Comic of the Week: The X-Men #12 (July 1965)
Let’s face it — first appearances can be overrated. But not this one. When The X-Men #12 hit spinner racks in mid-1965, readers weren’t just meeting another villain-of-the-week. They were meeting Cain Marko — Juggernaut — a wrecking ball of a character with enough power (and unresolved childhood trauma) to flatten a team of mutants and still be home in time for dinner.
But the real twist? The issue isn’t really about him. It’s about Professor Charles Xavier.
We finally get a peek behind the polished, all-knowing facade of the X-Men’s mentor. And what do we find? Pain. Regret. A long-lost stepbrother with a grudge the size of a battleship. And from this deeply personal conflict, a monster is born. This is Silver Age Marvel at its finest — bombastic on the surface, but packed with messy emotion underneath.
🎨 A Creative Collision (in the best way)
If you’ve read a lot of early X-Men, you know the formula: Jack Kirby layouts, Stan Lee dialogue, and whatever inker was available that day. But this issue breaks the mold slightly.
Kirby lays the foundation, but it’s Alex Toth, Frank Giacoia, and Vince Colletta who sculpt the final product. The result is uneven in places, sure — but the pages have weight. The Juggernaut doesn’t just look big. He feels heavy. Like he could step right off the panel and knock your bookshelf over.
Even the cover is masterclass tension: the heroes shrinking back in dread, Xavier covering his head, and Juggernaut still unseen. Just a looming hand, a busted wall, and a name that sounds like a thunderclap.
💎 This Week’s Feature from Bedo’s Collectibles
The copy we’re spotlighting this week comes from Bedo’s Collectibles, and it’s a beauty:
CGC 7.5 with off-white pages
Strong centring, especially in the title and corner box
Bright, bold colours — no fading in that iconic orange title burst
Clean presentation — no date stamps, no writing, no tears
CGC Serial #: 4483508002
