025
- The X-Men

Jack
Kirby and Paul Reinman, X-Men #1.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
With the success of The Amazing Spider-Man,
The Fantastic Four, and other superhero titles of
the early sixties, Marvel Comics decided to unveil a new off-beat
superhero book, The X-Men, written by Stan Lee and
drawn by Jack Kirby. Originally entitled The Mutants ,
the book introduced the concept of beings born with special
abilities brought on by genetic mutations in the nuclear age.
While genetic anomalies were nothing new in the history of mankind,
these mutations spawned superpowers that caused fear and whole-scale
persecution of the mutant populace.[1]
Throughout the course of the first 66 issues, The X-Men
tells the story of Professor Charles Xavier, a powerful
telepathic mutant confined to a wheelchair. At his school for
young mutants, Xavier teaches these outcasts how to control
their new powers and to believe that mutants and humans share
a common destiny based on peaceful coexistence. Xavier recruits
Scott Summers, a mutant capable of transforming energy into
powerful optic blasts, held in check only by a pair of ruby
quartz sunglasses; Hank McCoy, who possesses superhuman agility,
dexterity and strength; Warren Worthington, III
whose giant wings
enable him flight; and Bobby Drake who can transmute his body
into ice. Each student is given a codename - Cyclops, Beast,
Angel, and Iceman - and trained in the use of his powers. The
true adventures begin with the introduction of Jean Grey, codename
Marvel Girl, who possesses telepathic powers on a slightly lesser
scale than Xavier does. The teenagers fight a host of evil mutants
- Magneto, the Blob, Mastermind, Juggernaut, the Sentinels,
Sauron, Mesmero, and Count Nefaria - to name but a few. As time
passes, Scott and Jean fall in love. Later in the series, Scott's
brother, Alex, and Lorna Dane join the X-Men. Alex possesses
the ability to transform energy into plasma blasts and Lorna
the ability to control magnetism. They, too, are given codenames
- Havok and Polaris. As the series came to a close, Hank McCoy
leaves the X-Men to take a job with the Brand Corporation. Chronicled
in Amazing Adventures #11-16, Hank attempts to remove
his mutant abilities in a chemical experiment. As is wont to
happen in these circumstances, the experiment has the reverse
effect, and Hank is transformed into a blue-furred Beast. He
soon joins the Avengers, a government-sanctioned superhero team,
leaving the X-Men continuity for a time.
With sales declining, The X-Men series
endured 27 issues of reprints, and the remaining X-Men characters
were forced into cameo appearances in other books. Finally,
in May 1975, the X-Men were given a second chance, Giant-Size
X-Men #1. By the time the issue hit the stands, Roy Thomas
had left Marvel Comics, but he had been very much involved in
the origins of the new series. While the Wolverine may have
been created for the Canadian market, the full international
team was created to help penetrate the lucrative foreign market
at the behest of Marvel President Al Landau and editor Stan
Lee. Fortunately, Thomas' original idea of a flying headquarters
hidden in the clouds was ignored and the final result was "Second
Genesis."[2]
Interestingly, the Wolverine's new mask was created inadvertently
by Gil Kane when penciling the cover for Giant-Sized X-Men
#1 and the look was retained by the regular X-Men artist,
Dave Cockrum.[3]
In fact, Cockrum had to alter his original Wolverine pencils
throughout the issue when he inked the pages to match the preferred
cover version.[4]
As Cockrum notes, “Kane drew it more like a Batman mask and
it really looked better."[5]

Gil
Kane, Giant-Size X-Men #1.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
Giant-Size
X-Men #1 (May 1975) - "Second Genesis"
Writer
and Co-Creator: Len Wein, Illustrator and Co-Creator: Dave Cockrum
After meeting the Wolverine at the top secret military
base in Quebec, Professor Charles Xavier successfully recruits
several other mutants. Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) is a German
mutant whose demonic appearance causes fear and hatred amongst
humans. His prehensile tail aids his natural acrobatic ability,
but his true mutant power allows him to teleport with a puff
of brimstone. Banshee (Sean Cassidy) is a former Irish Interpol
agent whose sonic scream enables him flight and a potent offensive
weapon. Storm (Ororo Monroe) is revered as a goddess in Africa
and is able to manipulate the weather, even allowing her flight.
Sunfire (Shiro Yashida) is a Japanese mutant who can generate
blazing firebursts, as his name would suggest, and capable of
flight. From Arizona comes Thunderbird (John Proudstar), an
Apache Indian endowed with great strength and amazing speed.
And from the
Soviet Union is
Colossus (Peter Rasputin) who is capable of transforming his
body into a nearly indestructible form of organic metal, gaining
superhuman strength in the process.
Giant-Size
X-Men #3 (2005) – “Teamwork”
Writer:
Joss Whedon; Artist: Neil Adams
In the Danger Room of Professor Xavier's mansion in Westchester,
New York, Wolverine, sans costume, welcomes Ororo Munroe, Peter
Rasputin, John Proudstar, Nightcrawler and Sunfire, suggesting
that the Professor only intends to keep five of them for the
X-Men, and the sixth one will leave dead. Tempers flare and
a fight ensues. John Proudstar begins pummeling Wolverine until
Wolverine catches him in the gut and sends him flying. Banshee
breaks up the fight and asks for an explanation. Wolverine smiles
and tells them that they will need to know each other better
if they are going to become a team. And for his money, John
Proudstar might be the best of the bunch.
On the heels of his successful run on Astonishing X-Men,
Joss Whedon (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Serenity
fame) adds his touch to the earliest days of the new X-Men,
showing that like many of us, he became a fan during this time
period.
X-Men:
Liberators #2 (Dec 1998) - "Home Is Where the Heart Is"
Writer:
Joseph Harris Artist: Phil Jimenez
At Xavier's mansion, during the unveiling of costumes,
the Wolverine brashly climbs atop Peter Rasputin's shoulders,
flashing his claws menacingly. Colossus transforms into his
steel form, grabs the Wolverine by the neck, and throws him
to the ground. Surprisingly, the Wolverine does not respond
in kind, but merely expresses satisfaction that Colossus has
what it takes to back him up.
Published 23 years after Giant-Size X-Men #1,
X-Men: Liberators sought to flesh out some of the
earliest moments of the new X-Men. As will soon be seen, this
is to become a very common occurrence. Refreshingly, many of
these early vignettes dovetail quite nicely with the original
stories.
Giant-Size
X-Men
#1 (May 1975) - "Second Genesis"
Writer
and Co-Creator: Len Wein, Illustrator and Co-Creator: Dave Cockrum
Xavier introduces the leader of the X-Men, Cyclops, who
explains that the rest of the original X-Men were kidnapped
while investigating an unidentified mutant on the island
of Krakoa
. Cyclops was also
on the expedition but was mysteriously returned to the X-Men's
Strato-jet while still unconscious. When Cyclops awoke, the
Strato-jet's course was set for the X-Men's headquarters, and
his powers were gone. Cyclops' optic blasts eventually did return,
stronger than ever, and, while Cyclops retrained himself, Xavier
recruited the new team of mutants to rescue the kidnapped X-Men.
After much squabbling, the new X-Men depart for Krakoa aboard
the Strato-jet, later revealed to be a converted SR-71 spy plane.
Cyclops divides the group into four assault teams. Landing on
the sandy beach, Banshee and the Wolverine, the east assault
team, are attacked by two gigantic crabs. The battle is brief
with each of the new X-Men destroying one of the crabs. Before
long all eight mutants reach a temple in the middle of the island
and find the older X-Men being fed upon by tubes. Quickly freeing
them, the X-Men, new and old, discover that the mutant is the
island itself. With the help of Xavier's telepathy, the X-Men
attack the giant beast until Polaris is able to reverse the
island's magnetic field and catapult the living island into
space. Creating a giant ice sphere, Iceman is able to protect
the X-Men from the ensuing vortex. With the maelstrom over,
the X-Men recover their Strato-jet and all thirteen mutants
return to Westchester
.

Arthur
Adam, Classic X-Men #1.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
By 1986, The Uncanny X-Men had established
itself as the top selling comic in the industry. This success
led to the reprinting of these early issues of the “new X-Men”
as Classic X-Men, which Chris Claremont, the primary
X-Men writer, oversaw. Instead of simply reprinting the older
stories, Claremont
added several
new pages of story on a monthly basis to flesh out sections
that had been limited previously by space. Claremont
also wrote new
backup stories chronicling previously untold adventures of the
new X-Men's early days, beginning with “First Night” in Classic
X-Men #1.
Classic
X-Men #1 (Sep 1986) - "First Night"
Writer:
Chris Claremont, Artist: John Bolton
After returning from the Krakoa adventure, the
X-Men, old and new, find themselves at odds with each other.
Wolverine, though, decides to explore the outside and finds
Jean Grey, alone. Catching her by surprise, Wolverine, now in
his civilian clothes, notes that he can sense that she has strong
feelings for him. Before the conversation can continue, Angel,
in the air above, gets suspicious and slams Wolverine into a
tree, warning him that Jean is spoken for. Wolverine gets up
slowly, replying that Jean is a grown woman and can make decisions
on her own. Popping his claws, Wolverine lunges at Angel, missing
only because of Jean's telepathic shield. Storm creates a monsoon
to cool off the tempers, while Angel declares Wolverine a dangerous
nut. Storm fires back that Angel was the one to strike first.
Jean ignores Angel and tends to Wolverine who warns her to stay
away. "I really am bad news. As crazy as they come. And
I do kill." Jean ignores his warnings and welcomes him
to the X-Men.
This story in particular illustrates Chris Claremont's
attempt to flesh out characters, motivations, and interactions
from the earliest days of the new X-Men. As Claremont
explains, “…I
didn't have a handle on what the book was… I was trying to figure
who these people were, what they did, how they reacted to each
other—the who, what, where, when, and why of The X-Men."[6]

John
Bolton , Classic X-Men #1.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
X-Men:
The Wedding Album #1 (1994) - "Something Old, Something
New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue & Gold"
Writer:
Scott Lobdell, Penciller: Ian Churchill, Inker: Jason Minor,
Randy Elliot and Harry Candelario
Later that evening, Jean Grey writes in her diary that
she feels “…almost giddy…” after her initial meeting Wolverine,
intrigued by his mysterious nature and, despite his ferocity
in battle, “…it is clear that underneath it all he has a very
gentle soul.”
Classic
X-Men #27/2 (Nov 1988) - "Backlash”
Writer:
Ann Nocenti, Artist: John Bolton
Even later that same night, Wolverine (still in
civilian clothes), Scott and Jean go out for a short drive,
stopping at a greasy spoon for a late night snack. While Scott
goes to buy burgers, Wolverine and Jean discuss their future.
He tells Jean that though she loves Scott, she wants him. Jean
reluctantly agrees, adding that one of them must leave the team.
Before they can decide who should depart, a very oblivious Scott
returns with the food. Suddenly, Jean senses trouble at a nearby
factory and carries the threesome there telekinetically. As
they begin to investigate, the floor beneath Jean and Wolverine
gives way. Deep inside the factory, Jean searches for the trouble
she sensed previously, while Wolverine talks to her in a very
provocative way. Jean rebukes him for touching her, but soon
realizes that a small alien-like creature is wrapped around
her arm. Wolverine slices it up with his claws, but each piece
comes back to life. While Jean backs away from the creatures,
Wolverine seems to enjoy the horror film atmosphere. Jean creates
a telekinetic bubble against the creatures, but they continue
to attack. As the creatures completely cover the ever-shrinking
bubble, Jean and Wolverine are forced into each other's arms.
As Jean begins to give into her desires, the chemicals in the
factory ignite, destroying the creatures. As Scott watches,
Wolverine and Jean, still within the now flaming telekinetic
bubble, land at his feet. When Scott asks how Jean how she is,
Wolverine interjects, "Best time I've had in months..."
This is an excellent example of why it is so hard to
create an accurate chronology for Wolverine. “Backlash” was
written in 1988, but the events take place during story lines
written in the mid-1970s. In order for the story to fit properly,
we are required to create time between “First Night” and the
events of X-Men #94. One can argue that Jean might
have the power of the Phoenix
on the final page
of the story, and hence this should take place just prior to
X-Men #111. But that creates another slew of continuity problems.
I have chosen to place it here where it dovetails nicely with
Jean's decision to leave the X-Men and explain the vaguely Phoenix-like
flames as foreshadowing in the form of ignited chemicals dripping
off of her telekinetic bubble. Jean's reference to Wolverine
as Logan
during this episode is especially inaccurate, as there is much
information that suggests no one in the X-Men learned of his
real name until after the death of Phoenix
.
Classic
X-Men #1 (Sep 1986) - "First Night"
Writer:
Chris Claremont; Artist: John Bolton
In the early hours of the following morning, Jean
concedes to Professor Xavier that her attraction to Wolverine
is problematic and that she has decided to leave the X-Men.
X-Men
#94 (Aug 1975) - "Chapter One: The Doomsmith Scenario"
Writer:
Chris Claremont, Plotter: Len Wein, Artist: Dave Cockrum
Later that morning, Xavier assembles all thirteen
X-Men to discuss the future. All of the new mutants announce
their intentions to remain, except for Sunfire who finds Xavier's
dream to be a fool's errand. To Xavier's surprise, the complete
older group, save Cyclops, decides to leave. They explain that
they have matured and that it is time to move on with their
lives. The Wolverine, scoffing at such sentimentality, comments
that if they want to leave, go, and just spare them the soap
opera treatment. This gets a rise out of Iceman, but Cyclops
stops them before a fight can begin. By the following morning,
Xavier's school boasts only the Wolverine, Cyclops, Colossus,
Storm, Nightcrawler, Banshee, Thunderbird, and, of course, Professor
Xavier. The ensuing few weeks revolve around Cyclops training
the new X-Men in the Danger Room, a simulated combat room that
tests and challenges the mutants.
Roy Thomas felt that although Professor Xavier was still
the mentor of the X-Men, Cyclops needed to remain with the X-Men
to establish a bond between the newer and older teams.[7] This
issue also shows the beginning of the feud between Wolverine
and Cyclops. Wolverine seems to take pleasure in challenging
Cyclops' leadership, showing a marked lack of respect for Cyclops
by sarcastically calling him "Boss-Man." Wolverine
also seems to resent Cyclops and his leadership, but this could
simply be his inherent problem with authority and Cyclops' relationship
with Jean Grey.
Classic
X-Men #10 /2(Jun 1987) - "Tag, Sucker!"
Writer:
Chris Claremont, Artist: John Bolton
A week after arriving in Westchester
, Wolverine decides
to explore New
York City. While
wandering the streets as a civilian, Wolverine lights up a cigar
only to have it snatched away from behind. His senses on high
alert, Wolverine spins around to find... nothing! Then a voice
whispers in his ear, "Tag, sucker ---You're it!" Deciding
to turn the tables on his seemingly invisible pursuer, Wolverine
sprints off on a maze-like path across town. Convinced that
no one has followed, he enters a saloon in Chelsea
and takes a corner
table with his back to wall and a view to the entire establishment.
A smile in the window sets him off, but when he reaches the
empty street, Wolverine begins to question his own sanity. A
woman's scream breaks through his self-doubts and, as he rushes
towards the sound, Wolverine finds a dead body and voice laughing
on the wind telling him that he is next. Following his desire
to run, he slips down a subway access tunnel and rides the outside
of a train to Battery Park. Donning his costume, Wolverine,
with his back to the sea, waits for his opponent, tossing all
rationality away and letting the animal inside of him out. Unfortunately,
the attack comes from the sea. The result, his throat torn out.
An hour later, Wolverine drags himself aboard a Staten
Island ferry,
his mutant healing powers barely saving his life. Too late,
Wolverine puts together the pieces: Sabretooth. It is interesting
to note the retrospective feel of this story. Claremont
effectively conveyed
Len Wein's early vision of the Wolverine's heroism, the constant
inner battle to fight against his animal instincts and his battle
to maintain his sanity.[8]

John
Bolton , Classic X-Men #10.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
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in the Family
[1]
James Van Hise, X-Men Files, 1986.
[2]
James Van Hise, "The Roy Thomas Interview," X-Men
Files, 1986.
[3]
Brian Cunningham, "Dressed to Kill," Wizard Tribute
to Wolverine, 1996.
[4]
Craig Shutt, “Secret Origins,” Wizard's Wolverine Special,
1999.
[5]
Brian Warmoth, “Claws of Attraction,” Wizard #157,
Nov. 2004.
[6]
"Interview with Chris Claremont," The X-Men Companion,
1982.
[7]
James Van Hise, X-Men Files, 1986.
[8]
"Interview with Len Wein," The X-Men Companion,
1982 |