Unpacking X-Men: the Highest-Selling Comic Ever!

Looking back on the highest-selling Marvel comic of all time-- X-Men 1 from Jim Lee and Chris Claremont! But is it good, bad or UGLY? Make sure to subscribe today! / @comicpopreturns #xmen
ComicPop is a few friends talking about comic books. The ComicPop team brings a bunch of unique points of view to every single discussion about a comic book, graphic novel, character or story arc. You can find full conversations about your favorite titles from Marvel and DC Comics, plus a few pretty key independent comics. If you're looking for a long, funny conversation about Batman or a deep dive into why Spider-Man is so neurotic, check out the hours and hours of amusing, insightful and downright stupid conversations about some of your favorite comic books over the years. If you're a longtime comic book reader or just starting out, make sure to subscribe for more!
Check out the official ComicPop trade paperback library (updated daily)! www.libib.com/...
Other places to find ComicPop:
Back Issues - / comicpop
Patreon - / comicpop
Discord - / discord
Twitch - / comicpop
TikTok - / realcomicpop
Instagram - / comicpopofficial
Facebook - / comicpop
Drop us a line c/o ComicPop
PO Box 1157 Denville, NJ 07834
(NOTE: Do NOT send anything you might want returned.)
ComicPop
/ comicpop
ComicPop Returns
/ comicpopreturns
ComicPop Plays
/ @comicpopplays

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

We did not all just have a collective realization that the Acolytes' costumes are Magneto's Hero Costume after all these years, did we? So that red thing in the middle of their suit designs was part of an "M" the whole time?

[@SamusSelf-Destruct]

I’ve been reading the entirety of the X-Men on Marvel Comics, and I enjoy this comic infinitely more with the context of the entirety of the 80’s that led up to it. That said, maybe we can FINALLY get some of those classic X-Men books on Back Issues? I’d love to see you guys cover all of the awesome things Claremont was doing starting with the Mutant Massacre all the way through X-tinction Agenda and Inferno. They’re classic, and I’m sure they’ll draw views because it’s the X-Men.

[@metaknight7117]

I really dug how this video felt like a mini back issues Where everyone got a chance to shine especially Ethan and Ben who get to showcase their gained knowledge of the years on the show Really dope idea and hope a format like this gets brought out more often

[@GTMQ8]

You can see the pure joy and excitement on Tiffany's face due to the appearance of her favorite Marvel character, Fabian Cortez.

[@TheRealZubes]

I was ecstatic

[@GTMQ8]

@@TheRealZubes 😂😂

[@thegoldennymph8031]

This feels like a bonus episode of back issues, I’m all for it!

[@craigamore2319]

I about died laughing when Ben said of Magneto, "Oh, I've come face to face with the reaction of my actions."

[@Peecamarke]

Love Sal’s realization about the clothing, felt like I was following the thought process with him lol

[@jollyrouger2945]

It’s probably my biggest issue with x-men where you pick up a book and find your self in the deep end of an ongoing soap opera and takes a while to find your footing though more so with the earlier arcs

[@Okkotsu86275]

Never forget when my moms got me the Cyclops and Wolverine back in the day when I was a younging. Good times

[@SadieShortcake]

Great episode!! Love the slight change in format to GBU. Not that the traditional format is bad by any means, but I really enjoyed having all four of you read the book !! You were be able to interject with your different perspectives and personalities, and I feel like I got more of the story that way!! Would love to see a permanent show with this format at some point..

[@Sicod79]

One thing, this could never be was UGLY. X-men number one did some damn fine art in that book!

[@animemab]

"..and so I put on my headsock...which was the style at the time."

[@sangera]

The shirt Tiffany is wearing is so cool!

[@Okkotsu86275]

Very cool

[@Peecamarke]

I JUST realized it after you mentioned it! Wasn’t even lying attention that’s dope af! 👌🏿

[@MeSpawn297]

And can we acknowledge that the panel of Cyke with his steaming visor and Logan looking through the hole in the wreckage is one of the greatest images? Aka what Jean used to see in the doorway to her room on those steamy nights at the Summer House on the moon.

[@whitezombified]

McDonald's comics is such a good analogy 😂

[@djimenez789]

Years ago I bought 2 copies for like 3 bucks with a pink floyd poster lol

[@calvinjluther]

What was the album?

[@djimenez789]

@@calvinjluther it was a poster of nude women in a row with their backs to the camera and they have each albums cover painted on them

[@flywheelshyster]

This is to sponser the excellent series GBU

[@panduh_go_crazy-.-9957]

Just wanna say I’ve noticed the effort into these thumbnails and highly appreciate it

[@mikesetzer9379]

My brother spoke so many times to the kid and then again after X-Men 97 watching this episode of comic Pop, it does bring a little bit more appreciation to this time in comic books!

[@Peecamarke]

Goodness, great read yall! Love your inputs and perspectives especially the people with a cursory knowledge of Xmen and Tiff’s logical/meta commentary as a serious Xmen fan lol

[@jonasquinn7977]

I kep hearing the X-Men Animated Series theme in my head throughout this entire comic

[@DJones21743]

I brought this issue back in 1991. I still have it somewhere.

[@DoubleO7-11]

Jim Lee art is God Tier 🤩

[@user-be7tc2bd6e]

Correct.That's the reason Lee was a fan favorite because of his entire run on the X-Men.

[@jrob4795]

I like Lee but I feel his are is better suited to splash pages and comic covers. He doesn’t do action well in my opinion. I feel like he’s better with static or majestic characters like Superman, or Magneto who are prone to dramatic, triumphant poses, even when they’re in motion, but I think he’d be a disaster on a character like Nightwing or Spider-Man. Even his Batman felt clunky to me. His Batman felt more like a bar room brawler than master martial artist.

[@steviemacc2745]

Agreed. However, I always thought Silvestri was a better storyteller (with his art. Emotions, movement, etc.. also, he co-created Mister Sinister)

[@namm1on]

I agree. Lees artwork is great and people loved it when he was in his prime. I think nowadays it’s like the cool thing now to go against popular opinions

[@jrob4795]

@@namm1on His artwork was well suited to the times.

[@fl8m76]

That was amazing. I really enjoyed the deep dive into a single comic. I reread that issue recently and I can't help but agree Jim Lee's art was mind blowing and there were so many words lol. I never thought of it as on the cusp of something new but that is a perfect description of it.

[@veillifted]

What? I bought that book in 1991 and read it religiously! Marvel Masterpiece!

[@willstoudemire-pulliam9084]

Has anyone ever wondered why Magento never grabbed Colossus and just bludgeoned the shit out of all the Xmen?

[@leewinters8245]

He could force wolverine to slaughter his teammates

[@PhoenixEnforcer101]

I think I have this comic Sal: "this is a comic you probably already have" Alrighty then lol

[@bZman]

Silvestris 80s and 90s run on Wolverine is some of my all time fav art

[@NathanDean_GeekTri]

Jim Lee recently did a surprise signing at our local comic shop in Northern Michigan and it was amazing.

[@derekshropshire2513]

Gambit the third Summers brother? Let's not forget about the other lost Summers brother Xtreme! With blood powers, blades all over, and mullet pony tail with backwards hat. Because 90's. 😂

[@robphoenix1182]

I was shocked they didn't bring him up.

[@architeuthis3476]

I was a little kid when this came out and I remember thinking, "I know these characters but I have no idea what's going on"

[@benjaminloudly]

First comic I ever read. My copy came with an Archangel figure I bought at KayBee toys years ago. Beautiful art but In terms of reading experience, one of worst ways to learn how to read a comic. I remember being confused trying to understand the near double page splash start of the training sequence at the mansion.

[@KenByrneNL]

Wonderful episode- always love to see the 4 of you together

[@DrThrustbone]

Back issues and GBU never fails to make my whole day, thanks gang!

[@eqs1782]

I think I bought two or three copies recently of this comic for like a dollar. It was the connecting cover

[@davidking1805]

Same for me Sal I saw that panel and thought Colossus was cool and the game sold me on him also

[@bigfeddy]

Wow I didn’t know Gambit was supposed to be a Summers bros. The more you know. Wasn’t the fight between Jim Lee & Chris Claremont about Lee wanted to draw classic X-men villains ie Magneto, Sentinels, etc, while Claremont wanted to do new things; that he had been there done that before & wanted to move on?

[@pious83]

One of the deciding factors for Claremont leaving was he wanted this to be the final Magneto story. Marvel said 'no'. The wake up call that even though he had been the writer for 15 years, X-Men wasn't his.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

if it wasn't for X-men Evolution I would've never liked Cyclops lol. I love the idea of spotlighting a single issue and watching you guys really dive into the art and writing. Ultimates or JLA (Morrison) might be a fun one do as well. Or New X-men

[@pious83]

It's funny that Morrison and Whedon were the only ones to give Cyclops great comic book characterisation. I still recommend AXM to people as a definitive interpretation of Scott.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

@@pious83 Loved him in AXM. It really showcased him as the strategic leader. One thing I like about Evolution especially is that they kept his 'stick up his butt' attitude but also made him fun loving and likeable. I liked how much he loved his car.

[@pious83]

@@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038AXM also portrayed him how he should be: the core of the team. Not a second-stringer to Wolverine or Storm. He is in charge.

[@alexnejako777]

It's a good story. it's also very well pencilled - which is saying something for X-Men, as there had been recent stories in the run that were very dark and hard to see the details - before Jim Lee joined! This story gets the team back together and sets things up for them to split in the Blue and Gold teams. It also set up all the XMen multimedia that dominated for 2 decades forward.

[@pious83]

Ironically the Gold Team was rarely used as a team, following this story arc.

[@yodudeyo100]

Dude, have you seen john byrne's artwork on X-Men? It was incredible! And Dave Cockrum also kicked ass!

[@billyheaning]

This issue was the first time I ever saw the term "terminator line". Had no idea what that was, looked it up. Never forgot it. I was in 8th grade? Whenever it came out. This was when you had to look it up in one of those big dictionaries in the library.

[@jewaunfincher1853]

It would be awesome if Scott and Remy were brothers.

[@lawpreacher2000]

It would be so much better then the truth as everything having to do with Mister Sinister is weird and stupid

[@my86outback]

I always interpreted this comic as Claremont likening himself to Magneto in this story. A new generation of "likeminded" but very different and very "ugly on the inside" disciples take over while his former allies aren't even listening to his objections and smart plans. Eventually ending in the "switched-off" messiah betrayed by his closest friend. Not a very kind reading. At the time though, it changed the way I read comics. It was also the beginning of my off on off on relationship with comics.

[@yodudeyo100]

I'm reading Claremont's run from the beginning and it kicks ass! I just finished issue 161. The series is brilliant with him at the helm. I think more people who like the X-Men should check out his run!

[@mighty_mattman]

Iconic Jim Lee

[@user-be7tc2bd6e]

AGREED.Lee's art is-GREAT-in this/all the covers/interior art he did on the X-Men titles.

[@magusreaver]

Jim was building on the foundation Marc Silvestri was laying for a couple years in Uncanny. After this We had Marc on Wolverine, Jim doing X-Men, and Whilce doing Uncanny... with Rob doing X-Force(yeah I know..), and i think Stoman doing X-Factor? No one seemed to care about X-factor in my friends group unless it was crossing over.

[@allydrawsthings]

thats a shame the David/Stroman run is fantastic

[@Ducaso]

You know I always thought the head sock was an odd costume choice, everytime I see it.

[@Blakk_Wolf7]

Bros,I think the reason you guys aren't feeling issues 1 & 2 of vol 2, is because you didn't read up on the lead-up to the reunion of the X-Men & X-Factor. It explained Cable being taken to the future by his sister Rachel, it also explained why The had I go to the Shi'ar Galaxy to rescue Xavier while wearing their Danger Room training uniforms

[@ctl6985]

I would love to see them do this whole arc on Back Issues. Preferably the recolored edition. Also to Scott's credit, Beast points out that he's joking about hurting Gambit😅

[@xuxuang8574]

Psychic here: pointy shoulder pads definitely help with psychic powers.

[@michaelthethird702]

I really like this Spotlight version of GBU. I always enjoyed the Comic Line episodes when you guys deep dived a book together. I would watch more of GBU Spotlight. Definitely, an episode about Dark Knight Returns.

[@AaronReese]

Like everyone else, I have something like 4 copies of this issue, but I have never successfully read it. It’s a poster book. I wish it was like a tv show in which I could just hit the mute bottom and look at the pretty pictures.

[@level87code]

In the way everyone has read this it's like a reverse back issue, super cool!

[@raulzavala9061]

I picked up this issue thinking it was a good jumping on point for X-Men and boy was I wrong, the art is amazing but just way too many words per page that it wasn't until watching the X-Men cartoon I re-read these comics again that it started to make sense.

[@shadowmonk7465]

Thanks!

[@nothx512]

Jim Lee' s X-Men should be made into an animated limited series...it was that good...X-Tinction Agenda, Avalon, etc

[@GitShiddy]

This was great felt very much like a Back Issues. But I do wish there was a proper GBU for X-Men # 1s, even just for context. That said it's still wide open to do Claremont's first X-Men book vs Morrison's X-Men vs Hickman's. That could be a divisive GBU.

[@allydrawsthings]

or compare all the 90s relaunches

[@davidserrano1766]

I loved this format. It seemed like a natural progression to the show and cast. They all know a lot more of the comic-verse. Love hearing their individual opinions.

[@pious83]

I don't know if you've covered a lot of early New Mutants. But Tiffany might be interested to see that Magneto's previous costume to "Big M" was Very Dr. Strange-like. I bought this when it first came out, even the exact cover on the episode. I remember wanting the Magneto cover, but that being the hardest to source. Looking back on it, Claremont is the weak link to the issue. In retrospect it reads very much like the verbose 60's issues. But this is definitely the point wherein "The Marvel Method" kicked into reverse. The writing in turn informing the art. But the art of X-Men only got bigger from here. Jim Lee to the Kuberts on Adjectiveless and JRJR to Joe Madureira on UXM. All exploded into prominence around this time.

[@spoogtastic]

LOVE IT! This was/is a fantastic idea and episode. Comicpop killing it!

[@stonekidman2306]

Betsy is the pilot, kwannon is the mech suit

[@PuffPuff903]

I also like the quieter moments and looks to the camera

[@PaulGonzalez-PhilOsyfee]

What a nice surprise!

[@kyleeartist2829]

I was in junior high when that book came out & was HEAVILY into the X-men comics. I bought both series & still happily have my copies in my long boxes. I cant say that X-men #1 is a perfect book but it is a great time-capsule for both the good and bad for the era.

[@omnibox4452]

Love this format for GBU!! So many key issues can be explored!!

[@LowellLucasJr.]

I friggin love this issue! Great art, great story and overall great spread! I looks at this as " The Artists issue" of comics: it just satisfies the eyes and desired storytelling!❤

[@coreymarko]

Yesssss GBU! And xmen style no less, love it

[@mbtoober]

@comicpopretuns I just discovered your channel, and 10 minutes in I like what I see, I have been an X-men fan and reader before the animated series, and before this book. Your video would go from good to great if you showed the comic book pages throughout the entire video, and you guys pop up about 10% of the time, while viewers enjoy the analysis, we are here for the book. Other channels have done similar videos, & it works so much better when you voiceover the visuals & gorgeous artwork. I paused 10 minutes in, maybe I am wrong, & the remaining 50 minutes you change to showing all comic book pages. If not, then in the future, this would be a great idea, since I assume you make these videos for the fans, and to get views. Anyway, I do No know your final conclusion yet, but this book was/is AWESOME, and if you were there when it released, it was a truly EPIC Experience! No doubt. Best of luck with your channel, and keep up the good work. From an old school fan, Until the X-men no longer exist, “make mine Marvel.” “Excelsior!”

[@The_Cold_Slither]

Jim Lee pretty much ruined me for other comic book artists for all the 90s.

[@prestonjeffers7306]

Oh cool, double back issues this week 😂

[@73rmin8r]

What the hell? 90s comic machinery is the best.

[@MeSpawn297]

This is just Back Issues with more steps! Lolol. Love this concept and love this issue. Got it back then and ruined it reading it over and over because I was a child and couldn't forsee what it would mean. But in my head this will forever be X-MEN.

[@leamondtaylor825]

Chris Claremont stories is what made the X-men, Jim Lee art was fantastic. But It takes art & story . . . . .

[@kbowie123]

Love this kind of content thank you very much Comic Pop

[@damienkakoschke3099]

Regarding the "popularity" of the book, it helped there were 5 covers ( I used to have the full gatefold cover). Also, regarding the Asteroid M over Russia thing, Magneto & Russia have a history, Magneto either destroyed or stole several of their nuclear submarines once).

[@DjMbezzle]

isn't an episode of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly with one comic just Back Issues? 🤔🤔

[@comicpopreturns]

Nope.

[@TheRealZubes]

No, because we all read it!

[@p4rt_t1me_g0d]

The reason behind the teams being labeled blue and gold is clearly based on the X-men's original uniform colors.

[@TevyaSmolka]

Great episode everyone and honestly for me yeah X-Men number 1 looking back at it yeah isn't really good and just feels like marvel was just trying focus way too much on the artwork that the story itself suffers if that makes any sense at least in my opinion.

[@adambuckley2270]

The Cerebro podcast made a better use of the term "Flatscan" than Fabien Cortez ever did

[@dearlydemented19ify]

Not sure how I missed this episode 😢 But I'm here now so let's go!

[@STRANGEANATOMYBAND]

I think I bought 3 or 4 different variant covers of this issue because I was a dumb kid and didn’t know any better. 😂

[@phillyvoodoo]

I bought all of the variant covers that piece together as one imams well as the one that folds out to that same poster

[@user-be7tc2bd6e]

That's why that single issue sold 8 million copies,those covers were done to appeal to kids and teens.

[@flywheelshyster]

Hells yas! Oh lordy did i love that run when i was ten lmao!

[@larsmothander9301]

They should have done Spider-man #1, X-Force #1 and X-Men #1 in a true good/bad/ugly.

[@MareoYapp]

Favorite moments 16:45 26:40 33:45 37:20

[@nigelflood7074]

Great show

[@Henchman_24]

Kind of sucks to think about how Claremont relinquished the x-men to Lee only for Lee to give it up within a year to make a knock off x-men at image.

[@kbar4462]

When i was little and first got into comics, they were pretty much handing out copies of #1 with bundle purchases at my LCS lol After re-reading it many, many years later, i think it holds up as a very, very well executed introduction issue to the franchise and new era

[@andrewheard3099]

Sal, your Batman shirt is sick! I want one 😍

[@leewinters8245]

Something i'll give the films credit for.. wolverine had no chance against magneto. That was realistic. Wolverine should lose to him every time.

[@Blakk_Wolf7]

What people tend to forget it's that X-Men #1 takes place after the X-Men & X-Factor. Long story short, the Blue team was away team. Gold team was the home team. Red was the British away team Excalibur team, and the X-Men Black Team were the teen team fka the New Mutants, and then X-Force AND NOT ” THE X-FORCE" EITHER! There's no such thing as "The X-Force". Typical Fox franchise telling nothing but lies about their franchise

[@user-be7tc2bd6e]

From what I've read,Claremont was pushed off the comic to make room for Jim Lee to take over-EVERYTHING.

[@adrianvelante8014]

30:51 don't forget Adam X!

[@ChristopherZubin]

8 million sold between maybe 2 million people

[@richardlegrand4697]

One of the first comics i ever read

[@serenityq26]

she wasnt 14. the youngest x-man in the og was bobby and he was like 15 so............jean was 17 when she joined the xmen and was over 18 when that "i love you" panel happened so..........

[@comicpopreturns]

www.cbr.com/x-men-main-characters-age/#jean-grey-is-among-the-oldest-of-the-x-men-s-first-class

[@shadowmonk7465]

Yes it is that good. The artwork is excellent by the 🐐 Jim Lee. The story is great by Chris Claremont. It holds up decades later. Matter of Fact MCU this is how you do Xmen in the movies. High octane action with good dialogue no agendas just straight up action. Xmen in the 80's the Marc Silvestri , Jim Lee and Chris Claremont Era was peak Xmen!! Also Xmen 1 is a conclusion to several plot threads that happened previously especially Uncanny Xmen 250. Magnetos turning against the Xmen was really hinted at with the Savage land Saga . Xmen 250 The Shiar war and Savage land Saga.

[@Blakk_Wolf7]

Mags let off an EMP above Russia, it wasn't a nuke

[@Nopeaceforme728]

I grew up with Jim Lee Comics it doesnt matter

[@Dakota-d4n]

I m cyclops fan because I have leaderships

[@fcm3d]

Nice gbu.

[@mikelmcknight72]

It is more than good. Much more. It was fantastic.

[@user-be7tc2bd6e]

AGREED.Cartoonist Kayfade and Linkara thought this was a-BAD-first issue for the X-Men. I didn't agree. LOL.