The X-Men
# 1-10

September 1963
The X-Men # 1: "X-Men"   
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Paul Reinman
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Synopsis:  
Professor X puts his X-Men through their specially designed training regimes. Jean Grey joins the X-Men as Marvel Girl in time to join them on their first mission. An evil mutant calling himself Magneto has seized control of a U.S. military base in Cape Citadel. The X-Men confront Magneto and they manage to drive him from the military base.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of Professor X, Magneto, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Ice Man, and Marvel Girl.
  • There is no anti-mutant sentiment and the military seemed actually happy to work with the X-Men.
The X-Men # 2: "No One Can Stop the Vanisher!"   
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Paul Reinman
Jay's Rating: JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
The FBI requests the help of the X-Men to stop the Vanisher. Unfortunately, their first encounter with the Vanisher ends in failure. However, Professor X gets involved in their next meeting and uses his mental powers to erase the Vanisher's memories, including how to use his vanishing powers.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of the Vanisher.
  • A rather friendly public opinion of the X-Men. The Angel is mobbed by a fan club of girls.
The X-Men # 3: "Beware of the Blob"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Paul Reinman
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Synopsis:
Professor X detects the presence of another mutant and dispatches the X-Men to investigate. They approach a carnival performer called the Blob and invite him back to the mansion to access his mutant powers. However, the Blob turns on the X-Men and escapes. He returns with his fellow carny folk and they lay siege to the mansion. The X-Men eventually get the upper hand and Professor X wipes the memories of the Blob and his thugs.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of the Blob.
  • Scott begins to fall for Jean, but he's too worried about controlling his power to tell her.
  • Surprisingly, Professor X seems to also be in love with Jean, but he won't tell her because he's the team's leader.
The X-Men # 4: "The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Paul Reinman
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Synopsis:
Magneto recruits Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch, Toad, and Mastermind and forms the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. They seize control of a small country called Santa Marco. The X-Men make their way to Santa Marco and confront the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is forced to abandon their plans of conquest and flee. Unfortunately, Professor X is injured and has apparently lost his mental powers.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch, Toad, and Mastermind.
The X-Men # 5: "Trapped: One X-Man!"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Paul Reinman
Jay's Rating: JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants lure the X-Men into a trap and capture the Angel. The X-Men sneak aboard Magneto's asteroid hideout and free the Angel while the Brotherhood is busy with their infights. After a brief confrontation, Magneto lets the X-Men leave. The X-Men return home to learn that Professor X was just faking the lost of his powers to see how the team would perform without him.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of the Danger Room.
  • First public display of anti-mutant sentiment, as interpreted by Xavier's bias.
The X-Men # 6: "The Sub-Mariner Joins the Evil Mutants"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Chick Stone
Jay's Rating: JJJJ
Synopsis:
Professor X and Magneto race to recruit the Sub-Mariner to their cause. Magneto beats him and tries to convince the Sub-Mariner to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The X-Men attack Magneto's secret base which prompts a disagreement between Magneto and the Sub-Mariner. Magneto escapes while Professor X calms down the Sub-Mariner who then returns to his undersea realm.

Jay's Notes:

  • The Sub-Mariner last appeared in Fantastic Four #27.
The X-Men # 7: "The Return of the Blob"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Chic Stone
Jay's Rating:
JJJJJ
Synopsis:
The X-Men graduate from Professor X's school, but he's quick to reminds them of the responsibilities that come with their powers. Professor X takes a leave of absence and appoints Cyclops as team leader. Meanwhile, Magneto meets the Blob and removes Professor X's mental blocks (see issue #3). The X-Men engage the Blob and the Brotherhood of Evil and successfully drive them off without Professor X's help.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of the mutant-detection device Cerebro.
The X-Men # 8: "Unus the Untouchable!"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Chic Stone
Jay's Rating:
JJJJJ
Synopsis: 
Frustrated by anti-mutant sentiment, the Beast decides to quit and try his hand at wrestling. He meets Unus the Untouchable, who can project and impenetrable force field around himself. His mutant powers draw Magneto's attention, but he wants to see Unus challenge the X-Men. Unus confronts the X-men and they are unable to defeat him. The X-Men return to the Mansion to find the Beast finishing work on a device that will amplify Unus' powers. They try to stop him believing that he has sided with Magneto, but he gets away and uses the device on Unus. Unus is forced to surrender because his unable to control his amplified powers. 

Jay's Notes: 

  • Iceman refines his ice form.
  • Jean and Scott torment over their love for each other, but neither can summon the strength to tell the other.
The X-Men # 9: "Enter the Avengers!"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Chic Stone
Jay's Rating:
JJJJJ
Synopsis: 
Professor X finally catches up with his nemesis Lucifer. However, Lucifer has rigged up his doomsday device to his heartbeat. Meanwhile, the X-Men arrive in Eastern Europe and must stop the Avengers, who have been tracking Lucifer's energy emissions, from reaching Lucifer. The X-Men keep the Avengers busy long enough for Professor X to subdue Lucifer without affecting his heartbeat. With Cyclops' help, Professor X defuses Lucifer's doomsday device. 

Avengers Roll Call: 

  •  Captain America, Giant Man, Iron Man, Thor, and Wasp.
The X-Men # 10: "Ka-Zar Lord of the Jungle!"  
Writer: Stan Lee  
Penciller: Jack Kirby  
Inker: Chic Stone
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis: 
A news broadcast alerts the X-Men to the existence of a mysterious jungle man in the Antarctic. They investigate and discover a tunnel that leads to the Savage Land. Unfortunately, they are attacked by swamp men and Marvel Girl is taken captive. They then meet up with Ka-Zar and join together in an effort to rescue Marvel Girl. The Angel is captured on a scouting mission. The other X-Men, Ka-Zar, and Zabu storm the swamp men's fortress and free their captured teammates. Satisfied that Ka-Zar is not a mutant, the X-Men leave the Savage Land. 

Jay's Notes: 

  • First Silver Age appearance of Ka-Zar and Zabu.
  • First appearance of the Savage Land. 
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