Published Jun 22, 2026, 5:02 PM EDT
CBR senior staff writer Brian Cronin has been writing professionally about comic books for twenty years now at CBR (primarily with his “Comics Should Be Good” series of columns, including Comic Book Legends Revealed). He has written two books about comics for Penguin-Random House – Was Superman a Spy? And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed and Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent? And Other Amazing Comic Book Trivia! and one book, 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, from Triumph Books. His writing has been featured at ESPN.com, the Los Angeles Times, About.com, the Huffington Post, Vulture and Gizmodo. He features legends about entertainment and sports at his website, Legends Revealed and other pop culture features at Pop Culture References. Follow him on Twitter at @Brian_Cronin and feel free to e-mail him suggestions for stories about comic books that you'd like to see featured at brianc@cbr.com!
In 2009, Marvel released X-Men Forever, which was a comic book series based on the idea that Chris Claremont had not left the X-Men after X-Men #3 in 1991. So Claremont nominally could tell the story that he would have told had he not been removed from the book at the time after nearly 17 years as the writer of X-Men. Of course, things in that series took some wild detours, but the basic concept was, "What if Chris Claremont had never left the X-Men?"
That same concept is behind the new three-volume series from Abrams ComicArts (in collaboration with Marvel) called X-Men: Elsewhen, where John Byrne, who co-wrote the X-Men and drew the book for an iconic run with Claremont in the late 1970s/early 1980s, will now do the same for the X-Men from when HE left the book in 1980 (after it became clear to him that no matter what he came up with on the series, that Claremont, as the scripter of the book, would always have final say).
The first volume (written and penciled by Byrne, inked by Byrne and Paul Wills, colored by Lovern Kindzierski and Leonard O’Grady, and lettered by Byrne and Patrick Brosseau) is out this week, and CBR has an exclusive preview of the project.
What is the Solicitation for X-Men: Elsewhen?
X-MEN ELSEWHEN HC VOL 01 (OF 03)
(W/A/CA) John Byrne
Legendary comic book creator John Byrne returns to the title he first drew 50 years ago, Uncanny X-Men, with this one-of-a-kind new graphic novel series, X-Men: Elsewhen. This three-volume graphic novel series picks up the story from Byrne's original run, taking the characters in new and unexpected directions. In Volume 1 of X-Men: Elsewhen, the Dark Phoenix Saga is over and Phoenix is . . . alive?! Diverging from the epic finale of the original storyline from 1984, X-Men: Elsewhen presents a universe where Jean Grey's powers and intellect have been greatly reduced, and from there, everything you thought you know about the X-Men is forever changed. John Byrne's monumental return to the X-Men heads in entirely new and surprising directions, as the X-Men head back to the Savage Land, face their climactic adventure with the Sentinels, and contend with special guest–stars such as the Avengers and the Fantastic Four along the way. X-Men: Elsewhen is a three-volume graphic novel series in the Marvel Arts line that sees the return of acclaimed X-Men artist Byrne decades after his last work on the series. Byrne has written and penciled every page and inked multiple chapters, all of which pick up the story from where his first go–round ended, taking this beloved lineup of characters—and his fans—in exciting new directions. $39.99 6/24/2026
What Do Byrne and His Editors on the Project Have to Say?
In a press release announcing the project, Byrne noted, “They say you can’t go home again. They’re wrong.”
Chris Ryall edited the collection, and he added, “John Byrne has done something truly unique here. He’s created all-new X-Men adventures that not only serve as a reminder of why Byrne’s past work on these characters was beloved and influential, while at the same time presenting all-new and relevant stories that will captivate newer X-Men fans as well.”
Finally, Joseph Montagne, Publisher of Abrams ComicArts, explained, “We’re incredibly excited to be publishing X-Men: Elsewhen with John Byrne. This project is something truly rare. It offers a chance to revisit one of the most iconic runs in comics history, told by the original co-creator in his own voice. Byrne’s passion for these characters comes through on every page. We’re proud to bring this long-awaited story to readers through our Marvel Arts line and to add such a meaningful project to this collaboration between Abrams and Marvel.”
X-Men: Elsewhen Volume 1 is out in book stores tomorrow, and comic book shops on Wednesday.
English (US) · 