Giant-Size X-Men Comics Made Some Impactful Changes, But These 10 Stand Out

[[{“value”:”

Among the many superhero teams in comics, few are as iconic as the X-Men. While the mutants are known worldwide as one of the best superhero teams in comics, the team almost died off before they were able to become comic book superstars. It wasn’t until Len Wein and Dave Cockrum’s 1975 Giant-Size X-Men revitalized the franchise that readers would begin to see the potential in Marvel’s team of mutants.

Wein and Cockrum’s Giant-Size X-Men #1 introduced readers to a brand-new roster of characters that captured their imagination and brought the X-Men into the premier leagues of superhero comics. Along with a brand-new team, Giant-Size X-Men had many profound impacts that changed the world of the X-Men forever and made them the team they are today. Throughout the years, there have been several Giant-Size issues for the X-Men that have all had an impact on the future of mutants.

10

Out With The Old, In With The New

The X-Men needed a complete overhaul

When the X-Men were first introduced in 1963’s X-Men #1 (by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Paul Reinman, and Sam Rosen), readers weren’t quite sure what to make of the Marvel mutants. Failing to live up to the height of The Fantastic Four, it wasn’t until the Giant-Size X-Men team made their debut did people started to really take notice. Featuring nearly all new characters, the roster brought new life into the team with their new and often conflicting dynamics.

Featuring Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Thunderbird, and Banshee, the new team captured the public’s imagination and opened their eyes to the mutants’ potential. While the introduction of the new team was a no-lose situation for Marvel as the title was already dead, it’s strange to think that this issue was the defining moment that could have killed the team forever.

9

Giant-Size Represented Everyone

One of the defining traits of the X-Men began in Giant-Size #1

Along with the team being comprised of all new characters, the new members also focused on diversity and representing people from all walks of life. Whether Canadian, Russian, or blue-skinned demon person, everyone had a place in the X-Men. This not only created interesting dynamics between the team’s members but also defined what the X-Men would and should be.

Showcasing diversity and the things that connect us all is one of the defining characteristics that separates the X-Men from other superhero teams. Despite every member coming from a different part of the world and having different experiences, they were all in the same fight, and only together would they ever be able to stand a chance. These themes are at the very core of what it means to be an X-Man and would inform every decision the title made moving forward.

8

Wolverine Became A Household Name

Marvel’s most popular mutant had his breakout in Giant-Size

While Wolverine first appeared in 1974’s The Incredible Hulk #181 (by Len Wein, Herb Trimpe, Jack Abel, Glynis Wein, and Artie Simek), it wasn’t until Giant-Size X-Men that he became a real character. Being revealed that Wolverine was a mutant, his joining of the X-Men was a rocky start for the team, but an instant hit with the fans. Wolverine’s rough and violent nature, contrasting with the other members of the team, made him a true standout and paved the way for him to become one of Marvel’s most popular characters.

Today, it’s impossible to say X-Men without thinking of Wolverine and his iconic claws. The character was the loud and explosive member the team needed to capture readers’ attention and make them stay with its multilayered storytelling and captivating team dynamics. The issue not only gave Wolverine a home, but it also gave the character a backstory and molded him into the lovable killing machine fans know today.

7

2022’s Giant-Size X-Men Fixed A Major Mistake

Jonathan Proudstar gets his redemption

The new team that Len Wein and Dave Cockrum introduced in the original Giant-Size X-Men was one of the most impactful changes in comics history, but one member was never meant to see their success. Introducing John Proudstar as the mutant, Thunderbird, Proudstar was killed in the team’s second mission together. Being created purely for shock value, Thunderbird returned to comics a few times after his death, but was one of the few characters that remained fully dead.

However, 2022’s Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird (by Nyla Rose, Steve Orlando, David Cutler, José Marzan Jr., Roberto Poggi, Irma Kniivila, and Travis Lanham) saw writer Steve Orlando correct past mistakes and give John Proudstar his opportunity to shine. Once the island nation of Krakoa was established, the mutants began resurrecting past members, including Thunderbird, who had been dead for almost 50 years. Following Proudstar as he comes to terms with his place in the new world, Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird made a huge impact on the world of the X-Men by bringing back one of the original members who was left behind and allowing Thunderbird to reach his potential.

6

Giant-Size Puts The Team First

Drama between the team members became a staple of the X-Men

While the X-Men had an all-new team to bring them into the spotlight, that didn’t mean they had to like it. The team did not get off on the right foot, and many of the members found themselves arguing even before their first mission. It wasn’t until the death of Thunderbird in X-Men #95 (by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Sam Grainger, Karen Mantlo, and Petra Goldberg) that the team really started to come together. These shifty dynamics between the team members would later become a staple of the X-Men comics that is still prominent today.

While the team goes on countless superhero adventures and faces off against supervillains, the X-Men is a soap opera more than anything else. Among all the mutants’ amazing powers, they are flawed and messy just like us, and focusing on these qualities between them makes the team feel real and relatable. Whether it’s relationships, supervillains, or just trying to make it through the day, putting the characters and their relationships first is a defining quality of what makes the X-Men so uniquely captivating.

5

Storm Paves The Way For Women of The X-Men

Ororo Monroe stormed into the lead

Among the new characters introduced to the X-Men roster was Storm. A powerful mutant with control over all forms of weather, and was considered a goddess in Africa. After being recruited by Xavier to become a member of the X-Men, Storm immediately took on a leadership position and didn’t allow herself to be looked at as any less than her male teammates by anyone.

While not the first woman to join the X-Men, Storm was the first to take a prominent position in the group. She paved the way for other women in the X-Men to shine and be staples of every iteration of the X-Men moving forward. Not only was Storm on the team, but she was put up front and center, being featured on the cover right next to Wolverine. While it may seem strange today, this was not a common thing at the time, and Storm’s leadership and grace opened many doors for more women characters to hold stronger roles in superhero comics.

4

2011’s Giant-Size Issue Tipped The Power Scales

A new powerful cosmic species emerges

Taking a different direction than past Giant-Size issues, 2011’s X-Men: Giant-Size #1 (by Christopher Yost, Paco Medina, Dalibor Talajic, Juan Vlasco, Marte Gracia, Will Quintana, and Joe Caramagna) introduced readers to the Evolutionaries. Created by the Eternal Phastos 2.7 million years ago, the Evolutionaries are a race that existed before humans, who were gifted with cosmic-powered armor. Increasing their intelligence and allowing them to hibernate throughout the evolutionary cycle, the Evolutionaries were tasked with protecting the most developed species in the evolution timeline.

X-Men: Giant-Size introduced the powerful new characters when they encountered the original team of X-Men and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants after re-emerging to ensure the mutants’ survival. Despite good intentions, the Evolutionaries and the X-Men clash with them, reluctantly leaving and wiping the team’s minds of the encounter. While the Evolutionaries have yet to be fully utilized, they are a very powerful new player in the Marvel universe who have some personal beef with the X-Men and could still be a powerful threat.

3

Ms. Marvel’s Adventure Through Giant-Size X-Men

Marvel’s newest mutant gets a crash course in X-Men history

Celebrating 50 years since the original Giant-Size X-Men, 2025’s Giant-Size X-Men (by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Adam Kubert, and Laura Martin) finds the newest addition to Marvel’s mutants, Kamala Khan, caught in a time-travel adventure through all the X-Men’s greatest hits. The first issue sees Kamala becoming involved in the events of the original Giant-Size X-Men as she helps the newly formed team battle Krakoa as well as Xavier’s son, Legion, whose infinite personalities are wreaking havoc on the X-Men timeline.

While the series is still currently unfolding, the first two issues of 2025’s Giant-Size X-Men are already making some big impacts on the world of mutants. Much like the original Giant-Size saw the introduction of a new team, 2025’s Giant-Size sees a new introduction of Kamala as she fully steps into her role as a mutant, much like the original team stepped into their roles as X-Men. Not only a celebration of X-Men history, but the series also cleverly allows Kamala to impact the history of the X-Men without actually changing it, such as it being revealed that Kamala is the reason Krakoa came back to Earth after being freed from the Stranger.

2

1975’s Giant-Size Established the Tone of the X-Men

Giant-Size created the blueprint for what the X-Men could be

While the X-Men had relative success in their early days, the team’s early adventures were a product of their time and featured the non-linear and sporadic storytelling style common to the Silver Age. Being the first new X-Men story in five years, Giant-Size had the monumental task of not just introducing a new team but also the new direction the title would be heading. Giant-Size quickly established what this new era of the X-Men would be and crafted the foundations for nearly every other X story that followed.

While it would still be a couple of years until the title reached wider audiences outside its core fan base, the legendary one-shot was the beginning of the structure and tone that was later perfected by writers such as Claremont and Grant Morrison. With the new team in place, the dynamics between them became the focal point of the entire issue and would remain as one of the key factors to the team’s later success.

1

There Would Be No X-Men Without Giant-Size #1

The issue may be one of the most important in comic history

The X-Men have had a very long history and have seen more iterations than nearly every other Marvel property. Even with their place firmly cemented in Marvel’s pantheon, none of it would have been possible without Giant-Size #1. The one-shot issue was a massive swing, but one of the biggest payoffs in Marvel history that led to one of their most successful titles ever.

Whether it’s the Dark Phoenix Saga, Age of Apocalypse, or Hickman’s Krakoa era, all have the foundations set by Giant-Size at their core. The X-Men roster has changed more times than can be counted and still, the Giant-Size team remains its most popular and recognizable group. After Chris Claremont picked up the pieces left by Wein and expanded on the themes he had set in place, the X-Men were off to the races and birthed one of the biggest franchises in comic book history.

“}]] First introduced in 1963, the X-Men didn’t find their footing until Giant-Size X-Men changed the team forever and made them Marvel’s premier team.  Read More