X-Men Vol. 1 (1991–2008): The Record-Breaking Series From Jim Lee to New X-Men
X-Men Vol. 1 (1991–2008): The Record-Breaking Series From Jim Lee to New X-Men
The best-selling single comic of all time, the team that inspired a generation of cartoons, and a later run that rewrote what mutants could be. Here's our guide to the 1991 X-Men series.
In 1991 the X-Men were Marvel's biggest property, and the publisher gave them a second monthly title alongside Uncanny X-Men, simply called X-Men. Written by Chris Claremont and co-plotted and drawn by Jim Lee, its first issue became the best-selling comic book in history. The series then ran for more than 200 issues, through Fatal Attractions, Onslaught and Grant Morrison's New X-Men, before becoming X-Men: Legacy in 2008.
In our shop the series is listed as X-Men, Vol. 1, and we have one of our deepest runs of it from the early 90s. Here's a guide to its history, creators and key issues.
X-Men Vol. 1 at a glance
- Publisher: Marvel Comics
- Run: #1 cover-dated October 1991; renamed X-Men: Legacy from #208 in 2008
- Launch team: Chris Claremont and Jim Lee
- Later writers: Fabian Nicieza, Scott Lobdell, Mark Waid, Joe Kelly, Grant Morrison, Chuck Austen, Peter Milligan, Mike Carey
- Notable artists: Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, Adam Kubert, Carlos Pacheco, Frank Quitely, Igor Kordey, Salvador Larroca, Chris Bachalo
- Record: X-Men #1 is the best-selling single comic book issue, at 8.1 million copies
- Retitled: New X-Men from #114 to #156
- On screen: Inspired X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97
The launch: a comic that sold 8 million copies
X-Men #1 arrived in the summer of 1991 with a cover date of October. Marvel released it with five different covers, four by Jim Lee that join into one image, plus a fold-out gatefold edition, and the speculator boom of the early 90s did the rest. Guinness World Records lists it as the best-selling single edition comic book, with 8.1 million copies sold.
The issue split the X-Men into two teams, Blue and Gold, introduced Magneto's devoted followers the Acolytes, and set Magneto against the X-Men once again. The Blue Team, led by Cyclops with Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Psylocke, Beast and Jubilee, became the face of the X-Men for a generation.
The original team didn't last long. Claremont left after #3, ending his historic run with the X-Men, and Jim Lee left after #11 to help found Image Comics. Writers such as Fabian Nicieza, John Byrne and Scott Lobdell carried the book on.
Eras of the series
| Issues | Era | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| #1–11 | Claremont and Jim Lee | The record-breaking launch, Omega Red, Maverick and the Blue Team |
| #12–40s | Nicieza, Lobdell and Andy Kubert | X-Cutioner's Song, Fatal Attractions, the wedding of Cyclops and Jean Grey |
| #40s–60s | Lobdell, Waid and Kubert | Age of Apocalypse, Onslaught and #-1 |
| #70s–113 | Joe Kelly and others | Late-90s stories and the 2000 #100 |
| #114–156 | New X-Men | Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely and Igor Kordey reinvent the X-Men |
| #157–207 | Austen, Milligan and Carey | The title reverts to X-Men in X-Men: ReLoad; Mike Carey's run from #188 leads into Messiah Complex |
The 90s crossovers
The early run is built around huge X-Men crossovers. X-Cutioner's Song (#14 to #16 in this series) begins with Stryfe, disguised as Cable, shooting Professor X. For the X-Men's 30th anniversary, Fatal Attractions gave us the moment in X-Men #25 (October 1993) when Magneto tears the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton. In 1995 the series paused briefly to make way for Age of Apocalypse, with Amazing X-Men taking its place, and in 1996 #53 gave the first full appearance of Onslaught.
New X-Men: Morrison and Quitely
From #114 in 2001, the series was retitled New X-Men with an ambigram logo, and Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely took the X-Men in a sleek new direction. #114 introduced Cassandra Nova, #115 brought the destruction of Genosha and the first appearance of Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and #128 introduced Fantomex, created by Morrison and Igor Kordey. The title went back to plain X-Men at #157 for X-Men: ReLoad.
Key issues for collectors
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | October 1991 | Best-selling comic of all time; first appearance of the Acolytes; Blue and Gold teams |
| #4 | January 1992 | First appearance of Omega Red |
| #5 | 1992 | First appearance of Maverick |
| #6 | March 1992 | First appearance of Birdy |
| #8 | May 1992 | First appearance of Bella Donna Boudreaux |
| #11 | August 1992 | Jim Lee's last issue on the series |
| #25 | October 1993 | Fatal Attractions: Magneto rips out Wolverine's adamantium; Andy Kubert cover |
| #30 | March 1994 | The wedding of Scott Summers and Jean Grey |
| #53 | June 1996 | First full appearance of Onslaught |
| #-1 | July 1997 | Flashback Month: Xavier and Magneto, by Scott Lobdell and Carlos Pacheco |
| #114 | July 2001 | New X-Men begins; first appearance of Cassandra Nova |
| #115 | August 2001 | Genosha destroyed; first appearance of Negasonic Teenage Warhead |
| #128 | August 2002 | First appearance of Fantomex |
| #207 | March 2008 | The last issue before the X-Men: Legacy title |
Curiosities collectors should know
Plenty of #1s to go round
Because of its huge print run, X-Men #1 is common in high grade. Its value is as a piece of history rather than a rare key, which makes it a great first purchase for new collectors.
Five covers, one picture
Covers 1A to 1D connect into one Jim Lee image, and 1E is a gatefold that opens out to show the whole lot.
A facsimile wedding
#30, the wedding of Cyclops and Jean Grey, has been reissued as a facsimile edition, so check which version you're buying.
Two volumes, one name
Because Uncanny X-Men began life as The X-Men in 1963, some references number this 1991 series differently. We list it as X-Men, Vol. 1.
X-Men beyond the page
X-Men: The Animated Series premiered on Fox Kids on 31 October 1992 with a team modelled on Jim Lee's early-90s line-up from this series, and it shaped how a whole generation pictured the X-Men. Its revival, X-Men '97, began on Disney+ in March 2024, and one of its biggest episodes adapts the Fatal Attractions moment from #25. Negasonic Teenage Warhead, created in #115, later reached a wider audience in a very different form in the Deadpool films.
Where to start reading X-Men
- #1 to #3, for Claremont and Lee's launch.
- #4 to #11, for Omega Red, Maverick and the Blue Team in its prime.
- #25, for Fatal Attractions.
- #114, for Morrison and Quitely's New X-Men.
- #188, for Mike Carey's run.
For the other side of the X-Men story, see our guides to Uncanny X-Men, X-Force and Wolverine Vol. 2.
X-Men Vol. 1 covers through the years
A look at some of the covers from the run. Tap a cover to see what we have on the shelf.
#1
#4
#5
#6
#8
#11
#12
#17
#24
#25
#30
#36
#41
#53
#54
#100
#114
#115
#118
#128
#132
#139
#150
#185
#188
#205
Browse our X-Men Vol. 1 back issues
These are some of the X-Men Vol. 1 issues currently in stock. Every copy is photographed so you can check its condition before buying.
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#1
X-Men #1: Rubicon
Claremont and Lee's launch, the Blue and Gold teams, and the first appearance of the Acolytes.
View our copy -
#4
X-Men #4: The Resurrection and the Flesh
The first appearance of the Russian super-soldier Omega Red.
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#5
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#6
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#8
X-Men #8: Tooth and Claw
The first appearance of Bella Donna Boudreaux, Gambit's former wife.
View our copy -
#11
X-Men #11: The X-Men Vs. The X-Men! (Again)
A classic Jim Lee cover and his farewell to the series.
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#25
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#132
We also have these issues of the series in stock:
You can also search all our X-Men comics.
Keep exploring our comic history guides
Frequently asked questions about X-Men Vol. 1
Is X-Men #1 (1991) the best-selling comic of all time?
Yes. Guinness World Records lists X-Men #1 as the best-selling single edition comic book, with 8.1 million copies sold.
Who created X-Men #1 (1991)?
Chris Claremont and Jim Lee co-wrote the issue, with Jim Lee on art and covers.
How many covers does X-Men #1 have?
Five: four connecting Jim Lee covers and a gatefold edition that shows the full image.
Which issue of X-Men has the first appearance of Omega Red?
X-Men #4, cover-dated January 1992.
What happens in X-Men #25?
In the Fatal Attractions crossover, Magneto tears the adamantium out of Wolverine's skeleton.
When did X-Men become New X-Men?
With #114 in 2001, when Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely took over. The title went back to X-Men at #157.
What did the series become in 2008?
From #208 it was renamed X-Men: Legacy.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have X-Men Vol. 1 comics of your own? See how to sell your comics to Siomic Comics. X-Men and all related characters are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. Cover images are shown for reference.