Jeff asks
“Have you read Byrne’s new X-Men Fanfic book? It seems like you at least used to be a Byrne fan, even if I don’t think you’re an X-Men fan.”
The book Jeff is talking about is X-Men: Elsewhen volume 1, written and drawn by John Byrne, and released a few months ago:
Byrne was, of course, famously the artist for the X-Men title, along with writer Chris Claremont, in the late 1970s/early 1980s, leaving the book with issue #141. However, in recent years Byrne had written and penciled his own continuation of his X-Men run, picking up from where he left off, and posting the pages to his online fan forum. This book is the first of three volumes collecting these pages, newly inked and colored.
The amount of demand I had for these caught me by surprise a little, and apparently everyone else as well, as it seemed to take a while to get a new printing restocked after initial orders sold through right away. A handful of my customers seemed really excited about this release, and more power to ’em.
Part of me does wonder if it maybe could’ve sold as a standard comic book series, just reprinting each of Byrne’s posted “issues” one at a time, but I suspect the book release was a smarter move. Yet Another X-Men Series on the rack would have easily been lost in the shuffle, even one by Byrne. The hardcover, I think, gives this effort the status and attention it requires for success, making the Special Event-ness of the proceedings even more pronounced.
But Jeff asked “if I read it?” and the answer is “nope.” He’s right saying that I’d been a Byrne fan, and there was a time when I just picked up anything the man drew. I even picked up a lot of his later mini-series work at IDW (though I passed on this weird Star Trek Photoshop comics). If he came back today and started writing and drawing, say, a new solo series starring Alpha Flight‘s Puck, buddy, I’d at least give it a flip-through.
His X-Men run, though, remains bit of a blind spot for me. I mean, I’m familiar with it, I know mostly what happens in which issue, just from having handled them in-shop and read about them for decades. Sitting down and reading them all panel-by-panel is an effort I’ve not yet made.
I intended to! Marvel’s online digital library makes it easy to catch up on stuff I’ve either missed or haven’t read in a while. This is how I’m rereading so much material for the “My Fantastic Four-ay” entries, even when I have a lot of those books sitting out in the Vast Mikester Comic Archives’ boxes. I began with Giant-Size X-Men #1, the comic that started the Modern X-Men as We Know Them, a comic that, despite its importance, I’d never read. It was…certainly something, with lots of characters shouting at each other for a whole lot of pages, and it wasn’t the greatest thing I’d ever read, but I wanted to continue.
That project fell on the back-burner, though, and I hadn’t returned. Yet. Those early new X-Men comics weren’t by Claremont and Byrne, of course, so I hadn’t even reached the point where they took over. I do still want to read these, if only to fill this hole in my comic-booking experience.
As Jeff says, I was never really an X-Men fan. I read it in the mid-ish ’80s, after picking up the extra-sized Uncanny X-Men #175, because I liked reading the longer anniversary issues of titles, and then following the book for several years after that. It just seemed like if you were a comic book fan, you just naturally picked up the X-Men as required by Nerd Law. I did bail out around issue 220 or so, not returning until Grant Morrison wrote the book, where I read every issue they did and then went back to a mostly X-free lifestyle.
Thus, the Elsewhen book is mostly lost on me, picking up plotlines and story beats from decades ago that I hadn’t read…I clearly wasn’t the target audience. I did, of course, at least page though a copy and cast my peepers within. It all looks fine, with Byrne’s art appearing to be as strong as ever. I can’t attest to the writing, but it all seems reasonably professional enough.
I did spot a guest appearance by the Fantastic Four, a team that Byrne also famously guided for many years, and look, I wavered just a tiny bit. Had this been the first of three volumes picking up where he left off on the Fantastic Four title, I’d be on this in a heartbeat.
So, no, Jeff, I didn’t read this, but once maybe I finally finished reading that original Claremont/Byrne run, maybe I’ll finally get around to this, too!
Mike, does this X-free lifestyle mean you drew Xs on your hands and then crossed them out? And does it mean no X-Force/-Statix or -Cellents?
“Part of me does wonder if it maybe could’ve sold as a standard comic book series, just reprinting each of Byrne’s posted “issues” one at a time, but I suspect the book release was a smarter move.”
A couple things would have made releasing a standard series difficult. For one, according to an article in the Hollywood Reporter in June, Chris Ryall arranged a meeting with CB Cebulski and “when it became clear that Byrne did not want his work released as a monthly periodical, the project segued to Abrams Arts.” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-byrne-returns-to-x-men-1236624739/
The other? Elsewhen apparently doesn’t have an ending. In an interview with The New York Times in July, Byrne said, “I sort of just ran out of steam and stopped. For the third volume, I’m going to include a text page saying, ‘Here’s where these stories were going.’…I didn’t run out of ideas, I just didn’t feel like doing it anymore.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/03/books/review/john-byrne-x-men-elsewhen.html
I have read it — or at least most of it — on the Byrne forum, and I can say it’s pretty patchy. The art is gorgeous, of course, but it’s full of strange details and anachronisms that took me out of the story.
I started to write a whole review, but suffice to say I think what was originally published post-Byrne is superior in many ways. Part of that’s me being a cranky old man who doesn’t want his continuity messed with. But another part is me just not liking Byrne’s later work. If you do like his more recent stuff, though, then this is the book for you. Like I said, it’s fantastically pretty. So fun to see him draw that particular X-team again.
I too looked at it on Byrne’s blog, mostly with the thought of inking some of the pages for fun. I read bits of it, but nothing sticks out to me. I’m of two minds on the project. I enjoy the thought of a creator going back and revisiting one of their seminal works. At the same time, I also think it sort of feel a little icky*. That may be due partially to Byrne’s personality and ego. If a more humble creator did something like this I might think of it more as a fun exercise and less of “this is how I think it should have been done.” Then again, a more humble creator probably wouldn’t have published their own fan-fic. While Byrne definitely still has his drawing chops, I have found that the way he draws faces now makes most of it feel a little “uncanny” valleyish. When the FF showed up I was certainly thrilled, but at the same time thinking they looked a little “off”. That said, like you Mike, I’d pick up a Fantastic Four Elsewhen in a heartbeat.
I never followed the X-men on a monthly basis. I can’t speak to the entire Claremont/Byrne/Austin run, but #109 – #116 with Weapon Alpha, Magento, and the Savage land arc with Sauron and Garrok are fun pulpy superhero comics at their best.
Unrelated but speaking of the X-Men, Mrs. LouReedRichards and I recently watched the two seasons on X-Men ’97. She really enjoyed it. I found it to be an absolute slog that amped up all the things I’ve never liked about the X-Men. They couldn’t even make the Savage Land fun. How hard is it to make a hidden jungle land full of dinosaurs fun?!?!? Justice League Unlimited it ain’t.
I have no intention of reading this comic (it sort of gives me memories of X-Men: The Hidden Years, which wasn’t a terrible comic in the least, but it’s also not 1999 anymore), so I may not be in a position to speak in-depth about this project.
However, I am a long-time fan of the X-Men, it being my first comic series I read, starting very shortly after John Byrne left the title; and I, of course, have gone back and read everything I missed, so I’m very familiar with the X-Men.
What I see with this project is that had Byrne not left the X-Men, the X-Men would have never matured. Bob Harras and Jim Lee’s vision for the X-Men would have been realized. The X-Men would have continued to do the same pulpy superhero adventures they had been doing since Giant-Size X-Men #1. There was nothing wrong with going in that direction during the Cockrum and Byrne years, it was to be expected for the time with comic books, and they were doing it better than any other title on the stands with Claremont, in my opinion. After doing the same thing for a number of years, it was time for the X-Men to grow up. That’s what kept me reading X-Men year after year, the fact that the book did change. It seems that this isn’t what Byrne wanted.
I also find it very ironic that one of Byrne’s complaints when he said he couldn’t keep working with Claremont was that Claremont couldn’t let go of the Dark Phoenix Saga.
Yet, when Byrne gets the chance to tell the story how he wanted, the Phoenix is back. Well, Jean Grey in a much creepier form.
I understand this is the story that both Claremont and Byrne wanted to tell before Jim Shooter got involved. Still, it’s funny that Byrne decides to build his story off of the Dark Phoenix Saga. Maybe Claremont was still referencing the DPS due to its importance to the franchise and it being a recent event. Claremont certainly didn’t continue to reference Phoenix after an appropriate amount of time had passed. It seems that Byrne realizes this to be true now that he was writing his X-Men “fanfic”. Yet, I’m sure Byrne will never admit he was wrong to get so annoyed with Claremont on that particular subject.
One of the things I will say in defense of Elsewhen is that it’s a return to the old “multiple subplot” structure from the ’80s, which I miss. Sure, not every subplot is a hit, but packing an issue with a bunch of them makes it feel like you’re getting a lot of story for your money.
I do think that creators should leave the Phoenix well enough alone at this point. The concept is so convoluted and contradictory — not to mention massively over-exposed — that there’s no point in exploring it further. The Dark Phoenix Saga was my first big WOW moment with comics, and I hate to see it watered down again and again. I realize Byrne didn’t originally intend this project for publication, but still — I can’t help but roll my eyes at yet another version of “let me explain the Phoenix to you” theater.
Now that I know more about what Byrne intended for the 25th anniversary issue of Fantastic Four, I would at least like to see that revisited. Just the one issue would probably be enough for me, but it sounds like good old retro fun.
@philfromgermany
Perhaps the “x-free lifestyle” means that Mike doesn’t listen to Straight Edge music nowadays, which saddens Ian MacKaye…?
I’m glad to see that John Byrne’s X-Men: Elsewhen is being discussed on this blog– I had mentioned it as a possible topic a few times over the last several months.
Of course John Byrne will remain a divisive figure for some, but shouldn’t we want a healthy comics industry where multiple voices and opinions and takes on characters are allowed–and individual readers can determine what works for them and what titles, graphic novels, and trades they want to spend their money on?
And, although I haven’t decided yet whether I am going to buy Byrne’s book, I personally think it is important to put things in the historical context which is that by John Byrne’s 5th X-Men art assignment he also began being credited as a co-plotter along with Chris Claremont–beginning with X-Men no. 113 in September 1978.
So, yes, Chris Claremont was the official X-Men writer, but John Byrne also had a significant impact of the skyrocketing sales of the book, and created or co-created various characters and concepts and contributed story ideas for three and a half years over about 36 seminal issues which many consider to be the peak X-Men run.
Based on that alone, (not to mention his status a legendary creator in the industry), I think it stands to reason that he should be allowed to create his alternate take on the characters–especially as it won’t be considered canon and is an “Elsewhen reality” in the Omniverse.
It seems to me that Marvel and DC should both be diversifying their output. Keep printing key facsimile editions, create new content embracing the latest fads and trends and targeted to the young, but also allow for projects targeted to Gen X and Baby Boomer readers where great talents from the Bronze Age are allowed a space for expression. The fact that this whole thing started as a labor of love on John Byrne’s part, with no guarantees of actually getting published, speaks volumes in and if itself.
I would wish that Terry Austin (or maybe Jerry Ordway) might agree to do some inking on the upcoming Volume 2 or Volume 3. And if Byrne had it in him to pick up from where he left off with the FF with another Elsewhen project, that could also be cool.
In fact, maybe Steven Wacker should consider having more of these kinds of projects published. Does Walt Simonson have a Thor: Elsewhen idea that he would be interested in working on? Does Jim Starlin have a Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) or Adam Warlock: Elsewhen concept that would be cool to read? Does Doug Moench have ideas for a Master of Kung-Fu: Elsewhen that Paul Gulacy could draw, or a Moon Knight: Elsewhen that Bill Sienkiewicz could draw, paint, or whatever? Or maybe market such things not as Elsewhens, but as standalone graphic novels under the old Epic imprint?
How about a cool Invaders graphic novel set during WW II written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Steranko? These legends won’t be around forever, we should appreciate them and let them create and publish those creations while there is still time.
Yes, but Marvel is already publishing plenty of “legacy” mini-series that are in continuity but as continuity implants. Claremont has written about two a year now for the past four years or so. Claremont isn’t the only legendary name returning for these “legacy” titles either. JM DeMatteis has contributed some “legacy” Spider-Man stories as another example.
The idea of Walt Simonson returning to his run on Thor (or whatever creator and book you want to see) is a great idea, but he finished his official run on Thor. Do I wish his run continued instead of being taken over by DeFalco? You bet. Why do we need this out-of-continuity “Elsewhen: What If Simonson never left Thor?” when we could just get a “legacy” mini-series where Simonson finds a gap from his original run to fill in one more Thor story?
Maybe one day Rick Vietch will finish up his Swamp Thing run. Dare to dream, am I right?
@ Chris V
A fair point. I guess the main thing, to me, is allowing more legendary creators back to do projects that interest them when there is a demographic out there that will support them and buy the books.
I would love to see Walt, and Louise, Simonson do projects which interest them.
How about a pitch for Chris Claremont, Walt Simonson and Terry Austin doing a sequel to the first X-Men/New Teen Titans crossover, also set in the ’80s? Maybe this go round could feature The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and The Brotherhood of Evil, with a cameo by the Doom Patrol.
Or break new ground with a Marvel/DC/Archie crossover event limited series or graphic novel set during WW II featuring The Invaders, The JSA, and The Mighty Crusaders.
Another thing I would like to see is Oni Press (who now has a publishing partnership with Archie Comics) release facsimile editions of key MLJ/Archie Comics, including the first Golden Age appearances of the Shield, Black Hood, Comet, The Web, The Fox, The Hangman, Steel Sterling, etc. from Pep Comics, Top-Notch Comics, Jackpot Comics, Zip Comics, etc.
Or, at the very least, they should publish a 80 to 100 Page one-shot compilation comic or trade that would feature all of those first appearances (along with Madam Satan, Blackjack, Mr. Justice, Firefly, Fireball, Inferno, Wizard, Mr. Satan, Bob Phantom, Captain Flag, Red Rube, and whoever else I might have missed). They could even throw in the first appearance of Archie as well.
And, of course, where necessary, thrown in disclaimers that these comics are a product of their less enlightened era and are being reprinted for historical purposes.
Alternatively, Oni Press could hire Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway, John Byrne, Steranko, and other top tier Bronze Age artists to write and drawn the secret origins of all of the classic 1940s MLJ superheroes. That would be quite fun!
“I suspect the book release was a smarter move.”
oh yeah!
“(though I passed on this weird Star Trek Photoshop comics)”
I think we all did!
I DID buy the X-Men book, though I haven’t read it yet. It sure as hell LOOKS cool, though!
I also got a good deal on the new WARLORD HC reprint book.
“The idea of Walt Simonson returning to his run on Thor”
Yeah, as far as I know, Simonson stopped when he wanted to, whereas Bryne left earlier than intended, MORE than once, because of editorial differences. (Hulk, West Coast Avengers, & Fantastic Four).
I’ll take pulpy X-Men over what they turned into in the 90’s: gritty, grimacing, too damn serious and too damn complicated!
@ Snark Shark
Agreed! I bailed on X-Men a few issues after Paul Smith’s departure.
I’d say I enjoy X-Men up til somewhere around #240 or 250.