Marvel Read-Through: X-Men: First Run (Part 1)

Did you know that the ‘X’ in ‘X-Men’ doesn’t come from their founder/teacher/leader/mentor’s name Charles Xavier AKA Professor X but rather from the fact that mutants all have an extra power? I didn’t either until I read this explanation in X-Men #1 just a few days ago, and I’m kind of ashamed as such a big Marvel fan. Unfortunately, other than that bit of trivia, there isn’t much to take away from the first chunk of the original X-Men run in the 60s.

The X-Men were not the powerhouse they are now back when they were first published, in fact they really didn’t become the major attraction we know until 1975, and I’ve always wondered why. But now I know. The original run isn’t particularly anything special. It wasn’t necessarily bad, I’ve read way worse comics, but it wasn’t the standout that almost all the other Marvel comics of this era are. Especially for the first few issues I read, something just wasn’t clicking about the original X-Men. It’s tough to pinpoint exactly why, the art was definitely not at fault and the characters are new and very different from the other superheroes of the era, but it felt like the Marvel creative team just didn’t hit their usual standards with this one.

The art, especially the iconic blue-and-gold suits, was a high point for me

I think one of the main issues I had with the beginning of the X-Men is that the whole anti-mutant sentiment of the general population was missing until issue #14. Before that it was just a group of teenage superheroes and their wise leader who have banded together to protect humanity from evil mutants; it was lacking the allegory that is the crux of the success of X-Men. I enjoyed reading the early stories of some of the most complex and iconic characters of the Marvel universe, but it came off as a real B-team when the X-Men are supposed to be, or at least have been since 1975, arguably Marvel’s number one team. The series really seemed to be finding its footing in those first few issues I read, the characterization was slightly off for a few of the characters particularly Beast and Magneto, which is where I think my modern experience with and knowledge of Marvel is a detriment to trying to enjoy the very early stories. Magneto was generically evil and I am excited to explore his Holocaust origins and see him as one of the greatest villains of all time since his appearances for now were not anything special. Other than that, I did enjoy the villains including Blob, Toad, and Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch (and their eventual turn to heroes), but especially Juggernaut and Bolivar Trask.

Beast was a second-rate version of the Thing in a couple of issues before he became the super-genius that defines his character

Speaking of Bolivar Trask, the three-issue arc involving him and his mutant-hunting Sentinels was easily the highlight of my readings. Coming off the spectacular two-issue Juggernaut arc, I was not expecting the first appearance of Sentinels to be as defining and engaging as it was. In fact, this was the most defining of anything else I read since it was also the first appearance of anti-mutant hatred, and it only took until issue #14! Introducing this important aspect of the X-Men elevated the comics to a much higher level than the previous issues. It was infinitely more interesting for the X-Men to deal with bigotry than seeing them fight evil-for-the-sake-of-evil Magneto or the jerk-for-the-sake-of-being-a-jerk Blob, and I have a good feeling that this will be the beginning of more interesting 1960s X-Men stories I plan on reading.

For one whole panel, Professor X was in love with Jean Grey and it was the strangest and most unsettling thing

Knowing their history, I was prepared for the first run of the X-Men to be underwhelming, and it really was especially until issue #12’s introduction of Juggernaut and issue #14’s introduction of anti-mutant hate. I’m very excited for 1975’s X-Men reboot that turns them into the X-Men we know today. I love these characters and don’t want to see them fall short of the potential and greatness I know they have.

Come back next time for more introductions of important characters!

Way to spoil the whole issue on page 1

Issues read:

X-Men #1, #3–4, #7, #10–16

Favorite issue: #14 for its introduction of the defining trait of X-Men comics