“’Twas the Night Before Christmas…” — Claremont • Byrne • Austin • Bronze Age Classic
The Return of Moses Magnum • Early Mariko Yashida Appearance • Japan Storyline
A sharp late–Bronze issue from the legendary Claremont/Byrne/Austin run — the run that turned X-Men from a cancelled book into a cultural engine. Issue #119 continues the Japan arc begun in #118, pits the team against Moses Magnum and his quake-weapon, and quietly seeds storylines that won’t fully detonate until the Proteus saga.
📚 Contents
Cover — Dave Cockrum & Terry Austin
Classic Cockrum composition: the team charging forward, Moses Magnum looming in shadow. Bright yellow logo pop, deep blue field — one of the cleanest covers of the run.
Main Story: “’Twas the Night Before Christmas…” — 17 pages
Plot: Byrne & Claremont • Script: Claremont
Art: John Byrne (pencils) / Terry Austin (inks) • Colors: Glynis Oliver
The X-Men arrive in Japan to assist Sunfire against Moses Magnum.
Magnum threatens to sink the nation with seismic tech.
Features: Wolverine in Japan, early Mariko panel, Banshee’s powers collapse, Proteus escape tease.
Team lineup: Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Banshee, Nightcrawler, Phoenix.
Letters Page — “X-Mail”
Replies by Claremont. Fan letters from the era reacting to the Phoenix run.
Bullpen Bulletins + Stan’s Soapbox
Pure 1979 Marvel energy.
Ads: United Artists films, Hostess Hulk strip, Johnson Smith oddities, American Seeds, Revolutionary War Soldiers set.
📝 Maj. Picto’s Grading Notes
NM– (9.2) — Flat, tight, high-gloss copy with sharp corners and strong color saturation. Spine shows just two micro, non-breaking ticks visible under angled light. No creases, no stains, no production tears. White to off-white pages with fresh paper tone. Clean staples, centered wrap, great eye appeal — a true investment-grade Bronze key.
“’Twas the Night Before Christmas…” — Claremont • Byrne • Austin • Bronze Age Classic
The Return of Moses Magnum • Early Mariko Yashida Appearance • Japan Storyline
A sharp late–Bronze issue from the legendary Claremont/Byrne/Austin run — the run that turned X-Men from a cancelled book into a cultural engine. Issue #119 continues the Japan arc begun in #118, pits the team against Moses Magnum and his quake-weapon, and quietly seeds storylines that won’t fully detonate until the Proteus saga.
📚 Contents
Cover — Dave Cockrum & Terry Austin
Classic Cockrum composition: the team charging forward, Moses Magnum looming in shadow. Bright yellow logo pop, deep blue field — one of the cleanest covers of the run.
Main Story: “’Twas the Night Before Christmas…” — 17 pages
Plot: Byrne & Claremont • Script: Claremont
Art: John Byrne (pencils) / Terry Austin (inks) • Colors: Glynis Oliver
The X-Men arrive in Japan to assist Sunfire against Moses Magnum.
Magnum threatens to sink the nation with seismic tech.
Features: Wolverine in Japan, early Mariko panel, Banshee’s powers collapse, Proteus escape tease.
Team lineup: Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Banshee, Nightcrawler, Phoenix.
Letters Page — “X-Mail”
Replies by Claremont. Fan letters from the era reacting to the Phoenix run.
Bullpen Bulletins + Stan’s Soapbox
Pure 1979 Marvel energy.
Ads: United Artists films, Hostess Hulk strip, Johnson Smith oddities, American Seeds, Revolutionary War Soldiers set.
📝 Maj. Picto’s Grading Notes
NM– (9.2) — Flat, tight, high-gloss copy with sharp corners and strong color saturation. Spine shows just two micro, non-breaking ticks visible under angled light. No creases, no stains, no production tears. White to off-white pages with fresh paper tone. Clean staples, centered wrap, great eye appeal — a true investment-grade Bronze key.
