This set is a huge risk; Nextwave is pretty niche and that means that 48/54 currently known figures are related to the X-universe in some way. A lot aren't necessarily X-men, but it's still "X-themed". For those that say otherwise, it'd be like a "Green Lantern's Light!" set with only 12 Green Lanterns, but where all but 6 of the other figures were enemies of the Lanterns and/or members of one of the other corps.

On the other hand, the sheer number of "WE DIDN'T GET <insert X-man or X-related villain here>? CURSE YOU NECA!!!!!!" posts in this thread should show how desperately an X-man set was needed; we have a set with 48/54 characters on the X-theme, and there's easily two dozen characters (and I'm talking A-listers here, not, like, Vanisher or something) that either needed to be clixed for the first time, or needed to be remade. To start the list...

Bastion
Havok
Cable (these two are particularly shocking, given their respective nemeses Stryfe and Vulcan making it into the set)
Sauron
Namor (has a pretty definitive version, but not an "X-men" version)
Mr. Sinister
Toad
Avalanche
Exodus
Jubilee
Destiny
Mojo
Spiral

I guess this is their reasoning: a lot of people will be buying a brick (I might buy a brick for the first time ever). Those that don't and just buy singles...would probably still have just bought singles if they cut 3-5 figures to add Steve Rogers, "Green" Hulk, Spider-man, "Bucky" Captain America, and Luke Cage (or whoever).

Also, they might be counting on the so-far incredible gameplay and sculpts to sell a lot of people on a set that they wouldn't normally buy. I mean, damn, look at those sculpts!

Yeah those hellions were completely a surprise....especially the New mutant involved versions. Kinda sad that they just didn't put the New mutants themselves in this, but I'm sure with the cast of characters they have these hellions will be a formidable team and since I love playing the bad guy types I'm all in for these characters.

As for Hope, she hasn't really displayed her powers when Cable was alive except for maybe one time so I guess a Cable/Hope duo could have her toting a gun and shooting with minimal close combat skillz.

i actually like this sticking to theme i just wish the next wave guys were x-men instead B^( i hope other sets are like this. then once a year either DC or marvel gets a "Universe" set to get the small teams and loners out there

But for those who love Mutants, with the exception of Mutants and Monsters we haven't had a lot of other figures created for us.

Marvel has had a huge amount of sets that were specific to certain teams and groups. HoT and Avengers could have the same said of them for the most part.

I really don't mind the balancing out.

we also "need" an updated Polaris and Marvel Girl...
those 2 plus Havok (maybe Korvus too) could be added to some other Marvel set as a off-themed character no problem though

I'd also like to see updated versions of Kitty Pryde and the New Mutants that can all be played at once without one or two being retired...
other than that I'm pretty happy with most of the choices for this set

You gotta ask yourself though: Does some character selection depend on whats hot?

Your list is topnotch of people I'd like to see, but Mojo hasn't been important for a while Jubilee was depowered and just recently turned to the twilight side and I haven't seen Sauron in ages. You're right that they're in desperate need of a remake or to even be made. I wonder how does selection go? I can't believe that theres no Donald Pierce for the Reavers or a new Lady Deathstrike. Perhaps they'll trickle some in for the next set.

Very happy that X-force is complete (missing Vanisher who wasn't "official" anyway). First class X-men is finally done and Astonishing X-men are almost done in one swoop. Very nice.

...which doesn't explain where the Wolvie/Colossus duo fits in.

P.S. Does anybody else feel they've been making this up as they go along?

I'm kind of doubting Archangel having the X-Force keyword; instead he'll probably have the Horseman of Apocalypse keyword because the next 2 figures after him will clearly have it

Plus his face is all out of control in the close up shot.

Is this the first set that has no SPider-Man in it? Or will one of the super boosters be a noir box set?

I'm really hoping that the Reavers in this set (Bonebreaker, Skullbuster, and Pretty Boy) work like the Warriors Three, i.e. add up to 300 points exactly and work really well when played together. That would be a smart play.

or an AoA sinister seeing as we have wolverine as death and hulk as whatever he was wen he was a horseman and im assuming that the archangel is either AoA or X-Force seeing (hoping for both however unlikely) but at this point even a Ms. Sinister would be nice...and jeez they can finish off X-Force?? all they needed was a damn fantomex to finish the Uncanny X-force buuuut nooooo

Never read the story with them.....are they that good? Warriors Three had tons of damage reducers and high attack value for the cost.....going by the Skullbuster from back in the day would these characters be that strong?

I had to read they're bios real quick and still didn't get an accurate reading of what they might have as powers. (with the exception of maybe toughness) What kind of powers would they get?

They are the Reavers. Killer cyborg gang from Uncanny X-Men just after the X-Men (Storm, Wolverine, Havok, Dazzler, Rogue, Collossus, Longshot, Psylocke) died fighting the Adversary and was teleported to Australia, where the X-men took their Base.

I'm suprised to see the New Mutants in their Brief Hellion uniforms. Frankly I'd have rather seen more actual Hellions (catseye for sure to go against Wolfsbane).

Mostly though, would have liked to have seen any of GenX or at least New X-men

I think so. They did a fair number of crossovers in the Marvel Universe, battled the Punisher in battle armour, etc. At the bare minimum, they are cyborgs, which would mean some damage reducers and Super Strength. I'd also add:

Bonebreaker: Make him a transporter, to cover the tank chassis. He also sported some heavy firepower, rocket launchers and such. RCE or EE at least.
Skullbuster: I didn't like the previous version of him, as he was always more of a close combat character (hence the name).
Pretty Boy: A SP that allows him to shoot around corners and a short range MC would suit him well.

It seems a stretch to have them add up to 300. Maybe they'll add up to 200 or 300 with MM Donald Pierce.