X-Men #1
X-Men #1 (Marvel France, 1ère série, February 1997) marks the formal launch of Marvel France's dedicated X-Men monthly anthology under the new Panini-aligned Marvel France imprint, giving French-speaking readers their own numbered, standalone X-Men periodical for the first time in that publishing era. Arriving in the immediate aftermath of the Onslaught crossover, it introduced French readers to the reshuffled post-Onslaught X-roster — including the Generation X cast (Chamber, Skin, Husk, Synch, M) alongside the classic team — at a pivotal moment of transition in the mutant line. Its 96-page omnibus format, gathering material from multiple concurrent US series (Uncanny X-Men, X-Men vol. 2, Excalibur, X-Man), set the editorial template that Marvel France would follow throughout the series run and into the Operation: Zero Tolerance era that dominated late 1997.
In "Epreuve du feu," Jean Grey arrives at Xavier's school and joins the X-Men, marking a pivotal moment in the team's evolving story. Sent on their first mission together, the mutants face off against Magneto, who threatens a military airbase, testing their unity and resolve. Written by Fred Schiller and Nicole Duclos, with dynamic art by Jan Duursema and inks by Rick Magyar and Mike Sellers, this 1997 issue features a striking cover by Claudio Castellini.
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The issue was published in February 1997 (dépôt légal 02/1997) by Marvel France, the French-market imprint operating under the broader Panini group's Marvel licensing umbrella. Like all issues in the series, it carries collective writer and artist credits, reflecting its anthology nature: the contents are French-translated reprints of US Marvel material originally published in late 1996 and early 1997, principally from Uncanny X-Men #339 (Scott Lobdell / Adam Kubert), X-Men vol. 2 #61 (Scott Lobdell / Cedric Nocon), Excalibur #105 (Keith Giffen / Bryan Hitch / Paul Neary), and X-Man #22 (Terry Kavanagh / Roger Cruz), presented in full color in the standard comics format for the French kiosque market. A companion anthology, X-Men Saga, launched the same month, suggesting a coordinated Marvel France push to give the X-line wider French-market coverage in early 1997.
Trivia · 7 facts
- Published by Marvel France (Panini imprint) with a dépôt légal of February 1997; this is issue #1 of the first dedicated X-Men monthly series launched by Marvel France under that imprint.
- 96-page, full-color (quadrichromie), standard comics format anthology — a multi-title reprint package gathering several concurrent US X-Men series into one French periodical.
- Primary US source material for this inaugural issue includes Uncanny X-Men #339 ('Fight and Flight!' – Lobdell / Adam Kubert / Cedric Nocon) and X-Men vol. 2 #61 ('Bolt' – Lobdell / Cedric Nocon), set in the immediate post-Onslaught continuity.
- Additional reprinted content drawn from Excalibur #105 (Keith Giffen / Bryan Hitch / Paul Neary) and X-Man #22 (Terry Kavanagh / Roger Cruz), reflecting the breadth of the X-franchise at the time.
- The issue's character roster spans both the classic X-Men (Cyclops/Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Wolverine/Logan, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Colossus/Peter Rasputin, Rogue/Anna Marie, Gambit/Remy LeBeau, Psylocke/Betsy Braddock, Bishop/Lucas Bishop, Iceman/Bobby Drake, Beast/Hank McCoy, Archangel/Warren Worthington III) and the Generation X team (Chamber/Jonothon Starsmore, Skin/Angelo Espinosa, Husk/Paige Guthrie, Synch/Everett Thomas, M/Monet St. Croix, Jubilee/Jubilation Lee), reflecting the multi-series anthology structure.
- Shi'ar-related characters — Lilandra Neramani, Deathbird/Cal'syee Neramani, and Gladiator/Kallark — appear in the Uncanny X-Men #341 ('When Strikes a Gladiator!') material reprinted in the early issues of this series, consistent with the Shi'ar storyline running through the 1997 US X-Men titles.
- The series ran at least through November 1997, with later issues covering arcs including 'Operation: Zero Tolerance' (the major 1997 X-Men crossover featuring Bastion vs. the mutant community) as confirmed by the parallel Panini reprint collections.
Cast · 40 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Jean Grey arrive à l'école de Xaver et rejoint les X-Men. Après une courte période de formation, Xavier envoie à l'équipe affronter Magnéto qui menace une base aérienne.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).