Legendary Artist John Byrne Returns with X-Men 'Elsewhen'

John Byrne, a pivotal figure in Marvel's 1980s comic resurgence, has returned to publishing with "X-Men: Elsewhen." This project began as his personal fan fiction in 2018, evolving over three years into 31 issues posted online without editorial interference.

Elsewhen reimagines a critical juncture from Byrne's original "Uncanny X-Men" run, offering an alternate path where Jean Grey survives a universe-saving sacrifice. This divergence from the established narrative addresses a decision Byrne disagreed with.

The series' transition from online fan fiction to a published work involved collaboration with Abrams ComicArts. Byrne refined and reedited the stories for print, with new artist Paul Wills contributing inks to half the pages.

"X-Men: Elsewhen" has seen immense success even before its June 23 release, with the first printing of 25,000 copies selling out in pre-sales, prompting a second printing of 20,000. Subsequent volumes are slated for release in summers 2026 and 2027.

Byrne, now 76, views this project as a potential capstone to his career, reflecting on his influential past and his views on modern Marvel adaptations. He remains critical of most Marvel movies, finding them too distant from his original character interpretations.