The X-Men #60

Published in September 1969, The X-Men #60 represents a pivotal moment in the series as it neared the end of its original run. Written by Roy Thomas with art by Neal Adams, the issue serves as part of a legendary creative arc that significantly elevated the visual storytelling and character depth of the mutant team. At this point in Marvel's history, the title was facing declining sales, which prompted an experimental approach to the narratives that would eventually lead to the book's temporary shift to a reprint-only format following issue #66.

The collaboration between Thomas and Adams is widely credited with modernizing the X-Men's aesthetic. Adams brought a cinematic, dynamic sense of anatomy and composition to the characters, distancing them from the house style of the early 1960s. This issue is particularly noted for its contribution to the refinement of Professor Xavier's lore and the high-stakes world-building that would later serve as the foundation for the X-Men's monumental revival in the mid-1970s.