X-Men #169

Name: X-Men #169
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

Jun 2005 · Marvel · 2.25 USD; 3.25 CAD

📊 ~82,778 copies sold its debut month

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“Golgotha Part 4: Quarantine!”

★ 1st appearance — Gazer

About this Issue

X-Men #169 marks the first appearance of Gazer, a radiation-absorbing mutant astronaut who would go on to become War, one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen — making this issue a quiet but consequential debut in the lead-up to the 'Blood of Apocalypse' storyline. As the fourth chapter of the 'Golgotha' arc, it also represents the creative high-water mark of Peter Milligan's run on the title, foregrounding psychological horror and interpersonal fractures among the team rather than conventional superhero action. The issue's use of the Golgotha entity — which forces each X-Man to externalize their deepest fears — produced some of the most character-driven drama the post-Morrison X-Men title saw, with Rogue, Emma Frost, Gambit, and Wolverine each confronting loaded personal anxieties in ways that resonate beyond the immediate plot.

writer Peter Milligan · artist Salvador Larroca · inker Allen Martinez · inker Danny Miki · colorist Liquid! · letterer VC · letterer VC's Cory Petit · cover Salvador Larroca

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (NM) $4

CGC 9.8 · 14 in census $136

CGC 9.6 · 12 in census $56

CGC 9.4 none in existence

CGC 9.2 none in existence

CGC 9.0 none in existence

CGC 8.5 · 1 in census $36*

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

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

This exact issue on ebay

CGC 9.8 ▾ $550–$720 2 listings

CGC 9.8 · Signed $549.99 CGC 9.8 · Variant $720

CGC 9.6 $70 1 listing CGC 9.4 $125 1 listing CGC 8 $28.99 1 listing CBCS 9.6 $79.99 1 listing Raw — NM+ $5.49 1 listing

Raw — NM ▾ $4.99–$40 2 listings

NM $4.99 NM $40

Raw — VF/NM $3.95 1 listing Raw — VF+ $8.96 1 listing Raw — VF $5.5 1 listing

Raw / ungraded ▾ $2.19–$75 9 listings

Raw / ungraded $2.19 Raw / ungraded $2.59 Raw / ungraded $2.77 Raw / ungraded $7.65 Raw / ungraded $8.24 Raw / ungraded $9.9 Signed Salvador Larroca Wolverine $11.95 Raw / ungraded $45 Signed $75

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History

X-Men #169 was produced by writer Peter Milligan and penciler Salvador Larroca during the early months of Milligan's tenure on the title, which began at X-Men #166 following Grant Morrison's celebrated New X-Men run. Inkers Danny Miki and Allen Martinez, colorist Liquid!, and letterer Cory Petit rounded out the creative team, with Mike Marts serving as editor under editor-in-chief Joe Quesada. The 'Golgotha' arc was Milligan's opening statement on the book, and the whole five-part story — issues #166–170 — was quickly collected in the same year as the trade paperback X-Men: Golgotha (ISBN 0785116508); the arc was later also included in X-Men by Peter Milligan Vol. 1: Dangerous Liaisons.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of Gazer (Earth-616), a mutant NASA astronaut permanently stationed aboard Space Station Eight due to his ability to harmlessly process lethal radiation levels.
Gazer was created by writer Peter Milligan and penciler Salvador Larroca.
The issue is Part 4 (of 5) of the 'Golgotha' arc, subtitled 'Quarantine!' — the X-Mansion is locked down as the Golgotha entity feeds on the team's psychological fears and inner demons.
Cyclops and Mister Sinister appear only in hallucination sequences — Cyclops in Emma Frost's delusion (she mistakes Havok for his brother) and Mister Sinister in Gambit's hallucination.
Gazer's first appearance here sets up his later transformation into War, one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen, depicted across X-Men (Vol. 2) #183–186.
Featured team in this issue: Havok, Gambit, Iceman, Polaris, Rogue, Wolverine, and Emma Frost — the Milligan-era roster distinct from the concurrent Astonishing X-Men lineup.
The 'Golgotha' arc (X-Men #166–170) was collected in the trade paperback X-Men: Golgotha (Marvel, 2005) and later reprinted in X-Men by Peter Milligan Vol. 1: Dangerous Liaisons.
Cover date is June 2005; on-sale date was April 20, 2005. Writer: Peter Milligan. Penciler: Salvador Larroca. Inkers: Danny Miki & Allen Martinez. Colorist: Liquid! Letterer: Cory Petit. Editor: Mike Marts.