Issue(s): Uncanny X-Men #1
Published Date: Sep 63
Title: "X-Men"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Jack Kirby - Penciler
Jack Kirby - Inker

Review/plot:
In the same month that Stan and Jack created the Avengers by combining a number of their existing super-heroes, they also created a second super-hero team consisting of six all new super-heroes (counting Professor X). In his typical self-depreciating way, Stan Lee has said that he inventing the concept of "mutants" so that he wouldn't have to think up an origin for each of these characters. But the mutant concept itself will turn out to be at least as significant as the characters introduced here.

Jean Grey serves as the initial point of view character her, joining Professor Xavier's secret school/army of mutants (later retcons will reveal that Jean was Xavier's first recruit, and she's only returning here to meet and join the team), and then they fight off Magneto who is trying to take over an army base.

Where is Iceman sliding from in that picture above?

Random observations:

• The Beast is not yet talking like Stan Lee's idea of an intellectual.

• The X-Men have to practice receiving telepathic thoughts from Xavier.
  
• Even at this point the (unnamed) Danger Room is pretty elaborate.
  

• Scott "Slim" Summers should not be allowed to dress himself.
  

• For those pushing the "Iceman is gay" theory: he's the only boy who has no interest in checking out Jean.
  
• Professor X has a plane that he can control by thought.
  
• Iceman can throw ice grenades. "Just as the hunter missiles are attracted by heat, so are the Iceman's ice grenades attracted by the missiles' speed". I have no idea what that means.
  

    

    

Magneto of course is an extremely significant new villain. He'll be used to excess in these earlier issues.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 10 - first X-Men, first Magneto

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: X-Men: The Early Years #1

Professor X is completely obsessed with time and tardiness. he keeps shouting times at them.

"You have exactly a second and a half! Go!"

"You have exactly three seconds! Go!"

"Report to my study immediately...You have fifteen seconds!"

it's interesting that at the end of this, the general thanks them and says "the name X-Men will be the most honored in my command". i'm used to mutants being reviled and people treating the X-Men like criminals. but considering the acceptance Thor, Iron Man, and the FF have received from the public, why shouldn't the X-Men be accepted, as well?

Min, considering the importance of the "mutants are feared and hated" theme to the entire X-Men story, your question is not just to the point, it reveals a gigantic plot hole. If Stan and Jack had it all to do over again, I think they'd have left the mutants, at least, OUT of their shared universe and put them in a universe of their own. They'd have the public fearing mutants enough to create sentinels by issue 15 or so. But it never did make sense. Why love Avengers and Spider-Men (everyone but JJJ loves Spidey) and Fantastic Foursomes but hate mutants? Did the Beast and the Scarlet Witch suddenly become beloved when they went from the X-Men/Brotherhood to the Avengers? They must've, by Marvel logic. So it's a huge plot hole.

Mags really is one of the first "super" supervillains, isn't he? Spider-Man has fought a few, but most other Marvel heroes up to now have gone against gods, monsters, mad scientists, aliens, gangsters, and terrorists. And carnies, of course. There have been costumed criminals, but most haven't had powers, they've used paste-guns (Paste-Pot Pete) or, uh, specially lubricated costumes (the Eel).

Mags isn't the first costumed baddie with permanent powers, but he must be one of Mavel's first dozen or so. He's a star aborning despite his generic megalomaniac personality.