Giant-Size X-Men

Giant-Size X-Men #1 was a special issue of the "X-Men" comic book series, published by Marvel Comics in 1975. It was written by Len Wein and illustrated by Dave Cockrum. Though not a regular issue, it contained the first new X-Men story in five years, titled "Second Genesis". The issue serves as a link between the original X-Men and a new team. Chronologically it is placed after "X-Men" #66 and before "X-Men" #94. The 68-page book was published with a May 1975 cover date and distributed to newsstands in February of that year.
Publication history.
The "X-Men" title stopped producing new stories after #66 in March 1970. From December 1970 through April 1975, Marvel reprinted many of the older X-Men issues as #67–93. Following the May publication of "Giant-Size X-Men" #1, Marvel began again publishing new issues of "X-Men" with #94 in August 1975.
The comic also collects reprints from "X-Men" #43, #47 and #57.
Plot.
The story opens "in medias res", with Professor X recruiting a new team of X-Men, to rescue the original X-Men (Marvel Girl, Iceman and Angel [but not Beast, who had left the team], plus X-Men recruits Havok and Polaris), who had disappeared on a mission to the island of Krakoa, with only their leader Cyclops escaping. The new team consists of Sunfire and Banshee, who had been introduced in earlier "X-Men" comics; Wolverine, who had made his first appearance in "The Incredible Hulk" #181 (Oct. 1974); and the newly created Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Thunderbird. These members are gathered from all over the world, and Professor X uses his telepathic powers to teach them all English so that they can communicate with each other.
The team soon learns that Krakoa is not just an island, but a giant mutant as well. Despite a number of personality clashes among the individual members, the new team succeeds in rescuing the old X-Men as well as destroying the island by shooting it into outer space with Polaris' power. The issue ends by posing the question of the future of a 13-member X-Men team.
The later storyline offers a ret-con of this story, which tells how Professor X had initially recruited a different team before the events in the title who failed.
Reprint.
The "Second Genesis" story was reprinted in "Classic X-Men" #1 in September 1986, with substantial editing to reduce its length, and a new backup story by Claremont and John Bolton bridging the gap between this and the following issue, "Uncanny X-Men" #94.
Other issues.
Marvel published a second issue of "Giant-Size X-Men" later in 1975. This November issue had no new material, instead featuring reprints of stories from "X-Men" #57, #58, and #59, written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Neal Adams.
In 2005, Marvel published two new "Giant Size X-Men" issues to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original. Issue #3 in July contained a story written by Joss Whedon and illustrated by Neal Adams. The issue also reprinted several older X-Men team-ups: the group's appearance in "Fantastic Four" #28, an Avengers guest appearance in "X-Men" #9 and a story featuring Spider-Man in "X-Men" #35. In November, Chris Claremont penned a story for issue #4, with artwork by Adams. It also reprinted material related to the death of Thunderbird from "X-Men" #94-95, "Classic X-Men" #3 and "Uncanny X-Men" #193.
Dawn of X.
Five "Giant Size X-Men" one-shots, all written by Jonathan Hickman, were released as part of Marvel's 2019 Dawn of X relaunch of its "X-Men" books between February and September 2020. The first, "Giant Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost", was drawn by Russell Dauterman and colored by Matt Wilson. The second, "Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler", was drawn by Alan Davis and colored by Carlos Lopez. The third, "Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto", was drawn by Ramon Perez and colored by David Curiel. The fourth, "Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex", was drawn and colored by Rod Reis. The fifth, "Giant-Size X-Men: Storm", was drawn by Dauterman and colored by Wilson.