The 600-page story will probably be informed throughout three hardcover volumes.

I can’t say I ever anticipated to see this information, however hey, there’s no higher time than the week of Comedian-Con for a shock. Abrams ComicArts and Marvel are teaming as much as publish X-Males: Elsewhen, a group of John Byrne’s alternate historical past X-Males story.

Byrne is among the legendary artists of the brand new X-Males, if not THE legendary artist of the brand new X-Males that debuted again in Large-Sized X-Males #1. Byrne joined author Chris Claremont on X-Males with concern #108, shortly earlier than “Uncanny” was added to the title. Along with inker Terry Austin, he drew a number of the most well-regarded problems with the title, together with the Darkish Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Previous, the introduction of Alpha Flight and extra. He left the title with concern #143, and went on to work on the whole lot from Incredible 4 to Alpha Flight to Sueprman to Doom Patrol and a lot extra.

Lower to about seven years in the past, and Byrne began posting these X-Males: Elsewhen comics on his Byrne Robotics discussion board. Because the press launch describes it:

“… the central conceit of the collection entails Byrne’s return to these storylines, albeit with one main distinction: the end result of the ‘Darkish Phoenix Saga’ noticed Jean Gray, the Phoenix, make the final word sacrifice to save lots of the universe from her energy, which had grown too nice for her to include. In Elsewhen, nevertheless, the storyline picks up from that time however explores the never-published ending the place Jean Gray survived the expertise, albeit in a drastically altered trend.”

Marvel Government Editor Tom Brevoort shared these alternate pages a while again, and I can keep in mind shopping for a particular sooner or later that included an interview with the creators together with a take a look at the opening web page for Uncanny X-Males #138 (which you’ll see in Brevoort’s submit). Issues would have labored out very in another way for Scott and Jean.

Byrne took that concept additional, principally creating greater than 30 problems with an alternate historical past X-Males story that adopted from that time. The press launch shares extra particulars on what the story contains:

That story change ends in a wholly totally different future for the staff and the encompassing Marvel Universe of characters. In X-Males Elsewhen Quantity 1, the characters return to Earth and face very totally different experiences within the Savage Land and past, in an expansive storyline that additionally options the Sentinels, the Incredible 4, the Avengers, Spider-Man, and plenty of different acquainted faces.

“John Byrne has accomplished one thing really distinctive right here,” stated X-Males: Elsewhen collection editor Chris Ryall. “He’s created all-new X-Males adventures that not solely function a reminder of why Byrne’s previous work on these characters was beloved and influential, whereas on the similar time presenting all-new and related tales that may captivate newer X-Males followers as effectively.”

X-Males: Elsewhen will probably be launched in three volumes as part of Abrams ComicArts’ Marvel Arts line; they’ve printed different excessive finish books like Alex Ross’s Incredible 4: Full Circle, The Tremendous Hero’s Journey by Patrick McDonnell and The Avengers: Veracity Journey by Chip Kidd and Michael Cho. Quantity one will probably be launched in April 2026, with subsequent volumes releasing in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. All three volumes will probably be launched as 7.5 x 11 hardcovers with mud jackets, and have effectively over 200 pages of story and artwork per quantity, together with plenty of further options, totaling about 600 pages.

“We’re extremely excited to be publishing X-Males: Elsewhen with John Byrne,” stated Joseph Montagne, Writer of Abrams ComicArts. “This challenge is one thing really uncommon. It gives an opportunity to revisit one of the vital iconic runs in comics historical past, informed by the unique co-creator in his personal voice. Byrne’s ardour for these characters comes via on each web page. We’re proud to convey this long-awaited story to readers via our Marvel Arts line and so as to add such a significant challenge to this collaboration between Abrams and Marvel.”