Essential X-Factor, Vol. 1 by Louise Simonson

(Yes, that Krakoa.) While Claremont didn't write Giant-Sized himself, the iconic characters introduced by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum–Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus (just to name a few)–would all become definitively characterized under Claremont's pen. We were told stories of redemption and righteous indignation, of agency and powerlessness, of triumph and also of incredible loss.īut, most importantly, we were told a story that–regardless of our place in the world–assured us that we could always find the people with whom we belonged.īeginning with Giant-Sized X-Men #1, the new era of X-Men kicks off with a globe-spanning team of new mutants assembled to rescue the original team from the maw of the island that walks like a man–Krakoa. Under Claremont, the mutant metaphor connected the series with new audiences and told stories of oppression, marginalization, pain, grief, and–most importantly–our communities' ability to form found families in spite of those traumas.

Beginning with Uncanny X-Men #94, Chris Claremont–then a fledgling young writer–took the reigns on the book, transforming the series from one of Marvel's forgotten titles to its most popular book for over a decade.Ĭlaremont's impact didn't end with the X-Men his approach to gender and sexuality, use of queer subtext to evade harsh editorial mandates, and innovating long-form storytelling completely changed not only the ways comics were written, but the way we tell stories altogether.

Prior to 1975 and the publication of Giant-Sized X-Men #1, the X-Men, mutant heroes sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them, had fallen into irrelevance and relegated to newly numbered reprint issues.

Essential X-Factor, Vol. 1 by Louise Simonson