- "Your vaunted optic blasts mean nothing to a man capable of absorbing all forms of kinetic energy. The harder you hit me -- with anything -- the stronger I get!"
- ―Sebastian Shaw
| "Too Late, The Heroes!" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classic X-Men | |
| Title: | "Too Late, The Heroes!" |
| Storyline: | "The Dark Phoenix Saga" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 40 |
| Cover price: | $1.25 |
| Cover date: | November, 1989 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Tom DeFalco |
| Writers: | Chris Claremont; John Byrne |
| Pencilers: | John Byrne |
| Inkers: | Terry Austin |
| Cover artists: | Steve Lightle |
| Colorists: | Bob Sharen |
| Letterers: | Tom Orzechowski |
| Assistants: | Daryl Edelman |
| Editors: | Jim Salicrup; Bob Harras |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Classic X-Men #39 |
| Next: | Classic X-Men #41 |
"Too Late, the Heroes!" is the fortieth issue of Classic X-Men. The first story is a reprint of Uncanny X-Men #134, which is part of "The Dark Phoenix Saga", while the second story is an original tale. The first story was written by Chris Claremont with pencil work by John Byrne and inks by Terry Austin. Original cover art illustration was provided by Steve Lightle. Coloring was provided by Bob Sharen and lettering was by Tom Orzechowski. The issue was originally edited by Bob Budiansky and Jim Salicrup. Bob Harras serves as reprint editor with Daryl Edelman as assistant editor. The second story, "Fundamental Imbalance", which is a Nigthcrawler solo adventure, was written by Tom Orzechowski with artwork by Jim Fern and Joe Rubinstein. Coloring was provided by Glynis Oliver with Orzechowski on letters.
"Too Late, the Heroes"[]
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
- Robert Kelly
- Various Hellfire Club guests
Races
Organizations
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
- Body conversion
- Density control
- Illusion generation
- Levitation
- Mind control
- Optic blast
- Superhuman strength
- Telekinesis
- Telepathy
- Teleportation
- Weather control
"Fundamental Imbalance"[]
Appearances[]
| "Fundamental Imbalance" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title: | "Fundamental Imbalance" |
| Credits | |
| Writers: | Tom Orzechowski |
| Pencilers: | Jim Fern |
| Inkers: | Joe Rubinstein |
| Colorists: | Glynis Oliver |
| Letterers: | Tom Orzechowski |
| Editors: | Daryl Edelman; Bob Harras |
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Unamed disabled con artist.
Villains
- Unnamed random thugs
Minor characters
- Disabled woman's mother
Races
Locations
Items
- None
Vehicles
- New York City subway
Notes & Trivia[]
- The first story in this issue reprints Uncanny X-Men #134.
- This issue is the sixth chapter in the "The Dark Phoenix Saga" storyline.
- Jean Grey becomes the Dark Phoenix in this issue.
- Mastermind is rendered catatonic in this issue.
- Wolverine cut the power cables to the Hellfire Club Mansion in issue #132.
- Behind-the-scenes inference to the Avengers is made in this issue. The Beast is the only member of the team featured in the this issue. The Beast is one of the founding members of the X-Men.
- Robert Kelly only makes a two-panel cameo appearance in this issue.
Reprints[]
The first story from this issue is also reprinted in the following volumes:
- Essential X-Men, Volume 2
- Marvel 70th Anniversary Collection (TPB)
- Marvel Masterworks: Uncanny X-Men, Volume 5
- X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga (TPB)
- X-Men: Legends (TPB)