Giant-Size X-Men #1
Published and © by Marvel, 1975
Title: “Second Genesis!”
Synopsis: When the original X-Men fall prey to a powerful new foe, Professor X gathers replacements to mount a rescue effort.
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Dave Cockrum
Review: The new X-Men’s initial outing is an incredibly efficient affair, particularly when compared to modern, decompressed storytelling. Len Wein and Dave Cockrum introduce several new mutants, establishing powers, personalities and a glimpse of backstory. Wein’s plot is tight and Cockrum’s art a cut above. This is a well-crafted debut.
•••
Title: “Call Him … Cyclops”
Synopsis: The X-Men’s longtime leader demonstrates the range of his powers across a variety of situations.
Writer: Roy Thomas
Penciler: Werner Roth
Inker: John Verpoorten
Review: This reprint from X-Men #43 lacks the punch and pizzazz of the vastly superior lead story. It’s informational, not entertaining.
•••
Title: “I, the Iceman”
Synopsis: The youngest of the original X-Men shows off how his powers have evolved since his early “snowman” days.
Writer: Arnold Drake
Penciler: Werner Roth
Inker: John Verpoorten
Review: With its jovial, break-the-fourth-wall style, this short reprint from X-Men #47 is a relic from another era.
•••
Title: “The Female of the Species!”
Synopsis: It’s Marvel Girl’s turn to showcase her powers – including, sadly, the ability to “turn men’s heads.”
Writer: Linda Fite
Penciler: Werner Roth
Inker: Sam Grainger
Review: Even with a writer of “the supposedly weaker sex,” this partial reprint from X-Men #57 concludes on a sexist note.
Grade (for the entire issue): B+
Second opinion: “The new X-Men were a fresh outlook in comics.” – Michal Jacot, Comic Effect #28, Winter 2001 … “I feel this book represented some of Len Wein’s weakest writing and some of Dave Cockrum’s weakest art.” – Mike Hall, Comic Effect #35, June-July 2003 …“Len Wein holds a makeover clinic in Giant-Size X-Men #1, showing how to put a new face on an old concept.” – John Jackson Miller, The Comics Buyer’s Guide to the X-Men (Comics Buyer’s Guide Presents), 2003 … No. 4 on Marvel’s 2001 “Greatest Marvels of All Time” list. … “Len Wein and Dave Cockrum managed to breathe new life into the book and to bring about a new era for the Uncanny X-Men.” – Hero Illustrated Special Edition Vol. 4, No. 1: The 100 Most Important Comics of All Time!, May, 1994 … “Some commentators see the release of this issue as the true start of the Bronze Age of comics – an era-defining moment.” – Melanie Scott and Stephen “Win” Wiacek, “Marvel Greatest Comics: 100 Comics That Built a Universe” … “The new team added a multiracial, multinational tilt to remind us even more that, at its core, X-Men has always been about intolerance to those who are different.” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: It’s amazing how much of the X-Men template that would dominate comics for the next few decades was already in place here. Also, Dave Cockrum’s costume designs; they’re almost always cool.
Not-so-cool factor: The handling of Thunderbird, a Native American character, has not aged well.
Notable: First appearance of Colossus, Illyana Rasputin, Krakoa, Nightcrawler, Storm and Thunderbird.
Collector’s note: This comic has been reprinted several times, including a facsimile edition (with a different cover price) in 2019.
Character quotable: “What are we going to DO with THIRTEEN X-Men?” – Angel, one of the original X-Men
Editor’s note: This review was written Dec. 9, 2020
I thoroughly agree with the point under “The Cool Factor” that “It’s amazing how much of the ‘X-Men’ template that would dominate comic-books for the next few decades was ALREADY IN PLACE HERE.” That is CORRECT: ALL of the factors which make the X-Men unique, and work, were ALREADY IN PLACE even BEFORE ‘Giant-Size X-Men#1’ hit the stands in the Spring of 1975- the school, the Professor, the undercurrents of horror ( perfectly captured by the renderings of the late, great Dave Cockrum, who was clearly trying to follow in the established footsteps of the even greater late Neal Adams in this issue ) which made the original series so wonderful and unique, especially when Neal Adams arrived, all of which perfectly underscores my lifelong assertion that, under the creative of Len Wein, Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and excellent inker Dan Green, who didn’t hang around long- much like Sunfire, Thunderbird, and the Original X-Men themselves, regrettably- the Original Team would have been just as much of a massive smash as the New Team was!! My feeling as to why the “New X-Men” was such a monster smash wasn’t at all due to the new recruits, at all, but, rather, a combination of of two factors: The absolutely X-Cellent new creative in place, ( as listed above ) as well as simply the timing: By 1975, Marvel had already done a, well, marvelous job of whetting comics fandom’s collective appetites for the Return of the Mutants. By the Spring of 1975, the X-Men’s line-up had, well, mutated into a line-up of mutants which just could not help BUT sell comics: The loss of the Beast to the Avengers was unfortunate, but eminently logical, but the loss was MORE than offset by the return of Havok and Polaris to the fold! Even without the “McGuffin” of Krakoa with which to restart Lorna Dane’s awesome magnetic powers, with Wein, Claremont, and Roy Thomas all involved, a clever way could have been found to accomplish this, possibly involving either Magneto ( eventually, that is, since he would not return restored from infancy until the following year, due to Eric the Red’s involvement ) or from Eric the Red’s direct involement, somehow. This would have resulted in an all-star, unbeatable line-up of Cyclops, MARVEL GIRL, ( NOT “Jeangrey”, dammit!!!! ) Havok, Angel, Polaris, the Iceman, and of course, Professor X. In other words- the newly, relaunced series, under the guidance of THIS level of talent, would have, undoubtedly, become the smash-hit of the Late Seventies REGARDLESS!!! I cannot argue the superstar-level popularity of Storm and Wolverine, but, in my estimation, that is TWO- repeat, TWO-breakout superstars versus the EIGHT awesome characters that were the Original X-Men!! This is just my speculation, of course, but it is a speculation that has been considered for half a century, now, so it must surely be worth SOMETHING!! If Wolverine and Storm would have been awarded their own solo series in the mid-Seventies, I feel that, again, under the proper talent, their individual, solo series would ALSO have been smash hits, as well!! In comic-books and television, there are ( almost ) NO BAD CHARACTERS- just bad writers and artists!! I have spoken!!
Hey, Marc. Thanks for stopping by. I’d meant to respond right away but got sucked into the end-of-the-school-year sprint at work (I’m a college professor). You make some great points here. When Little Me first came across the “all-new, all-different X-Men” (my gateway issue was X-Men #129) I was completely blown away by the creative team, the characters and the foundational concepts of the X-Men. I couldn’t get enough and was soon gobbling up all of the back issues I could find. I LOVED the X-Men, but, for me, it was definitely the Claremont/Byrne/Austin team that made me a lifelong comics fan. – TAW