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WHITE PAGES; 1 small piece of tape inside fromt cover
1st appearance of the Blob; Jack Kirby cover/art; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 7 (CBI)


X-Men #3 marks the first appearance of the Blob as one of the teen mutants' most bizarre foes. "Beware of the Blob!" is also a giant step forward in the evolution of many of Marvel's most enduring storylines. That includes establishing a romantic interest between Cyclops and Marvel Girl, plus the early romantic triangle with Angel's own interest. There's even one shocking panel where Professor X starts speculating on a romance with Jean Grey, although that was quickly dropped.

Iceman is also developed as a brash team member who tends to go rogue, while the Beast begins to show off more of his intellectual slant. Then there's the Blob, who the X-Men find working as a circus freak. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby bring some real tragedy as the super team reaches out to educate the massive mutant, only to discover that he's kind of a jerk who's more interested in using his talents to take over the world. The Blob begins by recruiting his fellow circus performers to seize Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Before it's all over, The Blob returns to his sad former life after Xavier wipes his mind clean of ever meeting the X-Men. That still leaves the question of whether mutants should suffer as outcasts from society, or become Overlords of a lesser species?

These vital early issues introduce many of the core characters that would launch the big-screen superhero trend of the 21st century. In addition to their own film franchise, the X-Men would star in a staggering number of comic spin-offs, plus a variety of live-action TV shows and cartoons. There’s even more interest in the title today as Marvel Studios takes over the beloved characters once owned by 20th Century Fox. Deadpool & Wolverine went on to become one of 2024's biggest hits, as well as setting a box-office record for any X-Men movie. Marvel has since announced a new X-Men franchise beginning in the wake of 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars, further suggesting that the investment value of these perpetually hot issues will only continue to grow.
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