X-Men (first series) #5
May 1964

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STORY: "Trapped: One X-Man" (24 pages)  The Brotherhood capture the Angel, but the X-Men travel to Asteroid M and rescue him.

What you need to know:
Xavier does his "Only fooling, I've still got my powers really!" routine in order to prove that the X-Men can get by without him.  Apparently this is their "final exam".

If you're into very minor supporting characters, you'll be thrilled to know that this issue features the debut of Jean Grey's parents.  They don't turn up again for another 99 issues, and they're not actually given first names until issue #105.

Asteroid M, Magneto's satellite base, turns up for the first time.  In this issue, it appears to be a genuine asteroid which he's customised for his purposes.

The Toad nearly gets lynched after entering a track meet and using his powers to win (as a scheme to draw the X-Men's attention).  It's the first time the book really plays on the idea of humans fearing and hating mutants.

We establish that Scott can fire his optic beam without actually operating the visor by hand.  (If you find this sort of thing exciting, it's later revealed that he spent a while using buttons in his gloves to trigger the visor, and after that he shifted to some sort of cybernetic device.)

The Toad is so devoted to Magneto that he simply leads the X-Men right back to Magneto's base, even though that wasn't meant to be the plan.

Quicksilver is still standing up to Magneto and playing the conflicted villain.

A more innocent time:
The Scarlet Witch is shocked that Magneto would consider murder.  Evidently she's already forgotten that he was planning to nuke an entire country last issue.  Or that he's a lunatic supervillain who wants to conquer the world, come to think of it.

It's safe to travel through the vacuum of space protected only by "a tubular ice bridge."  The bridge will keep out "the bitter cold."

Comments:
Hmm.  Two issues in a row of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and a plot that kind of wanders around in circles without really going anywhere in particular.  And boy, that "final exam" stuff is corny.

Mind you, it's got Asteroid M in it.  But all told, it's a bit repetitive, coming straight on the heels of the Brotherhood's introduction.  It doesn't really add anything that issue #4 didn't already cover.


FEATURE CHARACTERS
Professor X, Iceman, the Angel, Marvel Girl I
(all between pages in Strange Tales #120), Cyclops and the Beast (all next in Fantastic Four vol 1 #28, then all but Professor X in Marvels #2)

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
John Grey
(Jean's father; first appearance; last in issue #-1; next in issue #104)
Elaine Grey (Jean's mother; first appearance; last in flashback in the Phoenix story in Bizarre Adventures #27; next in issue #104)

VILLAIN
The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants I: Magneto, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, the Toad
and Mastermind I

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Copyright 2004 Paul O'Brien.  This web site is a work of critical comment and review. All characters and publications referred to, and artwork reproduced, are ™ and © their respective owners.
 

X-MEN
(first series) #5
Marvel Comics
May 1964
$0.12 US

Cover by Jack Kirby (penciller) and Paul Reinman (inker)

"Trapped:
One X-Man"
Co-plotter, scripter,
editor: Stan Lee
Co-plotter, penciller:
Jack Kirby
Inker: Paul Reinman
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Colourist: not credited