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Giant-Size X-Men Vol 1 1

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Quote1 You, my friend, are a mutant -- and I have a need of mutants -- desperate need! Quote2
—Professor X

Appearing in "Deadly Genesis!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Krakoa ⏵ (First appearance) (Main story and flashback) (Origin revealed)

Other Characters:

Races and Species:


Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

Synopsis for "Deadly Genesis!"

Chapter 1: Second Genesis

In Winzeldorf, Germany, an angry mob rages through the streets in search of a monster: the mutant Kurt Wagner. Kurt pleads that he only wants to be left alone, but the hysterical mob attack and overwhelm him through sheer numbers. Suddenly, the whole mob literally freezes in their tracks, subdued by Professor Charles Xavier’s telepathy. Xavier offers Kurt refuge at his school, which is a haven for mutants. Kurt asks if the Professor can make him normal, but he responds by asking if, after that night, he truly wants to be normal (i.e., like his persecutors). Kurt accepts the Professor’s invitation.

Quebec, Canada: Professor X visits a government base and meets Major Chasen and the mutant referred to as Weapon X, but better known as Wolverine. Charles offers Wolverine a chance to join him and become a free agent, an offer Wolverine accepts on the spot. Chasen objects but Wolverine officially resigns from duty by slicing off his tie. As Wolverine leaves, Chasen warns him this isn’t over.

Nashville, Tennessee: Banshee is attending a show at the Grand Ole Opry when he receives a telepathic message from the Professor with an urgent plea for help. He quickly agrees to do what he can.

Kenya, Africa: A woman named Ororo is being worshipped by local tribesmen as a rain / fertility goddess. Xavier approaches her with an offer he hopes she will not refuse. After listening to his request, she accepts.

Osaka, Japan: Xavier pays a visit to Sunfire, pitching him a similar offer. Sunfire is disinterested in helping white westerners, but reasons that he owes it to himself to test his abilities.

On a commune in Siberia, Farmer Piotr Rasputin is harvesting crops when a fellow farmhand notices a neighbor's tractor has gone out of control and is heading straight for Piotr’s young sister Illyana. As Piotr runs towards her, he transforms into a giant metal being. The tractor collides with him but is destroyed by the impact with Piotr’s metallic body. Xavier invites him to come to America to his school. Upon asking his parents’ permission, he accepts Xavier's offer.

Arizona: An Apache Indian, John Proudstar, chases a bison on the plain, easily chasing it down and tackling it. Xavier offers him acceptance into his school. Proudstar refuses to help a white man at first, but Professor X counters that perhaps he is just a coward. Infuriated, Proudstar accepts Xavier's offer in order to prove him wrong.

Chapter 2: And When There Was One

The seven disparate mutants meet at Xavier’s school in Westchester and are given new costumes composed of unstable molecules. A narrative caption relates that Professor X gave each of the international students instant fluency in English, via telepathy. Proudstar questions why Xavier has brought them together. Xavier introduces them to Cyclops, who makes a dramatic entrance sporting a new visor and slightly redesigned costume. He informs them that this new team of X-Men has been assembled to find and rescue the missing original team.

Cyclops shows them Cerebro, the mutant-detecting supercomputer which Xavier used to find them. A flashback depicts that just recently, Cerebro had alerted Professor X and the original team (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Iceman, Havok and Lorna Dane) to the existence of an extremely powerful mutant on the remote Pacific island of Krakoa. The team headed off to find this mutant (there is a passing mention to the Beast having departed from the team). Immediately upon their arrival, they were ambushed. Later, an amnesiac Cyclops awoke alone on the X-Men’s stratojet, which was already in flight on cruise control. His visor was missing but his eyes were inexplicably no longer emitting optic blasts. Upon returning to Xavier’s school, though, his optic blast began firing once again but with more power than ever; so much more power in fact that Professor X had to build a new new visor for Cyclops to control them.

Sunfire initially refuses to participate on the rescue mission and flies off in a huff. The rest of the new members agree, however, and depart in the stratojet. In midair, though, the group see Sunfire flying alongside their plane. He boards it and tells Cyclops he’s changed his mind and will participate in the mission.

Chapter 3: Assault Force

As the stratojet approaches Krakoa Isle, Cyclops directs the team to split up into pairs: Storm (Ororo) and Colossus (Piotr), Banshee and Wolverine, Sunfire and Nightcrawler (Kurt), and lastly Thunderbird (Proudstar) and Cyclops. There are minor disagreements and bickering among the new members, who are still just a pack of strangers to each other.

Cyclops and Thunderbird land the stratojet and begin their search. They have barely begun exploring the island before the stratojet vanishes inexplicably. Upon seeing a temple in the distance, they head towards it. En route, they are attacked by creeper vines but take care of them quickly.

Along the shore, Wolverine and Banshee are attacked by giant crabs. Elsewhere, Colossus and Storm trek toward the temple and are nearly struck by an avalanche. As they run for cover, the rocks follow them and Colossus uses a tree as a makeshift bat to swat them away. Finally, Nightcrawler and Sunfire battle a group of angry birds. Nightcrawler teleports around the attacking birds while Sunfire just blasts them. Each pair of heroes has spotted the the temple and they all convene outside of it.

They enter the temple, busting through a pair of tightly-sealed doors. Inside, they find the missing X-Men. Weird tendrils bind the captives and appear to feed off them. The new team quickly gets their predecessors to (relative) safety outside. The Angel scolds Cyclops for returning. He explains that this was all just a trap. The ground shakes, the temple rises out of the ground, and the entire island moves. The X-Men had come to Krakoa to find a mutant, but that mutant is the island itself!

Chapter 4: Krakoa...the Island That Walks Like a Man

In a flashback, it is revealed that radiation from atomic tests near the island caused a host of mutations on the island’s indigenous life before the island itself eventually mutated into a single group-mind entity. Krakoa needs to feed off the life energies of other mutants and found the X-Men to be an excellent source of sustenance. It allowed Cyclops to escape in order to bring back more mutants, which he did.

Krakoa launches an all-out assault on the combined teams. Despite the combined power of old X-Men and new, none of their attacks seem to affect the island. Professor X then intervenes via a telepathic message and tells Cyclops he thinks he knows of its sole weakness.

As Professor X attacks the island with his mind to distract its communal intellect, Storm flies into the sky and shoots electricity down into Lorna Dane, stimulating her magnetic powers. Fearing that the tactic may kill Lorna, Havok pleads with Cyclops to put a stop to it. But Cyclops tells his brother that he cannot risk the life of one woman, even the woman Alex loves, for the safety of the entire world. Suffering from fatigue, Professor X's assault falters and Krakoa regains its strength from the typhoon that Storm has created.

Scott and Alex combine their powers with Lorna's own and she directs it downward. Her magnetic power penetrates to the center of the Earth, causing Krakoa to cry out in terror. As everyone flees to safety, Iceman snatches up an unconscious Lorna, refusing to allow Havok to help her. This angers Havok, but Cyclops tells him to set aside their personal feud until later. As the island begins breaking up, everyone jumps onto Iceman's ice raft. Lorna has disrupted the magnetic energy in the vicinity the island's location, effectively cancelling out gravity. Krakoa is flung out into the vacuum of space. The ocean at its (now former) location churns into a swirling whirlpool.

Iceman covers his raft in an ice-bubble just before it is sucked into the whirlpool. Eventually, it breaks the (once again calm) ocean surface and the team emerges to find the stratojet afloat nearby. After boarding the ship and flying off, slight disagreements that occurred between the new members are (almost) sorted out. Angel then ponders aloud to the assembled group what they will do with thirteen X-Men.

Appearing in "Call Him...Cyclops"

Reprint of the 1st story from
X-Men #43
(originally printed as The Torch Is Passed...!)

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

  • S.S. Myrmidon (Destruction)
  • Unnamed cargo ship (Destruction)

Synopsis for "Call Him...Cyclops"

Reprint of the 1st story from
X-Men #43
(originally printed as The Torch Is Passed...!)

The X-Men are attending the funeral of Professor Xavier, who died battling the evil subterranean Grotesk. Unaware their oldest foe Magneto is watching and planning to attack the group during their moment of loss, he calls for Quicksilver to come to his side, however finding that he is not present. We soon learn that Quicksilver has used his super-speed to travel to the location of Xavier's funeral to witness it from afar. He is spotted by the X-Men who confronts him and asks him why he has come. Thinking that they intend to attack him, Quicksilver realizes that he's made a foolish decision and speeds off back to Magneto. Before the X-Men can go after him they are called by the priest giving off Xavier's eulogy to finish the service. Furious that Quicksilver would blow their cover like that, Magneto vows to punish his wayward subordinate and then destroy the X-Men once and for all.

With the funeral service over, the X-Men return to the mansion and change into their X-Men uniforms before playing a tape of the Professors' final will. In the video, Xavier explains that he was dying of a terminal disease that medical science could not possibly cure, and asks the X-Men to carry on now that he is gone. He also explains to the X-Men that he has trained Jean in the art of telepathy, and cautions them to beware of Magneto, whom he suspects will strike against the X-Men again and soon. The X-Men then watches tearfully as Xavier says his final words to them before he perished at the hands of Grotesk.

While at Magneto's citadel, the master of magnetism gloats over how his magnetic powers are stronger than ever as Quicksilver returns to the base and is reunited with the Toad and Scarlet Witch who have also rejoined Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Reunited with his sister, the two mutants lament over their departure from the Avengers, their return to the Brotherhood and the death of Charles Xavier. Their moment is interrupted when Magneto enters the room and abuses his charges, demanding Quicksilver's further loyalty in return for helping his sister regain her powers.

Magneto then turns his attentions toward a cruise ship out at sea that is carrying a computer that he needs and he uses his magnetic powers to lift the boat out of the water. Magneto is unaware that his foes the X-Men are on board and they change into costume to face him directly. Seeing his hated foes approach his base, Magneto then orders his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to help him destroy the X-Men. The X-Men are easily battered by a combination of Magneto's Brotherhood and his base’s traps. As a final salvo, Magneto turns on a device that electrifies the floor, knocking the X-Men unconscious. With his hated foes defeated, Magneto vows to destroy the X-Men once and for all.

Appearing in "I, the Iceman"

Reprint of the 1st story from
X-Men #47
(originally printed as The Warlock Wears Three Faces!)

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "I, the Iceman"

Reprint of the 1st story from
X-Men #47
(originally printed as The Warlock Wears Three Faces!)

The X-Men have been ordered to disband by the FBI. Having just left the group, Bobby and Hank have gone into New York City for a date with their girlfriends, Vera and Zelda; however, their minds are heavy with thoughts about being members of the X-Men. Vera and Zelda have Hank and Bobby take them to see the Maha Yogi, a popular hypnotist act, unaware that the Maha Yogi is really their old foe the Warlock. When the quartet attempts to get tickets for the show they find out it is all sold out. Hoping for a cancellation, the group goes to Cafe A-Go-Go until showtime. The Warlock is currently in a session with his audience and he uses his hypnotic power to make the audience his willing slaves who are to become part of a growing psychic army.

Meanwhile, at Cafe A-Go-Go, Hank and Bobby's double date is interrupted when a group of hipsters tries to pick a fight with Hank, thinking him an "uptown square". Using his ice powers, Bobby secretly douses the light so that the two mutants can use their powers to easily dispatch with the ruffians. Leaving the Cafe with the girls, they return to the theater box office and learn to their surprise that there was a cancellation and that they can enter the show.

Soon after they enter, Hank and Bobby instantly recognize the Maha as their enemy the Warlock and are able to defend themselves when the Yogi attempts to enthrall the audience. Slipping away and changing into Beast and Iceman, the two heroes confront Maha Yogi. The Maha manages to hold the two X-Men at bay with his powers and when Beast attempts to get up close with him, the Maha Yogi manages to use his hypnotic powers on him. The Beast, however, manages to fight off their effects. This distracts the Maha long enough for Bobby to use his ice powers on the theater lights causing them to explode. Trying to flee the loud noises, the Maha fires an energy bolt at Iceman, but it's deflected off an ice shield and strikes the stages pyrotechnic controls. Not only does this further confuse and distract the Maha Yogi, but the audience begins to snap out of his control and begins cheering on Beast and Iceman.

They finally defeat the Warlock when Beast trips him up in a curtain long enough for Iceman to toss in a hi-fi tape recorder cranked up to full blast. Unable to concentrate under all the racket, the Warlock surrenders and is then taken away by the authorities. Hank and Bobby slip away and change into their civilian guises once more to find that Vera and Zelda are not impressed that the boys had missed out on the night’s excitement. However, they forgive them when Bobby offers to take them to the Copa instead, and the quartet walks off into the night.

Appearing in "The Female of the Species!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
X-Men #57
(originally printed as The Sentinels Live!)

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Egyptian National Police
    • Egyptian Policemen (Unnamed)
  • NYPD
  • NBS Television Host (Unnamed)

Races and Species:

Locations:

Items:

Vehicles:

  • X-Men's Aero-Car

Synopsis for "The Female of the Species!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
X-Men #57
(originally printed as The Sentinels Live!)

New York City: Lorna Dane has settled into a new apartment and is still trying to adjust to the fact that she is a mutant with magnetic powers when she is suddenly attacked and captured by the mutant-hunting Sentinels.

While in Egypt, the X-Men attempt to calm down Cyclops' brother Alex Summers, who is horrified by the destructive force of his mutant powers, of which he fears that he has little control over. Alex explains that his powers where what destroyed the Egyptian temple that was the Living Monolith's temple, causing the Monolith to be reverted to ordinary Ahmet Abdol, a simple archeologist. When authorities arrive, the X-Men attempt to turn Abdol over to them, however, Abdol's notoriety in the area as an archeologist allows Abdol to turn the tables and demand that the police arrest Alex instead for destroying his archeological dig. When they attempt to arrest Alex, the young mutant panics and fires a plasma blast from his hands at the soldiers. The X-Men then intervenes while Alex flees into the desert. Furious over the situation, Cyclops and the other X-Men easily defeat the officers and chase after Alex in their jet-car.

The X-Men pass a cavern, unaware that is where Alex has gone to hide and lament over his unstable powers. Alex's worries are short-lived when a new menace appears, another Sentinel that easily captures the confused mutant. As the X-Men continue their search, they are alerted by Cerebro that someone had attacked Lorna Dane's apartment. Worried over his love interest, Iceman convinces Scott to allow him and Beast return to the United States and investigate Lorna's disappearance while the others continue their search for Alex in Egypt, unaware that the mastermind behind the Sentinel's resurrection is well aware of their splitting up and hopes to use it to his benefit.

Arriving in New York, Iceman and Beast search Lorna's apartment for clues, however, they are interrupted by the police who think that they are involved. Trying to escape, Beast almost falls from the apartment building to a nasty death on the pavement below when one of the officers on the scene tosses a chair at him and Bobby, knocking them both out the broken apartment window. However, Iceman manages to save them and the two mutants decide to escape to Scott's apartment and see if they can find any information about the attack on the news. They happen upon a news program where Federal Judge Robert Chalmers is denouncing mutants as a menace on national television. With him is Larry Trask, the son of Bolivar Trask the Sentinel's original creator.

Trask has appeared on the news blaming mutants for his father's death. He would go on and explain that he was present when his father built his first Sentinel before going off to College. Upon his return he was horrified to find that his father was killed during a battle between the X-Men and the Sentinels. Having kept a dossier on mutants over the years to prove his claims and with recent reports of the X-Men's battle with Egyptian authorities, he proclaims to the television audience that the mutant menace will be eliminated and that the Sentinels live again.

As Bobby and Hank watch this startling development, they are completely unaware that a Sentinel has tracked them down and is peering into Scott's apartment, poised to strike any moment. This story is continued next issue...

Notes

  • Uncanny X-Men Annual #4 would eventually reveal there was more to the story of Nightcrawler’s introduction. Prior to the events shown here, Kurt had been sworn to a blood oath by his mentally ill adopted brother Stefan Szardos that should Stefan ever become violent, Kurt would kill him rather than allow him to harm anyone else. When Stefan did go insane, Kurt reluctantly performed a mercy killing on his brother. The mob pursuing him at the start of this story had believed Kurt murdered Stefan in cold blood. (On the other hand, they were quick to assume Kurt was a malicious demon based on his physical appearance.)
  • The Canadian government's Department H eventually make good on Major Chasen's threats, first sending their agent Weapon Alpha/Vindicator to apprehend Wolverine in Uncanny X-Men #109, and then the entire Alpha Flight team after him in Uncanny X-Men #s 121 and 122.
  • Neither Sunfire's refusal to aid in the rescue mission nor his equally abrupt change of heart have ever been given an explanation.
  • Colossus's young sister, unnamed in this story, would later return to the series and become the popular character Magik.
  • The original plan for the "All-New X-Men" were to have been significantly different. The series would have continued in the giant-sized format and be published quarterly rather than as a monthly (or bi-monthly as it was initially) standard-length book. Also, the series would have combined the six original members depicted here alongside the seven new members in one team. But when sales figures for this issue indicated that it was a hit, Marvel's editorial staff were prompted to expand to series to a bi-monthly (and later monthly) schedule. A bi-monthly/monthly standard-length series however necessitated jettisoning several characters and so all the original team members (save Cyclops) as well as Sunfire were written out.
  • A subplot from the last few issues of the original X-Men series - a love triangle involving Iceman, Lorna Dane and Havok - is referenced in this issue. It's likely that had the original plan for the series gone through (involving all the original members), the storyline might have been developed further. As it was, the subplot was dropped and never mentioned again.
  • Angel's last line in this book - "...what are we gonna do with thirteen X-Men?" - was homaged in The Avengers (Vol. 3) # 3 when the Beast asks "What are we gonna do with 33 Avengers?"
  • The cover art has been homaged in:

Trivia

  • Peter Iro inked several backgrounds in this story and is not mentioned in the credits.
  • This cover has been the inspiration for many other Marvel comic covers.
  • The Banshee would have been attending the Opry at the "new" Opryland facility which opened in 1974.
  • The first story in this issue is reprinted in trade paperback.[1]

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. ↑ Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men TPB #1 - 1st story
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