X-Men #53 (1969) CGC 9.0 VF/NM WHITE KEY Smith 1st Art Origin of Beast Old Label

X-Men #53 (1969) CGC 9.0 VF/NM White Page KEY Barry Windsor-Smith's First U.S. Comic Artwork, Origin of Beast &  Blastaar Battle Cover *OLD CGC Label. Cover pencils by Barry Windsor-Smith [as Barry Smith], inks by Mike Esposito. The Rage of Blastaar!, script by Arnold Drake, pencils by Barry Windsor-Smith [as Barry Smith], inks by Mike Esposito [as Michael Dee]; Blaastar is accidentally brought back from the Negative Zone by Jean; Blaastar attacks the X-Men, who send him back to the Negative Zone. Welcome To the Club, Beast!--The Origins of the Uncanny X-Men, script by Arnold Drake, pencils by Werner Roth, inks by John Tartaglione; conclusion of Beast's origin. Letters to the editor from comics professionals Mark Gruenwald and Roy Thomas. 36 pgs. $0.12. Cover price $0.12.

* NOTE: THIS IS AN ORIGINAL WTC (WEINSTEIN TRUST) COLLECTION ITEM AND WAS GRADED WHEN CGC BEGAN (EARLY 2000'S). THE GRADING STANDARDS WERE VERY STRICT BACK THEN WHEN COMPARED TO NOW. ADDITIONALLY, THIS ISSUE IS UNRESTORED & UNPRESSED WHICH HAS POSSIBLE CGC RESUBMISSION GRADE BUMP POTENTIAL.