The X-Men #115

The X-Men #115, published in 1978, serves as a pivotal entry in the Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum run that revitalized the franchise. This issue continues the high-stakes narrative arc involving the team's conflict with the Shi'ar Empire and Gladiator, a storyline that solidified the X-Men's transition from local heroes to interstellar adventurers. It emerged during a transformative period for Marvel Comics, where the series began to lean heavily into character-driven drama and expansive cosmic world-building.

The interior art was provided by John Byrne, whose clean lines and dynamic character expressions became the definitive aesthetic for this era of the team. Byrne's collaboration with writer Chris Claremont is widely credited by historians for cementing the X-Men as Marvel's flagship property. Upon its release, the issue was well-received by readers for its ability to balance intense superhero action with the evolving interpersonal tensions between team members like Wolverine, Storm, and Nightcrawler.