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Giant-Size X-Men #1 vs X-Men #94: which is the key?

Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Short answerBoth. Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975) introduces the new team — first appearances of Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Thunderbird — and is the more valuable book. X-Men #94 (August 1975) is the first regular issue of the new team, the first issue written by Chris Claremont, and the start of the run that made the X-Men Marvel's best-selling franchise. Collectors treat Giant-Size #1 as the first appearance key and #94 as the first-issue key.

Giant-Size X-Men #1

A 68-page special by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum that reintroduced the X-Men after five years of reprints. Professor X assembles Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Thunderbird, Wolverine, Banshee and Sunfire to rescue the original team from Krakoa. Four major characters debut here and Wolverine joins the team. The square-bound spine and thick page count make high-grade copies scarce.

X-Men #94

The first regular issue after the Giant-Size, with Claremont scripting Wein's plot and Cockrum drawing. Most of the original team leaves; Thunderbird dies in #95. Claremont wrote the title continuously until 1991, and #94 is where the sixteen-year run begins.

How the market treats them

Giant-Size X-Men #1X-Men #94
Cover dateMay 1975August 1975
Why it is a keyFirst Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Thunderbird; new teamFirst regular issue of the new team; Claremont's first issue
Relative valueHigherLower but still a top Bronze Age key
High-grade scarcityVery scarce (square-bound)Scarce
Marvel Value StampYesYes

In the store

X-Men #94 is available in three grades: CGC 9.2, CGC 9.2 with off-white pages and CGC 8.0 — a useful comparison of how page quality is priced at the same grade. See First appearance of Storm, What is page quality? and the X-Men character page.

Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.

In the vault right now

Browse all listings →
Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

X-Men #1

CGC 9.0 · Universal Blue

First appearance of the X-Men and Magneto

(7)
$225,000
SaleKey issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

X-Men #1

CGC 4.5 · Universal Blue

Origin and first appearance of the X-Men and Magneto

(0)
$5,314$5,400
SaleKey issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Bronze Age

X-Men #94

CGC 9.2 · Universal Blue

New X-Men begin — second appearance of Nightcrawler, Storm, Thunderbird and Colossus

(0)
$2,935$3,655
Key issueLast copy

Marvel Comics · Silver Age

X-Men #9

CGC 4.0 · Universal Blue

First X-Men and Avengers crossover; first appearance of Lucifer

(0)
$500

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