The X-Men do battle with a gem-thief, a Mayan Serpent God, and their own drama!
(Uncanny) X-Men #25 "The Power and the Pendant"
Edited by: Stan Lee
Written by: Roy Thomas
Illustrated by: Werner Roth
Inked by: Dick Ayers
Lettered by: Sam Rosen
Imitated by: Brand Echh
Originally Published October 1966
After their misadventure with the Locust, it's a pretty uneventful afternoon for the X-Men, who save some orphans from a burning building while on their way to drop Jean off back at school. There, they run into Jean's new suitor, English major/Psych minor/Star athlete/Big Orange Drink Enthusiast Ted Roberts. Upon seeing Jean interact platonically with this guy she's known for a week and a half, both Scott and Warren respond very rationally.
Meanwhile, down Central America way, a "gem hunter" named Juan "El Tigre" Meroz is searching for riches with his indentured servants, a vaquero named Ramon and a native named Toloc. They have come in search of the hidden temple of the Mayan god Kukulcan, where they hope to find some artifacts of value. Seems like a lot of work.
As is frequently the case, El Tigre discovers one half of a magic pendant that grants him psychic powers and draws him toward the other half, located (where else) at New York City's Museum of Natural History. The X-Men arrive on the scene but Toloc and Ramon get the drop on them in the darkened museum. How embarrassing for them.
This allows El Tigre to merge both halves of the pendant, thus becoming, as one would expect, the new incarnation of Kukulcan, the Plumed Serpent God of Mayan legend.
To be continued... right now!
(Uncanny) X-Men #26 "Holocaust!"
Editing: Stan Lee
Script: Roy Thomas
Art: Werner Roth
Inks: Dick Ayers
Lettering: Sam Rosen
Mayan Headdresses: Irving Forbush
Originally Published November 1966
Boy they really used to just throw around that word, "Holocaust" a lot more frivolously than nowadays, huh? Aaaanyway.
El Tigre makes his way back to Central America--
--where he begins building his new ancient empire by enslaving the locals. The four full-time X-Men pursue, and manage to thwart Kukulcan, but not without a incident...
All through the issue, Angel has been snarking at just about everything Cyclops says, out of bitterness for Jean's increasingly-apparent interest in him. Well, as snarky as one could get within the confines of the Comics Code - mostly it's just slightly dismissive banter that could be confused for the usual Stan Lee back-and-forth, but both helpfully draw attention to it in their thoughts. Thus, Angel shares his theory as to why the mishap with Cyke's optic blasts...
J'accuse!
Further Thoughts:
As a villain, El Tigre/Kukulcan is pretty irrelevant, and it probably goes without saying that the various stereotypes exhibited by his underlings have not aged well but I'll say it anyway. Same goes for the assortment of modern-day Central American villagers who more-or-less willingly give themselves to this ancient God character, as if they've been expecting to have to do so, one of these days, their entire lives.
The noteworthy aspect of this issue is that this is where the X-Kids' drama, which has been at a low simmer in the background for most of the book's run, start to mildly eclipse the superheroic adventures - or at least impose on them a little.
To say nothing of the acutely bland Ted Roberts also worming his way into the mix.
Until now, the soap opera hasn't gotten in the way of superheroing, so the idea that all this drama might actually affect Cyclops' ability to lead is a pretty good way to ratchet up the stakes. Mind you, I was born 30 years after this comic was published, so it was a given for me that (spoilers) Scott and Jean would end up together, so I can't exactly buy into the love triangle here, but it keeps the proceedings lively.
But let's talk about the real pressing issue here, which is Professor X's safety guard against falling down stairs while using his metal leg braces:
Have you, like me, ever clutched onto a frustrating, old-fashioned railing when descending a staircase and thought, "There's gotta be a better way!"
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