Storm has been a mainstay of Marvel Comics for decades and a vital member of the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Wakandan royal family. The character is of course one of the most powerful to exist in the source material, but fans have a variety of unpopular opinions regarding Storm.
Whether it's based on certain eras of her appearances, different narratives involving the hero, how powerful she actually is, or perhaps surrounding certain writers who took Storm in a new direction, these unpopular opinions are sure to create debates amongst Marvel fans and those who rightfully adore the mighty character.
Lifedeath Was The Last True Arc
The Lifedeath story from Chris Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith is one of the most memorable arcs involving Storm of the 1980s. Indeed, magicisafoot noted that it's "a fairly self-contained book," which happens to focus on a depowered Ororo Monroe.
It's certainly not controversial to recommend this epic read, but part of the X-Men and leading Wakanda with Black Panther.
Doesn't Work As A Solo Character
Monroe has largely been utilized as a part of an ensemble, that much is true. She's a great team player but also a valuable leader, having fronted the X-Men on numerous occasions. In spite of this, Storm has also boasted some notable solo runs.
However, JaffyJayne claims that "Storm is quite an odd one because she rarely works as a solo star," although they go on to mention how she does stand out among the X-Men group. This is definitely unpopular though; as recently as 2015, Storm concluded a solo title that was well regarded. The character just happens to also be a loyal friend and partner to the X-Men and works well in a team dynamic.
An Annoying Relationship
In recent years Storm has entered into a new role as a leader of Wakanda, thanks to her marriage to Black Panther. Monroe seems happy with the power she has taken on, despite the responsibility, but one unpopular opinion suggests the narrative was annoying at best.
bundlethis has said that they "avoid everything after they retconned her into having a relationship with Black Panther," because the whole thing irritated them. They did also note that Lifedeath is a fantastic arc, so perhaps the point is more that T'Challa takes focus away from Storm. Arguably the pair are a perfect match for one another, and plenty of fans see the benefit of them together as a power couple in the Marvel Universe.
The Claremont Era Ran Too Long
It's been well established that the Claremont era of the X-Men, which ran from 1975 to 1991, was hugely successful. It's part of the Uncanny era and did indeed include stories like Lifedeath. It was a booming period for Storm, where some of the character's best moments took place.
FormerlyMevansuto recommends reading the whole of Claremont's run but notes that it's "Perhaps longer than ideal." Many would regard it as not long enough considering the writer managed to continue to change up the status quo, without the formula becoming stale. Regardless, the Redditor did mention that the excellent character work carries over after this, which cannot be denied especially in regards to Ororo.
Cockrum's Costume Is The Best Design
Storm has had so many looks over the years. No matter which one is chosen as the definitive costume there's sure to be someone voicing another, equally unpopular opinion. From her modern garments to her mohawk look, each design came to define that era of the character.
visually and as a character, the ('70s Dave) Cockrum version was hands down the best." The suit has supposedly remained unrivaled. It's definitely an iconic concept for Storm but will every fan agree that no other options have come close?
Storm's Downfall
Although the opinion had previously been voiced that no arc quite lived up to Lifedeath following the story's conclusion, mogwenb has gone one step further. They claim that "Storm's downfall began with Claremont's departure in 1992. I the Byrne/Portaccio episodes with her "General Storm" look designed by Lee, the costume of the animated series of the '90s. She looked cold, emotionless. I didn't recognize her!"
So many people have fond memories of the designs of Storm in both the animated series and the comics after, in both her visualization and her characterization. She has only grown more popular since and it's definitely a disservice to all the hard work of Marvel writers and artists to suggest the character reached her nadir.
Storm Is Overpowered
It's a criticism that's levied at anyone who has remarkable abilities. Plenty of readers suggest some heroes are far too overpowered, and unfortunately that especially sways in the favor of female characters who have been given gifts of great strength. JaxJyls did make a comparison to link to their case though.
They say that they "disagreed with people saying Superman is overpowered and boring and wondered why Storm from the X-Men doesn't get the same reputation." They go on to note her impressive strengths and very few weaknesses. But as others have pointed out, Storm has the same weaknesses as any human. She is no goddess despite appearing to be and can be taken down much in the same way as the other of her team. It's well-known Ororo experiences acute claustrophobia and is often portrayed as a strong yet vulnerable character.
Cyclops Is A Better Leader
Cyclops gets a bit of a rough time but ultimately the character has made far too many mistakes. There are redeeming qualities there but as a leader of the X-Men he might be a strategist, but is he really better than Storm? That's what multiple fans believe.
One Reddit said that Cyclops is more experienced as he "faced the worst threats mutantkind ever faced and did a superb job with that." EKRB7 agreed, saying she is more of a teacher than a leader. But it's clear that Monroe is adaptable, able to rise to the challenge and it's those calm, level-headed qualities that come with being a teacher that enables her to get the best out of her squad.
Storm Didn't Help The Morlocks
The debate might rage on about Cyclops versus Storm in of leadership, but outside of the X-Men, it's difficult to argue she hasn't been competent in her roles including in Wakanda. Yet, wataru14 notes that she actually failed the Morlocks.
They say that "she really didn't do the Morlocks any favors. She became their "leader," then immediately delegated the day-to-day running of things back to Callisto and fled back up the surface without looking back." The character had to balance multiple missions though and respected the Morlocks' needs to remain hidden from society. Ultimately delegation is a great sign of leadership and Ororo managed to keep their culture and traditions intact, which is so important when sitting at the head of the table.