Marvel Comics Library. X-Men. Vol. 1. 1963-1966

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created The X-Men, a team of misfits with "X-tra" powers, to protect the world from menaces, mutant and otherwise. This XXL-sized edition features the first 21 stories of the beloved oddball super heroes from 1963–1966, reproduced in close collaboration with Marvel and the Certified Guaranty Company. It also includes an original foreword by Chris Claremont and an in-depth essay by X-Men writer Fabian Nicieza, along with original art, photographs, and memorabilia from the early years of X.

Format: Hardback
Length: 666 pages
Publication date: 18 June 2023
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

When Marvel publisher Martin Goodman asked Stan Lee to deliver another new team book for his line of comics, he had no idea he'd be getting something like The X-Men. In fact, nobody could have imagined the extraordinary phenomenon the X-Men would eventually grow into—not Goodman, not Lee, not even the forward-thinking futurist Jack Kirby. What they started out as was a charming, ragtag team of misfits, devised by Lee and Kirby to be mutants—youngsters born with "X-tra" powers thrust upon them not by accidentally crossing paths with cosmic rays or a nuclear blast, but by the fate of birth—led by a no-nonsense professor who trained them to become heroes that could protect the world from menaces, mutant and otherwise.

The first years of storytelling laid the foundation for much of what has put the X-Men at the crossroads of comics and popular culture:

Hounded by a public that fears and misunderstands them, mutantkind finds themselves at the heart of their own civil rights struggle; Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, and Iceman found safety amongst themselves despite the challenges that set them apart from others in society; and Professor Xavier lined up against his ideological foe, Magneto, who had assembled a Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to take the fight for their self-preservation directly to humankind.

Along the way, Lee and Kirby—who were on fire taking comics into the Marvel Age—introduced a menagerie of villains and supporting characters that would become mainstays of Marvel and its lore:

The super-powered siblings Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch; the formidable Blob; the unstoppable Juggernaut; the jungle dweller from the Savage Land, Ka-Zar; the demigod from the stars, the Stranger; and Bolivar Trask and his army of mutant-hunting Sentinels.

And as Lee and Kirby gave way to other creative teams, the X-Men continued to evolve and grow, becoming one of the most iconic and beloved franchises in comic book history.

Today, the X-Men are known for their diverse cast of characters, their complex storylines, and their exploration of themes of identity, discrimination, and social justice. They have been adapted into movies, TV shows, video games, and more, and their impact on popular culture cannot be overstated.

In conclusion, the X-Men are a testament to the power of imagination and the impact of storytelling. They started out as a simple idea, but grew into a phenomenon that has captured the hearts and minds of millions of fans around the world. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the world of comics, the X-Men are a franchise that is worth exploring and celebrating.

Weight: 4666g
Dimension: 395 x 280 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836591553