Phoenix, Super-Man and Nova

After John Byrne left The Uncanny X-Men as pecillier and co-scripter due to editorial and butting heads with fellow scripter Chris Claremont, Marvel Comics granted his request to pencil and write The Fantastic Four.

John’s run has been sited by a majority of FF fans as the best run on the title since Jack Kirby and Stan Lee held the creative reins.

I have to agree.  Byrne’s FF is one of my favorite runs on the title.

His stories really fit the cosmic/science/adventure feel as originated by Kirby and Lee.

All of the stories were a blast to read, a joy to look at and just plain fun.

But, there are a few issues that are especially outstanding and I’m going to mention three.

In issue #244 Johnny Storm’s girlfriend Frankie agrees to become the new herald of Galactus in order to save the earth.

Frankie had already discovered she had ‘flame on’ capabilities like Johnny.

After agreeing to herald for Galactus, and abandoning her romance with Johnny she becomes a cosmic powered, super-version of her former fiery self. As Nova she completely loses her humanity.

It’s heartbreaking breakup story as far as Johnny goes, a shock that she would cavalierly cast off her humanity and relationship with Johnny and agree to become the herald for Galactus. 

In issue #249 the FF faces off against the Gladiator: Praetor of the Imperial Guard of the Sh’iar Empire, in a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Man of Steel: Superman.

Gladiator is tricked into believing that his race’s enemy the Skrulls are masquerading as the FF and he attacks the real FF.

In an interesting examination of what it means to be ‘super’ the FF defeat Gladiator in the next issue by discovering his powers are mentally based, not completely physical based as believed.

Ironically John would soon take up the creative reigns of DC Comics' Superman after a spat with Marvel.

Jean Grey returns in issue #286 after the FF examine a strange solid white cocoon discovered by The Avengers in the same body of water Jean supposedly transformed into the Phoenix.

Taking the cocoon back to Reed's lab Jean returns unaware of the passage of time since she ‘transformed’ into Phoenix.

As it turns out she was never the Phoenix but placed in hibernation when the Phoenix force took her place.

This is one of several ‘returns’ of Jean Grey.

All three issues are landmark issues and receive far less attention than they deserve.