TITLE: X-Men Special Edition Issue #1
YEAR: February 1983
COMPANY: Marvel Comics
Writer/Editor: Len Wein
Illustrator: Dave Cockrum
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Back in 1975, the release of “Giant-Size X-Men” issue #1 would no doubt become one of the important comic releases in Marvel Comics history.
As many who read the pages of “The Uncanny X-Men” and followed the adventures of Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast and Ice Man under the tutelage of Professor X, writer Len Wein and illustrator Dave Cockrum would introduce new members to join the group: Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Thunderbird and Sunfire.
Of course, for those of us who grew up in the ’80s during a time where “Uncanny X-Men” would become super popular, a lot of us couldn’t afford to purchase “Giant-Size X-Men”, nor were there any reprints available for that issue, that was until February 1983.
“X-Men Special Edition” vol. 1, issue #1 would feature a reprint of “Giant-Size X-Men”, printed on better paper and in addition, would include 12 new pages by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum featuring Kitty Pryde giving Illyana Rasputin a tour of the X-Mansion, not knowing what surprise is ahead of her.
The issue begins with Professor X trying to recruit new members to join his mission for mutants to use their special abilities to protect humankind, despite having to deal with prejudice or other tensions because they are mutants.
In Winzeldorf, Germany, Kurt Wagner was a treated as a carnival freak and he does not want to be one no longer and is attacked by villagers who think he is a monster.
In Quebec, Canada, Wolverine is a special agent for a special governmental agency.
In Nashville, Tennessee, Banshee receives an invitation from Professor X.
In Kenya, East Africa, many go to visit Ororo, a great goddess of Storm, but Professor X arrives and tells her that she is not a goddess but a mutant.
In Osaka, Japan, Professor X tries to get Shiro Yoshida to join, despite him hating westerners.
In Lake Baikal, Siberia, Professor X goes to recruit Peter Rasputin, who can turn to steel.
And in Campe Verde, Arizona, Professor X goes to recruit John Proudstar, who dislikes the white man. But when Professor X says that perhaps that the saying that the Apache are frightened selfish children, that is enough for Proudstar to want to prove that he’s wrong.
The group receives code names from Professor X and new costumes. He introduces them to Cyclops who informs them that they went to investigate the island of Krakoa and the X-Men disappeared and when he woke up, he had lost his powers and was set on the jet to go back home.
And now he needs the help of these mutants to go back to Krakoa to find the original X-Men but to also defeat the mutant that defeated them.
Unfortunately, relations between these new mutants are not going well but perhaps working as a team may become an icebreaker for them to work together!
For the most part, it was an interesting storyline and I could remember when I first read it. While Cyclops and Wolverine always got on each other’s nerves, in this issue, the main person who was not a team player was Shiro Yoshida (Sunfire). Thunderbird was always cocky, but each proved to be a good team. Although the issue also showed us how Scott (Cyclops) and Alex Summers (Havok) were brothers who had different point of view, especially when Alex’s love one, Polaris may be killed.
A second story is also included in this reprint, an 11-page brand new tale in regards to Kitty Pryde showing Illyana Rasputin around, visiting the rooms of various members but a secret awaits her at the end. Surprise!
Overall, I can remember purchasing this as a child and loving it! I didn’t care it was a reprint but for me, I treasured this issue like gold and would try to draw each of the new members. That’s how much I loved Dave Cockrum’s artwork.
Today was the first time I read this issue since 1983, so it was nostalgic but also awesome to read it again!