EXCLUSIVE: The 1983 comic gets, ahem, new life…
Marvel in March will be reprinting as a Facsimile Edition Phoenix: The Untold Story #1, the 1983 one-shot in which Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Terry Austin provided readers with the original ending of the Dark Phoenix Saga, where Jean Grey survived.
The Facsimile will essentially be a jumping-on point for Byrne’s upcoming three-volume graphic novel X-Men: Elsewhen, published through Abrams ComicArts under license from Marvel. That hardcover series picks up with Jean alive. The first volume is due in June 2026.
“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,” the Abrams description reads. (The Untold Story actually was released at the end of 1983.)
Phoenix is one of two Facsimiles coming from Marvel in January. The other — which you can read about here — kicks off a new multi-issue run.)
Check out the EXCLUSIVE solicitation info, which will be released officially by Marvel later this month:
PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY #1 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT & JOHN BYRNE
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
Variant Cover by DIKE RUAN
FOIL VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
The story everyone knows – with an ending you may never have seen! The climactic chapter of the classic saga of the Dark Phoenix sent shock waves through comic book fandom with the heartbreaking death of Jean Grey. But originally, Chris Claremont and John Byrne planned a different outcome – which, years later, was revealed in PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY! With Jean’s life in the balance, the X-Men fight a duel of honor on the Blue Area of the Moon against the mighty Gladiator and his allies in the Imperial Guard of the Shi’ar Empire! Cyclops will be at the side of the woman he loves until the battle’s very end – but how will the story play out this time? It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting PHOENIX: THE UNTOLD STORY (1984) #1.
$6.99
On Sale: 3/18
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Several thoughts:
— Smart play, Marvel.
— The issue reprints 1980’s The X-Men #137, but the final five pages replace the originally published ending. There’s also a pinup that would have been the opening splash to Issue #138.
— The interviews are as much the selling point as the story itself. Byrne, Claremont, Austin, Jim Shooter, Jim Salicrup and Louise Simonson discuss the decision-making behind Phoenix’s death.
— As I noted before, this is one of two Facsimiles coming in March from Marvel. Link below!
— Obligatory Price Comparison: You can find the original for pretty easy money, but it’s still fun to pick this up fresh for $7 as an Elsewhen prologue, or just as an X-curiosity.
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MORE
— 1968’s SILVER SURFER: Marvel to Publish First SEVEN Issues as FACSIMILE EDITIONS. Click here.
— MARVEL Ditches Yearlong FACSIMILE EDITION Runs in Favor of Month-To-Month — At Least for Now. Click here.
