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Published Jun 24, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT
John Byrne plots a new path for Jean Grey after The Dark Phoenix Saga
Image: John Byrne/Marvel Comics, Abrams ComicsArtsSign in to your Polygon.com account
In one of the X-Men's seminal stories, Jean Grey doesn't make it out alive. After being corrupted by the Phoenix Force and leaving a wake of destruction throughout space, she sacrifices herself at the end of "The Dark Phoenix Saga." (It's comics, though — don't worry, she eventually returns.)
A new X-Men series is rewriting the ending of that classic storyline. Iconic X-Men writer and artist John Byrne is returning to the team for X-Men: Elsewhen, which takes place after the ending of "The Dark Phoenix Saga" except this time, Jean survives. Byrne co-wrote the original storyline with the legendary Chris Claremont; they also worked on the "Days of Future Past" storyline together, which began just a couple of issues after "The Dark Phoenix Saga" ended.
Written and drawn by Byrne, X-Men: Elsewhen explores "an entirely different future for the team and the surrounding Marvel Universe of characters," according to a news release. Arriving back on Earth with a weakened Jean Grey, the X-Men contend with Sentinels and the Savage Land. Other Marvel characters guest star, and in Polygon's exclusive preview pages below you can see the Human Torch and The Thing of the Fantastic Four contending with a mutant-hunting Sentinel.
"[Byrne has] 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," series editor Chris Ryall said in a news release.
"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," Abrams ComicsArts publisher Joseph Montagne added. X-Men: Elsewhen is part of Abrams ComicArts’ Marvel Arts line, which includes Alex Ross’s Fantastic Four: Full Circle and the upcoming Doctor Strange: Endless Nightmare.
X-Men: Elsewhen is inked by Byrne and Paul Wills, colored by Lovern Kindzierski and Leonard O’Grady, and lettered by Byrne and Patrick Brosseau. The first volume went on sale Tuesday, June 23, for $39.99, but has already sold out at retailers like Amazon. (A second printing is on the way.) The second and third volumes are planned to be released in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, respectively.
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