Featuring: X-Men
Release: June 2, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Edited in ecstacy by Stan Lee
Written in rapture by Roy Thomas
Drawn in delight by Werner Roth
Delineated in depth by Dick Ayers
Lettered in a lawn-chair by Artie Simek
20 pages
| Previous | #529 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| POSTLUDE | Marvels #3 | |
| X-Men #22 | Reading order | Daredevil #18 |
| X-Men #22 | X-Men | X-Men #24 |
It is only in this form, in which I have no solid substance, that I can know anything like the thrill of walking again!
Werner Roth had been referring to himself as “Jay Gavin” these last several issues. But now he’s ready to use his real name in the credits.
We pick up where last issue left off, with the X-Men prisoners of Count Nefaria and the new Maggia, with lieutenants picked from an assortment of titles.
Now Nefaria executes his plan, holding Washington DC hostage, blackmailing America, and framing the X-Men.
I wonder if that might be Senator Byrd? The art isn’t quite clear enough. Not enough evidence either way. Standard internet sources seem to think it isn’t.
That General and Colonel though I think we have seen before. We met them in X-Men #2. The Colonel’s name is Hendershoot; we’ve never learned the General’s name. This issue notes the General had consulted with Xavier on the Sentinels matter. That dialogue makes it clear he’s the same General we met in X-Men #17. Some sources suggest it’s the same General seen in Fantastic Four #3.
We get a nice moment for Xavier. Last issue, he’d been despondent about his wheelchair-bound status. But when he projects his consciousness into an astral form, he feels like he’s walking again.
For once, the mob has a good reason for turning on the X-Men. As far as they know, the X-Men are behind the plot to capture DC.
We see Xavier actually walking again, using technology.
Making his comments about only being able to walk in his astral form seem less poetic.
The X-Men save the day.
But it’s not clear to me they clear their names. Does the public still think they tried to capture DC? Also, does the public still think they are behind Blob and Unus’ crimes in the previous arc?
Jean receives a letter. She must leave the X-Men… forever!
Scott left the X-Men last issue, but he seems to be back now.
Next issue, we meet the Locust. This will be Thomas’ first attempt to create a new super-villain with Roth. Spoiler: he will not go on to become one of their iconic villains like Magneto.
This was the last story we needed to read to understand all the references in Marvels #3, which is up next!
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 52/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: X-Men vol. 3.
Characters:
- Count Nefaria
- Iceman
- Marvel Girl
- Angel
- Beast
- Cyclops
- General who consults with Xavier on occasion
- Colonel Hendershoot
- Professor X
- Porcupine
- Unicorn
- Plantman
- Eel
- Scarecrow
Story notes:
- Nefaria plans to steal nation’s capital.
- Nefaria offers X-Men chance to join him. Heplans to blame the X-Men for his plot either way.
- Solid crystalline dome forms around DC.
- Pneumatic drill can cut diamond, but not the dome. Dynamite ineffective against dome.
- Fake X-Men demand 100 million dollars to release dome, or else will absorb all oxygen in city. Given 3 hours.
- Professor X perfecting new invention that needs undivided attention.
- Jean forces manacle off Cyclops’ eyes, freeing his beam
- Professor X unable to telepathically contact students.
- Prisoner of Zenda reference.
- Senate votes for special appropriation, agreeing to Nefaria’s terms.
- X-Men sent into city in milk truck.
- Count Nefaria initiates Plan “C”.
- All Nefaria’s lieutenants plot betrayal. Unicorn provisional leader.
- General Fredericks had consulted Xavier about Sentinels, and now seeks his help again as an acknowledged expert on mutants.
- Soldiers observe X-Men pass Point “Y”.
- X-Men to be paid in special large-denomination certificates redeemable in gold anywhere in the world.
- Scarecrow attacks with crows; Porcupine with tear gas; the Eel with electrical blasts; Unicorn with his blast; Plantman with trees.
- Cyclops and Unicorn’s blasts meet a stalemate
- Porcupine attacks Beast with liquid cement.
- Unicorn turns on other villains, who had turned on Nefaria.
- The General orders X-Men shot on sight.
- Unicorn encounters illusionary army made by Nefaria… then real one.
- Count Nefaria’s small European nation will become the center of the new Maggia.
- Xavier walks with lightweight flexible metal braces. Can be operated for several hours at a time with transitorized power source.
- Professor X created illusion of briefcase to fool Count. Count and Unicorn argue over nothing.
- Next issue… the Locust!
| Previous | #529 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| POSTLUDE | Marvels #3 | |
| X-Men #22 | Reading order | Daredevil #18 |
| X-Men #22 | X-Men | X-Men #24 |
I find it interesting that the very starting point for Chris Claremont’s legendary run on the X-Men was… bringing back Count Nefaria, this time with the Ani-Men as henchmen.
Good point on the Claremont parallels. That story does seem to owe something to this one, which is only Thomas’ second arc. It definitely owed something as it was Thomas who decided Nefaria could also be an X-Men villain.
Random teams of second tier characters are one of my favorite tropes so I enjoyed this one! It gets dicey from here for a while in X land, though….
I think what interests me is the question of when these became second tier characters. None of them were introduced to be. The Unicorn or Scarecrow were meant to be major Iron Man villains. But I think maybe in writing this issue, Thomas established them as second tier villains.