John Byrne is the first comics artist I ever started to follow. I read all of his major works and I’ve enjoyed most of them. I haven’t been following him in the last 2-3 years, there’s just too much new stuff to read.

The fact that I know much about his work definitely decreased my enjoyment of this volume of Modern Masters. I really knew much of what he discussed about his work, and even some of his personal opinions about the comics industry and other people.

I don’t care about what people perceive him as, I don’t know if it’s true, and even if it is I just like to read his comics. This volume is still very well done, but the interviewer obviously tried to get some spark (not necessarily controversy) from Byrne, because that’s what he’s most known for these days. So there’s not as much history about his past work as I would have liked (but he had such a long career, it was have taken 2-3 volumes to cover it all).

But let’s forget about that for a second and let me discuss some of his work.

I recently re-read his run on X-Men with Claremont, and it is really a classic run. His pencils and the plot he contributed definitely created some incredible stories. But it isn’t my favorite work of his. I think his Fantastic Four really accomplished a higher level of quality. Not all of his run was great, but it was a long run, so it’s inevitable.

Moving on to his Superman, that’s the Superman I know about. I didn’t read any pre-crisis Superman, so this is really the definitive Superman in comics for me. They were fun stories that defined a modern version of Superman, as well as some important relationships.

The first run by Byrne I ever read was West Coast Avengers, so that run will always have a special place in my memory. It really was full of events for Scarlet Witch especially, I really had a great time. Too bad it didn’t last too long.

There were a couple of time travel stories he did for DC that I really liked. Those were some of the first time travel stories I ever read, and I was a sci-fi geek since then. Omac was one of them, I was blown away by the time travel paradox. GL: Ganthet’s Tale was another story, though it was co-written with Larry Niven. Just great sci-fi stories.

Time travel would once again play a big role in what is probably my favorite Byrne series: Next Men. I must have read this series 10 times in 2 years, I bought all the TPBs (didn’t read it until it was almost over) and I kept waiting for him to continue it. That was probably my first exposure to more mature superhero comics (I had read Vertigo/indy comics, but not “adult” superhero), but it was also a cool sci-fi story, or at least it was hinted at. Unfortunately we never got to see that part paid off. I hope he’ll be able to finish this series at IDW now.

I also got all his other Dark Horse comics. Babe was an interesting concept, but I was happy with the 2 minis. Danger Unlimited was also interesting, though probably a bit too similar to FF. Still I would have liked to see that continue.

After his Dark Horse years he continued to work for DC (Wonder Woman, 4th World etc…) and Marvel (Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, X-Men Hidden Years), but the only project that I really loved was Generations. I thought the concept was a brilliant idea, seeing the DC characters age in real time from the year they were introduced.

One of the things I hated most about superhero comics was the status quo. No matter what happened to them, sooner or later they would revert back to status quo. Of course there are some things that changed, but they were very few and far between each other.

In Generations they would grow old, get married and have kids and grand kids. There would be really tragic events that would affect them forever, real deaths too. I was just thrilled to read their entire life go by in a few issues of comics. Of course by the last page Byrne still managed to restore the “status quo”, but we already got so many great stories.

The art style was also well thought out. Each story would reflect the art style of that era, from Golden Age, to Silver Age, to Bronze Age and the modern age. Their costumes would also reflect that, as well as the story itself obviously. Each story was self-contained, but the character arcs would develop among all issues.

The second Generations mini was very much like the first one, it just tried to show us even more characters, and filling in some of the gaps from the first mini.

The third mini changed the format, so I didn’t think it was as good. It just felt like a normal superhero story. Unfortunately this mini might have damaged the Generations brand, so that Byrne didn’t do any more stories. I actually wouldn’t mind an ongoing Generations series, there are so many years to cover still, and so many characters to deal with. I think Byrne could pull that off, effectively creating his version of the DCU.

At this point there are 2 series I would love for him to do: Generations and Next Men. Hopefully IDW will allow him to finish Next Men, while DC could just give him one ongoing Generations series, something any reader could pick up and enjoy every month (unlike their current incomprehensible series).

Many subplots in the Claremont-Byrne run where resolved at the end of the Dark Phoenix saga. So with Dave Cockrum’s return to the title, a new era begins for the X-Men.

One mention needs to be done about the Avengers Annual 10, where Rogue is introduced. This is where she steals Ms Marvel’s powers, who will tag along with the X-Men for quite a few issues.

In Uncanny X-Men Annual 5 Arkon is back, not much else happens except for a brief mention of Ororo’s past with T’challa. This will be seen in Marvel Team-Up 100.

In 144 Cyclops is back, though he is with Lee and not the X-Men. 145-147 is a silly story with Arcade and Doom, I found it pointless especially the ending was stupid. 148-150 is the return of Magneto, preceded by Spider-Woman, Caliban, Theresa Cassidy and Garak appearances. But it’s the double sized 150 that gives us a great Magneto story, one that sees the start of Magneto’s change into a much more interesting character than the usual evil villain. Loved the ending to this story.

151-152 sees the return of Shaw and Emma Frost, who switches body with Ororo. There are many illogical points in this story, but it was ok. 153 is the bedtime story Kitty narrates to Illyana. It’s a silly fun re-telling of the Dark Phoenix saga.

154-157 is another space story, with Starjammers, Shi’ar, Lilandra and the introduction of Deathbird and the Brood. Honestly I feel that all these stories are basically the same. But at least Corsair finally tells Scott that he’s his father. Here is also where we learn what happened to him.

Finally back on earth, the government fight against mutants is official, and the X-Men go to the Pentagon to erase all data about themselves. There they meet Rogue and Mystique again. (158)

159 is another self-contained story with Dracula, who almost transforms Ororo into a vampire. This issue is notable for the bond between Ororo and Dracula, her friendship with Kitty, and the art by Bill Sienkiewicz.

160 is yet another self-contained issue, where Illyana attracted by Belasco to go into Limbo. This is where she comes back to earth as a 13 year old girl, having spent 5 years in Limbo.

In general these issues were not as good as previous ones, although there are still a few gems. Cockrum’s art felt a step down compared to Byrne. However after a few issues I got used to his style and started to appreciate it for what it was.

After the Dark Phoenix Saga, John Byrne concludes his run on X-Men with 6 more issues.

Issue 138 is the funeral of Jean Grey, where Scott reminisces about the past and summerizes all major events in this title since issue 1. I thought this was a very well done summary, that puts together seemingly separate stories into character development. Byrne’s art obviously gives a more modern view of those classic stories.

After this issue there is the Annual 4. This is actually a nice adventure guest starring Doc Strange. But what I liked about it was the revelation about Kurt’s past, his mother Margali and his girlfriend Amanda Sefton.

The next arc (139-140) guest stars Alpha Flight. Kurt and Wolverine go to find AF and they help them capture Wendigo. In the meantime Kitty gets a codename (Sprite) and starts to acclimate to her new friends. At the end AF is disbanded but more stories are hinted at.

Issues 141-142 are the classic Days of Future Past. In just two issues Claremont and Byrne create another classic that will be utilized again and again in future stories. This is just a great story about the future, which introduces Rachel Summers, even though she’s only Rachel here. In the present Mystique and her group try to assassinate Senator Kelly, which inspired the first X-Men movie.

In his last issue (143) Byrne and Claremont just have some fun with Kitty. She’s alone at home and she has to fight a N’Gari demon. There are references to Alien, Terminator (?) and other movies. It’s just a fun little action story about Kitty.

These last few issues are also very entertaining, but I am was sad to see Byrne leave. There are still too many captions by Claremont, he describes the art too many times without any actual need. But that’s partly his style and part what everybody did at the time.

The following issues will be less entertaining for me without Byrne, but I will keep reading.

This is considered one of the best superhero stories and it made a huge impact when it was released.

I’ve read it before, but I was never that blown away by it. I do like it, it certainly is at least controversial and important in the X-Men saga.

It also introduces the Hellfire Club for the first time, giving us characters that have a big role in the X-Men universe. I liked the way Mastermind took control of Jean, projecting his illusions in her mind giving the story a custumed 18th century feel.

Once the Hellfire Club thread is over it is X-Men vs. Phoenix, which is both action packed and emotional. When Jean goes into space it feels almost surreal, the words and the art used give it a different feel than the earth scenes.

The genocide committed by Jean was shocking at the time it was published, but when I read it I already knew about it so it obviously took away most of the surprise and enjoyment.

What really touched me was the last issue, where each X-Men is given time to reflect on Jean and what she has done. That was a very nice character study. The way Jean dies felt almost anti climactic and it took me by surprise. I really felt for Cyclops.

The art by John Byrne is excellent, it’s clear and dynamic, the space scenes are beautiful to look at, and there are so many memorable panels that have become iconic images for the X-Men.

I’ll be continuing to read X-Men stories from this point on, following the Retro Reviews in the Uncanny X-Cast podcast. After all X-Men is my favorite superhero title.

X-Men was my favorite superhero series, so I was very interested in getting this uber volume containing the first adventures of the “new” X-Men.

These are classic stories written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum and John Byrne. Ever since the first issue, Claremont’s style of long term plotting was evident. One off stories that seem to go nowhere, are revealed many issues later. A story thread started in an issue is not paid off until years later.

It is still possible to divide this run in story arcs, although the end of a story is tightly linked to the beginning of the next one. The only difference is that they’re not labeled as story arcs like today.

These stories bring the X-Men all over the world, and outside. There is so much going on that it feels like they go out and do not return home for years. They’re also often divided, so we follow multiple threads at the same time.

The art is excellent, first by Cockrum, who created the new X-Men and updated the original X-Men. Granted the style is clearly not a modern one, but it was excellent for that time. But it’s not until John Byrne comes on board, that this feels almost like a modern book. The dialog is still less realistic, but the art is gorgeous to look at, and it stands the test of time.

The high point of this collection is the Proteus arc, at the end of which it really feels like the X-Men (and the readers) have a breather. The last three issues are part of the famous Phoenix Saga, but I wish they were moved to vol 2 instead. Can’t wait to read that saga again though!

A great collection of one of the most important superhero series.