Fantastic Four Takes on a Classic X-Men Foe in Marvel’s New Dark Phoenix Saga

In a pivotal moment from the X-Men saga, Jean Grey meets her end after being overtaken by the Phoenix Force, leaving chaos in her wake across the cosmos. Ultimately, she sacrifices herself in “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” But fear not, comic fans—she does make a comeback eventually.

Now, a fresh X-Men series is reimagining that iconic tale. Renowned writer and artist John Byrne is back with X-Men: Elsewhen, which picks up after the conclusion of “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” but this time, Jean survives. Byrne, who co-wrote the original storyline alongside the legendary Chris Claremont, also collaborated on the “Days of Future Past” arc that followed shortly after.

In X-Men: Elsewhen, Byrne both writes and illustrates a narrative that delves into “an entirely different future for the team and the broader Marvel Universe,” as stated in a recent announcement. The X-Men return to Earth with a weakened Jean Grey, facing off against Sentinels and exploring the Savage Land. Expect appearances from other Marvel characters, including a showdown between the Human Torch and The Thing from the Fantastic Four against a mutant-hunting Sentinel.

Byrne has crafted new X-Men adventures that not only remind fans of his beloved and influential past work but also introduce fresh, engaging stories for newer audiences, according to series editor Chris Ryall.

“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,” added Joseph Montagne, publisher at Abrams ComicArts. X-Men: Elsewhen is part of the Marvel Arts line from Abrams ComicArts, which also features Alex Ross’s Fantastic Four: Full Circle and the upcoming Doctor Strange: Endless Nightmare.

X-Men: Elsewhen is illustrated by Byrne and Paul Wills, with colors by Lovern Kindzierski and Leonard O’Grady, and lettering by Byrne and Patrick Brosseau. The first volume launched on June 23 for $39.99 and quickly sold out at various retailers, though a second printing is on the way. Volumes two and three are slated for release in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, respectively, and the series hints at intriguing new characters, including what appears to be a legally distinct version of Batman and Green Lantern.