Captain America and Falcon #172 (.20 cover)

First 25-cent cover price. Cover pencils by Gil Kane and John Romita (layouts), inks by Frank Giacoia. The original X-Men guest star in "It's Always Darkest...!", script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Vinnie Colletta; Captain American and the Falcon are disguised as employees of the Secret Empire to gain entry into their secret base; They are discovered and almost executed by laser beams; They escape down an exhaust vent and let in Professor X, Cyclops, and Marvel Girl, who are looking for lost X-Men and X-Men villains; They locate Beast, Iceman, Angel, Lorna Dane, Havok, Mastermind, Blob, Unus, and Mesmero. Explanation as to why the price changed to 25 cents. The letters page contains Marvel Value Stamp series A # 48 (Kraven by Steve Ditko). 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.