The indispensible X

It’s a common joke that if you want to name a successful Science Fiction Series you should put an ‘X’ in the title. But is this true? If it is true, is it just Science fiction series or is it movies as well, games? Comics? Anything else? Is there a reason for using ‘X’ so much? Is there a pattern – is the truth out there?


Why use X at all?

Why is ‘X’ the unknown factor? It goes back to algebra where you substitute X for what is unknown. This practice came from the Arab mathematicians who developed algebra – Muhammad al-Khwarizmi and Omar Khayyam. For them the word ‘thing’ was ‘shei’ and this was translated into the Greek ‘xei’. This is the letter X. There is also a Greek word for foreigner or stranger – Xenos – which gives us the word xenophobia. This would have provided a second strand to the use of X for the unknown in mathematics. It makes this letter perfect for science fiction as well, especially alien titles.

Series Titles

Wherever it came from malicious gossip says science fiction series all have ‘X’ in the title. So how many science fiction series do have ‘x’ in them? Here’s a list:

Benji, Zax and the Alien Prince- 1983; Bionic Six – animated -1987
Cubix – Robots for Everyone – animated – 2001; Cybersix – animated - 1999
Extreme Dinosaurs – animated- 1997;
Fireball XL5- Supermarionation -1963
Galaxy High School -animated -1986; Galaxy Railways anime, 2003; Gundam X – anime - 1996
Lexx 1999 – 2002
Max Headroom -1987; Max Steel- animated- 1999; Mutant X – 2001
Parallax – 2004; Phoenix 5 – 1970
RahXephon – anime -2003 ; Rockman EXE anime -2001
Six Million Dollar Man - 1974-8; Sonix X – animated – 2003; Team Galaxy animated, 2006; The Galaxy Trio - animated 1967; The Maxx – animated- 1996
The Phoenix 1982 ; The X’s – animated - 2005; Time Trax 1993- 4
X - anime, 2001 ; Xenosaga: The Animation – anime – 2005; X-files – 1993-2002; X-Men: Evolution – animated - 2000; Extreme Ghostbusters – animated - 1997; Xyber-9 New Dawn – animated 1999
Zixx – Level One - animated 2004


From a list of 550 series there were thirty two series with X in the title, twenty one of which were animated (including Supermarionation). There were none in the 1950’s, two are 1960’s, two in the 1970’s, five are 1980’s, ten are in the 1990’s, thirteen in the 2,000’s.
There was also a radio serial called Tom Mix which ran from 1933-5 and X-Minus 1 Radio series, 1955 – 58 Originally this was called Dimension X .


This doesn’t look like over-representation, but it does overturn my preconception that X was a common designation in the 1950’s. It’s popularity is much more recent which removes it from the nuclear bomb fear scenario and makes it more of an advertising gimmick.


Film Titles - since Science fiction series aren’t responsible for the gossip, are films responsible?


1939 The Return of Dr. X

1950- The Man from Planet X/ Rocketship XM /1956 X- The Unknown
1957 Strange World of Planet X/ 1958 Space Master X-7

1963 X- The Man with X-Ray Eyes/ 1968 Project X

1970 THX 1138 /1977 Exo-Man/ 1979 Mad Max

1980 Phoenix 2772- Space Firebird anime film/ 1980 Galaxina/1981 The Phoenix/ Mad Max II/ Galaxy of Terror /1982 Xtro /1985 Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome /Explorers/ The Toxic Avenger I /Max Headroom /1987 Phoenix The Warrior
1988 Max Q: Emergency Landing / X-files: Fight the Future
1989 The Toxic Avenger II /The Toxic Avenger III: the Last Temptation of Toxie

1991 Xtro the Second Encounter/1992 Galaxy of the Dinosaurs
1994 APEX /1995 Xtro 3 Watch the Skies/ Galaxis /1996 X/ 1998 Six Days in Roswell / 1999 Existenz /The Matrix/ Galaxy Quest

2000 Xchange / 2001 K-Pax / 2003 The Matrix Reloaded; The Matrix Revolutions / 2006 X-Men: The Last Stand / 2008 X-files: I Want to Believe

Forty two titles in over seventy years, that’s a bit more than one every second year, which is not that many. Note the expansion of titles in the 1980’s, with a subsequent decline.

Game Titles


This is a relatively new genre, so we would expect a lot of X titles, in line with the explosion of other X-titles in the noughties.


Daxter 2006 ; Jak and Daxter, 2001, 2003, 2004
Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1 2002; Extreme G 1997; Extreme G2, 1998
Galaxian Arcade game, 1979; Galaxian3 Arcade game, 1990.
Galaxy, 1981; Galaxy Force 1 and 2 1989; Galaxy Trek 1983
Nick Naster’s eXtinction 2003; Project X 1992; Ranger X 1993;
Starfox 1993; Starfox 64 1997; Star Fox Adventures 2002; Star Fox: Assault 2005; Star Fox Command 2006.
The Matrix: Path of Neo 2005
X2 : The Threat 2003; X3 : Reunion 2005.
Xardion – 1992; Xatax - 1992
X : Beyond The Frontier 2000.
X-COM : Apocalypse 1997. X-COM : Enforcer 2001 ; X-COM : Interceptor 1998.
X-COM : Terror From The Deep 1995; X-COM : UFO Defense 1994; X-COM Unknown Terror 1996.
Xeno Assault 2 2004; Xenocracy 1998.
Xenon 1998; Xenon 2 : Megablast 1989; Xenon 2000 - Project PCF 2000.
Xenosaga 2002; Xevious 1984.
X-Files Game, The 1998; X-Files, The : Resist or Serve 2004
XG3 : Extreme G Racing 2001; X-Gold 2001; X, Hero 2001.
X-Men 1993; X-Men: Children of the Atom 1998; X-Men: Legends 2004
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse 2005; X-Men : Madness in the Murder world 1989; X-Men: Mutant Academy 2001; X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 2001; X-Men : Mutant Wars 2000; X-Men: Next Dimension 2001
X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse 2001; X-Men 2: The Clone Wars 1995.
X-Men II : The Fall of the Mutants 1991; X-Men: The Last Stand 2006.
X-Men : The Official Game; X-Men : The Ravages of Apocalypse 1997.
X-Men vs. Street Fighter 1997; X-Men : Wolverine’s Rage 2001
X-Tension 2000; X Squad 2000.

Fifty eight titles mostly from 1990 – 2006, with three 1980’s titles. That’s a lot of titles, but with X-Men and X-COM making up a lot of these, it’s really not as many as it looks. Still, I am surprised at the great popularity of X in these titles , perhaps it’s the male audience?

Comics

Given that X-Men was originally a comic book series, you would expect quite a few comic titles. Perhaps someone into comics has a list?


Secret Agent X-9 1980’s
X-force Marvel 1991
X-Man Marvel 1995

Episode titles Surprise! This is where the idea that science fiction uses a lot of X’s comes from. There are 151 titles on this list and that doesn’t cover repeated use of some titles.

Ex Deus Machina - Stargate SG1, Season 9, 2005
Ex Marks the Spot - Mutant X, Season 1, 2002
Ex Post Facto - Star Trek Voyager, Season 1, 1995
EX - Pilot Candidate, Season 1, 2002
Exalted Reason, Resplendent Daughter (Andromeda, Season 4, 2003
Examination Day - Twilight Zone B, Season 1, 1985
Ex-Ben -Parallax, Season 1, 2004
Excalibur - Thundercats, Season 1, 1985
Excavation - Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex, Season 1, 2004
Exceeding The Rules- Heroic Age, 2007
Excelsius Dei - X Files, Season 2, 1994
Excursion - Wicked Science, Season 1, 2004
Excuse Us, The Running Trouble - Dirty Pair, 1985
Execution - Twilight Zone A, Season 1, 1960
Exercise of Vital Powers, The - Babylon 5, Season 4, 1996
Exert All Your Courage To Fight!- GateKeepers, 2001
Ex-Files, The - Highlander : The Raven, 1998
Exidor Affair - Mork and Mindy, Season 2, 1979
Exidor's Wedding - Mork and Mindy, Season 2, 1979
Exile Isle - Thundercats, Season 2, 1986
Exile - Enterprise, Season 3, 2003/ Smallville, Season 3, 2003
Exile, The - Tales of Tomorrow, Season 1, 1951/ Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Season 1, 1964
Exiles On Renmark Street - Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left, 1991
Exiles, The - Space 1999, Season 2, 1976
Existence /Prey, 1997/ Ergo Proxy, 2006
Existence, Part 2 - X Files, Season 8, 2001
Exit Strategies -Andromeda, Season 2, 2001
Exit Wounds -Torchwood season two, 2008
Exodus From Genesis -Farscape, Season 1, 1999
Exodus To Light - E’s Otherwise, 2003
Exodus -Smallville, Season 2, 2002/Stargate SG1, Season 4, 2000/Thundercats, Pilot, 1985/ Highlander : The Animated Series, Season 1, 1994/ Battlestar Galactica season three.
Highlander : The Animated Series, Season 1, 1994
Exodus, The Pt 1&2 - Sliders, Season 3, 1997
Exogenesis - Babylon 5, Season 3, 1995
Expanding Human - The Outer Limits, Season 2, 1964
Expanse, The - Enterprise, Season 2, 2002
Expect the Unexpected 1&2 - Terrahawks, 1983
Expedition On Mercury - Astro Boy, 1, 1965
Expedition To The Arctic - Johnnny Cypher in Dimension Zero, 1967
Expendable - Exosquad, Season 2, 1994/ Wing Commander Academy, 1996
Experiment in Depth - R3, Season 2, 1965
Experiment in Terra- Battlestar Galactica, Season 2, 1979
Experiment- The Powers of Matthew Star, 1982
Experiment, The - The Champions, 1967/ The Invaders, Season 1, 1967
Experimental City- E’s Otherwise, 2003
Experimental Robot, The - Astro Boy, 1, 1965
Explode the Barn- The Amazing Three, 1965
Explode - Space Ghost, Season 3, 1996
Exploding Melon - Wicked Science, Season 1, 2004
Exploration Earth- The All New Super Friends Hour, 1977
Explorers -Star Trek DS9, Season 3, 1995
Explosion Of Anger! -Dragonball Z, Season 3, 1999
Explosion on Mars! Maximus is in Danger! -Transformers : The Headmasters, 1987
Explosion on Mars! Megazarak Appears! -Transformers : The Headmasters, 1987
Explosion On the Sun -Space Patrol, 60’s, Season 1A, 1963
Expo 2068- Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, 1967
Expose Megazarak’s Weak Spot -Transformers : The Headmasters, 1987
Expose the Destrons Dark Trap- Transformers : Masterforce, 1988
Exposed - UFO, 1970/Smallville, Season 5, 2005/The Invisible Man C, Season 2, 2001
Exposure - Planetes, 2003/Dark Angel, Season 2, 2001)
Extinction - Enterprise, Season 3, 2003/Smallville, Season 3, 2003
Extra Credit - Famous Jet Jackson, Season 3, 2000
Extra Innings -Twilight Zone B, Season 3, 1987/ Bionic Six, Season 1, 1987
Extra! Extra! Sensory Perception! - My Favorite Martian, Season 2, 1964
Extra, The- Welcome to Paradox, 1998
Extraterrestrial Girl - Planetes, 2003
Extreme Chode - Tripping the Rift, Season 2, 2005
Extreme Files, The - Extreme Dinosaurs, 1997
Extreme Gadget - Gadget and the Gadgetinis, Season 2, 2002
Extreme Makeover- Atomic Betty, Season 2, 2005
Extreme Measures - Dragonball Z, Season 3, 1999
Extreme Measures - Star Trek DS9, Season 7, 1999
Extreme Risk- Star Trek Voyager, Season 5, 1998
Extreme - Max Steel, Season 2, 2000

Galaxy 4 -Doctor Who, Season 3, 1965
Galaxy Adrift -Star Fleet, 1982
Galaxy Being, The -The Outer Limits, Season 1, 1963
Galaxy Gift, The -Lost in Space, Season 2, 1966
Galaxy Girls, The - Battle of the Planets, 197)
Galaxy Stranger - Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, 1986
Galaxy Trio And The Cave Men Of Primevia - The Galaxy Trio, 1967
Galaxy Trio And The Sleeping Planet- (The Galaxy Trio, 1967
Galaxy Trio vs. Growliath - The Galaxy Trio, 1967
Galaxy Trio vs. The Moltens Of Meteorus -The Galaxy Trio, 1967
Galaxy’s Greatest Athlete - Far Out Space Nuts, 1975
Galaxy's Child - Star Trek, TNG, Season 4, 1991

Max War of the Worlds, Season 2/X Files, Season 4, 1997/The Bionic Woman, Season 3, 1977
Max Headroom: the Original Story - Max Headroom, 1985
Max In The City - Roswell, Season 2, 2000
Max Ray...Traitor- Centurions, 1986
Max To The Max- Roswell, Season 1, 1999
Maximal, No More- Transformers : Beast Wars, Season 2, 1997
Maximus Displeasure- Atomic Betty, Season 1, 2004
Maximus Emerges - Transformers : Robots in Disguise, 2001
Max-Land- Atomic Betty, Season 1, 2004
Maxsop 4 - Robo Cop : Alpha Commando, 1998

Six Days Twilight Zone C, 2002/ Department S, 1969
Six Degrees Of Separation/ Battlestar Galactica, Season 1, 2004
Six Fight Again, The/ Spider Man the Animated Series, Season 5, 1998
Six Forgotten Warriors/ Spider Man the Animated Series, Season 5, 1998
Six Ghost Ships/ MAPS, 1994
Six Guns Of Space/ Phoenix Five, 1970
Six Hours To Live/ Land of the Giants, Season 2, 1969
Six Is A Crowd/ Sonic Underground, 1999)
Six, Lies and Videotape/ Tripping the Rift, Season 2, 2005
Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine, The/ Twilight Zone A, Season 1, 1959
Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati, Part 3- X Files, Season 7, 1999
Sixth Finger, The - The Outer Limits, Season 1, 1963
Sixth Grade Rebellion Mayhem! - My Best Friend is An Alien, Season 1, 1999
Sixth Sense - Thundercats, Season 1, 1985

Wormhole X-Treme! - Stargate SG1, Season 5, 2001

X - The Unknown Factor -Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left, 1991
X Bomb- Astro Boy, 1, 1963
X Factor, The - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Season 2, 1965
X Impulse, The -X-Men Evolution, Season 1, 2000
X Is Not Himself- Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left, 1991
X Takes A Holiday- The X’s, Season 1, 2005
X- Teen Titans, Season 3, 2004
X23 - X-Men: Evolution, Season 3, 2002
X-35 Needs Changing- Seven Days, Season 2, 1999
Xavier Remembers - X-Men, Season 4, 1999
X-Bomber Goes Forth- Star Fleet, 1982
X-Bomber: Death on Planet Morphane -Star Fleet, 1982
Xcitement- The X’s, Season 1, 2005
X-COPS - X Files, Season 7, 2000
Xevivor - Lexx, Season 4, 2001
Xindi, The - Enterprise, Season 3, 2003
XL - Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Season 1, 2000
XL5 to H2O - Fireball XL5, 1963
X-Layer, The - Secret Beneath the Sea, 1963
X-Mas Marks The Spot -The Real Ghostbusters, Season 1, 1986
Xmas Story -Futurama, Season 2, 1999)
X-Men Adventure, The - Spider Man and his Amazing Friends, Season 3, 1983
X-Pet- Roboroach, 2002
X-Ray - Smallville, Season 1, 2000
X-Rays - Atomic Betty, Season 2, 2005
XRP-77 - Silent Mobius, 1998
X-Ternally Yours - X-Men, Season 2, 1993
X-Treme Measures - X-Men Evolution, Season 3, 2002
X-Treme Measures- Medabots, Season 1, 2001


So the popular idea that science fiction series use a lot of ‘X’s’ in their titles is wrong, but their episode titles do use a lot of ‘X’s’. Given that episode titles are often puns or spoofs of other titles, X is obviously an easy letter to use this way. And it does sound good when you say it, doesn’t it!