X-Men: First Class
Encyclopedia
X-Men: First Class is a comic book
series published by Marvel Comics
starring the X-Men
.
. It began in September 2006 and ended in April 2007. It was written by Jeff Parker and penciled by Roger Cruz
. It was followed by a special issue in May 2007 and a monthly series
that premiered in June 2007 with the same creative team.
Many of the series' stories are done in single issues, some are two-parters and multiple issue arcs. The original team of X-Men are wearing new costumes in the series. The series guest-stars many other characters, such as the Lizard
, Quicksilver
, Scarlet Witch
, Man-Thing
, Gorilla-Man
, Doctor Strange
, Invisible Woman
, and Thor
.
The series has spawned a few spin-offs, titles including the ongoing series Wolverine: First Class, and the miniseries Weapon X: First Class.
The ongoing series lasted sixteen issues and it was followed by Giant-Size X-Men: First Class special issue. Starting February 2009, a four issue miniseries
titled X-Men: First Class Finals will encompass volume 3. This ends with the team going on to the Krakoa
island mission.
A new volume called Uncanny X-Men: First Class premiered in the August 2009 one-shot Uncanny X-Men: First Class Giant-Sized. The new series will concentrate on the team first introduced originally back in Giant-Sized X-Men #1.
acts as a loose prequel to the X-Men film trilogy. Though it shares the same title as the comic series, the plots share almost no resemblance.
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
starring the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
.
Publication history
The original series was an eight-issue limited seriesLimited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
. It began in September 2006 and ended in April 2007. It was written by Jeff Parker and penciled by Roger Cruz
Roger Cruz
Roger Cruz is a Brazilian comic book artist.- Biography :Cruz started his professional career as a letterer for Editora Abril, the Brazilian publishing house, for whom he lettered many Portuguese translations of American comics; then worked as a writer and art assistant for Mil Perigos, a...
. It was followed by a special issue in May 2007 and a monthly series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
that premiered in June 2007 with the same creative team.
Many of the series' stories are done in single issues, some are two-parters and multiple issue arcs. The original team of X-Men are wearing new costumes in the series. The series guest-stars many other characters, such as the Lizard
Lizard (comics)
The Lizard is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe and enemy of Spider-Man. The Lizard first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #6 , and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko...
, Quicksilver
Quicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
, Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
, Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
, Gorilla-Man
Gorilla-Man
Gorilla-Man is the name of three fictional characters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. Ken Hale first appeared in Men's Adventures #26 , while Arthur Nagan first appeared in Mystery Tales #21 , and Franz Radzik first appeared in Tales to Astonish #28 .-Ken Hale:200px|thumb|left|Cover art...
, Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
, Invisible Woman
Invisible Woman
Susan "Sue" Storm Richards is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 in November 1961, and was the first female superhero created by Marvel in the Silver Age of Comics...
, and Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
.
The series has spawned a few spin-offs, titles including the ongoing series Wolverine: First Class, and the miniseries Weapon X: First Class.
The ongoing series lasted sixteen issues and it was followed by Giant-Size X-Men: First Class special issue. Starting February 2009, a four issue miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
titled X-Men: First Class Finals will encompass volume 3. This ends with the team going on to the Krakoa
Krakoa
Krakoa is a fictional character in Marvel Comics, commonly associated with the X-Men. It is a living island, an intelligent ecosystem able to command all the living things native to its island body, and even its terrain...
island mission.
A new volume called Uncanny X-Men: First Class premiered in the August 2009 one-shot Uncanny X-Men: First Class Giant-Sized. The new series will concentrate on the team first introduced originally back in Giant-Sized X-Men #1.
Lineups
- 1-8: Angel, BeastBeast (comics)Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
, CyclopsCyclops (comics)Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
, IcemanIceman (comics)Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
, Jean GreyJean GreyJean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
, Professor XProfessor XProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men.... - Special: Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Dragon ManDragon ManDragon Man is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe. He is an artificial dragon-like humanoid android who was animated via alchemy. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #35 ....
, Iceman, Jean Grey, Professor X - 1-12: Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Jean Grey, Professor X
- 13-14: Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Jean Grey, Machine ManMachine ManMachine Man is a fictional character, an android superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character was created by Jack Kirby for 2001: A Space Odyssey #8 , a comic written and drawn by Kirby featuring concepts based on the eponymous Stanley Kubrick film and Arthur C. Clarke novel...
, Professor X - 15: Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Jean Grey, MedusaMedusa (comics)Medusa is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Medusa first appeared in Fantastic Four #36 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
, Professor X - 16: Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Jean Grey, Professor X
Creative teams
- X-Men: First Class (vol. 1)
- Writer: Jeff Parker
- Pencils: Roger Cruz
- Inks: Victor Olazaba
- Colored by: Val Staples
- Lettered by: Nate Piekos
- Cover by: Marko DjurdjevicMarko DjurdjevicMarko Djurdjević is a German illustrator and concept artist of Serbian descent, best known for his character designs. He currently works for Marvel Comics, and has produced a large body of cover art, as well as promotional designs, character concepts, and interior artwork...
- X-Men: First Class Special
- Writer: Jeff Parker
- Pencils: Kevin NowlanKevin NowlanKevin Nowlan is an American comic-book artist who works as penciler, inker, colorist and letterer.He has been called "one of the few artists who can be called 'artists's artist'", a master of the various disciplines of comic production, from "design to draftsmanship to dramatics".-Biography:Kevin...
, Paul SmithPaul Smith (comics)Paul Smith is an American comic book artist.-Early life:Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but only lived there three days. His father was a U.S. Naval aviator, and the family moved several times during his childhood...
, Mike Allred, Nick Dragotta - Inks: Kevin Nowlan
- Colored by: Kevin Nowlan
- Lettered by: Nate Piekos
- X-Men: First Class (vol. 2)
- Writer: Jeff Parker
- Pencils and Inks: Roger Cruz
- Colored by: Val Staples
- Lettered by: Nate Piekos
- Cover by: Eric Nguyen
Film
The 2011 film X-Men: First ClassX-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics starring the X-Men.-Publication history:The original series was an eight-issue limited series. It began in September 2006 and ended in April 2007. It was written by Jeff Parker and penciled by Roger Cruz...
acts as a loose prequel to the X-Men film trilogy. Though it shares the same title as the comic series, the plots share almost no resemblance.
Publications
- X-Men: First Class (vol. 1) (8-issue limited seriesLimited seriesA limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, September 2006 - April 2007) - X-Men: First Class Special (one-shot, May 2007)
- X-Men: First Class (vol. 2) #1-16 (ongoing seriesOngoing seriesThe term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
, June 2007 - November 2008) - Giant Size X-Men: First Class #1 (one-shot, November 2008)
- X-Men: First Class Finals #1-4 (February - May 2009)
- Giant Size Uncanny X-Men: First Class #1 (one-shot, August 2009)
- Uncanny X-Men: First Class #1-8 (September 2009 - April 2010)
- Wolverine: First Class #1-21 (ongoing seriesOngoing seriesThe term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
, May 2008 - January 2010) - Weapon X: First Class #1-3 (January - March 2009)
- Weapon X: First Class Gambit #1
Collected editions
The stories are being collected into trade paperbacksTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
| Title | Material collected | Pages | ISBN# |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomorrow's Brightest | X-Men: First Class vol. 1 #1-8 | 184 | ISBN 0-7851-2427-6 |
| Mutant Mayhem | X-Men: First Class vol. 2 #1-5 and Special | 152 | ISBN 0-7851-2781-X |
| Band of Brothers | X-Men: First Class vol. 2 #6-10 | 192 | ISBN 0-7851-2599-X |
| The Wonder Years | X-Men: First Class vol. 2 #11-16 and Giant-Size X-Men: First Class #1 | 168 | ISBN 0-7851-3347-X |
| Finals | X-Men: First Class Finals #1-4 and Giant-Size X-Men vol. 1 #1 | 136 | ISBN 0-7851-3348-8 |
| Hated And Feared | Giant-Size Uncanny X-Men: First Class and Uncanny X-Men: First Class #1-4 | 136 | ISBN 0-7851-4104-9 |
| Knights Of Hykon | Uncanny X-Men: First Class #5-8 | 136 | ISBN 0-7851-4237-1 |
| The Rookie | Wolverine: First Class #1-4, plus a classic Wolverine reprint | 120 | ISBN 0-7851-3316-X |
| To Russia, With Love | Wolverine: First Class #5-8, and Uncanny X-Men #139-140 | 160 | ISBN 0-7851-3317-8 |
| Wolverine-By-Night | Wolverine: First Class #9-12 | 120 | ISBN 0-7851-3534-0 |
| Ninjas, Gods And Divas | Wolverine: First Class #13-16, and FCBD 2009 | 120 | ISBN 0-7851-3535-9 |
| Class Actions | Wolverine: First Class #17-21 | 120 | ISBN 0-7851-3678-9 |
External links
- News on X-Men: First Class (vol. 2) on Marvel.com
- Details of X-Men: First Class collection on Marvel.com
- Josh Schwartz to Write X-Men: First Class Film
- X-POSITION: First Class interview with Fred Van Lente and Jeff Parker