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Just to alert you to a couple of recent Facsimile Editions from Marvel, Crivvies, which you might be interested in adding to your collection - namely The Uncanny X-Men #s 135 & 136. However, I'm going to start by showing some of the previous X-Men facsimiles which eventually lead up to Jean Gray's death in #137. I don't think I ever had any of the original issues in this run, though I believe I read some black and white reprints in Marvel Superheroes, a UK monthly from back in the late '70s/early '80s. The 137 facsimile is one I bought in 2019, but it's being reissued later this month, and yes, I have actually pre-ordered it.
Anyway, enough waffle from me, enjoy the pretty piccies presented for your palpitating pleasure. And if you'd like to leave a comment, well - I won't try to stop you. (Incidentally, I scanned these mags while still in their poly bags, so there might be a spot of dust visible in one or two places. And I may've shown some of them before, but I can't recall which ones.)
Any memories of the original printings way back when, Crivs? Then recount your recollections to your fellow readers, esteemed ones, and prompt some pleasant nostalgic notions.
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6 comments:
I had all of them originally except #129 and #131 but I must correct you, Kid, because they didn't lead to Jean Grey's death - her dramatic death was later retconned away when it was revealed that the Phoenix Force had been impersonating Jean from #100 onwards and the real Jean Grey was still alive which was a total betrayal of the readers and made the entire Black Queen/Dark Phoenix saga pointless.
As you say, CJ, it was a retcon - she died, then Marvel later decided they wanted to have the original X-Men in their own series again - X-Factor (thankfully without Simon Cowell) - so they explained away her death, etc. It didn't make the saga pointless, as the issues were designed to entertain and that's what they did.
I purchased all of these, apart from # 130, (& # 131, which my brother acquired later.) The art of Byrne & Austin's seemed incredibly "cool"/stylish, to a kid ( it was the first time I'd followed a US title, rather than buying at random.) I was bitterly disappointed, however, #137 - the finale - never arriving at my town's WHSmiths ( or any other local newsagent.) Later, an ending to the Dark Phoenix Saga was provided by this comic:
https://britishcomics.fandom.com/wiki/X-Men_Winter_Special_Vol_1?file=Xmenwinter81.jpg
And that seemed right, for years! A decade later, I read the Dark Phoenix Saga's "real" ending, in a Classic X-Men reprint of # 137. Surprisingly, (Mary) Jo Duff's ending ( Uncanny X-Men Winter Special ) seemed better!
In retrospect, to me, the X-Men's best issues - e.g. # 112 & others - were before excessive soapiness took over, and Kitty Pryde's introduction ( to start with she was okay, but later it got a bit much! ) Nevertheless, those issues were outstanding, back then!
Phillip
I was never a huge fan of the 'new' X-Men and didn't buy the regular US mag, but I don't remember ever seeing it on sale anywhere anyway, so couldn't have bought it even had I wanted to, P.
Comics writers nowadays seem more interested in trying to shape society according to their own agendas. I recently saw a full page of 'Superman' kissing his boyfriend on another site and I just couldn't believe how such a page (or even the idea of it) was allowed. I just don't believe that comics are the forum for such 'excessive soapiness' in regard to some topics.
I don't know whether to feel happy or sad when I look back at old comic covers. Happy when I remember travelling to Birmingham with my brother, his friend and sometimes my cousin on the train, walking into 'Nostalgia and Comics' shop and seeing all the new covers, hearing the sound of the Galaxian arcade machine and smelling newly printed and old back-issue comics. Sad to think that those days are gone.
I think the first issue I bought was #133, although I subsequently acquired the previous issues as well. I only recently discovered that both Chris Claremont and John Byrne are British born.
I've known of their UK origins for many years now, M, probably from the early '80s, gleaned from interviews and articles at the time. On whether to feel happy or sad, I suppose such memories are always bittersweet, mainly because they remind us of what was but can no longer have - same goes for covers as modern ones are nowhere near as good.
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