The X-Men #8, November 1964 [published 1 Sept 64]  Yeah! I bought this one off the racks!
“The Uncanny Threat of Unus the Untouchable” - 20pp - Script: Stan Lee; Art: Jack Kirby; Inking: Chic Stone; Lettering: Sam Rosen

Has anyone noticed that both the X-Men and the Avengers split up the same month. The Beast leaves the X-Men and Capt. America leaves (or appears to leave) the Avengers!

As Deputy Leader, Cyclops is more unsavory than usual. And his mooning over Jean is just gutless. The Beast is right. Scott was becoming drunk with power, and it would NEVER end! *SIGH!*

As to Jean’s mooning over Scott? Remember it didn’t begin until he became deputy leader; so so cliché!

Notice that Iceman is “see-through” on the last panel of page 2. It’s too bad nothing was ever done with that!

The scene I’m going to insert below is one of the best scenes from the ’60s X-Men, perhaps from any Silver Age Marvel. The X-Men, and humanity’s prejudice against mutants, were a thinly disguised metaphor for the civil rights movement. And here the anti-mutant prejudice of mere homo sapiens is demonstrated to the max! This is a great scene; it illustrates this metaphor perfectly!





I could pick some nits with this scene, but I’ll just leave it alone. It is a powerfully drawn and written segment.

We see, in this issue, the first mention of Lucifer. I have to admit the name didn’t ring any bells for me; but Stan could have been a lot more original.

I love the Beast’s entourage; they are so over the top!

As to Unus having an offensive power? (1) He obviously works out, and (2) if my proposition is correct, and an average mutant is stronger than an average human, then Unus would have some degree of super-human strength! Note that Cyclops refers to Unus as a muscleman on page 12. On page 14 he is able to shatter Iceman’s ice-cage and Bobby reflects that Unus is nearly as strong as the Beast.

Page 9: Ex-arch enemy? Why ex?

The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants plays a roll in this story too; but, using some restraint, Stan and Jack only show us Mastermind.

Page 11: the circuitous route of that one bullet is just too unbelievable. Also, on this page Scott mentions Cerebro. In a later issue he will act like it’s a secret kept from the other X-Men.

More dialogue that doesn’t match the picture. On page 13 Cyclops tells Marvel Girl to put him down by Unus, but she doesn’t.

On page 15 Warren reflects on their oath not to harm anyone with their powers. I believe this is the first mention of this.

As to the Beast’s “weapon”: again Stan Lee’s scientists seem to be able to work across disciplines.

Have his cake and eat itindeed! Exactly what Unus was not able to do in this story! Notice that Unus says he wasn’t cut out to be an adventurer. He didn’t view his goals as being criminal or immoral.

In the lettercol there is some discussion as to whether the Sub-Mariner is a mutant, a cross, or a hybrid. I stand by my earlier remarks. Also in the lettercol it’s mentioned that Marvel headquarters has moved to a new address.

Anarchy and Chaos are the natural state of the human race. Civilization is unnatural. It is a whim of circumstance. And Chaos must always ultimately triumph.
Last Edited By: Joseph William Marek Aug 16 12 3:39 AM. Edited 9 times.