X-Men Classic #87

X-Men Classic #87, published in 1993, belongs to a long-running series designed to reprint landmark X-Men stories from the 1970s and 1980s. This specific issue reproduces the content of X-Men #128, a pivotal chapter in the Dark Phoenix Saga. Marvel initiated this series to provide new readers access to the foundational Chris Claremont and John Byrne run, often supplementing the reprints with new framing sequences and expanded character insights that bridge the gap between the original publication era and contemporary comic book continuity.

The creative force behind the original material featured in this issue includes writer Chris Claremont and artists John Byrne and Terry Austin, a team widely considered to have defined the modern X-Men aesthetic. Their work sought to weave complex, character-driven soap opera narratives into traditional superhero tropes, focusing on the psychic erosion of Jean Grey. At the time of the original release, this narrative arc was noted for its departure from standard hero-centric tales, earning critical acclaim for its emotional gravity and the introduction of characters like Dazzler.