The Story
By the early 1970s the original X-Men title had gone to reprints, and Giant-Size X-Men #1 was Marvel's relaunch: Professor X recruits a new team, Cyclops among the only holdovers, to rescue the original squad from the sentient island Krakoa. Len Wein scripted the issue and Dave Cockrum, fresh off designing characters for DC's Legion of Super-Heroes, co-created the new roster's looks. The result is a 36-page ensemble debut that introduces Ororo Munroe (Storm), Piotr Rasputin (Colossus), Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler), and John Proudstar (Thunderbird) in a single issue, alongside the returning Banshee and a since-established Wolverine, who had debuted the previous year in Incredible Hulk #181.
The new team's international makeup, a Kenyan weather-goddess, a Soviet farmboy, a German circus performer, a Native American, an Irish ex-thief, and a Canadian loner, became the template for the X-Men's identity for the next five decades. Several of that lineup have their own figure collectibles on VeVe: the first Storm NFT, the first Colossus NFT, and the first Wolverine NFT. This issue is the print origin for that team; those are the characters in figure form.
The Collectible
Physical copies of Giant-Size X-Men #1 in high grade command serious money, since the issue effectively created the modern X-Men franchise. VeVe's digital edition preserves Cockrum's cover at full resolution, and after the January 2026 Collect migration, every edition self-custodies on-chain. The Classic Cover reproduces Cockrum and Gil Kane's original art, while the Rare Hero Variant and Ultra Rare Vibranium Variant carry new cover work by Nicoletta Baldari, created for this drop.
The Drop
VeVe released Giant-Size X-Men #1 on February 28, 2023 at $10, in a standard drop spanning five cover variants from Common through Secret Rare. The X-Men's film and streaming presence kept interest high, and the release distributed quickly.
Edition Breakdown
| Tier | Editions | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 4,500 | Classic Cover |
| Uncommon | 1,687 | Vintage Variant |
| Rare | 750 | Hero Variant, exclusive cover |
| Ultra Rare | 375 | Vibranium Variant, exclusive cover |
| Secret Rare | 188 | True Believer Variant |
7,500 editions total with none burned, so all 7,500 circulate at an 8.5% market fee. The 188-edition Secret Rare tier is the scarcest print in the run.
Market Context
Giant-Size X-Men #1 is one of the foundational keys of the entire X-Men line, and VeVe's 2023 drop was priced accessibly at $10 relative to other Marvel comic releases. The Rare and Ultra Rare tiers, with their Nicoletta Baldari exclusive art, have held collector interest since. The January 2026 Collect migration moved every edition to self-custody on-chain, with no further minting possible.
Collector's Note
This is the single issue that turned the X-Men from a struggling reprint title into Marvel's flagship mutant franchise, and it does it by introducing four new characters at once. Even a Common edition represents ownership of that relaunch, while the Rare and Ultra Rare tiers carry cover art no printed copy has. Copies are listed on the VeVe secondary market, sometimes below retail. New to VeVe? Take $10 off your first purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cover-dated May 1975, it relaunches the X-Men with a new international team, introducing Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Thunderbird, and the living island Krakoa, and bringing Wolverine onto the roster. Len Wein wrote it, Dave Cockrum drew it.
Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Thunderbird all debut here, joining the returning Banshee and the already-introduced Wolverine on a team recruited by Professor X to rescue the original X-Men from Krakoa.
7,500 across five tiers: 4,500 Common, 1,687 Uncommon, 750 Rare, 375 Ultra Rare, and 188 Secret Rare. None have been burned, so all 7,500 circulate.
Yes. Collectors list copies on the VeVe secondary market, sometimes below retail. Prices vary by tier, with the 188-edition Secret Rare the scarcest.
They use VeVe-exclusive art by Nicoletta Baldari, created for this drop and not printed on the original 1975 issue.
