@xmenliveblog.bsky.social
A dedicated account for my project to read every single X-Men comic book released in publication order. Run by diemtf.bsky.social
It's a real shame that Stan inexplicably feels the need to tie this all back to the weaksauce villain Lucifer (maybe he just really liked the name) because this is appropriately epic and exciting stuff diluted by the very distracting retcon.
January 3, 2025 at 2:31 AM
It's a real shame that Stan inexplicably feels the need to tie this all back to the weaksauce villain Lucifer (maybe he just really liked the name) because this is appropriately epic and exciting stuff diluted by the very distracting retcon.
And yeah, nowadays it's a bit shaky that a white American leads the locals in rebellion however psychic he is, but Stan seems to shine a little more when he's writing this adventure comic stuff instead of superheroics.
January 3, 2025 at 2:28 AM
And yeah, nowadays it's a bit shaky that a white American leads the locals in rebellion however psychic he is, but Stan seems to shine a little more when he's writing this adventure comic stuff instead of superheroics.
Xavier tells in flashback of how he first met Lucifer when the alien (yes, he already knew he was an alien despite what issue 9 said) had hypnotically taken over a village in Tibet.
January 3, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Xavier tells in flashback of how he first met Lucifer when the alien (yes, he already knew he was an alien despite what issue 9 said) had hypnotically taken over a village in Tibet.
Cyclops once again beats someone invincible by shooting the floor under their feet, this time with Unus and Blob landing on a speeding subway train. Meanwhile Lucifer (whose powers and purpose stagger the mortal imagination) messes up Xavier.
January 3, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Cyclops once again beats someone invincible by shooting the floor under their feet, this time with Unus and Blob landing on a speeding subway train. Meanwhile Lucifer (whose powers and purpose stagger the mortal imagination) messes up Xavier.
It's also pretty great that Lucifer is just standing around jabbering to himself about how smart he is. I hope that Marvel eventually reimagined this guy as a billionaire with a ton of sockpuppets.
January 3, 2025 at 2:17 AM
It's also pretty great that Lucifer is just standing around jabbering to himself about how smart he is. I hope that Marvel eventually reimagined this guy as a billionaire with a ton of sockpuppets.
Lucifer (remember him?) claims to have planted the idea of Unus and Blob teaming up in their minds but honestly it seems like they were both into it anyway? Them both immediately pretending Scott is their buddy is a legitimately funny bit.
January 3, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Lucifer (remember him?) claims to have planted the idea of Unus and Blob teaming up in their minds but honestly it seems like they were both into it anyway? Them both immediately pretending Scott is their buddy is a legitimately funny bit.
It's kind of weird how Xavier has gone from ridiculously authoritarian in the first few issues to barely paying attention to one of his students just peacing out. Meanwhile, the X-Men's policy of just kind of letting their foes wander off: not very effective?!?
January 3, 2025 at 2:10 AM
It's kind of weird how Xavier has gone from ridiculously authoritarian in the first few issues to barely paying attention to one of his students just peacing out. Meanwhile, the X-Men's policy of just kind of letting their foes wander off: not very effective?!?
Scott whining about how his awesome eye lasers make him unworthy to be with Jean has been simmering for years in real time but it finally boils over here. Spoiler alert for anywhere who hasn't seen any X-Men media ever: this won't stick.
January 3, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Scott whining about how his awesome eye lasers make him unworthy to be with Jean has been simmering for years in real time but it finally boils over here. Spoiler alert for anywhere who hasn't seen any X-Men media ever: this won't stick.
If I was only 20 issues in and I had used impervious villains as often as this comic did, I wouldn't draw this much attention to it.
January 3, 2025 at 2:01 AM
If I was only 20 issues in and I had used impervious villains as often as this comic did, I wouldn't draw this much attention to it.
Issue 20! This is the final issue written by Stan Lee (though his fingerprints will be visible over the comic for a while) and I'll have some things to say about that.
January 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Issue 20! This is the final issue written by Stan Lee (though his fingerprints will be visible over the comic for a while) and I'll have some things to say about that.
Mimic successfully lures the X-Men to where his dad's machine was and takes Xavier hostage, but it turns out the machine was a power remover after all. And Xavier planned it all along. It's a pretty goddamn weak ending to an issue that had potential.
January 3, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Mimic successfully lures the X-Men to where his dad's machine was and takes Xavier hostage, but it turns out the machine was a power remover after all. And Xavier planned it all along. It's a pretty goddamn weak ending to an issue that had potential.
Despite having instant mastery of all his powers, and an immunity to Xavier's usual mindwipery, Calvin still gets defeated by the X-Men because they can work as a team and, well, because it's six-on-one.
January 3, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Despite having instant mastery of all his powers, and an immunity to Xavier's usual mindwipery, Calvin still gets defeated by the X-Men because they can work as a team and, well, because it's six-on-one.
Calvin claims to want to join the X-Men but in truth it's because he wants to be strong and can only use other people's powers when he's near them. Weirdly he's able to contain Scott's eye blasts despite only wearing normal sunglasses.
January 3, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Calvin claims to want to join the X-Men but in truth it's because he wants to be strong and can only use other people's powers when he's near them. Weirdly he's able to contain Scott's eye blasts despite only wearing normal sunglasses.
At least in this case the date has a point as it gives Calvin, the Mimic, an excuse to be a jealous dick. He beats up Hank and Bobby with their own powers but in a pretty good twist, gets chased off by an anti-mutant mob.
January 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
At least in this case the date has a point as it gives Calvin, the Mimic, an excuse to be a jealous dick. He beats up Hank and Bobby with their own powers but in a pretty good twist, gets chased off by an anti-mutant mob.
A lot of the early issues wasted a few pages each with the X-Men in the Danger Room bitching at each other but it's been a while so I'll allow it here. Another recurring bit starts here with Bobby and Hank (who is still the absolute worst) going on double dates.
January 3, 2025 at 12:26 AM
A lot of the early issues wasted a few pages each with the X-Men in the Danger Room bitching at each other but it's been a while so I'll allow it here. Another recurring bit starts here with Bobby and Hank (who is still the absolute worst) going on double dates.
Issue 19! The Mimic is a pretty interesting character (perhaps better known for the Exiles comic) and it's interesting to see him as early as this.
January 3, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Issue 19! The Mimic is a pretty interesting character (perhaps better known for the Exiles comic) and it's interesting to see him as early as this.
It's pretty much standard practice at this point that the X-Men can't actually do anything without outside help, so Xavier calls an unfathomable being who loves kidnapping/transmogrifying mutants to Earth.
January 3, 2025 at 12:17 AM
It's pretty much standard practice at this point that the X-Men can't actually do anything without outside help, so Xavier calls an unfathomable being who loves kidnapping/transmogrifying mutants to Earth.
The other X-Men, consisting of a super genius, the "most powerful brain on the planet", a girl with telekinesis, a guy with laser eyes and a dude who can fly finally mangle to puzzle their way out of a hot air balloon.
January 3, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The other X-Men, consisting of a super genius, the "most powerful brain on the planet", a girl with telekinesis, a guy with laser eyes and a dude who can fly finally mangle to puzzle their way out of a hot air balloon.
Speaking of really stupid plot devices, all-powerful alien being The Stranger left Magneto unattended except for a limitless number of spaceships made of metal. I do sincerely enjoy Magneto being an incredible dick to Toad for no reason other than for the hell of it.
January 3, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Speaking of really stupid plot devices, all-powerful alien being The Stranger left Magneto unattended except for a limitless number of spaceships made of metal. I do sincerely enjoy Magneto being an incredible dick to Toad for no reason other than for the hell of it.
I'm not convinced Stan Lee knows what a "Counter ego" is either. At least artist Werner Roth (under the psuedonym Jay Gavin) gives us some amazing gurning.
January 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I'm not convinced Stan Lee knows what a "Counter ego" is either. At least artist Werner Roth (under the psuedonym Jay Gavin) gives us some amazing gurning.
Like, for example, his sudden bullshit hypnosis power explained away by "magnetic attraction"
January 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Like, for example, his sudden bullshit hypnosis power explained away by "magnetic attraction"
Magneto is the least threatening of the recurring villains, partly because of being so overused, but partly because he keeps getting new bullshit powers and using them in stupid ways. Such as the ability to safely lift an entire building then immediately change his mind and put it back.
January 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Magneto is the least threatening of the recurring villains, partly because of being so overused, but partly because he keeps getting new bullshit powers and using them in stupid ways. Such as the ability to safely lift an entire building then immediately change his mind and put it back.
Issue 18! I'll be glad when the X-Men get more varied outfits, because the default balaclava that makes them look like they don't have ears isn't great.
January 2, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Issue 18! I'll be glad when the X-Men get more varied outfits, because the default balaclava that makes them look like they don't have ears isn't great.
Of course it's Magneto. This could have been an amazingly tense issue, a kind of reverse of #12 with the heroes being picked off one by one in their own home. But the daft methods and the drama-killing wordiness turn it into superhero Home Alone.
December 30, 2024 at 6:21 AM
Of course it's Magneto. This could have been an amazingly tense issue, a kind of reverse of #12 with the heroes being picked off one by one in their own home. But the daft methods and the drama-killing wordiness turn it into superhero Home Alone.
The intruder traps the X-Men besides a still-hospitalized Bobby in a steel ball attached to a balloon. Just shoot them! I have a gun in my room! Oh, and then Warren's parents show up.
December 30, 2024 at 6:18 AM
The intruder traps the X-Men besides a still-hospitalized Bobby in a steel ball attached to a balloon. Just shoot them! I have a gun in my room! Oh, and then Warren's parents show up.