X-Men #7

Featuring: X-Men
Release: July 2, 1964
Cover: September 1964
12 cents
Written with all the spell-binding skill of: Stan Lee
Drawn with all the titanic talent of: Jack Kirby
Inked with all the vibrant verve of: Chic Stone
Lettered with all the words spelled right by: Art Simek
22 pages

The time has come for the next chapter in the history of the X-Men. The series began with the premise that the X-Men were students of an unusual school. We saw two issues back that they passed their final exam. Now, it’s graduation day.

We just saw Johnny celebrate his spring break. And we are almost a year (in publication time) away from Peter’s graduation. It’s possible the publication dates poorly reflect when this story is set within the Marvel Universe, but it’s also possible this unique private school does things its own way, and has a much earlier graduation date than the regular schools attended by Peter Parker and Johnny Storm.

It’s odd that Iceman is graduating with the rest given that he’s a couple years younger than them. Maybe he’s gifted. Or maybe it’s just a really weird school.

Professor X announces he will be taking an extended leave of absence.

Cyclops is named the leader of X-Men in his absence. We are introduced to a machine called Cerebro, which can be used to locate mutants. Professor X has no need for it given his natural telepathic abilities, but it will allow Cyclops to find mutants in Xavier’s absence.

In discussing who is the right leader, there is discussion of the various character traits of the X-Men. Beast’s scholarly attributes are noted and Angel is described as aggressive (in a positive sense). Apparently, neither Bobby nor Jean are seriously considered, likely because they are respectively the youngest and a girl.

Also of note, Cyclops reflects on how afraid of his own powers he is. He does not wish to be a mutant and is looking for a cure. Themes of a mutant cure will come up over the decades and even in the films.

Cyclops can be somewhat cold, and his new leadership position will make him even moreso. Angel notes it’s obvious to everyone that Jean is in love with Scott… to everyone but Scott. Stan writes almost all his romances basically the same way. The girl is unabashedly in love with our hero, who can be cold and stoic, and have rationalizations why they cannot be together.

Bobby takes the team to a happening coffee shop. Cyclops stays behind. This will not be our last visit to the Bohemian hangout. A poet is reading a shopping list: avant garde poetry. Hank’s giant feet gain unwanted attention and he unwittingly founds the Barefoot Beatnik movement. Bobby flirts with Zelda. He made a big deal in the first issue about not being interested in girls. His attitude has evolved.

Magneto finds Blob at the carnival. In attempting to probe Blob’s brain, Magneto is stymied by the mental block Professor X had put there. It seems clear Professor X is a more powerful telepath than Magneto.

A physical altercation shakes Blob free of his mental blocks. A siren immediately goes off at the mansion. It’s not clear how it works, but it seems to be a chart of the enemies they have fought; Blob’s name lights up.

Recall when last we saw the Blob, he wasn’t really in the wrong. He was labeled a villain by the X-Men simply because he refused to join them. They then wiped his memory of the encounter. Now that his memory gets restored, it makes sense he’d be miffed at the X-Men. I remain on Blob’s side of this argument.

This all leads to a big battle. I’ll focus on two details.

Magneto ends up retreating, but he has gained valuable information. He knows Xavier had not been present physically or mentally. Had Professor X been telepathically helping the team, Magneto would have sensed his brain waves because of his own telepathic ability.

Magneto was willing to kill his own ally Blob in order to defeat the X-Men. This obviously upsets Blob, but also upsets Wanda greatly. Cyclops and Angel both note that Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver don’t really seem evil.

Rating: ★★★☆☆, 52/100
Significance: ★★★★☆

I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men vol. 1. You can also find this story in X-Men Epic Collection vol. 1: Children of the Atom. Or on Kindle.

Characters:

• Blob
• Magneto
• Professor X
• Iceman/Bobby Drake
• Cyclops/Scott Summers
• Angel/Warren Worthington III
• Beast/Hank McCoy
• Marvel Girl/Jean Grey
• Scarlet Witch
• Mastermind
• Quicksilver
• Toad
• Bernard
• Zelda

Story notes:

• Graduation Day for the X-Men.
• Jean seems to have no difficulty telekinetically lifting Professor X.
• Professor X notes they must hide their mutant identities, for the ordinary humans are not yet ready to accept them.
• Scarlet Witch rebuffs Mastermind’s proposal of an alliance.
• Introduces Cerebro (complex ESP machine); named after latin word “cerebrum”; aids in detecting new mutant brain waves.
• Cerebro had been kept in part of mansion off-limits to the X-Men. Professor X shows it to Cyclops; it remains a secret to the rest of the X-Men.
• Professor X doesn’t need Cerebro, but Cyclops can use it to find new mutants.
• Bobby leads team to coffee shop in Greenwich Village. Zelda is a waitress. Bernard is a poet.
• Magneto causes pipes to send segment of ground beneath Blob flying. Blob can’t be moved, but the ground can be.
• Blob shaken free of mental blocks, recalls his battle with the X-Men, and decides to join Magneto.
• As soon as Blob’s memory returns, a siren goes off at the mansion.
• Classical busts line mansion hallway.
• X-Men arrive in helicopter, which is destroyed in battle.
• Magneto tries to finish off the X-Men with torpedos, not caring his own ally Blob is in the way; this outrages Wanda.
• Magneto’s vehicle is called the “magna-car”.

#243 story in reading order
Next: Avengers #8
Previous: Tales to Astonish #60, Story B