250's for America's 250 · Day 17: The Uncanny X-Men #250

Publishing: Saturday, June 27, 2026 · Marvel Comics · Cover date: October 1989

Cover art by Marc Silvestri (pencils) and Dan Green (inks)

See full issue details on the Grand Comics Database →

The X-Men hit 250 in the thick of the Claremont/Silvestri era, deep in the Savage Land.

The issue

"The Shattered Star," Part 2, finds the villain Zaladane continuing her conquest of the Savage Land, having captured several X-Men. She drugs Havok, manipulates Polaris's mind to turn teammate against teammate, and moves to steal Polaris's magnetic powers. Dazzler, Colossus, and Psylocke arrive — only to be ambushed by the Savage Land Mutates. It's the back half of a two-part Savage Land arc.

Who's in it

• Havok — drugged and manipulated as part of Zaladane's scheme to conquer the Savage Land.
• Polaris — mentally turned against her own teammates while Zaladane works to steal her magnetic powers.
• Dazzler, Colossus, and Psylocke — arriving to help, only to be ambushed by the Savage Land Mutates.
• Zaladane — the power-hungry Savage Land villain driving the entire arc.
• Ka-Zar — the Savage Land's resident hero, tied to the region under threat.
• Worm — making a minor first appearance among the Savage Land Mutates.

Behind the book (creators)

• Writer: Chris Claremont
• Pencils: Marc Silvestri · Inks: Steve Leialoha (cover inks by Dan Green)
• Colors: Glynis Oliver · Letters: Joe Rosen
• Editor: Bob Harras

Meet the creators

Chris Claremont wrote Uncanny X-Men almost continuously for sixteen years, from 1975 to 1991, transforming a struggling reprint title into Marvel's top-selling franchise. His run introduced or defined nearly every major X-Men concept modern fans know — the Dark Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Past, and much of Wolverine's characterization — making him arguably the single most influential writer in the franchise's history.

Marc Silvestri brought a moody, detail-heavy style to the X-Men's late-1980s adventures before becoming one of the founding partners of Image Comics in 1992, where he launched his own Top Cow imprint and titles like Cyberforce and Witchblade. His X-Men work, including this Savage Land arc, is considered a highlight of the Claremont collaboration years.

What it's worth

A modest book. Raw VF/NM copies are inexpensive at around $10–$25; CGC 9.8 copies trade roughly $60–$150. The "first appearance of Worm" gives it a small bump, though Worm is a very minor character.

Where to read it (collected edition)

Reprinted in the X-Men Epic Collection and Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 5 covering the late-1980s Claremont/Silvestri era (confirm the exact Epic Collection volume title).

Part of "250's for America's 250" — counting 24 milestone #250 comics down to the U.S. 250th on July 4, 2026.