The All New, All Different X-Men (1975)

[Perpetual Man]

 

[Perpetual Man]

When the original run of the X-Men came to an end in April 1975 it was reprinting a tale that pit the X-Men against the Avengers. For those reading the caption at the end of the issue the story would be concluded in Giant-Sized X-Men#1.

Published in May of 1975, people who picked it up looking for that stories conclusion must have been surprised, what they got was certainly something very different and the start of what would become a ground breaking phase in comic history.

Behind the scenes writer Len Wein was pushing for a new kind of title, a superheros group that although based in America did not consist of all American characters, rather it would be a mix of genuinely international characters.

It seemed as though he was offered the chance of doing something with the X-Men, a chance for him to play with his idea, a chance to do something with a second string title, a chance to reuse some characters that seemed to be languishing, and to bring in some new. For Marvel it was a small win/win scenario, a one off comic was not much of a commitment, if it proved profitable then no loss, if it was a failure then there was no commitment to do anything else.

The issue deserved the name Giant-sized, containing a full original 68 page story, written by Wein with art by Dave Cockrum and a cover by Gil Kane.

It was quite simply a new beginning, or as the story was called, Second Genesis

 

[Perpetual Man]

Giant Sized X-Men #1

Across the world various mutants find themselves contacted by Professor Charles Xavier, inviting them to join his X-Men, it is with some great urgency, that he asks... and they come.

Banshee (Sean Cassidy, able to modulate his voice, using all types of sonic frequencies, allowing blast and the ability to fly) Living in Ireland, previously seen the original X-Men.

Colossus (Peter Rasputin, can convert himself to a man of organic steel) Lives on a Russian farming collective, and is persuade that his abilities was better serve the world.

​

Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner, blue furred with a prehensile tail and the ability to teleport) Hunted through the streets of Dusseldorf, Germany, believed to be a demon, Xavier turns the crowd away with his mind.

Storm (Ororo, controls the weather) Worship as a Goddess in Kenya, she is persuaded that she is a mutant and joins Xavier.

​

 

[Perpetual Man]

Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida) – Previously seen toward the end of the Original X-Men run, Japanese hero Sunfire can release superheated plasma, both as a weapon and to allow flight

Thunderbird (John Proudstar, strong, excellent hunter) A native American he lives on a reservation, frustrated at his lot, Xavier offers him a chance to prove himself.

Wolverine (name unknown, gruff Canadian hero, fast, enhanced senses, a bi-product of his healing factor and metal claws that seem to come out the back of his gloves). First seen in the Hulk, Wolverine is feeling used and undervalued by the Canadian military. Xavier gives him a way out.

 

[Heck Tate]

Ahhh, I've seen Banshee before but I never understood what his power was. Thunderbird I've never heard of, though he does look a little familiar. Thanks for the info PM, keep em coming.

 

[Mouse]

I love the comment about Nightcrawler's tail...

 

[Heck Tate]

I just read the how to draw captions, hilarious. Which did you like better the "When drawing Nightie from the front DO NOT connect the tail directly to his crotch..." or the "The tail is connected to the base of the spine... It DOES NOT grow out of his ass!"

 

[Perpetual Man]

Giant Sized X-Men#1

The new group of individuals are informed that the original X-Men are lost, they went out on a mission and something went wrong. Xavier's mutant detecting machine Cerebro detected a single mutant presence, more powerful than anything ever seen before.

Scrambling all seven X-Men fast they leave to try and locate the mutant, which leads them to the remote island of Krakoa. Just after the landed something happened, but they don't know what, only that Cyclops found himself alone on the X-Men's new Blackbird jet plane, his eyes normal, powerless. He flew home and reported what he had found, and Professor X decided to instigate new protocols and bring in band of new potential X-Men.

While the team were being gathered Cyclops suddenly began feel his head aching, eyes burning and his optic blasts returned, more powerful than they had ever been before. So much so that his visor could not contain them. Xavier rebuilds them, into a much more protective and better looking design.

With him in charge the new team leave and head for the island.

When they get there they set out to try and locate the X-Men, but almost immediately they are attacked by the wildlife and vegetation of the island, until it seems as though the entire environment is against them. They eventually find their way to a stone temple, and once they break the doors open they find the X-Men strung up on a network of tubes and roots.

They break free, but Angel flips out, telling them that they have all been led into a trap, that 'it' let Cyclops go so that he would bring more people, specifically mutants back to the island, so it could feed of them as well.

When the question is asked, just what is it? The ground of the island begins to quake and roll and slowly a vast shape begins to rise above them all. It seems that the mutant is not a person, it is the entire island.

And it is waking up.

They fight and battle the island, mainly to try and stay alive, until Storm and Polaris, both powerful elementals form a link with the world around them and each other, one mass of high pressure coming down from the skies, the other ripping through the magnetic fields of the Earth itself.

At the same time Xavier attacks telepathically and the pressure continues to build....

When the time is right, Cyclops and Havok both release full blasts into the very nexus of power, severing the link between the Island and the ocean floor, allowing Polaris to pull the now detached island from the planet.

As Krakoa starts tearing itself apart the X-Men flee to the plane, just managing to escape before the island is thrown out through the atmosphere and into space.

The X-Men head for home, wondering just what they are going to do with thirteen X-Men.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Ahhh, I've seen Banshee before but I never understood what his power was. Thunderbird I've never heard of, though he does look a little familiar. Thanks for the info PM, keep em coming.

It's not surprising that you have not heard of Thunderbird HT, as will become obvious in upcoming issues. If he seems familiar there is Warpath who wears the same costume (or did)

I love the comment about Nightcrawler's tail...

I just read the how to draw captions, hilarious. Which did you like better the "When drawing Nightie from the front DO NOT connect the tail directly to his crotch..." or the "The tail is connected to the base of the spine... It DOES NOT grow out of his ass!"

It is funny eh? It's not often you get to see the notes written by the artist at the time of the characters creation, and it's amusing to see how they actually write!!

I realized I did not do this back when I started on the other thread so....

Cyclops and Professor X

Marvel Girl

The Beast

Iceman

Angel​

 

[Perpetual Man]

Havok

Polaris​

And back to the ongoing story...


Whether it was ever intended for the X-Men to continue beyond that Giant Sized issue I do not know, but I imagine that the time and effort from all involved meant that there would be at least some form of continuance, at least for an issue or two. It may even have been that sales were good enough that there was a demand to give it a go, as it were.

There was another Giant Sized issue (this time reprints of original X-Men stories) and then toward the end of 1975, The X-Men reappeared. On the front the bold logo clearly emphasised that this was the All New, All Different X-Men, but inside the title clearly showed that the bold recreation was now The Uncanny X-Men (Just to give myself a bit more room to play with I’m going to break down the threads by doing a third thread when the cover proclaims itself Uncanny)

Most definitely the X-Men was seen as a second, if not third tier titled, returning not as an ongoing monthly, but as a sporadic bi-monthly publication, and unlike today when any relaunch seems to warrant an new number 1 issue, the X-Men returned where they left off with issue 95.

Perhaps the biggest change was the loss of writer Len Wein, the man who had been the lynch pin in getting the comic restarted, having in the intervening months committed to other work, he just did not have the time in his work schedule to write the comic, and rather than do what he would have considered substandard material he declined the writing duties, offering a plot for the first issue and that was it.

With Dave Cockrum remaining on pencilling duty, it just came down to who was going to do the writing chores. All the big names of the time were working on the top titles, and to be honest they may not have wanted to commit themselves to relatively unknown characters on a re-vamped title.

There was a writer, one who was one of the first of a new generation, he had been inspired by the works of Lee, Thomas and co, and was owed a favour. He had been assigned the rather unusual job of creating and writing a ‘backwater’ piece a year over, to be published in the UK as Captain Britain, and as so perhaps as a backhanded thank you he was handed the X-Men.

His name was Chris Claremont and it was a start of what would take the Uncanny X-Men from a relatively obscure title, to the best selling comic in the world, a perfect match between writer and title.

And no one ever saw it coming....

 

[Perpetual Man]

All New, All Different X-Men 94-95 (Plot by Len Wein, Script by Chris Claremont, art by Dave Cockrum)

"It begins with an ending, and perhaps the breaking of a man's heart..."

The X-Men return home, but they find the mansion a little crowded. Xavier is ecstatic, but finds his feet pulled from under him when the older X-Men decide that it is their time to move on, to go out into the world and try and live normal lives, away from the conflict they have known for so long. Only Cyclops is unsure, and despite Jean wanting him to come with her, he ultimately decides to stay and lead, train the new team. It's already evident that the new comers are a lot more individually inclined, that it's going to be hard work to mould them into a new team.

Wolverine is incredibly prickilish, taking digs at the original team; Thunderbird feels the pressure of his heritage, determined to be a man, not to be pushed around, but is unable to do it in moderation, always jumping in first, arguing too much; while Sunfire wants nothing more to do with the team and walks out heading home as the original X-Men leave.

The new team take their first training session in the Danger Room when Professor Xavier, reeling from the loss of his first students is contacted by the only member of the original team to have left before, The Beast, now a major member of the Avengers (and blue and furry too). There is a major situation brewing at Valhalla Mountain in Colorado, the main defence command post of the United States. The Avengers are otherwise deployed and the X-Men are asked to help.

The X-Men go in, but their plane is shot out from under them. They escape in a small shuttle, but that is hit by a energy beam, disintegrating the shuttle, leaving the X-Men falling through the air.

Combining their talents the X-Men are able to get themselves to the ground, and then infiltrate the base. It is under attack by Count Nefaria and his new Ani-Men. The new team acquit themselves well defeating the bad guys, but Nefaria flees onboard a fighter jet. As it takes off Thunderbird leaps onto the plane, rearing at the fuselage. Banshee gives chase, while the other X-Men shout from the ground, trying to get Thunderbird off the plane; at the same time Professor X maintains telepathic with the new X-Man telling him to get off the plane. But all Thunderbird wants to do is prove himself, not only to win but not be beaten.

Suddenly the plane explodes, the wreckage burning, plummeting into the side of the mountain, and exploding once more, taking Count Nefaria and John Proudstar with it.

The other X-Men can only look in stunned disbelief, but Professor X is joined mind to mind with Thunderbird and goes through everything the dying man does, except to actually die.

"The scenario ends now as it began, with the breaking of Charles Xavier's heart.. and the twisting of his soul."

 

[Perpetual Man]

Ahhh, I've seen Banshee before but I never understood what his power was. Thunderbird I've never heard of, though he does look a little familiar. Thanks for the info PM, keep em coming.

So there you go Heck, that's why you've never heard of Thunderbird, he managed to last a grand total of three issues...

 

[Perpetual Man]

All New, All Different X-Men 96 (Claremont & Cockrum)

The first full issue written by Claremont and although a long way from his best, he is obviously finding his feet it sets out what is going to be a staple of his writing, something what was unusual for the time, foreshadowing of future events, sub plots that would grow into main plots as time passed.

In an industry where the norm was to jump for one story to the next (sometimes stories that lasted over a course of issues) Claremont’s use of subplots gave the sense of a rolling ongoing story as though we were not just seeing glimpses of the characters lives as they went into action, but actually seeing an ongoing story as the issues unfolded. Even more dramatically in an industry where each story arc was not set in stone, where it was fluid and could change at an editors whim, not only did Claremont make any changes smooth, he gave it the feel that it was all planned.

Finally on aside on death in comics (Marvel) unlike real life it is not a real constant, no matter when a major character dies, it is a given they will return at some point. Sometimes for shock value the character suddenly dies.... but it is never permanent. Captain America, Spider-man, Aunt May (!), Three members of the Fantastic Four (Well four now but it’s to recent for the recent deceased to have come back!), Professor X and more than a few X-men have been killed and come back. It used to be a standard saying that the only characters that dies and stayed dead were the original (Marvel) Captain Marvel and Captain America’s World War sidekick Bucky were the only ones who remained dead. Both characters returned a few years ago, although when it looked as though fan reaction was really against CM’s return it suddenly became apparent it was a shape changing alien who believed it was Captain Marvel. It fir with the storyline of the moment, and could well have always been the intention. However with all that being said, Thunderbird is the rarity, he’s dead, and remained so, perhaps with only a three appearances to his name there was never a fan connection to him. (He has come back undead or possessed, but always returned to the grave).

The story then: The X-Men grieve for the death of their comrade, Cyclops believes it’s his fault, as leader he should have done more. Letting loose with his optic blasts he tears apart a vast tract of land, destroying an ancient monolith, from which an ancient race of imprisoned demons emerge.

Back at the mansion the X-Men undergo a training session, which end when Wolverine is humiliated, and loses his temper going for first Colossus and then Nightcrawler. He is restrained, barely. Everyone is distracted by the sound of Cyclops optic blasts firing almost consistently, and then he smashes through the walls of the mansion battling for his life against a huge demon, a member of the N’Garai. The X-Men take him on and seem completely unable to stop him, until Wolverine looses it completely and rips the giant to pieces, apparently killing it. Xavier reads it dying thoughts, and although almost overwhelmed by it’s alien thoughts, realises where it came from and Storm flies out to investigate. She is nearly pulled into the shattered monolith, which triggers her claustrophobia (caused when she was buried alive in a building when she was a child, something that killed her parents). The panic causes her to release a massive lightning bolt right into the mouth of the stone pillar sealing it once more. Almost on cue all the N’garai vanish.

Sub-plots: Moira McTaggert an old colleague of Professor X arrives at the mansion to help running it, initially as housekeeper. She Irish like Banshee and from the moment he opens the door to her, he’s smitten.

Steven Lang is a bitter man, hating Mutants with a vengeance. He is working on Project Armageddon for the government, but his liaison Colonel Michael Rossi, considers the project well over budget and going off track. He tells Lang he will have it closed down. The final frame that Rossi has been killed in a apparent freak accident. Before he could deliver his recommendation...

 

[Mouse]

Bloody Wolverine.

Ah, so that's Storm's claustrophobia. I remember it being mentioned in an episode about... Genosha (is it?) and Gambit comforts her.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Ahh, give the poor old Wolverine a chance - in a few issues he really starts to shine, you'll see just how he became a popular character. Of course ultimately it's that very popularity that brings him down.

Yeah, Genosha would be about right... but that's a long way off at this point.

 

[Mouse]

Ahh, give the poor old Wolverine a chance

Never!

Ok. The only reason I dislike him is because he's made out to be so super fantastic all the time.

 

[Perpetual Man]

He is unfortunately, but the early Wolverine, the one I associate mostly with the character is so much better than what he becomes...

 

[Clansman]

He is unfortunately, but the early Wolverine, the one I associate mostly with the character is so much better than what he becomes...

Agreed, PM. He was just fantastic in those early Claremont issues of X-Men. After the Phoenix Saga, though, he was just turned into a rough Gary Stu.

 

[Perpetual Man]

All New, All Different X-Men 97 (Claremont & Cockrum)

Story: Living a quiet life in New Mexico, Alex Summers and Lorna Dane are attacked and apparently vanquished.

3 Days later Professor Xavier is leaving for a short vacation, and the X-Men have travelled to the airport to see him off. (this is a real start now to the X-Men being humanised, they are out of costume and referring to each other by name, acting like friends (Except Wolverine who does not turn up, and Banshee who is out with MacTaggert). Jean is there as well, but as they prepare to say farewell Havok and Polaris (in costume) turn up and attack.

The X-Men rapidly get into costume and an all outfight ensues, Havok reveals that he is fighting some kind of mind control, but can’t hope to win. The man behind it all turns out to be a new Eric The Red, and Storm turns the fight by hitting Polaris with lightning so hard in nearly kills her. Eric, Havok and Polaris flee, flying away, and Cyclops has a clear shot, but still shaken by the death of Thunderbird and the fact that Alex is his brother he refuses to fire. When the newly arrived Wolverine starts to call him out, Cyke punches him in the face, and Wolverine goes berserk, only to be put back in his place by Storm.

Subplot: The issue opens with a stunning dream sequence seeing Professor Xavier caught in the middle of a stunning space battle, with something drawing him ever closer to a shadow... but he wakes before he can get too close; Sean Cassidy and Moira MacTaggert continue to get closer, there are hints that she has deeper links with Xavier from the past; and the final panel shows Steven Lang watching the X-Men – but there is someone else watching him!

 

[Perpetual Man]

The All New, All Different X-Men 98 - 100

It's Christmas and the X-Men have travelled into New York to celebrate, spending some time together before going their separate ways - we see Wolverine without his mask for the first time, and Kurt (Nightcrawler) is using an image inducer created by Tony Stark to hide his appearance.

Scott and Jean go for a romantic meal when the roof of the restaurant is torn off and two giant robots reach in: The Sentinels are back. The two X-Men fight back, but Scott is knocked out and the Sentinels leave with Jean a prisoner.

Seeing the signs of the battle the other X-Men spring into action and make short work of the robots, but it is them that Cyclops realizes that Professor Xavier is unaware of the threat.

Xavier is fishing with friend Peter Corbeau when they are attacked by a Sentinel themselves , Xavier starts to overpower it with his mind, but the figure from his dreams suddenly looms through his mind, distracted the Sentinel destroys the boat, overpowers Xavier and leaves Corbeau floating in the sea.

Xavier, Jean, Banshee and Wolverine have been captured the rest of the X-Men are free, Lang is determined to study them so he can use what he finds against the rest of the mutants. Lang boasts that the shackles cannot be broken, but when he threatens Jean Wolverine pops his claws and breaks out, tearing through Sentinels and men as though they are not there. With a brief moment of respite, he frees Jean and Banshee but before they can rescue Xavier more Sentinels attack. In a running battle the three X-Men manage to reach the walls of the complex and break through to what they believe is freedom...

With no trace of the Sentinels Cyclops is at a loss, until they are contacted by Peter Corbeau, and with what they know they work something out - but the three escapees already know... The Sentinel base is not on Earth, it's a massive space station orbiting the planet and they've just escaped through the wall and into space.

The Sentinels recapture the three X-Men, and Lang crows over them, Cyclops and Corbeau manage to locate the station; and with his connections he manages to procure them use of a space shuttle. They fly toward the space station.

As they approach the Sentinels come at them, a blast hits the bridge of the shuttle, rupturing the hull. In desperation they fly the shuttle straight into the side of the station effectively docking it right through the wall.

A huge battle ensues, and the team manage to destroy the immediate Sentinels. Cyclops is contacted by Jean who lets her know where Banshee and Wolverine are - she and Xavier are actually with Lang. He sends the others off after Banshee and Wolverine and goes after Lang himself. When he gets there he practically beats Lang to death with his bare hands. Jean tries to restrain him, and in that instance the door behind him opens and a shadowy figure blasts him down.

The X-Men free their comrades only to find themselves confronted by Xavier and the Original X-Men, who call them imposters, and that they are going to be put back in their place.

The battle commences and the new X-Men are confused, why are the old X-Men so resentful, why are Cyclops and Marvel Girl have siding with them, why is the Beast there and not blue and furry? With a huge sense of betrayal in the air, the new team is slowly being battered while Steven Lang looks on, laughing.

But then, Wolverine gets close to Professor X and challenges him. Xavier climbs out of the chair and starts beating him left right and centre. Wolverine doesn't know what to do with it, ultimately doing something that he has been struggling against all along. For years he has been trying to become more human, here he lapses back and embraces his senses. Almost at once he pops his claws and guts Marvel Girl where she stands.

The X-Men are shocked to say the least, until they start to realise just what Wolverine has torn a sentinel in half. All of the original X-Men are sentinels. And with the fact revealed the new team have no need to hold back, the doppelgangers are destroyed. Lang goes nearly insane with this set back.

At the same time the container containing the real Cyclops shatters, as the continuous blast he has been hitting it with proves to be too much. Lang flees as Cyke frees the others, taking to a small gunship, with which he attacks the recently freed X-Men. Jean seizes telekinetic control of the ship, but with Lang panicking the controls lock and the small ship powers into the station, exploding, tearing the station apart.

The two groups of X-Men manage to rendezvous as the station starts tearing itself apart. The board the shuttle, still buried in the side of the station, where Corbeau tells them that they are up the creek, the station is going to blow and the shuttle, damaged as it was, can fly, but will be leaking oxygen, and with no shielding normal solar radiation will be lethal, with the huge solar flare coming... well it would be so far beyond lethal...

There is a shielded compartment that could hold them all, but then who would pilot the shuttle, even those who might survive don't have the skill. (No mention of Wolverine's healing factor here!). Jean suddenly announces that she can do it, Wolverine goes ballistic, but she slaps him down. She'll read Corbeau's mind that will give her the skills needed, and she can put her most powerful telekinetic shields around her, blocking the radiation. It still sounds like suicide and Cyclops tries to override her, but with no time for an argument Jean knocks him out with a mindblast.

Stunned and emotional the X-Men secure themselves, Jean pilots the shuttle out and sets it on course for Earth. The radiation starts to hit, in the shielded section Cyclops comes to and tries to get out, but is restrained by Nightcrawler.

The shuttle is hit by the solar flare full on, Jean tries her hardest to hold her shields but the intense energy her starts breaking through, as the radiation gets a foothold, her shields shatter, and she is engulfed in an overwhelming blast of radiation, screaming Scott's name as it fries her alive...

Subplots: The Sentinel that catches Xavier comments that solar flare radiation is starting to climb.

When studying Wolverine Lang notes that he is not anything like the other mutants, the readings are all wrong. (No mention of a strange skeleton)*

It's the first hint of Wolverine having feelings for Jean, and the first time that we realize the claws are part of him, not built into the gloves.

First mention of Peter Rasputin's brother Mikhail, a cosmonaut killed in an accident on the launch pad.

More mention of the biggest solar flare ever recorded.

In Ireland someone tries to post a letter to Sean Cassidy, but he is attacked and killed by a shadowy figure as he leaves to Post Office.

*Initially there was a lot of talk about Wolverine not being a mutant, that he was going to be an actual wolverine that had been super-evolved by The High Evolutionary. At this point there is no mention of an Adamantium Skeleton or even a healing factor, but a neat bit of retrofitting could explain Lang's comments, the metal threw the scanner off.