Die Gruppe X #7
Die Gruppe X #7 is a significant artifact of mid-1980s Marvel localization in West Germany, packaging two landmark Chris Claremont-era stories — Uncanny X-Men #125 and X-Men Annual #3 — under one cover for an audience that had no other mainstream access to them at the time. Within those reprinted pages, X-Men #125 carries a quietly momentous piece of Marvel continuity: the first textual hint that Magneto is the biological father of the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, via a brief reference to his late wife Magda Eisenhardt. For German readers in 1986, this Condor taschenbuch was the primary gateway into the Claremont/Cockrum era of the X-Men, making it a genuine cultural document of how Marvel's mutant mythology spread across Europe.
In "Das Grauen geht um...!", Jean's Phoenix powers are tested under unsettling strain, triggering disturbing hallucinations that blur reality. As Moira uncovers the terrifying truth that Proteus has escaped, Beast races to reunite the X-Men—now alive and scattered—on Muir Isle, where Moira's desperate call for help could be their only chance to stop an unseen horror from spreading.
In ""Er ist... mein Sohn!"", the X-Men face off against the devastatingly powerful Proteus on Muir Isle, unaware that he is Moira's son—a revelation that threatens to unravel their mission. Jean battles lingering visions from Mastermind’s manipulations as the team confronts a foe whose origins are as tragic as they are terrifying.
In "Blutsbande," Cyclops rallies the X-Men after their disorienting first clash with Proteus, only to face a far more personal threat: Proteus has seized control of his own father’s body, turning a tragic family bond into a weapon. With the line between blood and villainy blurred, the team must confront a foe who knows their weaknesses—and their pasts—too well.
In "Fast noch ein Kind...", the X-Men return to the U.S. only to find Professor X already back at the mansion, reasserting his leadership. With Xavier identifying a new mutant, the team sets out to bring her into the fold—just as the Hellfire Club makes its own move, targeting the young Kitty Pryde.
In "Dazzler," Kitty helps four X-Men escape from Emma Frost’s clutches as Scott and Jean race against the Hellfire Club to recruit the mutant disco star. Jean’s lingering mind trips from Mastermind’s influence blur the line between reality and illusion, testing her resolve just as the stakes rise.
In "Lauf um dein Leben, Kind!", Kitty races through a storm-lashed city with Scott, Jean, and Kurt, chasing a lead that could save their captured teammates. As the White Queen's trap closes in, Phoenix awakens with terrifying force, testing the limits of their resolve. When Xavier offers sanctuary to two new mutants, the choice to join—or walk away—hangs in the air.
In "Aufruhr im Hellfire Club," the X-Men turn to Angel for guidance as they confront the dangerous Hellfire Club, only to be captured and defeated by its inner circle. With Jean Grey suddenly transformed under Mastermind’s influence into the Black Queen, Wolverine stands alone in a desperate bid to save his teammates.
ComicBooks.com Value
Find on ebay
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Condor Verlag (also operating as Interpart Verlag and ConPart Verlag GmbH) held the licensed rights to publish German-language editions of Marvel comics throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The Die Gruppe X taschenbuch series launched in 1985, presenting the 'new' X-Men in pocket-book format to German readers. Condor's editorial approach was distinctive: issues often carried supplemental 'yellow pages' — text articles summarizing Marvel storylines that Condor was skipping — to give readers enough context to follow the stories being reprinted, and some volumes incorporated the Marvel 25th Anniversary border frame that appeared on November 1986-dated US issues. The series was eventually cancelled in 1992 due to underperformance, and it was not until Panini later acquired the Marvel Germany license that the X-Men achieved substantial commercial traction in the German market.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Publisher: Condor Verlag GmbH & Co. (West Germany), 1986, as part of the Die Gruppe X taschenbuch series that ran 1985–1992.
- Reprints Uncanny X-Men #125 (Marvel, 1963 series) — a Chris Claremont/John Byrne issue featuring Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, and teammates.
- Also reprints X-Men Annual #3 (Marvel, 1970 Annual series), a landmark Claremont/George Pérez issue featuring the full new X-Men lineup.
- X-Men #125 contains the earliest textual hint that Magneto is the natural father of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, via the first mention of his late wife Magda Eisenhardt — a detail that became a cornerstone of later Marvel canon.
- Characters appearing across the reprinted content include Cyclops (Scott Summers), Storm (Ororo Munroe), Wolverine (Logan), and Colossus, matching the catalog index for this issue.
- Condor's X-Men line used the German title 'Die Gruppe X' ('The Group X') rather than 'X-Men,' reflecting the publisher's standard practice of translating or adapting Marvel character and team names for the German market.
- The series struggled commercially in Germany throughout its run; Condor cancelled it in 1992, and mainstream German X-Men readership only grew substantially after Panini acquired the Marvel license.
- Condor issues of this period sometimes featured the Marvel 25th Anniversary cover frame alongside Condor's own cover design elements, situating the German editions within the same 1986 anniversary publishing moment as their US counterparts.
Cast · 7 characters
Full credits
Reprints
↩ Reprints X-Men Annual #3 (1979), The X-Men #125 (1979), The X-Men #126 (1979), The X-Men #127 (1979), The X-Men #128 (1979), The X-Men #129 (1980), The X-Men #130 (1980), The X-Men #131 (1980), The X-Men #132 (1980)
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.