X-Men #1 is CGC’s Featured Comic of the Month for May

Name of comic: X-Men #1

Comic publisher: Marvel Comics

Date: September 1963

Variants: United Kingdom

What makes it special? The book features the origin and first appearance of the X-Men, a contingent of mutant superheroes, as well as the first appearance of Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast, Marvel Girl, their mentor Professor X and nemesis Magneto.

Why is it interesting now? “Dark Phoenix” arrives in theaters in June. This will be the 12th film in the franchise (including Wolverine and Deadpool films), which began in 2000 with “X-Men.”

Did you know? The X-Men premiered in Marvel Comics’ Silver Age creative explosion of the early 1960s. X-Men #1 shares the same cover date as Avengers #1, and appeared not long after Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man) in August 1962 and Fantastic Four #1 in November 1961. In a span of less than two years, Stan Lee launched some of the most enduring superheroes of all time.

Total graded by CGC: As of April 12, CGC has graded 4,537 copies (including 66 of the UK variant). Fourteen percent have Signature Series labels

CGC median grade: The median grade is Very Good 4.0.

CGC highest graded: Two copies share top honors with a grade of Near Mint/Mint 9.8.

Sales highlights: A copy graded CGC 9.8 sold for $492,937 in a Heritage Auction sale in July 2012. At the other end of the grading scale, a CGC .5 with part of its cover missing sold for $1,320 in a Heritage Auction sale in August 2018.

CGC Comics Registry Champion: A set named “Ken’s X-men” has won Best in Set Type for six straight years in the X-Men (1963) #1-#66 category, which covers 66 books. The winning set includes an X-Men #1 in CGC 9.4. Explore this and other collections in the CGC Comics Registry.

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