The Avengers #263

Name: The Avengers #263
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

Jan 1986 · Marvel · 0.65 USD; 0.75 CAD; 0.30 GBP

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“"What Lurks Below?"”

★ 1st appearance — Derek Freeman

About this Issue

Avengers #263 is the opening chapter of one of the most consequential retcons in Marvel history: the resurrection of Jean Grey, who had been considered permanently dead since the climax of Chris Claremont and John Byrne's 'Dark Phoenix Saga' in 1981. By establishing that Jean had been lying in suspended animation inside a cocoon at the bottom of Jamaica Bay all along — with the Phoenix Force having merely duplicated her body and mind — the issue simultaneously absolved her of Dark Phoenix's crimes and cleared the path for X-Factor #1, reuniting the original five X-Men. The issue also formally installs Namor the Sub-Mariner as an Avengers member and records the Scourge-administered death of the Melter, tying it into the era-spanning Scourge of the Underworld subplot running across multiple Marvel titles at the time.

In "What Lurks Below?", the Avengers take on a mysterious deep-sea mission when they recover a strange cocoon from Jamaica Bay—containing the dormant form of Jean Grey, long believed lost. With Sub-Mariner newly joined and tensions rising, Captain America, Wasp, and Black Knight must convince their government liaison, Raymond Sikorsky, that Namor deserves full membership, all while navigating personal moments and unseen dangers beneath the waves. Roger Stern’s writing and John Buscema’s dynamic art, enhanced by Tom Palmer’s inks and Christie Scheele’s colors, bring this pivotal moment to life, with a cover by Buscema and Palmer capturing the eerie mystery of the deep.

writer Roger Stern · artist John Buscema · artist, inker Tom Palmer · colorist Christie Scheele · letterer Jim Novak · cover John Buscema, Tom Palmer

ComicBooks.com Value

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Raw (VF) $6

CGC 9.8 · 174 in census $82

CGC 9.6 · 93 in census $49

CGC 9.4 · 37 in census $29

CGC 9.2 · 21 in census $24

CGC 9.0 · 18 in census $24*

CGC 8.5 · 14 in census $23*

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CGC 8.0 · 10 in census $21*

CGC 7.5 · 6 in census $20*

CGC 7.0 · 2 in census $20*

CGC 6.5 · 2 in census $20*

CGC 6.0 none in existence

CGC 5.5 · 1 in census $20*

CGC 5.0 none in existence

CGC 4.5 · 1 in census $20*

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CGC 9.8 ▾ $71.99–$270 4 listings

CGC 9.8 $71.99 CGC 9.8 $79.99 CGC 9.8 $115 CGC 9.8 · Newsstand $270

CGC 9.6 $49.99 1 listing CGC 9 $59.99 1 listing

Raw / ungraded ▾ $5.99–$65 9 listings

Raw / ungraded $5.99 Raw / ungraded $8 Raw / ungraded $9.95 Raw / ungraded $9.99 Raw / ungraded $13.99 Raw / ungraded $14.99 Raw / ungraded $18 Raw / ungraded $50 Raw / ungraded $65

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FINE $1.89 VF+ $3.5 VERY FINE $3.99 VF+ $4.8 Newsstand $4.95 NM $4.99 MINT $4.99 VF $4.99

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History

The revival plot originated with Kurt Busiek, then still a college student, who conceived the idea that the Phoenix Force had duplicated Jean Grey and left the real Jean in a healing cocoon at the crash site in Jamaica Bay; he shared the notion with friends, and it eventually reached Roger Stern, who passed it to John Byrne, then the writer-artist of Fantastic Four. Byrne and Stern jointly pitched the concept to Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, who approved it on the condition that Jean be absolved of Dark Phoenix's actions; the story was then structured as a two-part crossover running from Avengers #263 into Fantastic Four #286, designed to feed directly into the launch of X-Factor #1. The issue was written by Stern with breakdowns by John Buscema, finished inks by Tom Palmer, colors by Christie Scheele, and letters by Jim Novak, under editor Mark Gruenwald.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of FBI Agent Derek Freeman, a supporting character who recurs in subsequent Avengers and Captain America issues.
Jean Grey's cameo appearance (inside the cocoon, briefly visible in the final pages) marks her effective return to the Marvel Universe after being believed dead since Uncanny X-Men #137 (1981).
Namor the Sub-Mariner officially joins the Avengers roster in this issue, with Captain America arguing his eligibility to government liaison Raymond Sikorski.
The Melter (Bruno Horgan) is killed by Scourge in this issue — his final appearance — continuing the Scourge of the Underworld subplot that ran across multiple Marvel titles in 1985–86.
The story is Part 1 of the 'Return of Jean Grey' crossover (bannered 'It Begins Here! X-Factor'); Part 2 continues in Fantastic Four #286, which leads directly into X-Factor #1.
The Enclave (Morlak, Shinski, and Zota) appear as inciting antagonists; Adam Warlock and Her appear in flashback as the Avengers initially assume the cocoon is an Enclave creation similar to Warlock.
Creative team: Roger Stern (script), John Buscema (breakdowns), Tom Palmer (finishes), Christie Scheele (colors), Jim Novak (letters), Mark Gruenwald (editor), Jim Shooter (editor-in-chief).
The issue has been reprinted in multiple international editions (including German, Dutch, Spanish, French, and Brazilian) and was collected in the X-Factor Epic Collection: Genesis & Apocalypse and Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 8.