The Uncanny X-Men#213

The Uncanny X-Men #213

Jan 1987 · Marvel

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★ Pre-first appearance — Mr. Sinister

About this Issue

Uncanny X-Men #213 serves as the formal induction of Betsy Braddock — Psylocke — into the X-Men roster, an event Marvel later enshrined by reprinting it in the 'We Are the X-Men' collection alongside landmark joining issues for Rogue, Gambit, and Bishop. The issue simultaneously delivers the first shadowy glimpse of Mister Sinister, glimpsed as an unnamed silhouette in Sabretooth's mind when Psylocke conducts a telepath probe; that shadow would grow into one of the most consequential villains in X-Men history, with his full appearance still eight months away. As the concluding Uncanny chapter of the 'Mutant Massacre' crossover — the first coordinated crossover between X-Men titles — it crystallizes the event's emotional stakes: a team decimated and traumatized, relying on an unproven telepath to turn the tide against one of the Marauders' most brutal killers. The Wolverine-versus-Sabretooth brawl at the Xavier Mansion also established an antagonism that would define both characters for decades.

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (VF) $11

CGC 9.8 $184

CGC 9.6 $116

CGC 9.4 $47

CGC 9.2 $46

CGC 9.0 $45

CGC 8.5 $33

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CGC 8.0 $33

CGC 7.5 $32

CGC 7.0 $28*

CGC 6.5 $25*

CGC 6.0 $24

CGC 5.5 $20*

CGC 5.0 $20*

CGC 4.5 $20*

CGC 4.0 $20*

CGC 3.5 $20*

CGC 3.0 $20*

CGC 2.5 none in existence

CGC 2.0 $20*

CGC 1.5 $20*

CGC 1.0 none in existence

CGC 0.5 $20*

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

Our model’s value — refined as new sales data arrives · CGC census counts shown where available

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History

The issue was written by Chris Claremont and pencilled by guest artist Alan Davis, inked by his longtime collaborator Paul Neary — stepping in because the title was between regular pencillers after John Romita Jr. departed following issue #211 to join Marvel's New Universe imprint. Davis, who had drawn Psylocke extensively during his earlier run on the British Captain Britain comic, brought a firsthand understanding of the character to her pivotal solo spotlight. Ann Nocenti edited under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter; Shooter's own Bullpen Bulletins column in this issue notably addressed — and apologized for — a TV special's failure to credit Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko for their roles in building the modern Marvel Universe. The issue's letter column also teased the planned Claremont/Rick Leonardi Phoenix limited series starring Rachel Summers, a project that was ultimately never produced.

Trivia · 8 facts

Psylocke (Betsy Braddock) officially joins the X-Men in this issue, earning full membership after single-handedly stalling Sabretooth and protecting the mansion's injured while the core team was in the Morlock tunnels.
The issue contains the first visual appearance of Mister Sinister — seen only as an obscured silhouette when Psylocke telepathically probes Sabretooth's mind, eight issues before his first full appearance in Uncanny X-Men #221.
Written by Chris Claremont, pencilled by Alan Davis (guest), inked by Paul Neary; cover also by Davis and Neary. Editor: Ann Nocenti. Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter.
Alan Davis stepped in as a guest penciller because John Romita Jr. had just ended his run on the title (his last issue was #211), leaving the book without a regular penciller until Marc Silvestri arrived at issue #218.
This is Psylocke's first appearance as a monthly Uncanny X-Men cast member; her American comics debut had been in New Mutants Annual #2 (1986), and Davis had previously drawn the character in the British Captain Britain comic.
The issue is a tie-in to 'Mutant Massacre,' Marvel's first coordinated crossover between X-Men family titles, and is generally considered one of that event's final Uncanny X-Men chapters; the story follows on from events in Thor #374.
Davis uses this issue to debut Psylocke's 'butterfly effect' — the visual pink-butterfly manifestation of her telepathic powers — which would become an enduring design signature of the character.
The issue has been reprinted numerous times, including in: Sabretooth Classic #10 (1995), X-Men: Mutant Massacre (1996, 2009, 2013), Marvel Milestones: Captain Britain, Psylocke & Sub-Mariner (2005), a Marvel Legends Series 6 toy pack-in reprint with a new Barry Windsor-Smith cover (2004), Essential X-Men #6 (2005, black and white), X-Men: We Are the X-Men (2010), Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 14 (2021), and X-Men: Mutant Massacre Omnibus (2018, 2021 second edition).