X-Men #17 (Feb 66): ...And None Shall Survive!Creative Team: Stan Lee, story; J. Kirby, layouts; Jay Gavin, pencils; Dick Ayers, inks; A. Simek, lettering
Starting Line Up: Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast, Marvel Girl
Synopsis: The X-Men are taken to the hospital after their recent battle with the Sentinels. Iceman is in a feverish daze and has to remain in the hospital, but the others are fine and one by one return to the mansion. They are one by one defeated, including Xavier, by a mysterious villain who puts them in a steel gondola attached to a helium balloon to take them into the stratosphere where they will die of aspyxiation. Angel's parents arrive to visit the school and are greeted by the villain - Magneto.
Yeah, but is it good? It doesn't get much more campy and Silver Age than this. A mysterious villain capturing his arch enemies out of revenge and instead of just killing them, he uses an elaborate death trap. Very silly. Magneto is just out for revenge, so there's not even a hint of an underlying mutant storyline here. This is Jack Kirby's last issue in the series, and I suppose he wanted to go out with his same campy style.
Significata: Magneto is back on Earth. Jack Kirby's final issue.
