by etragedy: Good Start But Needs Some Fine Tuning

Of all the long running series Marvel has ever produced, my favorite, by far, would have to be the X-Men. I was always attracted to the misfit/outsider type books like this and D.C.'s Doom Patrol. And while much has been made of the X-Men's resemblance to that team, I won't go into that here as I think that can most likely be chalked up to an 'uncanny' coincidence.

More likely, Stan Lee read the 1953 science fiction novel 'Children of the Atom' (a term he even uses for the X-Men in future issues), and decided to make a comic version of Wilmar Shiras' concept of gifted, 'different' teens. But, being different and unusual for a superhero team was really the only thing going for the X-Men at this time, as it would be many years before it achieved the true greatness that was to follow Giant Size X-Men #1.

For one thing the team starts as four: Beast, Iceman, Cyclops and Angel (guided by Professor X), with the fifth member introduced partway through this issue: Marvel Girl. The appearance of Marvel Girl has the guys falling all over each other in the most buffoonish manner which only serves to make the comic seem more trivial than it ought, especially given that Beast and Iceman's clownish antics already seemed like a low-rent version of the Thing and the Human Torch's standard prattle and pranks.

The powers are really off here too - Jean Grey claims she can 'teleport' (she's actually referring to telekinesis), and Magneto... well, let's just say that Stan Lee continues to have a very loose definition of what constitutes 'magnetism'.

In the end they are applauded and respected by the military for their actions in this issue - a long way from the fearing and shunning that will come to drive so much of the best X-Men story lines in years to come. But at least the rough draft for the team, the school, their mission, and the contrast with Magneto, one of their own kind with a radically different agenda.

A good introduction to the X-Men, now the series just needs some fine tuning.

by chrys: The first issue of X-Men is, in some ways, not quite what modern readers would expect. It is the original team’s first appearance, as well as that of Magneto, but someone seeking a better understanding of the X-Men would find this issue unsatisfying — mainly because, looks and rough powers aside, the characters are barely recognizable. Those traits and events that significantly shaped the X-Men aren’t to be found here.

When the issue starts, four of the five team members are already in the school mansion and a class session under Professor X’s orders is about to start. This class introduces us to the boys’ powers, as well as a large amount of typical Silver Age dialog and its friend, spoken description. The characterization is both generic and heavy-handed. It is immediately clear that the Beast and Iceman are too similar to the Thing and Human Torch in behavior and dynamics. That aside, the both of them as well as Cyclops and the Angel read as very generic, overconfident, and eager teenagers you couldn’t tell apart.

So here is where it all starts. We begin at a private school in New York, run by Professor Charles Xavier, where we are introduced to the X-Men team. At that point consists four boys, Angel, Iceman, Beast and the leader, Cyclops. We meet them at the Danger Room, where they their super-human abilities are put throgh various training. Beast is tested for his agility and strength, the winged Angel for flight skills, Iceman for his ability to create ice structures, and Cyclops for his optic blasts. After training they are introduced to their newest member Jean Grey who will become known as the telekinetic Marvel Girl. There Professsor X then explains that the purpose of the group is to oppose evil mutants and defend humanity.

We quickly find out that not all humans are good and willing to protect mankind, but there also are some other mutants who seek to gain control of the world. The following day, the X-Men's first test comes when they must face Magneto, an evil mutant, who has taken control of the U.S. missile base Cape Citadel where he successfully destroys a rocket launch test. With the guidance from Professor X, the X-Men are able to drive off the Master of Magnetism to the delight of the base commander.