Thoughts

And suddenly we’re in the Claremont/Byrne era!

It’s striking that he jumps in mid-story. We’re rocking along nicely with a Cockrum drawn Space story and now there’s this new guy. It’s a confident debut. Cockrum had been such an integral part in defining the look and feel of this relaunched X-title that it seems unlikely this could survive an artist change.

And yet Byrne’s style both complements what Cockrum did before him, but without just copying it. His take on all the lead characters fits from the outset, there’s not a single jarring moment. His Cyclops, his Wolverine, his Storm, his Nightcrawler, his Phoenix – they all look right.

By having the X-men face two Guardians of the Crystal one after the other means that this issue avoids the over-stuffed feeling of the last one. Claremont really does inventive fights well, and these are both great examples that Byrne has fun visualising. Then the action shifts to Phoenix and the Cosmic scale.

And then the issue comes to an end with a rushed conclusion. Universe is saved and the x-men are back on Earth in two quick panels. A couple more deal with all the outstanding plot lines. It’s a shame because I want to learn more about the Cosmic world and characters these last few issues featured. But I guess we’ll get back to them in time.

And it’s hard to complain about the ending when it features one of the funniest tribute moments ever published. Cockrum’s “I’m not dead” is comedy genius.

Fun Panel

Byrne’s visuals are great from the off, but this panel is a highlight.

None More Claremont

Claremont does let rip with the text when Phoenix saves the universe. This section is Text-box-heavy – Claremont laying it on thick what exactly is happening and how the Universe is being saved. It’s a key moment for the storyline to come, so such verbiage is excusable to stress the enormity of the event but its something that the visuals can’t really hope to convey. Especially with just a few panels of art.