grappling with his own slowing mind while Wolverine, poor fellow, is drinking himself into oblivion with a side order of guilt. The film strips away the usual comic book bravado and hits us right in the feels.

As we watch Stewart embody the frailty of an aging Xavier, we’re hit with waves of nostalgia, humor, and tears. His last moments? A heartfelt monologue where he pours out his soul—not knowing he’s confiding in a clone, of all things! Even the climactic showdown can’t ruin the depth of this scene; it lingers as a poignant farewell, marking the end of an era in superhero cinema.

Will We See Him Again?

Get your tissues ready because we know Professor X is set to take another ride into the sunset (or the abyss) in Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026. How many times can one man die on screen? Stay tuned!