X-Men #37

Published by Marvel Comics in October 1967, X-Men #37 represents a transitional period for the title during the Silver Age of comic books. At this stage in the series' history, the publication was struggling with stagnant sales, leading the creative team to experiment with various character dynamics and narrative directions before the eventual introduction of the all-new, all-different team in the mid-1970s. This issue specifically features the work of writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth, who took over the book after the departure of original creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

The issue features the narrative arc of the X-Men contending with the arrival of the Mandrois, an extraterrestrial construct. The visual design during this era, helmed by Roth under the house style established by Lee and Kirby, focused on maintaining the established aesthetic of the mutant school while introducing increasingly cosmic or science-fiction-oriented threats. While this specific issue is often noted by collectors for its place in the original run, it reflects the era's broader attempt to distinguish the X-Men from other burgeoning Marvel properties by leaning into a blend of teenage angst and high-stakes superhero adventure.