X-men

[jaeldubyoo]

X-Men, for me, epitomize the Bronze Age. This series is what made me passionate about comics. I'll be posting Bronze Age X-Men, beginning with Giant-Size X-Men #1. This is the one that jump-started the series that was at the brink of cancellation and made into the best-selling comic.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/bronze/gsx1.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's the first one of the regular series to feature the new team. For a long time, this was more sought-after than GS X-Men #1.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/bronze/x94.jpg

[camper49]

Yep, those are the ones to have.
I got rid of ALL my X-Men books except for GS X-Men #1 and #94 to #143 inclusive.

[jaeldubyoo]

What? Thunderbird dies after two issues? At least they didn't bring him back from the dead.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men95.jpg

[jaydeebee]

Yep, those are the ones to have.
I got rid of ALL my X-Men books except for GS X-Men #1 and #94 to #143 inclusive.


Definitely these are the "magic" issues of Uncanny X-Men, which stand alone as the best of the series. So is the conventional wisdom that the Bronze Age ended with Uncanny X-Men #143? Because certainly much of whats come since has been somewhat tarnished!:(

[jaeldubyoo]

I can't for sure say when the Bronze Age ended, but an era did end as far as the X-Men are concerned. That's when Byrne left after #143. Nothing has come close to the stories and art since, although I did enjoy the Paul Smith run.

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men96.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men97.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men98.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men99.jpg

[marvelguy]

I can't for sure say when the Bronze Age ended, but an era did end as far as the X-Men are concerned. That's when Byrne left after #143. Nothing has come close to the stories and art since, although I did enjoy the Paul Smith run.

Very true, although I liked the Cockrum run after Byrne left as well as Smith and Romita Jr.

[Evil Parsnip]

I can't for sure say when the Bronze Age ended, but an era did end as far as the X-Men are concerned. That's when Byrne left after #143. Nothing has come close to the stories and art since, although I did enjoy the Paul Smith run.

The paul smith run was brilliant.. and 144 wasn't a bad issue..just different.

[jaeldubyoo]

X-Men vs X-Men? Can anybody say robots? This issue leads right into the origin of Phoenix in the next issue. Jean's sacrifice is touching.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men100.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's the first encounter with the Phoenix Force and the first appearance of Phoenix. This storyline culminating inthe saga of Dark Phoenix is one of my all-time favorite.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men101.jpg

[Evil Parsnip]

hmmm.. a cover a day..

[rowand]

Giant-Size X-Men #1. This is the one that jump-started the series that was at the brink of cancellation and made into the best-selling comic.

NOPE! It was far better than that. Once Jack Kirby had left Marvel for DC and Stan and the bullpin crew actually had to imput more than "Lets have Sub-Mariner guest this issue!," the plots on the X-Men grew thinner and much less interesting. They split up the team into pairs and told the back stories of the members before X-Men #1. There was only one X-Men comic each month -- and NOBODY bought it!

Not even the Steranko and Neil Adams artwork could bring back the glory days. New characters were added and ignored! New directions were sought and abandoned! Finally alien worlds were mental-group-hugged out of attack mode and still we stayed away in the proverbial droves. Then came the era of re-prints just to finish out the already-contracted for printings!

Then one day they handed the scripting to one Len Wein. Len cobbered together a few of his creations and dumped most of the rest of the team into the clutches of the hands-on lamest villain ever to grace the pages of the X-Men and struck fire. Len tells the story of receiving X-Mas cards from Hugh Jackman saying in part -- "Thanks for the career!"

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men102.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men103.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

The ever-present Magneto.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men104.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

I wish Marvel would use Firelord more often.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men105.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men106.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men107.jpg

[jaeldubyoo]

This issue marks another highlight in the Bronze Age. John Byrne began as regular penciller on the X-Men. Say what you will about the man, but it was John Byrne’s art that made the X-Men even more popular. As good as Byrne was as a penciller, credit should be given to Terry Austin for the making the finished art look so good. Byrne’s other work when inked by others pale in comparison to the Austin-inked X-Men. Together with Chris Claremont’s scripting, the X-Men run from #108 to #143 was among the best of the Bronze Age.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/x-men108.jpg

[fulltimer56]

I think this was one of the best covers ever on the X-Men and I loved the story.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/fulltimer56/Comics/2605_4_0162.jpg

[rowand]

Did they ever re-visit the eggs growing within the various X-Men yet?

[Evil Parsnip]

I thought the eggs were all destroyed before the Smith run ended...

[fulltimer56]

They were! I think??

[jaeldubyoo]

Destroying the eggs is one thing, destroying the Brood is another thing. You would have to destroy the Empress, her offsprings (the Firstborn), and all the queens which have the ability to implant their eggs. The Brood has made other appearances in the Marvel Universe since.

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1435/x109ps9.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x109ps9.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5872/x110cf4.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x110cf4.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

This is actually the first new X-Men I bought off the shelf. I had been hearing about the series and this is about the time I began looking for back issues in earnest.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/290/x111fc0.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x111fc0.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

This issue marks the first time I bought more than one copy of a new comic. I got two, one to stash away and one to read.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6138/x112sm9.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x112sm9.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/1575/x115dv2.th.jpg (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x115dv2.jpg)

This is one of my favorite covers. It shows a helpless Storm lying in the foreground while Wolvie is slashing away at the others with a menacing Sauron in the background. #cloud9#

[jaeldubyoo]

I became so enamored with the X-Men that I started buying three each month; one for my collection, one to read and one to sell or trade.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/118/x116um7.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x116um7.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4397/x117bi9.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x117bi9.jpg)

I think this cover illustrates how good an inker Terry Austin was. Whether the penciller was Byrne or Cockrum as the case here, Austin's inking gave it the same look, that "New X-Men look" to it. Of course, with with Byrne's pencils it was a match made in heaven.

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/6913/x118do3.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x118do3.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8800/x119tx6.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x119tx6.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3457/x124gh1.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x124gh1.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's where it gets more interesting for me. Jean's back and she's getting some strange flashbacks. The start to the Dark Phoenix Saga in which Phoenix is subtly seduced to her darker desires.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7728/x125sg5.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x125sg5.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

The Proteus storyline is one of my favorites from the Bronze Age.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2894/x126dy2.th.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x126dy2.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4865/x127cl8.th.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x127cl8.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

#128 sports a nifty cover by Perez.

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4071/x128oa3.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x128oa3.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

One of the best stories to come out of the Bronze age is the Dark Phoenix Saga, X-Men #129-#137. The story, taken as a whole without regard to subsequent events and retcons, is a great classic crafted by the creative team of Claremont and Byrne. It is an epic tale of how absolute power corrupts absolutely and how Jean Grey redeems herself in the end. Phoenix was manipulated by Mastermind and was slowly seduced by the darker desires of the Phoenix Force. She became Dark Phoenix, destroyed a world of sentient beings and threatened the universe with her hunger. Barely hanging onto her humanity, she chose to sacrifice herself in order to save the universe and the ones she loved.

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8551/x129mr2.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x129mr2.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

The Dazzler! In the late 70's disco was king and Marvel created this this ill-conceived character.

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6430/x130rs3.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x130rs3.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Ah, the White Queen.

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/8051/x131et9.th.jpg (http://img115.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x131et9.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9711/x132gf4.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x132gf4.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Wolverine at what he does best.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9927/x133oy0.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x133oy0.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3991/x134ke1.th.jpg (http://img46.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x134ke1.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Dark Phoenix!

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2921/x135ff3.th.jpg (http://img508.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x135ff3.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6329/x136sc0.th.jpg (http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x136sc0.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

The Death Issue. The climatic end to the Dark Phoenix Saga. Folks, if you've never read the saga, #129-#137, you are missing out on a classic. IMO this is one of the highlights of the Bronze Age.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/940/x137wa4.th.jpg (http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x137wa4.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Scott leaves brokenhearted over the death of Jean.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7494/x138ir0.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x138ir0.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Out with the old (Cyclops), in with the new, (Kitty Pryde). I've always liked the way Claremont and Byrne portrayed Kitty, a thirteen-year old wide-eyed with wonder. Nice contrast to the other members of the team.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7926/x139fe2.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x139fe2.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Wendigo never looked more menacing.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2913/x140bi8.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x140bi8.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's the first part of the classic "Days of Future Past." I've never bought into the premise that you can travel back in time and fix the future. I make an exception for this story. This story is superbly crafted by Claremont and Byrne and it is one of my favorites from the Bronze Age. One of the best covers, too. If you've never read it and don't want to shell out the bucks for the originals, it's available as a graphic novel.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/501/x141vl4.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x141vl4.jpg)

[jaeldubyoo]

Here's the second part of the classic "Days of Future Past." Awesome cover of Wolverine getting blown away by a Sentinel.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7728/x142qb6.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x142qb6.jpg)

[fulltimer56]

Nope, didn't like that cover at all!! :(

[jaeldubyoo]

Alas, the end of an era. The last Claremont and Byrne X-Men collaboration in a run that spanned #108-#143. One of the greatest runs in comic history. One that made the X-Men wildly popular and spawned mutant mania.

I like this tale of Kitty battling a demon on Christmas Eve while she's alone at the mansion. This is a story of a young girl coming of age.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7268/x143sr9.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x143sr9.jpg)

[fulltimer56]

Your right! That was a good story and Kitty was always a favorite and I liked her with the elf and Wolverine!

Linda

[razorz000]

Issue #140 is by far my favorite cover BUT then so are #109 #116 & #133

[spacecitycomics]

Out with the old (Cyclops), in with the new, (Kitty Pryde). I've always liked the way Claremont and Byrne portrayed Kitty, a thirteen-year old wide-eyed with wonder. Nice contrast to the other members of the team.


http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7926/x139fe2.th.jpg
(http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x139fe2.jpg)

And this issue is one of the hardest for me to find for
resale, a real bear to find in VF or above.

[mordo]

And this issue is one of the hardest for me to find for
resale, a real bear to find in VF or above.

Here you go, spacecitycomics. Camper49 has one for sale. :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Uncanny-X-Men-139-1963-Series-Alpha-Flight-VF_W0QQitemZ250274027734QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33826QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=4&campid=5335809863&toolid=10001&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2FUncanny-X-Men-139-1963-Series-Alpha-Flight-VF_W0QQitemZ250274027734QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33826QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[spacecitycomics]

Here you go, spacecitycomics. Camper49 has one for sale. :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Uncanny-X-Men-139-1963-Series-Alpha-Flight-VF_W0QQitemZ250274027734QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33826QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks, had them bookmarked, want to see if the 94 can
stay under 1bill.

[comicworkbench]

Just picked up a PGX 8.5 of X-men #115. I always loved the cover and the PGX is in much better condition than the other VG+ version I have. The story is cool and Byrne is at his prime.

[dhennen]

This came out when I was just realizing how great comic art could be. I bought an extra copy for trade, should have bought ten



The Death Issue. The climatic end to the Dark Phoenix Saga. Folks, if you've never read the saga, #129-#137, you are missing out on a classic. IMO this is one of the highlights of the Bronze Age.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/940/x137wa4.th.jpg
(http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=x137wa4.jpg)

[comicworkbench]

Did you grab the baxter "phoenix story'" I think it was called from 1983? It gives the ending Claremont wanted. At the back there is an interview with Shooter, Byrne, Claremont and Austin and Shooter's explanation as to why he wanted Phoenix dead. It is cool and a must have for X-men fans.


This came out when I was just realizing how great comic art could be. I bought an extra copy for trade, should have bought ten

[jaeldubyoo]

I've always preferred the original, intended ending as opposed what was actually published. Too bad about the heavy-handed editing.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/untold.jpg

[comicworkbench]

The ultimate super human power of the editor-in-chief was at play here. I think I read Chris Claremont was pretty upset after this incident. Imagine how things would have played out if Phoenix/Marvel Girl survived. I bet Claremont had some cool plots for her and maybe Byrne would have stayed on the title longer. 'What If?'


I've always preferred the original, intended ending as opposed what was actually published. Too bad about the heavy-handed editing.


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/untold.jpg

[Scarecrow1983]

My favorites covers has to be X-men 140,120,121, & 133 in that order. I really liked Alpha Flight when Byrne was doing the Art and storytelling. The Wendigo was so Sinister looking in X-Men 140. What an upgrade from the Incredible Hulk 162,180, & 181 issues. He almost looked like he was shaven in these issues. Was this the first time that that the Wendigo was drawn this way?

What was the reason for Byrne Leaving the series? Was he just offered another job? I believe this was around the time he took over the Fantastic Four.

[SatansProdigy]

I've always preferred the original, intended ending as opposed what was actually published. Too bad about the heavy-handed editing.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/x-men/untold.jpg

That's an awesome cover. Might have to track a copy down.

[marvelguy]

My favorites covers has to be X-men 140,120,121, & 133 in that order. I really liked Alpha Flight when Byrne was doing the Art and storytelling. The Wendigo was so Sinister looking in X-Men 140. What an upgrade from the Incredible Hulk 162,180, & 181 issues. He almost looked like he was shaven in these issues. Was this the first time that that the Wendigo was drawn this way?

What was the reason for Byrne Leaving the series? Was he just offered another job? I believe this was around the time he took over the Fantastic Four.

Yes, it was around the time he drew FF and then took over writing duties as well.

[marvelguy]

I wonder if that Phoenix cover was made just for that book or it was a cover for one of the X-Men book but it was never used.

[jordanscott]

Man this thread has me itching to start an X-Men run.

As with the OP this is the title that pulled me back into comics when I was a teenager.

Claremont/Byrne was the team supreme! (not to be confused with Doug Ramsey and Warlock)

Thanks for posting these covers.

It's been a great piece of nostalgia for a time when I still liked the X-Men.

[jordanscott]

And...just on the off chance I decide to start a run...

Does anybody know in which issue the final complete arc of 1989 ended?

ie: if a 3 issue arc started in November, I want the number of the Oct issue.

Thanks.

[comicworkbench]

My favorites covers has to be X-men 140,120,121, & 133 in that order. I really liked Alpha Flight when Byrne was doing the Art and storytelling. The Wendigo was so Sinister looking in X-Men 140. What an upgrade from the Incredible Hulk 162,180, & 181 issues. He almost looked like he was shaven in these issues. Was this the first time that that the Wendigo was drawn this way?

What was the reason for Byrne Leaving the series? Was he just offered another job? I believe this was around the time he took over the Fantastic Four.

I believe Byrne was ofered complete creative control as writer and artist of FF. He loved the title and characters and jumped over from X-men. At the same time, supposedly, Byrne did not want to start the Alpha Flight title, he was pressured into it. Maybe that is why he was so brutle with the characters. He messed up Guardian and Sasquatch (one of my favs).

[comicworkbench]

I could be wrong but I think it has a date with Byrne sig. I think it was from 1982 or 3.

*I was wrong there is no date and the comic is from 1984.


I wonder if that Phoenix cover was made just for that book or it was a cover for one of the X-Men book but it was never used.

[habib]

And...just on the off chance I decide to start a run...

Does anybody know in which issue the final complete arc of 1989 ended?

ie: if a 3 issue arc started in November, I want the number of the Oct issue.

Thanks.

The last X-Men from 1989 was the late Dec issue #256.

I don't know if it is a final arc issue or not (have to look when I get home) but it is one of the Jim Lee art issues.

I know where you can get almost all the issues from the late Byrne issues to issue #256 (all unsold store stock) for VERY reasonable prices :D

Give old habib a PM if you are interested ;-)