Giant-Size X-Men

Giant-Size X-Men #1 was a special issue of the X-Men comic book series, published by Marvel Comics in 1975. It was written by Len Wein and illustrated by Dave Cockrum. Though not a regular issue, it contained the first new X-Men story in five years, titled Second Genesis. The issue serves as a link between the original X-Men and a new team. Chronologically it is placed after X-Men #66 and before X-Men #94. The 68-page book was published with a May 1975 cover date and distributed to newsstands in February of that year.

Cover of Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975) Art by Gil Kane and Dave Cockrum.

Publication history

The X-Men title stopped producing new stories after #66 in March 1970. From December 1970 through April 1975, Marvel reprinted many of the older X-Men issues as #67–93. Following the May publication of Giant-Size X-Men #1, Marvel began again publishing new issues of X-Men with #94 in August 1975.

The comic also collects reprints from X-Men #43, #47 and #57.[1]

Plot

The story opens in medias res, with Professor X recruiting a new team of X-Men, to rescue the original X-Men (Marvel Girl, Iceman and Angel [but not Beast, who had left the team], plus X-Men recruits Havok and Polaris), who had disappeared on a mission to the island of Krakoa, with only their leader Cyclops escaping. The new team consists of Sunfire and Banshee, who had been introduced in earlier X-Men comics; Wolverine, who had made his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk #181 (Oct. 1974); and the newly created Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Thunderbird. These members are gathered from all over the world, and Professor X uses his telepathic powers to teach them all English so that they can communicate with each other.

The team soon learns that Krakoa is not just an island, but a giant mutant as well. Despite a number of personality clashes among the individual members, the new team succeeds in rescuing the old X-Men as well as destroying the island by shooting it into outer space with Polaris' power. The issue ends by posing the question of the future of a 13-member X-Men team.

The later storyline "Deadly Genesis" offers a ret-con of this story, which tells how Professor X had initially recruited a different team before the events in the title who failed.

Credits

Reprint

The "Second Genesis" story was reprinted in Classic X-Men #1 in September 1986, with substantial editing to reduce its length, and a new backup story by Claremont and John Bolton bridging the gap between this and the following issue, Uncanny X-Men #94.

Other issues

Marvel published a second issue of Giant-Size X-Men later in 1975. This November issue had no new material, instead featuring reprints of stories from X-Men #57, #58, and #59, written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Neal Adams.[2]

In 2005, Marvel published two new Giant Size X-Men issues to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original. Issue #3 in July contained a story written by Joss Whedon and illustrated by Neal Adams. The issue also reprinted several older X-Men team-ups: the group's appearance in Fantastic Four #28, an Avengers guest appearance in X-Men #9 and a story featuring Spider-Man in X-Men #35.[3] In November, Chris Claremont penned a story for issue #4, with artwork by Adams. It also reprinted material related to the death of Thunderbird from X-Men #94-95, Classic X-Men #3 and Uncanny X-Men #193.[4]

Dawn of X

Five Giant Size X-Men one-shots, all written by Jonathan Hickman will be released as part of Dawn of X between February and September 2020. The first, Giant Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost, was drawn by Russell Dauterman and colored by Matt Wilson.[5] The second, Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler, was drawn by Alan Davis and colored by Carlos Lopez.[6] The third, Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto, was drawn by Ramon Perez and colored by David Curiel.[7] The fourth, Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex, was drawn and colored by Rod Reis.[8] The fifth, Giant-Size X-Men: Storm, will be drawn by Dauterman and colored by Wilson.[9]

Prints
Issue Publication date Writer Artist Colorist Comic Book Roundup rating[10] Estimated sales to North American retailers (first month)
Giant Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost February 26, 2020 Jonathan Hickman Russell Dauterman Matt Wilson 8.6 by 19 professional critics 63,077[11]
Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler March 25, 2020 Alan Davis Carlos Lopez 7.5 by 16 professional critics 46,861[12]
Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto July 15, 2020 Ramon Perez David Curiel 7.7 by 13 professional critics Data not yet available
Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex August 5, 2020 Rod Reis 8.2 by 7 professional critics
Giant-Size X-Men: Storm September 16, 2020[13] Russell Dauterman Matt Wilson Data not yet available

References
  1. Giant-Size X-Men #1, ComicBookDB.com
  2. Giant-Size X-Men #2, Grand Comics Database.
  3. PREVIEW: Neal Adams' "Giant Size X-Men" #3 Story
  4. Taking An Early Look at "Giant-Size X-Men" #4
  5. Giant Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost #1
  6. Giant Size X-Men: Nightcrawler #1
  7. Giant Size X-Men: Magneto #1
  8. Giant Size X-Men: Fantomex #1
  9. Terror, Jude (February 17, 2020). "Jonathan Hickman and Russell Dauterman Give Storm the Giant-Size X-Men Treatment in June". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  10. "Giant Size X-Men (2020) Comic Series Reviews at ComicBookRoundUp.com". Comic Book Roundup. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  11. "February 2020 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops". Comichron. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  12. "March 2020 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops". Comichron. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  13. "Marvel Comics' September 2020 comic book solicitations and covers". GamesRadar+. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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