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- This article is about the comic book series The Uncanny X-Men. It began in 1963 as The X-Men and later was titled The Uncanny X-Men, first informally with issue #114 and later officially with issue #142. For information about the eponymous team featured in the series and its history, see X-Men or History of the X-Men comics. For information about the Australian rock band of the 1980s see Uncanny X-Men (band)
The Uncanny X-Men is a Marvel Comics series featuring an eponymous group of mutant superheroes, published from 1963 to present day.
History
It slumped in comparison to other Marvel series and many fans say it failed to find a consistent theme *. With issue #67 (January 1970), the series ceased producing new issues but continued, reprinting older stories. In 1975, Marvel revived the series with a new roster, introduced in the special Giant-Size X-Men #1. Afterwards, the series slowly gained a sizable readership. By the early 1980s, the series had become one of the best-selling series in the American comic book industry, leading to spin-offs such as The New Mutants, X-Factor, Excalibur and Wolverine while showing its influence on other superhero team series such as the Teen Titans and The Avengers.
By the early 1990s, The Uncanny X-Men was often the best-selling comic book in America for a particular month and turned many of the writers and illustrators involved in the series into industry stars
Names and relationship with X-Men, vol. 2
The Uncanny X-Men initially was titled The X-Men, with the adjective "Uncanny" first appearing on issue #114 (Oct. 1978), and the series formally changing its title to The Uncanny X-Men with #142 (Feb. 1981) *. When a new series titled simply X-Men launched in October 1991, pre-1981 issues of The Uncanny X-Men were designated by fans and historians as The X-Men Vol. 1 or, less commonly, The Uncanny X-Men.
Since the introduction of 1991 X-Men series, the plotlines of each series have intermingled to varying degrees. From 1991-1995, briefly in 1997, and from 2000 on, The Uncanny X-Men and The X-Men featured different battalions of X-Men. Appearances of an Uncanny X-Men character in X-Men or vice versa was common, but major stories featuring the characters were almost always featured in their respective monthly title.
From 1995 until 1996 (when Scott Lobdell was writing both series), and from 1998 until 2000 (when Alan Davis was writing both), Uncanny X-Men and X-Men were effectively treated as a single fortnightly series, in which plotlines from Uncanny X-Men led directly into the next issue of X-Men.
Publication schedule
After it was first launched in 1963, X-Men was published bi-monthly. Starting with issue #14 (1965), it began monthly publication but became a bi-monthly series once again with issue #67 (1970) when it ceased printing new material. Uncanny X-Men began printing new material with issue #94 (1975), but remained a bi-monthly series until issue #112 (1978).
Marvel has also occasionally published the title biweekly for short periods in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1999, and from 2002 through 2006.
Like many popular comic book series, Uncanny X-Men also produced double-sized annuals, doing so from 1971-1972 and again from 1979-2001. The annual trend has recently started up again in 2006 after the booming success of Ultimate Annuals.
Line-ups
- 001-093: Cyclops, Jean Grey (as Marvel Girl), Beast, Iceman, Angel, Professor X
- -For a brief period of time, the Changeling disguised as Professor X was a member of the X-Men until his death. The Mimic also became a member of the X-Men when Angel was sidelined due to an injury during a battle with El Tigre.
- -During the gap between issue 66 and issue 94, Havok and Polaris were members of the X-Men. Their adventures are chronicled in The Hidden Years by John Byrne.
- 094: Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey (as Marvel Girl), Iceman, Angel, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Sunfire, Banshee, Thunderbird, Havok, Polaris
- -After the events of this issue, of all the original members of the X-Men, only Cyclops remained with the team.
- 095: Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Banshee, Thunderbird
- -After the events of this issue, of all the original members of the X-Men, only Cyclops remained with the team.
- -It was later revealed this Jean Grey was actually a psionically-created host body to be used by the Phoenix Force. The real Jean Grey was placed into a healing cocoon in the depths of Jamaica Bay only to be discovered later by the Avengers.
- 139-148: Angel, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Shadowcat
- -It was later revealed this Jean Grey was actually a psionically-created host body to be used by the Phoenix Force. The real Jean Grey was placed into a healing cocoon in the depths of Jamaica Bay only to be discovered later by the Avengers.
- -Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Binary, fought alongside the X-Men against the Brood and briefly lived at the X-Mansion. However, she rejected an offer to join the team. She left the mansion when the X-Men admitted a reformed Rogue as a member.
- 171-183: Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Shadowcat, Rogue
- -Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Binary, fought alongside the X-Men against the Brood and briefly lived at the X-Mansion. However, she rejected an offer to join the team. She left the mansion when the X-Men admitted a reformed Rogue as a member.
- -After a tussle involving the Hellfire Club and former White King, Donald Pierce, Sage rejoined the Hellfire Club to keep an eye on Roberto da Costa, who became Lord Imperial, to ensure he is not corrupted by power.
- 475-present: Nightcrawler, Havok, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Warpath, Darwin, Professor X
- -After a tussle involving the Hellfire Club and former White King, Donald Pierce, Sage rejoined the Hellfire Club to keep an eye on Roberto da Costa, who became Lord Imperial, to ensure he is not corrupted by power.
Contributors
Regular writers
- Stan Lee, 1963-1966, also series co-creator
- Roy Thomas, 1966-1970
- None, 1970-1975, series did not print original material
- Chris Claremont, 1975-1991
- Illustrator John Byrne was credited as co-plotter from 1978 until 1981
- Collaborative effort between Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio, John Byrne and others, 1991-1992
- Scott Lobdell, 1992-1997
- Steven T. Seagle, 1997-1999
- Alan Davis, 1999-2000
- Chris Claremont, 2000-2001
- Scott Lobdell, 2001
- Joe Casey, 2001-2002
- Chuck Austen, 2002-2004
- Chris Claremont, 2004-2006
- Ed Brubaker, 2006-present
Regular artists
- Jack Kirby, 1963-1965, also series co-creator
- Jack Kirby as lay-out artist and Werner Roth as penciller, 1965-1966
- Werner Roth, 1966-1968
- Neal Adams, 1968-1970
- None, 1970-1975, series did not print original material
- Dave Cockrum, 1975-1977
- John Byrne, 1977-1981
- Dave Cockrum, 1981-1982
- Paul Smith, 1982-1983
- John Romita, Jr., 1983-1986
- Marc Silvestri, 1987-1990
- Others artists, especially Rick Leonardi and Jim Lee, often illustrated issues because the series was sometimes published bi-weekly
- Jim Lee, 1990-1991
- Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio, 1991-1992
- Brandon Peterson, 1992-1993
- John Romita, Jr., 1993-1994
- Joe Madureira, 1994-1997
- Chris Bachalo, 1998
- Adam Kubert, 1999-2000
- No regular artist, 2000-2004, several illustrators completed brief stints on the book due to bi-weekly publication
- Alan Davis, 2004-2005
- Olivier Coipel, Andy Park, and Tom Raney alternated with Alan Davis every story arc.
- Chris Bachalo, 2005-2006
- Billy Tan, 2006-present
"Uncanny X-Men"