Issue(s): Uncanny X-Men #66
Cover Date: Mar 70
Title: "The mutants and the monster"
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
Sal Buscema - Penciler
Sam Grainger - Inker

Review/plot:
The final issue of the original run of X-Men is drawn by Sal Buscema, and features a nice fight with the Hulk in Las Vegas.

In the 80s, Buscema will draw what is probably my favorite version of the Hulk, but he's not quite there yet.

The X-Men are actually trying to get the help of Bruce Banner since Banner and Xavier had previously worked out the design of a device for the gamma-ray treatment of mental exhaustion. Between the Hulk's naturally irritable nature, the X-Men's fists-first negotiating style, and the untimely arrival of Major Glenn Talbot, it takes some doing, but eventually the Hulk subconsciously leads the X-Men to to one of Banner's secret labs, where they find the device.

Xavier wakes up just in time to learn that his series has been cancelled ("And they fought happily ever after..??").

Iceman doesn't go with the X-team to fight the Hulk because Havok and Lorna stay behind to guard Xavier and Iceman therefore decides to hang around also. He doesn't seem to understand that Lorna isn't his girlfriend, or that angrily hanging around won't change that.

The X-Men learn about Baner's gamma-exhaustion device by using a mind probe on Xavier. But they make a big deal of the fact that the mind probe was one designed by Henry Pym and seen recently in the Avengers. Which is odd because the X-Men already had a device, which they used previously in X-Men #33 when Professor X was unconscious thanks to Factor Three and the Juggernaut. In any event, the device doesn't really work (thanks, Pym!), but luckily the X-Men remember that Marvel Girl actually has telepathy.

That scene and the scene at the end where Xavier is cured are opportunities for Buscema to show off his psychedelic side.

If you're gonna go out, go out with a Hulk fight. See you in five years, X-Men (aside from some random guest appearances and a Beast solo series, of course).

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The Hulk and Glenn Talbot appear here between Hulk #124-125.

References:

• Henrey Pym's mind-probe was seen in Avengers #68.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

What is the status of X-Men: The Hidden Years in your analysis?

Chris, if you're asking what's my status in terms of reviewing the issues, they're done and you should find them in the 1970 category.

If you're referring to my "see you in five years" comment, i just meant in terms of realtime publication.

Aaaand if you meant what i think the status or canonicity of the books are, other than the minor issues i pointed out in the Spider-Man/X-Men #1 entry, as far as i know it's as canon as anything else although i don't think the issues have been referenced much.

I think that covers all the bases. Let me know if i didn't answer your question! ;-)

The first Marvel character Sal Buscema ever drew was the Hulk, as Foom #8 showed when it printed his 1969 job submission sample.

Not to come off as mean-spirited (as it can be hard to tell with the typed word) but why do you have "X-Men" 1-141 listed as "Uncanny X-Men" (it wouldn't officially go by that name until issue 142)?

Similarly, I notice you list all issues of "The Incredible Hulk" as just "Hulk." Reasons?

Hi Jeff, see some of the comments on "Uncanny" X-Men #1 and She-Hulk #2-5. I'll put this in the Q&A.

That great close-up shot of telepath Jean's eyes seems based on Neal Adams's panel of the same back in X-Men #56. Sal hadn't drawn the X-Men before so it makes sense he would refer to Neal's X-Men work as a guide.

Cool, thanks for the response!

There is a brand new continuity insert that takes place shortly after the end of this issue: Savage Hulk #1-4 (2014).

I've been reading it in realtime and i'll probably add it with my next back issue add.

Historical Significance 1?

I think that the only significant this has is it leads to the "break" for the X-Men leading to their stuff in the early 70s where they were no big deal and just part of the universe at large as what happens to characters with no success on their own: Beast's solo series and joining the Avengers, the Secret Empire, Magneto's solo appearances up to and including turning into a baby...that sort of stuff. (oh and just giving enough space for Claremont to do stuff once the X-Men do return in a few years)