BrutalGamer Bringing you Brutally Honest feedback from today's entertainment industry.
A ‘what if’ of monstrous proportions, X-Men: Elsewhen is coming to stores via Abrams ComicArts and Marvel, with a trio of volumes.
Trilogy of possibilities
It’s a whole new world in X-Men Elsewhen, a massive X-Men story arc created by the legendary writer/artist John Byrne. Okay, we know what you might be thinking, and if that title doesn’t sound familiar to you, you’ll be happy to know that there is a reason. Namely, that’s that its history is a little off-center and a lot nonexistent.
Basically, the iconic Byrne, who is one of the biggest creative forces in X-Men history, alongside Chris Claremont and Terry Austin, forged his own series of comics that never saw publication. These issues, and there are quite a few, spun out of the ending of the Dark Phoenix Saga, but with a big ‘what if’ style idea in place. And apparently, it’s one that was originally a possible in-canon ending.
The long and the short of it, is that Byrne wondered what might have happened, if instead of sacrificing herself at the pinnacle of the tale, Jean Grey survived. Any X-fan can probably guess that the alteration would have made for some radically different stories, and presenting those is the point of X-Men: Elsewhen.
When the story opens, the team has returned to Earth (after the Dark Phoenix arc). And when they land, they’ll face down a trip to the Savage Land “and beyond”, plus altered encounters with “the Sentinels, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, Spider-Man, and many other familiar faces.”
Epic format, for an epic tale
Fans can look for X-Men: Elsewhen to ship to stores as a series of three hardcover graphic novels. Notable too, is that the book will see publication under the banner of Abrams ComicArts’ Marvel Arts line.
While that might seem new and different, it also isn’t a first. Marvel Arts is already rolling with titles like “Alex Ross’s Fantastic Four: Full Circle; The Super Hero’s Journey by Patrick McDonnell; and The Avengers: Veracity Trip by Chip Kidd and Michael Cho”. All the same though, X-Men: Elsewhen certainly looks like the biggest and most ambitious release in the line to date.
Volume 1 will launch in April of 2026, followed by the second installment in the fall. After that, spring of 2027 will bring the trilogy to its close with X-Men: Elsewhen Volume 3. The hardcover books will be presented in 7.5 x 11″ format, with dust jackets included. Expect each one to include 200 pages of story and artwork, “with a number of additional features”, according to the publisher.
Read on for quotes from Byrne, and others, about the book
“They say you can’t go home again,” said writer/artist John Byrne. “They’re wrong.”
“John Byrne has done something truly unique here,” said X-Men Elsewhen series editor Chris Ryall. “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.”
“We’re incredibly excited to be publishing X-Men: Elsewhen with John Byrne,” said Joseph Montagne, Publisher of Abrams ComicArts. “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.”
Abrams ComicArts press release
