Merry X-Lapsed – X-Men #98 (1976)
Merry X-Lapsed! Day One
X-Men #98 (April, 1976)
“Merry Christmas, X-Men”
Writer – Chris Claremont
Pencils – Dave Cockrum
Inks – Sam Grainger
Letters – Joe Rosen
Colors – Janice Cohen
Edits – Marv Wolfman
Cover Price: $0.25
Merry X-Lapsed, friends!
Today we’re starting a Holiday-themed week, during which we’re going to take a look as some seminal (and not-so seminal) X-Mas with the X-Men tales! We kick things off with Chris Claremont’s first Christmas-themed issue, (not-yet Uncanny) X-Men #98 (April, 1976) – Our heroes are just trying to enjoy their Christmas Eve at Rockefeller Center… but, unfortunately for them – the Sentinels are Back… and, we’re going to talk all about it!
Also: Wolverine reveals that his claws ain’t no glove gimmick… and, that he shares shoe polish hair-care tips with Eddie Munster! Lots to chat about today – let’s start the celebration!
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@acecomics / @cosmictmill / weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
I have to start by letting you know that I wholeheartedly agree with the decision to go off into Christmas land for a week. I'm hoping we're going to get the Australian treasure story somewhere in this week.
You also caused me to go to YouTube and view a certain Muppet video again. Did I ever tell you about my childhood Muppet obsession? Apparently when I was 5 or 6 I would tell people that when I grew up I was going to marry Miss Piggy. No-one was surprised when I grew into a great big gay.
I'd never read this story before. I have the issues before and after in Classic X-Men reprints but I missed this one.
Wolverine's widows peak really is a thing. Fortunately Dave Cockrum was famous for changing things after he saw them in print or it may have remained. It's odd how new and flexible all characters are but already Claremont is starting to give them their own character traits. The revelation about Wolverine's claws is a sign of how quickly they were developing.
It's also interesting to see the introduction of the High Evolutionary plotline. Thank God they rejected that one.
I like the fact that it is possible to believe that Peter Corbeau swam that 200 miles as we are given no information of how he got to the Mansion. It seems in keeping with his presentation.
In summary, I loved this issue. You mentioned wanting to keep reading and I have to admit that I kept going on Marvel Unlimited and got as far as Jamaica Bay. Love it.
Merry Chris-tmas!