Real Name: Jean Grey
First Appearance: X-Men #1 (1963)
Affiliation: Founding member of the X-Men
Powers: Telekinesis: moving and manipulating objects and people with her mind.
Review coverage: Through X-Men #13 (1965).

Meeting the school through Jean

Jean’s arrival in X-Men #1 gives us a way into Xavier’s school. She meets the other students as we do, making her introduction part of the introduction to the whole team. Her telekinesis also gives the group an ability quite different from its more physical attacks. In #7, for example, she holds Quicksilver in the air.

Her interest in Scott adds a personal thread. The #2 review notices early signs of affection, and #8 makes their mutual but unspoken feelings clear. Jean is left uncertain about Scott, while the reader knows he is holding himself back.

Power the stories do not always use

Jean’s development is harder to describe as a steady rise in confidence and responsibility. In #10, the review criticizes her placement in a rescue scenario despite powers that seem well suited to helping herself. That is a limitation of the storytelling, rather than evidence that Jean has little to offer.

The problem becomes particularly clear in #13. She lifts Juggernaut twice, demonstrating how useful her telekinesis can be, yet Xavier keeps her beside him for much of the fight. The promised purpose for holding her back never becomes clear, and she finishes the story nursing the injured team.

That contrast is central to Jean at this review point. She has demonstrated ability, but the stories repeatedly restrict what she gets to do. Calling her merely a dependable supporting member would miss one of the strongest criticisms running through these reviews.