Giant-Size X-Men #1 May, 1975 Len Wein - Writer & Editor Dave Cockrum - Illustrator Glynis Wein - Colorist John Costanza - Letterer

Plot Synopsis:
 

"Second Genesis!"

Prof. Charles Xavier spends a productive day(?) seeking out mutants across the Earth, promising to help each mutant learn their true potential and help the world. These mutants include Kurt Wagner (The Nightcrawler), Wolverine, Sean Cassidy (Banshee), Ororo (Storm), Shiro Yoshida (Sunfire), Peter Rasputin (Colossus), and John Proudstar (Thunderbird).

After a brief introduction back at Xavier's mansion, Cyclops appears and explains that the original X-Men team was sent out to the mysterious island of Krakoa in search of a super-powerful mutant. There, the entire team was apparently ambushed, though Cyclops then found himself back on the X-Men's strato-jet wih the controls locked on a course heading home. Cyclops' optic blasts had also disappeared, though later came back more powerful than before (causing Prof. Xavier to develop a newly modified visor in order to control them).

The newly costumed and code-named team heads out after a brief tantrum by Sunfire, and we soon get to see the new X-Men's powers in action. They quickly locate the old team, who's life energies are being drained by the island, and discover all too late that the island, itself, is a living mutant. The island explains that it was created as a result of a nuclear test which fused all of the island's life forms into one being. It also reveals that it intentionally sent Cyclops back for more victims and telepathically commanded Prof. X to seek them out, as well.

A battle ensues, and Lorna Dane, powered by Storm's lightening bolts, manages to use her magnetic powers to temporarily disrupt the Earth's magnetic fields and send Krakoa flying into space. Victorious, the team piles into a now overcrowded strato-jet, leaving Angel to ponder "What are we going to do with thirteen X-Men?"

TCXR Review:
 

The legendary debut of the second, better known X-Men team. Len Wein puts tremendous thought into this issue, tackling the hatred the X-Men title has always preached against by giving us the most unlikely international lineup of heroes ever to have appeared together in a comic at this time. Colossus (Russian), The Nightcrawler (German), and Sunfire (Japanese) represent the three greatest national enemies the US had fought in recent history, while Thunderbird is an angry native american who hates white people, and Storm is a black Pagan Goddess. The only comfortable additions to this team are Wolverine (Canadian, as well as an already-established Marvel hero), and Banshee (Irish), whom (like Sunfire) the X-Men had encountered before.

That being said, this issue has some serious problems. Prof. X meets all of these mutants, benignly offering them a chance to promote world peace and harmony, as well as learn about themselves, but then immediately costumes them and sends them into battle (a portion of the deal that was, regrettably, never mentioned to any of the mutants he visited). Surely enough, instead of expending any thought into a first introduction (even to each other), Prof. X seems to have diverted all of his energies toward designing elaborate superhero costumes and code names, while the new recruits are left to wander about the mansion until Cyclops arrives. It seems odd that most of them even accept his offer, and even more odd that Thunderbird responds to Prof. X's insult by asking for a chance to prove himself rather than punching Charlie's lights out. Maybe Prof. X psi-scanned them to know exactly what to say?

Furthermore, why didn't Xavier simply send out for the Defenders (as he did in Defenders #15)? Sending out a completely untrained new team in search of an old and experienced one that got ambushed seems a bit odd. Theoretically, Krakoa may have specifically commanded this course of action to Xavier, specifically needing to drain energy from mutants or desiring an inexperienced team that could easily be overcome, though none of this is ever explained. Then again, simply writing "We needed to introduce an exciting new team in order to bolster new interest in the X-Men" wouldn't have worked much better.

This issue gives us a general impression of the new team members. Kurt Wagner ("The Nightcrawler" rather than "Nightcrawler" for this first issue), can teleport, as well as leap inhumanly high and scale walls. He's also described as speaking with a "hideous howl" more than once in this issue (though this is never mentioned again).

"The Wolverine" apparently becomes "Wolverine" when Prof. X assigns it to him as a code name. No further mention is made of his abilities beyond his claws in this issue, though the claws are now clearly retractable. Though still nameless and faceless, Wolverine begins to show more of his personality in this issue, both with his manner of speaking and his quick temper.

Banshee is included in the team due to availability, though Len Wein's judgement in adding this character is questionable. Banshee seems thoroughly annoying from his first introduction in this issue, and it seems to be no coincidence that in the frame before Sunfire blows up at Prof. X, he's seen impatiently listening to Banshee in the background. Banshee's name is not given in this issue, though it was presumably given in an earlier appearance.

Storm, first introduced to us as "Ororo" (she doesn't get a last name until later), manifests powers and a personality which are thoroughly consistant with the Storm of future issues. Wein seems to have spent a lot of time considering her character early on.

Though an impatient ass, Sunfire serves his purpose in pointing out legitamite objections to Prof. X's plans throughout this issue. He calls Prof. X on his "you are a mutant--And you have responsibilities" argument, used only two panels earlier with Ororo, by saying "I owe you nothing, Professor--But perhaps I owe myself something", and then immediately objects when Xavier throws them right into their first assignment, which is to rescue Xavier's team; not a noble, selfless act to save the world, like Xavier had promised.

Colossus (Peter Rasputin), is an impressive accomplishment for Wein, in that he manages to take a Cold War era Russian and present him as an endearing, sweat natured person who asks his parents' advice and is, later, chivalrously protective of Storm while in battle.

Thunderbird (John Proudstar) is another amazing risk in that he's thoroughly hateful and unlikeable when Prof. X approaches him. Though Proudstar is certainly not the type of hero comic fans were used to at the time, he serves an ambitious purpose in promoting tolerance and peace with all peoples, regardless of whether or not they're likable.

Wein had intended Giant-Size X-Men to be an ongoing comic series, but shortly after it's launch, he found himself bogged down with responsibilities, forcing him to give the regular X-Men title to Chris Claremont soon after this issue, as well as let the Giant-Size title go. A Giant-Size X-Men #2 was published, but in no way affects the ongoing story of the X-Men.

Though Chris Claremont took no part in writing this first issue of the Bronze Age X-Men legacy, he did create the way in which the X-Men would finally defeat Krakoa. Wein and Cockrum were both stumped in finding a solution, and Claremont suggested the idea of using the Earth's magnetic field.

Incidentally, the filler material at the end, featuring Cyclops, Marvel Girl, and Ice-man, is reprinted from much older X-Men issues (thus their outdated nature). It's unclear whether they were simply added to make up 64 pages, or were intended as crash-course introductions to the older team members (perhaps suggesting those members were originally intended to stick around beyond the next issue).

Notes on the Classic X-Men Edition:  

Retold in Classic X-Men #1. Pages 1-4 and 18-32 are new material, changing the original 36 page story (only thirteen pages of which are reprinted in this edition). Purchasing an actual reprint instead is highly recommended.

Key Character Developments

Banshee: xbanshee	Joins X-Men.
Colossus: xcolossus	1st Appearance. Real name given as Peter Rasputin. Russian farm boy with an indestructable mutant armored form. Exposes himself as a mutant when he rescues his sister from a runaway tractor in front of his neighbors. Joins X-Men.
Cyclops: xcyclops	Gains increased optic blast power, as well as a new visor.
Nightcrawler: xnightcrawler	1st Appearance. Real name given as Kurt Wagner. German, inhuman-looking mutant. Can teleport, leap super-humanly high, and scale walls. Leaves the circus only to be hunted by villagers. Asks Prof. X to help him become "normal". Joins X-Men.
Rasputin, Illyana: xillyana rasputin	1st Appearance. Colossus's baby sister.
Storm: xstorm	1st Appearance. Name given as "Ororo". Can summon rain and lightening, as well as fly. Worshipped as a Goddess in Kenya. Leaves to join X-Men.
Sunfire: xsunfire	Joins X-Men.
Thunderbird: xthunderbird	1st Appearance. Name given as John Proudstar. Leaves Apache reservation to join X-Men.
Wolverine: xwolverine	Leaves the Canadian Government to join X-Men. Has retractable claws.