The X-Men are one of Marvel's biggest titles, nay, franchises. At this point, we have the world of Spider-Man, the world of X-Men, and then everything else in Marvel. But in the 1970s, the X-Men were all but forgotten, a few of the characters making odd cameos here and there and one getting the odd short-lived title here and there like Beast in his Amazing Adventures strip. However, like with everything in Marvel, nothing's ever truly gone. In 1974, someone came forward who relaunched the X-Men and comics as a whole into a new age, the Bronze Age of comics. And that someone was not Chris Claremont but Len Wein (R.I.P.). Yes, Len Wein was the one that brought the X-Men back from cancellation alongside super-star artist David Cockrum with Giant-Size X-Men.
Unfortunately, due to other commitments, he couldn't stay on the title more than that one issue and co-plotting the next two. But his contribution and legacy live onto this day as he brought in new characters that have become mainstays and fan-favorites like Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler. After he left came the one who is now known as the greatest X-Men writer of all time, Chris Claremont. And it's easy to see why as Claremont made the X-Men epic, guiding them on adventure after adventure and taking what previous writers such as Lee and Thomas already established and elevating it. Pretty soon, the X-Men franchise went from a forgotten line to one of Marvel's biggest hits. For the rest of the 70s and a little into the 80s here, Claremont brought back the sentinels, introduced the Shi'Ar Empire, created the Hellfire Club with villains Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw along with the Canadian mutant team Alpha Flight, delivered the infamous Dark Phoenix and Days of Future Past stories that have gone down as some of the best X-Men comics in history, and revamped X-Men villains such as Magneto. Along for the ride were the great artists David Cockrum and John Byrne whose work were just as contributional as Claremont's and were a large part of the X-Men's success then.
There is no argument against the fact that Wein and Claremont saved the X-Men franchise. Their work in fact helped sustain Marvel Comics throughout the 70s. And seeing what Claremont did in the 70s and already seeing his work in the 80s, I for one cannot wait to see what happens next.
8. X-Men Vol 1 94-95: The Doomsmith Scenario
This is the story where Chris Claremont came on the title and he, alongside Len Wein, shake things up by removing all former members of the X-Men except for Cyclops, instead focusing on the newcomers and their dynamic. This was probably due to the decline in sales of the old X-Men team. Then, in a battle against Count Nefaria and the Ani-Men, one of the new X-Men, Thunderbird, dies. This was because Len Wein wanted to show that this new team operated under deadlier circumstances and that this was a book where anything could happen. These ideas could have failed easily as fans may not have wanted to read about brand new characters, especially ones that died so early on, but thanks to Len Wein and Chris Claremont threshing out each character, making each one of them unique and interesting, as well as their high stakes storytelling, this comic stands and helped propel the ongoing series forward from here.
7. X-Men Vol 1 120-121: Wanted: Wolverine! Dead or Alive!
The introduction to Canadian superhero team Alpha Flight, Claremont continues his penchant for world-building as he brings in more mutants to this new age of X-Men. After hard-fought battles, the X-Men are at last heading home when they are waylaid in Canada by the other mutant team searching for Wolverine to bring him back. One thing, he doesn’t want to go back. And his new teammates don’t want to let him go, leading to a brawl across the city between the different mutant heroes that showcases the new characters quite nicely, fleshes out Wolverine’s backstory a little more, and also shows off Storm as one of the most powerful X-Men. Claremont’s writing and John Byrne’s fantastic artwork shine through and propel this story into one of the best.
6. Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 150: I, Magneto…
For most of the X-Men’s history up until this moment, while still their greatest enemy, Magneto has never felt more than the typical two-dimensional villain who wants to take over the world. Here, in the special 150th issue, Claremont takes Magneto and shakes him up, opening the door to his psyche and giving a glimpse as to who he really is, a victim of the hatred and bigotry towards mutants and thus a monster created from it. His world takeover plan in the story is basic but his subsequent battle for the X-Men is as epic as ever, proving why he is their greatest enemy here. But he also still has his humanity, proven in his fierce fight with the young Kitty Pryde. Claremont draws the curtain back on the type of person Magneto is, proving again how suited he is to the world of X-Men.
5. X-Men Vol 1 98-100: The Sentinels Have Returned
Not that long after relaunching the X-Men series, Claremont and Cockrum were tasked with crafting a big event story for the 100th issue due to marketing. So, they decided to bring back the Sentinels as villains, forcing this new team against one of the old team’s greatest foes as the mutant-hunters track down each mutant, leading to an epic battle in an orbiting space station and helped propel the mutant-hatred stories far better than any previous writer had. This was also the story where Claremont and Cockrum’s style of world-building and foreshadowing comes into play as this story helps set up their infamous Dark Phoenix Saga as Jean Grey comes into contact with the Phoenix Force to save the team, even if that isn’t revealed yet. Claremont instantly showed with this story why X-Men quickly became a best-selling series with his expert writing alongside Cockrum’s dramatic art styles.
4. X-Men Vol 1 104-108: Armageddon Now
The payoff to the build-up of Professor X’s visions over several issues as well as another example of Claremont’s world-building style, this story introduces central characters to the X-Men and Marvel mythos of Lady Lilandra and the entire Shi’ar Empire as well as the Starjammers led by Cyclops’s father Corsair. Beginning with the mystery of Erik the Red involving Magneto, Firelord, as well as previous storylines, the story quickly expands to a star-spanning adventure as the X-Men journey to another planet and are involved in royal politics as they try and protect Lilandra from her brother as well as the Shi’ar Royal Guard. Lilandra’s brother attemps to utilize the power of an M’Kraan Crystal which could mean universal destruction and it’s only Jean Grey who can hold it back. It’s here that John Byrne’s art is on full display with panels filled with stunning use of colors and styles that have to be seen to be believed. Truly stunning work.
3. Giant-Sized X-Men Vol 1 1: Second Genesis
The X-Men line had been canceled some years prior with the comic replaced with reprints. Here, Len Wein and Dave Cockrum brought them back with one mega-sized issue and introduced a whole plethora of new characters that soon became fan favorites such as Wolverine (brought from the Hulk comic), Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus alongside Banshee and Thunderbird as well. The original team went missing on a mission, so Professor X sends this new team to try and find the other X-Men. This leads to them a mysterious island which turns out is a mutant itself named Krakoa (which became extremely important to modern day comics), leading to a battle against an island itself, Cockrum’s art flying off the pages. With one single issue, Marvel makes the X-Men prominent again as well as bringing in a variety of new, interesting characters that give the team a more worldly and diverse feel as mutants come from all places so it makes sense that X-Men would be the same, each one coming from a different country. After this, the X-Men comics only got stronger and the rest is history.
2. X-Men Vol 1 141, Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 142: Days of Future Past
This story has always showed up on lists of the greatest X-Men stories and it’s easy to see why. In a dystopian future, the Sentinels have taken over, hunting mutants and enslaving them or killing them. With few options remaining, the survivors form a plan to send Kitty Pryde back in time to stop this future from ever coming true leading to a showdown between the X-Men and the reformed Brotherhood of Evil Mutants over the life of mutant-hating Senator Robert Kelly. The reason this story works is the stakes as Claremont doesn’t abandon the dystopian future but continues that storyline alongside the present one, making it feel that much more likely to happen. John Byrne’s artwork is fantastic as always, making each moment as poignant as possible. The X-Men have always walked the line of trying to prevail in a world that hates them against people like them, confronted on all sides and feeling like they’re fighting a losing battle and nowhere is that no more prominent than here. But what makes them X-Men is their resolve to keep going, making this one of the best X-Men stories ever.
1. X-Men Vol 1 129-138: The Dark Phoenix Saga
This story is considered to be the greatest story in X-Men history by many, and it’s not hard to figure out why. Claremont had been building up the Phoenix power for a while, with Jean Grey increasingly getting more and more powerful, and this story finally showcases just how powerful she is. Starting off with the introduction to two new mutants, Kitty Pryde and Dazzler who would go on to be important figures in mutant history, the X-Men then are forced to do battle with the Hellfire Club who become both prominent allies and enemies over the years, especially Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw. After easily being beaten in the first round, Wolverine manages to escape and come back with a vengeance that presents how brutal he can be, leading to round two with the villains. Both fights are truly epic, John Byrne’s artwork just flying off the pages. But all of that is just the build-up as in trying to control Jean, the Hellfire Club accidentally lets her loose and the Dark Phoenix takes over, instantly taking everyone out. Then, in order to become more powerful, she heads to the cosmos and devours a sun, killing 5 billion people in the process. This leads to two battles, one with her friends as they try to save her, and one with the Shi’Ar Royal Guard as they try to take her out and end the Phoenix’s threat. Both are packed with emotion as the X-Men, especially Scott, desperately try to save Jean but it ends in tragedy as she chooses to take her own life to make sure the Dark Phoenix can threaten no one again. Of course, all of this is later retconned, but as it was, it was still a devastating and powerful story. Claremont really proved himself, alongside John Byrne, as the greatest writer for the X-Men line with this story and it was just the beginning for him.
And that's it for the X-Men. A great start to one of the greatest comic book runs in history, I'm told. As I've said, I've already read a good part of Claremont's 80s stories but there's more to come that I'll dive into next time.
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