Recently on his message board, Byrne floated the story that he'd been very close to committing to writing and drawing a "Fantastic Four Forever" series for Marvel. This series would be in the same vein of Claremont's X-Men Forever and Louise Simonson's X-Factor forever series where the story would pick up right at the point where those creators had left their respective series and continue on as though they'd never left.

According to Byrne, he'd gotten "this close" to agreeing to this project when at the last minute, "he remembered who he'd be working for and couldn't go through with it." Apparently, Byrne's problems with Marvel's editorial policies are akin to a moral issue and Byrne's ethics wouldn't allow him to work for such a company.

Does anyone buy this?

I have not heard about this anywhere else but at Byrne's board. No other comic news outlet ever made mention of this proposed series at all.

Personally, I think such a book would be a decent seller for Marvel and would certainly grab some attention. I do wonder how long Byrne could endure working for the current regime at Marvel. With his delicate sensibilities, I could see him drawing a few issues and then storming off because of some perceived slight.

God knows he's chomping at the bit to work with his beloved Marvel characters again. He's stated his preferred title for such a series "Fantastic 4Ever" and recently, he even pencilled and inked the first page of what would've been his very next issue of the Fantastic Four if he'd never left. He even added that he very quickly plotted out the next two years worth of stories. Wow! Who does THAT? This guy acts like a jilted groom still pining for the girlfriend who dumped him!

What say you? Were we close to getting "Fantastic 4Ever? Was this just a fantastic fantasy on Byrne's part?

I can buy it. If X-Men Forever and X-Factor Forever were selling relatively well, it's easy to believe that somebody would at least place the call to Byrne for a similar Fantastic Four title, figuring the worst he can do is say no.

Who knows, maybe he returned the call, then when they talked practicalities it fell through.

Byrne has been stewing in his own juices for so long that it might be impossible for him to have a successful long-term relationship with editors or publishers anymore.

From a potential employer's viewpoint, he might have crossed the line from cranky to complete dickhead.

It's a pity he doesn't show interest in creator-owned publishing. Cranking out more X-MEN or FANTASTIC FOUR comic books at Marvel probably wouldn't be fun, anyway, not 30 years after his golden age.

Now there is an image that will haunt me for a while. Yeech...

Yes. Unfortunate for Byrne himself, he's let fly on his board for so long and so freely that most potential editors could scan the JBF and walk away with the impression that if you were to take a chance on this guy, he's very likely to abruptly quit over some perceived insult or double-cross and then roast you alive with his version of events on his message board. That automatic audience boost Byrne could once count on bringing with him to any book can no longer be relied upon to make this a worth while risk.



Marvel will always be Byrne's first and greatest love. His best stuff was at Marvel. His heart was never in his DC stuff. His Superman was lukewarm and the rest of his DC efforts, Lab Rats, Wonder Woman, Doom Patrol and others, were outright awful. His own creations also appeared to bore himself. Only Danger Unlimited had any real spark and that was only because it was a surrogate Fantastic Four.

I agree, but I think it would be disorienting, dull and depressing to return to the very same titles that made you famous 30 years ago. Going back to Marvel (if Marvel would have him) is one thing. But going back to FANTASTIC FOUR or X-MEN -- eh, been there, done that.

I wish someone would go over there and kick start the superman II thread again...(coughpaulwsonderstedjrcough)

Oddly, Paul posts about Byrne over here a hundred times more frequently than he posts on the Byrne board. He just sort of lurks over there. Maybe he's scared of accidentally stepping on a mine and getting banned.

It's almost as if he's minimizing the chances that all his many years of defending the man, could be proven wrong, in one swift poetic moment.

Um, what have I defended that could be PROVEN wrong?