How 'X-Statix' Became a Cult Classic Comic

Every week we use the powers of Marvel Unlimited to celebrate a major character's first appearance in the hallowed halls of the House of Ideas.

One of the most beloved Super Hero teams of all-time made a triumphant comeback this week—GIANT SIZE X-STATIX from creators Peter Milligan and Mike Allred!

If you're not familiar with this off-beat group of mutants, sit back, relax and enjoy the knowledge drop, True Believer.

Back in 2000, the X-titles went through big changes under the "Revolution" umbrella. Three of them got an additional tag, "Counter-X," and found themselves under the purview of none other than Warren Ellis. Along with co-writer Ian Edginton, they turned existing X-Force members into a covert team led by Pete Wisdom. And then, with 2001's X-FORCE (1991) #116, a whole new vision for the team came about from Milligan and Allred!

In that issue, the world came to know a group of heroes calling themselves X-Force, including Zeitgeist, U-Go Girl, Battering Ram, Plazm, Doop, La Nuit, Gin Genie, Sluk, and the Anarchist. Led by the Coach, this group focused more on becoming wildly famous than carrying on Professor X's dream of mutant equality. Backed by a tech genius with a deranged thirst for adventure, they often went on dangerous missions and spilt plenty of blood—while Doop recorded the whole thing for public consumption.

That is, until most of the initial team members died...in that first issue! After the event stunned readers, by ish #117, U-Go Girl, Doop, and Anarchist had already welcomed newcomers Mr. Sensitive (soon to be called the Orphan), Phat, Bloke, Vivisector, and Saint Anna to the squad. During the press conference introducing the new group, four classic X-Forcers showed up to challenge these newbies on their so-called membership. Before teleporting them away, U-Go Girl told Cannonball, Meltdown, Warpath, and Domino that they should have trademarked the name!

From there, the team—still going through a fair number of death-related roster changes—rescued an incredibly powerful mutant child, survived their first meeting with Wolverine, got sucked into Doop's brain, went to space and brought in new members like Spike and Dead Girl. And in addition to the actual super heroics, they also dealt with groupies, loss, addiction, betrayal, racial quandaries, crazy wannabe members, Hollywood agents, family problems, team chemistry, and, yes, more death.

X-FORCE (1991) later came to an end with issue #129. After losing another member (one who suggested they change their name to X-Statix) and a great deal of in-fighting, that happened, leading directly into X-STATIX in 2002. That series lasted 26 issues and continued chronicling the adventures of the team as it faced more enemies, encountered more heroes, and went out the way the initial team came in.

Since then, Doop has become a somewhat regular character in the X-books, even earning a two-issue limited series with Wolverine and his own ALL-NEW DOOP in 2014. Dead Girl also returned in X-STATIX PRESENTS: DEAD GIRL in 2006 which featured something of a reunion with her teammates!

Now, with GIANT-SIZE X-STATIX, Milligan and Allred inject all sorts of new life into these characters while also creating a whole new batch to enjoy in the future!

Read these titles and more on Marvel Unlimited now! Visit your local comic shop to read GIANT-SIZE X-STATIX #1 today!