View source for John Byrne (comics)

{{Short description|American comic book writer and artist (born 1950)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox comics creator
|name=John Byrne
| image         = 10.6.17JohnByrneByLuigiNovi1.jpg
| caption       = Byrne at the [[New York Comic Con]], 2017
| birth_name    = John Lindley Byrne
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1950|7|6}}
| birth_place   = {{nowrap|[[Walsall]], Staffordshire, England}}
| nationality   = American
| cartoonist    = 
| write         = y
| pencil        = y
| ink           = y
| letter        = y
| alias         = 
| notable works = {{hlist|''[[X-Men]]''|''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]''|''[[Superman]]''|''[[She-Hulk]]''}}
| awards        = {{hlist|[[Eagle Awards]] – Favourite Comicbook Artist|(1978, 1979)|[[Inkpot Award]] (1980)|[[Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame]] (2015)}}
| website       = {{url|http://www.byrnerobotics.com}}
| nonUS         = 
| subcat        = 
}}
'''John Lindley Byrne''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɜr|n}}; born July 6, 1950) is a British-born American<ref name=citizenship>{{cite web| url= http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49180&PN=1&totPosts=45|title=[Untitled]|first=John|last= Byrne| publisher= Byrne Robotics (official website)| date= August 19, 2015| access-date= September 18, 2016| quote=I've been a citizen of three different countries. I was born in England, so I got that one the easy way. When I was 14, my parents became Canadian citizens, and I floated in with them. Then, in 1988, after having lived in this country the prerequisite number of years, I became an American citizen. In full. I do not hold dual citizenship. I do not hyphenate myself.| archive-date=  September 18, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160918183424/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49180&PN=1&totPosts=45 |url-status=live}}</ref> comic book writer and artist of [[superhero comics]]. Since the mid-1970s, Byrne has worked on many major superheroes; with noted work on [[Marvel Comics]]'s ''[[X-Men]]'' and ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]''. Byrne also facilitated the 1986 relaunch of [[DC Comics]]'s ''[[Superman]]'' franchise with the [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]] [[The Man of Steel (comics)|''The Man of Steel'']], the first issue of which featured the comics' first [[variant cover]].

Coming into the comics profession as a [[penciller]], [[inker]], [[letterer]], and writer on his earliest work, Byrne began co-plotting the ''X-Men'' comics during his tenure on them, for [[story arc]]s including "[[Dark Phoenix Saga]]" and "[[Days of Future Past]]", and co-creating characters such as [[Kitty Pryde]], [[Emma Frost]], [[Sabretooth (character)|Sabretooth]], [[Shadow King]], and [[Rachel Summers]]. Byrne launched his writing career in earnest with ''Fantastic Four'', also serving as penciler and inker, and included [[She-Hulk]] onto the team while writing a solo series for [[Thing (comics)|The Thing]]. While working on ''X-Men'', he created the Canadian superhero team [[Alpha Flight]], and later wrote and drew their own series.

Moving to DC, Byrne established the modern origin for Superman in ''The Man of Steel'' before writing and drawing two monthly titles and various miniseries for the character. Byrne then returned to Marvel, introducing the [[Great Lakes Avengers]], and wrote and drew the humorous fourth wall-breaking series ''[[The Sensational She-Hulk]]''. Revisiting ''X-Men'' as a writer, Byrne co-created [[Bishop (Marvel Comics)|Bishop]] and [[Omega Red]]. Byrne was the writer and artist of the ''[[Wonder Woman]]'' series for three years, during which he created the second [[Wonder Girl]], [[Cassie Sandsmark]].

During the 1990s he produced a number of [[creator-owned]] works, including ''[[Next Men]]'' and ''[[Danger Unlimited]]'', and was one of the founders of the [[Legend (comic imprint)|Legend]] imprint at [[Dark Horse Comics]]. He scripted the first issues of [[Mike Mignola]]'s ''[[Hellboy]]'' series and produced several ''[[Star Trek (comics)|Star Trek comics]]'' for [[IDW Publishing]]. In 2010, Byrne revived ''Next Men'' to conclude the series. Hailed as one of the most prolific and influential comic book artists ever, Byrne and his X-Men collaborator [[Chris Claremont]] were entered into the [[Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame]] in 2015.

==Early life and career==
Byrne was born on July 6, 1950<ref name="CBG">{{cite web|last=Miller |first=John Jackson|author-link= John Jackson Miller|url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |title=Comics Industry Birthdays |work=[[Comics Buyer's Guide]] |date=June 10, 2005 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |access-date=December 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Walsall]], [[Staffordshire]], and raised in [[West Bromwich]], also in Staffordshire,<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47974&PN=7&totPosts=42| first=John|last=Byrne| title=[untitled 6:19 p.m. post] | publisher=Byrne Robotics (official website)|date= December 16, 2014 |quote=I lived in Walsall for the first 2.5 days of my life. I am a West Bromwich lad!!! |access-date=April 22, 2016| archive-date= April 22, 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160422204109/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47974&PN=7&totPosts=42 | url-status=live}}</ref> where he lived with his parents, Frank and Nelsie, and his maternal grandmother.<ref>Byrne, John, "Superman: A Personal View", text article, ''The Man of Steel'' #1 (Oct. 1986), DC Comics.</ref> He was an only child. His father was a town planner and his mother was a homemaker.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=6}} While living in England, prior to his family emigrating to Canada when Byrne was 8, he was first exposed to comics, saying in 2005,
{{blockquote|[M]y 'journey into comics' began with [star] [[George Reeves]]' ''[[Adventures of Superman (TV series)|<nowiki>[Adventures of]</nowiki> Superman]]'' series being shown on the [[BBC]] in England when I was about 6 years old. Not long after I started watching that series I saw one of the hardcover, black and white 'Annuals' that were being published over there at the time, and soon after found a copy of an Australian reprint called ''Super Comics''  that featured a story each of [[Superboy]], [[Johnny Quick (Johnny Chambers)|Johnny Quick]] and [[Batman]]. The Batman story hooked me for life. A couple of years later my family emigrated to Canada (for the second time, no less!) and I discovered the vast array of American comics available at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5806&KW=Bromwich |title=Journey into Comics |first=John |last=Byrne |date=May 14, 2005 |publisher=Byrne Robotics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717024226/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5806&KW=Bromwich |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |access-date=September 14, 2012 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}

His first encounter with [[Marvel Comics]] was in 1962 with [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]]'s ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' #5.<ref>"Avengers Assemble: Question of the Month", ''Avengers'' #233 (July 1983) Marvel Comics</ref> He later commented that "the book had an 'edge' like nothing DC was putting out at the time".<ref name="CBR2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=151 |title=John Byrne: The Hidden Answers |first=Michael |last=Thomas |date=August 22, 2000 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008124403/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=151 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |url-status=live|access-date=September 14, 2012 |quote=FF5 blew me away on a lot of levels. It was – again, something I would learn later – the first collaboration between Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott, for instance. The artwork is truly superb. Plus, with the combination of art and writing, the book had an "edge" like nothing DC was putting out at the time.}}</ref> Jack Kirby's work, in particular, had a strong influence on Byrne and he has worked with many of the characters Kirby created or co-created. Besides Kirby, Byrne was influenced by the [[naturalism (art)|naturalistic]] style of [[Neal Adams]].{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|pp=18, 22–23}} Byrne has named comic books, ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' as his greatest influences.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=13}}

Despite drawing comics as a youth, Byrne intended to have a career as a [[commercial art]]ist.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=16}} In 1970, Byrne enrolled at the [[Alberta College of Art and Design]] in [[Calgary]]. He created the superhero parody ''Gay Guy'' for the college newspaper, which poked fun at the campus stereotype of homosexuality among art students.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/recent-updates/yet-another-first-gay-superhero/ |title=Yet Another First Gay Superhero |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=November 18, 2009 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> ''Gay Guy'' is notable for featuring the first gay superhero.<ref name="gg">{{Cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/recent-updates/yet-another-first-gay-superhero/ |title=Yet Another First Gay Superhero |date=2009-11-18 |accessdate=2023-11-23 |language=en-GB |first=Rich |last=Johnston |author-link=Rich Johnston |website=Bleeding Cool}}</ref> While there, he published his first comic book, ''ACA Comix'' #1, featuring "The Death's Head Knight".<ref>{{cite book|last = Cooke|first = Jon B.|chapter= Part 1: Drawing with a Ballpoint Pen |title = Modern Masters Volume Seven: John Byrne|publisher = [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|year = 2006|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|page = 18| isbn = 189390556X}}</ref>

Byrne left the college in 1973 without graduating. Before finding success with comic books, Byrne spent three years designing billboards for an advertisement company.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=19}} He broke into comics with a "Fan Art Gallery" piece in Marvel's promotional publication ''[[FOOM]]'' in early 1974<ref>{{cite journal|title = FOOM Fan Art Gallery|journal = [[FOOM]]|page = 24|publisher = Marvel Comics|date = April 1974}}</ref> and by illustrating a two-page story by writer [[Al Hewetson]] in [[Skywald Publications]]' black-and-white [[horror (genre)|horror]] magazine ''Nightmare'' #20 (Aug. 1974).<ref name=gcd>{{gcdb|type=credit|search= John+Byrne|title= John Byrne}}</ref> He then began freelancing for [[Charlton Comics]], making his color-comics debut with the ''[[E-Man]]'' backup feature "[[Rog-2000]]", starring a robot character he'd created in the mid-1970s that colleagues [[Roger Stern]] and [[Bob Layton]] named and began using for spot illustrations in their [[fanzine]] ''CPL'' (''[[Contemporary Pictorial Literature]]''). A Rog-2000 story written by Stern, with art by Byrne and Layton, had gotten the attention of Charlton Comics editor [[Nicola Cuti]], who extended Byrne an invitation. Written by Cuti, "Rog-2000" became one of several alternating backup features in the Charlton Comics [[superhero]] series ''[[E-Man]]'', starting with the eight-page "That Was No Lady" in issue #6 (Jan. 1975). While that was Byrne's first published color-comics work, "My first professional comic book sale was to Marvel, a short story called Dark Asylum' ... which languished in a flat file somewhere until it was used as filler in ''[[The Tomb of Dracula|Giant-Size Dracula]]'' #5 [(June 1975)], long after the first Rog story."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=1&T1=Who+Is+John+Byrne%3F#7 |title=What was JB's first professional job in comic books? At Marvel? At DC? |publisher=Byrne Robotics |first=John |last=Byrne |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113122845/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=1&T1=Who+Is+John+Byrne%3F |url-status=live}} (Archive requires scrolldown.)</ref> The story was plotted by [[Tony Isabella]] and written by [[David Anthony Kraft]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Isabella |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Isabella |title=Tony's Tips |journal=Comics Buyer's Guide |issue=1433 |publisher=[[Krause Publications]] |date=May 4, 2001 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |url=http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/back20010504.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=September 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212202127/http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/back20010504.shtml |archive-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref>

After the Rog-2000 story, Byrne went on to work on the Charlton books ''[[Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch]]'', ''[[Space: 1999]]'', and ''[[Emergency!]]'', and co-created with writer [[Joe Gill]] the [[post-apocalyptic]] science-fiction series ''[[Doomsday + 1]]''.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=21}} Byrne additionally drew a cover for the supernatural anthology ''[[The Many Ghosts of Doctor Graves]]'' #54 (Dec. 1975).<ref name="gcd" />

==Marvel Comics==
Byrne said he broke into Marvel comics after writer [[Chris Claremont]]
{{blockquote|...saw [his Charlton] work and began agitating for [him] to draw something he had written. When [artist] [[Pat Broderick]] missed a deadline on the '[[Iron Fist (comics)|Iron Fist]]' series in ''[[Marvel Premiere]]'', [production manager] [[John Verpoorten]] fired him and offered the book to [Byrne]. ... [Byrne] turned around the first script in time to meet the deadline, and so started getting more work from Marvel, until [he] was able to leave Charlton and focus entirely on the Marvel stuff."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=1&T1=Who+Is+John+Byrne%3F#179 |title=How did JB get his first job at Marvel? |publisher=Byrne Robotics |first=John |last=Byrne |date=January 19, 2006 |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113122845/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=1&T1=Who+Is+John+Byrne%3F |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}} (Archive requires scrolldown.)</ref>}} Byrne soon went on to draw series including ''The [[Champions (1975 team)|Champions]]'' (#12–15, 17 1977–78)<ref>{{cite journal|last = Walker|first = Karen|title = 'We'll Keep on Fighting 'Til the End': The Story of the Champions|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue = 65|pages = 21–23|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = July 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> and ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' (#53–55, 59–70, 75, 79, 100).<ref>{{cite journal|last = Aushenker|first = Michael|title = That ''Other'' Spider-Man Title...''Marvel Team-Up'' Offered an Alternative Spidey Experience|journal= Back Issue!|issue = 66|pages = 15–22|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = August 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> Byrne first drew the [[X-Men]] in ''Marvel Team-Up'' #53.<ref>{{cite book|last=Saffel|first=Steve|title= Spider-Man the Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|year=2007|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-1-84576-324-4|chapter= Weaving a Broader Web|page= 72|quote= A double-page spread from ''Marvel Team-Up'' #53, January 1977, [gave] John Byrne his first opportunity to draw the Uncanny X-Men in a Marvel comic.}}</ref> For many issues, he was paired with Claremont, with whom he teamed for issue #11 of the black-and-white Marvel magazine ''[[Marvel Preview]]'' featuring [[Star-Lord]]. The Star-Lord story was inked by [[Terry Austin (comics)|Terry Austin]] and lettered by [[Tom Orzechowski]], both of whom soon afterward teamed with Claremont and Byrne on [[Uncanny X-Men|''Uncanny'' ''X-Men'']].{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|pp=28–36}}

===''The Uncanny X-Men''===
[[File:Xm135.PNG|thumb|left|upright|''[[The Uncanny X-Men]]'' #135 (July 1980). Cover art by Byrne & [[Terry Austin (comics)|Terry Austin]].]]
Byrne joined Claremont beginning with ''[[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men]]'' #108 (Dec. 1977), which was later renamed ''The Uncanny X-Men'' with issue #114.<ref>{{cite book|last = Sanderson|first = Peter|author-link = Peter Sanderson|editor-last= Gilbert|editor-first= Laura|chapter= 1970s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 181|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= When 'new' ''X-Men'' co-creator Dave Cockrum left the series, John Byrne took over as penciler and co-plotter. In his first issue, Byrne and writer Chris Claremont wound up the Shi'ar story arc."}}</ref> Their work together, along with inker Terry Austin, on such classic [[story arc]]s as "[[Proteus (Marvel Comics)|Proteus]]", "[[Dark Phoenix Saga]]", and "[[Days of Future Past]]" would make them both fan favorites.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Nickerson|first=Al |title=Claremont and Byrne: The Team that Made the X-Men Uncanny|journal=[[Back Issue!]]|issue=29 |pages=3–12|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date=August 2008|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> Byrne insisted that the title keep its Canadian character, [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]], and contributed a series of story elements to justify Wolverine's presence which eventually made the character among the most popular in Marvel's publishing history. With issue #114, Byrne began co-plotting the series as well as penciling. Claremont recounted that "at that point in time John and I were, in a very real sense, true collaborators on the book. It was with very few exceptions, difficult, for me, anyway, to tell in the actual gestation of the book where one of us left off and the other began – because it involved one of us coming up with an idea and bouncing it off the other ..."<ref>"The Dark Phoenix Tapes", ''Phoenix: The Untold Story'' #1 (April 1984). Note: The indicia lists the publication title as simply ''Phoenix'', with no subtitle.</ref> The "Dark Phoenix Saga" in 1980 is one of the most notable stories in the title's history.<ref>{{cite book|last = Daniels|first = Les|author-link = Les Daniels|title = Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics|chapter= The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)|publisher = [[Abrams Books|Harry N. Abrams]]|year = 1991|location= New York, New York|page = 186|isbn = 9780810938212|quote= The controversial story created a sensation and ''The X-Men'' became the comic book to watch.}}</ref><ref>[[Tom DeFalco|DeFalco, Tom]] "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 196: "In January [1980] a nine-part story began that changed the X-Men forever...Claremont proposed a story that would show how Jean Grey – one of the original members of the X-Men – had become corrupted by her new Phoenix power.</ref> Comics writers and historians [[Roy Thomas]] and [[Peter Sanderson]] observed that "'The Dark Phoenix Saga' is to Claremont and Byrne what the '[[Galactus Trilogy]]' is to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It is a landmark in Marvel history, showcasing its creators' work at the height of their abilities."<ref>{{cite book|last = Thomas|first = Roy|author-link = Roy Thomas|author2=Sanderson, Peter |author-link2=Peter Sanderson |title = The Marvel Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the World of Marvel|publisher = [[Running Press]]|year = 2007|location= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|page = 136|isbn = 978-0762428441}}</ref> Byrne has repeatedly compared his working relationship with Claremont to [[Gilbert and Sullivan]], and has said that they were "almost constantly at war over who the characters were."<ref name="slush">{{cite web |url=http://www.slushfactory.com/content/EpuFlFFVuZUiRPXKuz.php |title=Too-Much-Reality Check |first=John |last=Byrne |date=January 29, 2003 |publisher=Slushfactory.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716184450/http://www.slushfactory.com/content/EpuFlFFVuZUiRPXKuz.php |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 14, 2012 |quote=[W]ould readers have enjoyed the Claremont/Byrne years on ''Uncanny X-Men'' had they known that Claremont and Byrne were spinning around in a kind of Gilbert & Sullivan relationship, almost constantly at war over who the characters were? |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Byrne created the characters [[Alpha Flight]],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 189</ref> [[Proteus (Marvel Comics)|Proteus]],<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 190</ref> and [[Kitty Pryde]]/Shadowcat<ref>{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Cronin |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/03/16/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-42/2/ |title=Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #42 |work=Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=March 16, 2006 |access-date=February 4, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603064000/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/03/16/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-42/2/ |archive-date=June 3, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/xmen-kitty-pryde-worst-costume-suit/|author=Bacon, Thomas|title=X-Men's Kitty Pryde is Officially Marvel's WORST Dresser|publisher=[[Screen Rant]]|date=May 3, 2020|access-date=August 22, 2020|archive-date=May 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505112714/https://screenrant.com/xmen-kitty-pryde-worst-costume-suit/}}</ref> during his run on ''The X-Men''. A new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, led by [[Mystique (comics)|Mystique]], was introduced in the "Days of Future Past" storyline (#141–142, Jan.-Feb. 1981) in which a time-travelling Kitty Pryde tried to avert a dystopian future caused by the Brotherhood assassinating Presidential candidate Senator [[Robert Kelly (comics)|Robert Kelly]].<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 200</ref> Byrne plotted the story because he wanted to depict the Sentinels as a genuine threat to the existence of the mutant race.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|pp=31–32}} Byrne left ''The X-Men'' with #143 (March 1981). During his tenure on the series, ''The X-Men'' was promoted from a bimonthly to a monthly publication schedule as sales steadily increased—a trend that continued long after Byrne left.<ref>Thomas and Sanderson, p. 137: "''The Uncanny X-Men'' remained something of a cult book, with a small but devoted following, but as the 1980s continued, sales went up and up. By mid-decade, it was consistently the top-selling comic book not simply at Marvel but in the entire American comics industry."</ref>

In the late 1970s, while serving as the regular penciller of ''X-Men'', Byrne began penciling another superhero team title, ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]''. Working for the most part with writer [[David Michelinie]], he drew issues #164–166 and 181–191.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/recent-updates/john-byrne-gets-a-mixed-marvel-omnibus-and-other-2016-omnibi |title=John Byrne Gets A Mixed Marvel Omnibus, And Other 2016 Omnibi |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=August 1, 2015 |website=Bleeding Cool |access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref> Byrne and Michelinie co-created [[Ant-Man (Scott Lang)|Scott Lang]] in ''Avengers'' #181 (March 1979).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.businessinsider.com/ant-man-explained-2015-7|title= Ant-Man is such a complicated comic-book character, it's a miracle they made a pretty good movie about him|first= Joshua|last= Rivera|date= July 17, 2015|website= [[Business Insider]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150816092911/http://www.businessinsider.com/ant-man-explained-2015-7|archive-date= August 16, 2015|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lovette |first=Jamie |title=Sizing Up Scott Lang's Five Best Ant-Man Stories |url=http://comicbook.com/2015/06/26/sizing-up-scott-langs-five-best-ant-man-stories/ |date=June 28, 2015 |website=Comic Book |access-date=July 31, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630222058/http://comicbook.com/2015/06/26/sizing-up-scott-langs-five-best-ant-man-stories/ |archive-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref> Byrne's nine-issue run of ''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'', issues #247–255 (July 1980 – March 1981), with writer [[Roger Stern]], included issue #250, in which the character mulled running for the office of [[President of the United States]].<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 198: "The National Populist Party asked Captain America to run for President of the United States in this issue by writer Roger Stern and artist John Byrne."</ref>

===''Fantastic Four''===
[[File:FF232.jpg|thumb|upright|''Fantastic Four'' #232 (July 1981), Byrne's debut as writer-artist. Cover art by Byrne and inker [[Terry Austin (comics)|Terry Austin]].]]
Byrne's post-''X-Men'' body of work at Marvel includes his five-year run on ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' (#232–295, July 1981 – October 1986), which is generally considered a "second golden age" for the title.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last = Plowright|editor-first = Frank | title = The Slings and Arrows Comic Guide|publisher = [[Aurum Press]]|year = 1997|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn = 1854104861}}</ref> Byrne said his goal was to "turn the clock back ... get back and see fresh what it was that made the book great at its inception".<ref>Quoted in {{cite book | first = Christopher|last = Mari|chapter = John Byrne|title = Current Biography Yearbook 2000|pages = 81–4|publisher = H.W. Wilson, Co.}}</ref><ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 200: "John Byrne went back to basics with the ''Fantastic Four'' and evoked the title's early days of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby."</ref> He made a number of changes during his tenure: The [[Thing (comics)|Thing]] was temporarily replaced as a member of the quartet by the [[She-Hulk]], while the Thing had adventures in his own comic (#1–22 also written by Byrne), and the Thing's longtime girlfriend [[Alicia Masters]] left him for his teammate the [[Human Torch]]; the Invisible Girl was developed into the most powerful member with the heightened control of her refined powers and the self-confident assertiveness to use it epitomized by her name change to the [[Invisible Woman]];<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 221: "After freeing herself from the Psycho-Man's control, Susan changed her name from the Invisible Girl to the Invisible Woman."</ref> and headquarters the [[Baxter Building]] was destroyed and replaced with [[Four Freedoms Plaza]]. Byrne has cited multiple reasons for leaving the series, including "internal office politics"<ref name="CBR2000" /> and that "it simply started to get old".<ref name="tart">{{cite web|url=http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/june99/byrne.shtml |title=The Superheroes' Mr. Fix-It: John Byrne |first=Marcia |last=Allass |date=June 1999 |publisher=Sequential Tart |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924100532/http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/june99/byrne.shtml |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=September 14, 2012 |quote=It simply started to get old, and, around the same time, things in the office got dicey, and I used that as an excuse to leave.}}</ref>

===''Alpha Flight''===
In 1983, while still at the helm of ''Fantastic Four'', Byrne began to write and draw ''[[Alpha Flight (comic book)|Alpha Flight]]'', starring a Canadian superhero team that had been introduced "merely to survive a fight with the X-Men."<ref name="CBR2000" /> The series proved initially very popular, with its first issue selling over half a million copies,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Shayer |first=Jason |date=September 2015 |title=Exploding from the Pages of X-Men: Alpha Flight |url=https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/backissue83preview |journal=Back Issue! |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |issue=83 |pages=13–14}}</ref> and the following issues selling between 400,000 and 500,000 issues each month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newsok.com/article/5581604/word-balloons-documentary-looks-at-writer-behind-x-men|title=Word Balloons: Documentary looks at writer behind 'X-Men'|date=February 2, 2018|work=NewsOK.com|access-date=June 25, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> However, Byrne has said the title "was never much fun" and that he considered the characters two-dimensional.<ref name="CBR2000" /> One of Alpha Flight's characters, [[Northstar (Marvel Comics)|Northstar]], eventually became Marvel's first openly gay superhero. Though Byrne from the beginning intended the character to be gay, Northstar's homosexuality was only hinted at during Byrne's tenure on the series.<ref name="ByrneFAQ">{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=2&T1=Questions+about+Comic+Book+Projects#106 |title=Questions about Comic Book Projects |first=John |last=Byrne |date=August 24, 2004 |publisher=Byrne Robotics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508223824/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=2&T1=Questions+about+Comic+Book+Projects |archive-date=May 8, 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=September 14, 2012}} (Archive requires scrolldown)</ref>

===''Indiana Jones''===
In 1983 Byrne co-wrote and penciled issues 1 and 2 of ''[[The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones]],'' a two-part story arc titled "The Ikons of Ikammanen". The story involves archaeologist Edith Dunne, a former student-turned-enemy of Jones. Byrne wrote the first issue and [[Dennis O'Neil]] wrote the second, while Byrne penciled both issues with Terry Austin as the inker.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dixon |first=Brian A. |editor-last=Laist |editor-first=Randy |date=2020 |title=Excavating Indiana Jones: Essays on the Films and Franchise |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lOnaDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT178 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |page=172 |isbn=978-1-4766-7692-0}}</ref>

===''Incredible Hulk''===
In 1985, after issue #28 of ''Alpha Flight'', Byrne swapped the series with [[Bill Mantlo]], writer of ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]''. According to Byrne, he discussed his ideas with editor-in-chief [[Jim Shooter]] ahead of time, but once Byrne was on the title, Shooter objected to them.<ref name="CBR2000" /> Byrne wrote and drew issues #314–319. The final issue of Byrne's run featured the wedding of Bruce Banner and Betty Ross.<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 227: "Dr. Bruce Banner first met Betty Ross in ''The Incredible Hulk'' #1 (May 1962) and finally married her in issue #319 by John Byrne."</ref>

==DC Comics==
=== ''The Untold Legend of the Batman'' ===
In early 1980, Byrne did his first work for DC Comics, penciling the first issue of ''[[The Untold Legend of the Batman]]'' [[Limited series (comics)|miniseries]].<ref>{{cite book|last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last= Dolan|editor-first= Hannah|chapter= 1980s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2010|location= London, United Kingdom
|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9|page= 187|quote= Written by Len Wein, with art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, ''The Untold Legend of the Batman''...delved into the origin of the fabled Dark Knight.}}</ref> Byrne had always wanted to draw ''Batman'', and had a three-month window of time during which he was not under contract to Marvel. Hearing about the ''Untold Legend'' series, Byrne contacted editor [[Paul Levitz]] to express interest. DC took him up on his offer, but it was not until the second month of his three-month window that Byrne received the plot for the first issue. Byrne told Levitz that he would not be able to finish the project due to time constraints despite DC then allegedly offering Byrne double his Marvel pay rate, after initially saying they could not match his Marvel rate. Byrne penciled the first issue, which was inked by [[Jim Aparo]] after being intended for Terry Austin. This experience soured Byrne on DC for quite some time.<ref name="Batman">{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18189 |title=Untold Legend of the Batman |first=John |last=Byrne |date=April 26, 2007 |publisher=Byrne Robotics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222034418/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18189 |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref>

=== ''Superman'' ===
Near the end of his time at Marvel, Byrne was hired by DC Comics to revamp its flagship character [[Superman]].<ref name="Manning-221">Manning, "1980s", in Dolan, p. 221. "In the six-issue miniseries entitled ''[The] Man of Steel'', the mammoth task of remaking Superman fell to popular writer/artist John Byrne...The result was an overwhelming success, popular with fans both old and new."</ref> This was part of a company-wide restructuring of the history of the [[DC Universe]] and all of its characters following the limited series ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]''. Byrne's reworking of Superman in particular gained widespread media coverage outside the comic book industry, including articles in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' and ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rohter |first=Larry |date=June 10, 1986 |title=Reinventing Superman: He'll Be Upwardly Mobile |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/10/style/reinventing-superman-he-ll-be-upwardly-mobile.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 14, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524190154/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/10/style/reinventing-superman-he-ll-be-upwardly-mobile.html |archive-date=May 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Teiwes |first=Jack |editor-last=Darowski |editor-first=Joseph J. |date=2012 |title=The Ages of Superman: Essays on the Man of Steel in Changing Times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E_86DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA137 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=McFarland & Company |page=137 |isbn=978-0-7864-6308-4}}</ref> At the time, Byrne said, "I'm taking Superman back to the basics ... It's basically [[Jerry Siegel|Siegel]] and [[Joe Shuster|Shuster]]'s Superman meets the [[Fleischer Studios|Fleischer]] Superman in 1986."<ref name="AH">{{cite news|last = Sanderson|first = Peter|author-link = Peter Sanderson|title= "Superman Reborn!"|magazine= [[Amazing Heroes]]|issue = 96|publisher = [[Fantagraphics Books]]|date = June 1986}}</ref>

[[File:Comic Book - Man of Steel 1 (1986).png|thumb|left|upright|''[[The Man of Steel (comic book)|The Man of Steel]]'' #1 (Oct. 1986). Cover art by Byrne.]]<!--  ''The Man of Steel'' No. 1 cover date is October 1986 per the Grand Comics Database  -->
Byrne significantly reduced Superman's powers (though he was still one of the most powerful beings on Earth), eliminated the [[Fortress of Solitude]] and super-dog [[Krypto]], and kept [[Jonathan and Martha Kent]] alive into Clark's adulthood to enjoy their adopted son's triumphs, as well as to provide him with support, grounding, and advice whenever he needed it. Byrne also used [[Marv Wolfman]]'s idea of making [[Lex Luthor]] a wealthy business owner in addition to a scientific genius with a deadly vendetta against the superhero.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=2&T1=Questions+about+Comic+Book+Projects#31 |title=Who created the 'new' Lex Luthor for ''Man of Steel''? |publisher=Byrnerobotics.com |date=n.d. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508223824/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=2&T1=Questions+about+Comic+Book+Projects |archive-date=May 8, 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=June 17, 2010}}</ref> Byrne did away with the childhood/teenage career as [[Superboy (Kal-El)|Superboy]]; in his revamped history, Clark Kent does not put on a costume and become a super-hero until adulthood. This approach to Kent's path to becoming Superman was later used in the TV series 
''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman|Lois & Clark]]'' and ''[[Smallville]]'', and in the 2005 novel ''[[It's Superman]]'' by [[Tom De Haven]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rvanews.com/entertainment/talking-man-of-steel-with-novelist-vcu-professor-tom-de-haven/94666 |title=Talking Man of Steel with novelist, VCU professor Tom De Haven |last=Cushing |first=Nathan |date=June 13, 2013 |website=RVANews |access-date=September 10, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910020728/https://rvanews.com/entertainment/talking-man-of-steel-with-novelist-vcu-professor-tom-de-haven/94666 |archive-date=September 10, 2015}}</ref>

In the Superman mythos, Byrne wrote Clark Kent as having a more aggressive and extroverted personality than previously depicted, comparing him to [[Jimmy Breslin]],<ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite news |last=Kempley |first=Rita |date=November 2, 1985 |title=SUPERMAN |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/11/02/superman/de273fae-da92-4dd7-bf72-e94b9abbcbd0/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=December 26, 2011}}</ref> and even making him a top high-school football player. Byrne came up with explanations for how Superman's disguise works, such as the public simply does not realize that he has a secret identity since he is unmasked, that Superman would vibrate his face via his super speed in order to blur his image to photographers, and having Kent keep a weight training set around to explain how the human and presumably weaker Kent could have a frame as massive as Superman's.<ref name="AH"/> Byrne described Superman as becoming a "Super [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]", seeking to incorporate renewed interest in American patriotism during the presidency of [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref name="washingtonpost" /> Byrne's Superman felt that his deepest roots were on Earth and that his home planet of "Krypton is anathema to him".<ref name="AH" />

The origin and early career of Byrne's version of Superman debuted in the six-issue miniseries ''[[The Man of Steel (comics)|The Man of Steel]]'' (July–Sept. 1986), the first issue of which was marketed with two different covers illustrated by Byrne, the first use of [[variant covers]] by the American comics industry.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cbr.com/comic-book-questions-answered-what-was-the-first-variant-cover/|title= Comic Book Questions Answered: What Was the First Variant Cover?|first= Brian|last= Cronin|date= April 24, 2008|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161001114902/http://www.cbr.com/comic-book-questions-answered-what-was-the-first-variant-cover/|archive-date= October 1, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref> DC Executive Editor [[Dick Giordano]] had been looking for a writer to restart the Superman continuity from scratch, and began talking with Byrne in May 1985 to discuss what Byrne would do with Superman if offered the job.<ref>Man Of Steel #1, "Meanwhile by Dick Giordano"</ref> With DC agreeing with 99% of the revision, Byrne was given the go-ahead for what became ''The Man of Steel''.<ref name="Manning-221" />

Comics historian Timothy Callahan argued that Superman in modern media has more in common with Byrne's portrayal of the character than those of [[Cary Bates]], [[Elliot S. Maggin]], [[Dennis O'Neil]], [[Jerry Siegel]], and [[Edmond Hamilton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23278 |title=SUPERMAN CONTINUES TO BYRNE |last=Callahan |first=Timothy |date=October 12, 2009 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310195110/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23278 |archive-date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> Brian Cronin of ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' suggested that, although Byrne made several changes, Byrne's Superman was still more similar to previous depictions of the character than he was not.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/04/09/top-100-comic-book-runs-80-76/ |title=Top 100 Comic Book Runs #80-76 |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=April 9, 2008 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=September 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103211943/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/04/09/top-100-comic-book-runs-80-76/ |archive-date=January 3, 2009}}</ref>

Byrne penciled the six-issue DC Universe crossover miniseries ''[[Legends (comics)|Legends]]'' (Nov. 1986 – May 1987) during this time.<ref>Manning, "1980s", in Dolan, p.  221. "DC's next big crossover showcased John Byrne's pencils on all six of the miniseries' issues. Entitled ''Legends'', this new limited series was plotted by writer John Ostrander and scripted by Len Wein...By the series' end, the stage was set for several new ongoing titles, including...the ''Suicide Squad'', as well as the ''Justice League''."</ref> He wrote and drew two monthly Superman titles with the hero's present-day adventures: a new ''[[Superman vol. 2|Superman]]'' title beginning with issue #1 (January 1987)<ref>Manning, "1980s", in Dolan, p. 226. "For the second time in his history, Superman's self-titled comic saw a first issue...a new series was introduced...written and drawn by the prolific Byrne."</ref> and ''[[Action Comics]]'', in which, beginning with issue #584, Superman teamed up with other DC characters. The original ''Superman'' book was renamed ''[[Adventures of Superman (comic book)|The Adventures of Superman]]'' starting with issue #424 and was initially written by [[Marv Wolfman]] and drawn by [[Jerry Ordway]], but the writing chores were taken over by Byrne after a year from issues #436–442 and 444. As 1988 marked the 50th anniversary year of Superman's creation, Byrne did more Superman-related projects while working on the core Superman monthly titles at the same time: he wrote the [[prestige format]] [[graphic novel]], ''Superman: The Earth Stealers'' and three separate four-issue miniseries: ''The World of Krypton'', ''The World of Metropolis'', and ''The World of Smallville''. He supplied the cover art for the March 14, 1988, issue of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19880314,00.html |title=Superman at 50 |date=March 14, 1988 |location=New York, New York |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=December 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109134305/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0%2C16641%2C19880314%2C00.html |archive-date=January 9, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and an interior spread featuring Superman, where his pencils were inked by Ordway.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,967000,00.html |title=Time Magazine Contents Page: Mar. 14, 1988 |date=March 14, 1988 |magazine=Time |access-date=December 26, 2011}}</ref>

After his initial run on the Superman titles from 1986 to 1988, Byrne would make a return as a guest inker on ''Adventures of Superman Annual'' #2 (cover) and ''[[Superman vol. 2|Superman]]'' #50 in 1990. He would return doing a Superman [[Elseworlds]] story as a writer and artist in ''[[Action Comics]]'' Annual #6 in 1994. In 2004 ''[[Superman: True Brit]]'', an [[Elseworlds]] story, was a collaboration with former Monty Python member John Cleese and Kim Johnson, with art by Byrne and inker Mark Farmer. Byrne returned to draw Superman in ''Action Comics'' #827–835, working with writer [[Gail Simone]], from 2005 to 2006.<ref name="gcd" />

Byrne spent about two years on the Superman titles before leaving. His dissatisfaction stemmed from his perception that there was a lack of "conscious support" for him at DC. Furthering the rift between the company and the artist was the fact that the version of Superman which DC licensed for merchandising was contrary to Byrne's representation in the comic books.<ref name="CBR2000" />

==Return to Marvel==

===''Star Brand''===
In 1986, Marvel began publication of a new line of superhero titles created by then-Editor-in-Chief [[Jim Shooter]], which took place in a continuum removed from the Marvel Universe proper, called the [[New Universe]]. In 1987, the New Universe line saw a revamp under new Editor-in-Chief [[Tom DeFalco]], and Byrne took over writing and art breakdowns on the line's flagship title, ''[[Star Brand]]'' (renamed ''The Star Brand'' during Byrne's term on the book). Byrne's run started with issue #11 and continued until the series' cancellation eight issues later upon Marvel's discontinuation of the New Universe line.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Johnson |first=Dan |date=June 2009 |title=Sparks in a Bottle: The Saga of the New Universe |journal=Back Issue! |issue=34 |pages=21–33 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Dwight Jon |last=Zimmerman |date=January 1988 |title=Mark Gruenwald |work=[[Comics Interview]] |issue=54 |page=17 |publisher=[[Fictioneer Books]]}}</ref>

===''Avengers West Coast''===
In 1989, after leaving ''Superman'', Byrne returned to work on a number of titles for Marvel Comics. His work on ''[[West Coast Avengers (comic book)|West Coast Avengers]]''<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 240: "Writer/artist John Byrne produced the story arc that came to be known as 'Vision Quest' that ran through ''The West Coast Avengers'' #42–45."</ref> (issues #42–57, soon renamed ''Avengers West Coast'') was contingent on his being allowed to do what he called "my Vision story".<ref name="CBR2000" /> The [[Vision (Marvel Comics)|Vision]] was a long-standing Marvel superhero and member of [[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]], an [[Android (robot)|android]] originally created by the villain [[Ultron]] constructed with the body of the original [[Human Torch (Golden Age)|Human Torch]]. The Vision went on to join the team, marry his teammate the [[Scarlet Witch]], and father two children by her. Byrne radically changed this, revealing that Immortus – who previously had revealed to the Avengers the synthezoid's origin – lied about the Vision's creation. The android Human Torch was found and joined the WCA. The Vision was disassembled and stripped of his emotions. The couple's twins were revealed to be pieces of the soul of the demon Mephisto. In addition to these changes, Byrne's run is remembered for the introduction of the [[Great Lakes Avengers]], an eclectic group of new superheroes.<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 241: "Writer/artist John Byrne took a tongue-in-cheek approach to superheroics."</ref>

===''The Sensational She-Hulk''===
During [[She-Hulk]]'s tenure with the Fantastic Four, she appeared in ''[[Marvel Graphic Novel]]'' #18 (Nov. 1985) in a story titled ''The Sensational She-Hulk'', which Byrne wrote and illustrated.<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 241</ref>

[[File:Cover of The Sensational She-Hulk No. 31.png|thumb|right|upright|''The Sensational She-Hulk'' #31 (Sept. 1991), Byrne with [[She-Hulk]] and editor [[Renée Witterstaetter]]. Cover art by Byrne.]]
On the request of editor [[Mark Gruenwald]], Byrne wrote and drew a new series in 1989, ''[[The Sensational She-Hulk]]'' (maintaining the 1985 [[graphic novel]]'s title). Gruenwald directed that it be significantly different from the character's previous series, ''[[The Savage She-Hulk]]''.<ref name="FAQAborted">{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=3&T1=Questions+about+Aborted+Storylines#129 |title=Questions About Aborted Storylines |first=John |last=Byrne |date=December 11, 2004 |publisher=Byrne Robotics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812055646/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=3&T1=Questions+about+Aborted+Storylines |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> Byrne's take was comedic and the She-Hulk, who was aware she was in a comic book, regularly broke the [[fourth wall]], developing a love-hate relationship with her artist/writer by criticizing his storylines, drawing style, character development, etc.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=56}} Byrne left the book after writing and drawing the first eight issues. Byrne was asked for input on writer [[Dwayne McDuffie]]'s ''She-Hulk: Ceremony'' limited series, and according to Byrne, most of his objections to the story and notations of errors were ignored, and his editor, [[Bobbie Chase]], "was rewriting my stuff to bring it into line with" the story in ''Ceremony''. Upon complaining to DeFalco, Byrne says he was fired from his series.<ref name="FAQAborted" /> He later returned to write and draw issues #31–50 under new editor [[Renée Witterstaetter]].<ref name="gcd" />

===''Namor, the Sub-Mariner''===
Byrne started a new series, ''[[Namor, the Sub-Mariner]]'' in April 1990.<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 248: "Comics superstar John Byrne revamped the classic Marvel character Namor in this new series that he both wrote and drew."</ref> Byrne's take on the undersea antihero [[Namor]] cast him as the head of a surface company, Oracle, Inc., in order to help keep the ocean unpolluted, and had Namor involved in corporate intrigue. After writing and drawing the book for 25 issues, Byrne told editor [[Terry Kavanagh]] that he was starting to feel constrained on the book and thought having a different artist might inspire him to a fresh approach.<ref name="back91">{{cite journal|last=Lantz|first=James Heath |title=Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner: Scion of the Deep or Royal Pain?|journal=[[Back Issue!]]|issue=91|pages=56–59 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date=September 2016|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> Kavanagh suggested newcomer [[Jae Lee]], and Byrne continued strictly as the writer of the book up through issue #32. Byrne later said he has great fondness for the title character and was unhappy that circumstances forced him to leave the series.<ref name="back91"/>

===''Iron Man''===
Byrne took over writing ''[[Iron Man]]'' for issues #258–277 (July 1990-Feb. 1992), drawn by [[John Romita Jr.]] and later by [[Paul Ryan (cartoonist)|Paul Ryan]]. Byrne launched a second "[[Iron Man#Armor Wars|Armor Wars]]" story arc, restored the [[Mandarin (comics)|Mandarin]] as a major Iron Man nemesis, and featured the 1950s "[[pre-superhero Marvel]]" monster [[Fin Fang Foom]]. During the course of his run, Byrne became the first writer to [[Retroactive continuity|retcon]] Iron Man's origin, removing explicit ties to the [[Vietnam War]] (while maintaining a Southeast Asia setting), and linking [[Wong-Chu]], the man who captured Tony Stark, to the Mandarin.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John|penciller= [[Paul Ryan (cartoonist)|Ryan, Paul]]|inker= [[Bob Wiacek|Wiacek, Bob]]|story= The Persistence of Memory|title= [[Iron Man]]|issue= 267|date= April 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John|penciller= Ryan, Paul|inker= Wiacek, Bob|story= First Blood|title= Iron Man|issue= 268|date= May 1991}}</ref>

==Creator-owned works==
In the early 1990s, Byrne began creating a series of original, creator-owned works for publisher [[Dark Horse Comics]]. This was during a general trend in the industry for established creators working for Marvel and DC to bring their original works to other publishers or create their own companies to publish the works themselves (one prominent example is [[Image Comics]]). A number of these creators, including Byrne, [[Frank Miller]], [[Mike Mignola]], and [[Art Adams]], banded together to form the [[Legend (comic imprint)|Legend]] imprint at Dark Horse.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nolen-Weathington |first1=Eric |last2=Khoury |first2=George |title=Modern Masters Volume Six: Arthur Adams |year=2006 |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |pages=55–56 |isbn=978-1-893905-54-2}}</ref>

Byrne's first title for Dark Horse was ''[[Next Men]]'', a work he considered darker and more realistic than his previous work. The Next Men were five young people who were the product of a secret government experiment. Byrne said, "I thought I would see what I could do with superheroes in the 'real world'&nbsp;" and "[e]xplore the impact their existence would have."<ref name="CBR2000"/> Byrne's other Dark Horse titles were ''[[Babe (comics)|Babe]]'', and ''[[Danger Unlimited]]'', an all-age readers book about a team of heroes in the future fighting an alien occupation of Earth.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|pp=60–61}}

The ''Next Men'' lasted until issue 30 in 1994, when Byrne ended the series, intending to return "in no more than six months." Byrne says he "did not count on...the virtual collapse of the whole comic book industry, which seemed to occur at just the time I put ''Next Men'' on the shelf...In the present, very depressed marketplace, I don't feel ''Next Men'' would have much chance, so I leave the book hibernating until such time as the market improves."<ref name="CBR2000"/>

[[IDW Publishing]] revived ''John Byrne's Next Men'' in 2010 following a series of trade paperbacks that collected the first series. The original storyline that had a cliffhanger ending in 1995 was continued.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=11797|title= IDW and John Byrne Announce The Return of John Byrne's ''Next Men''|date= July 26, 2010|publisher= First Comics News|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724133823/http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=11797|archive-date= July 24, 2011|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all|access-date= October 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=12179|title= John Byrne talks about ''Next Men''|first= Rik|last= Offenberger|date= August 1, 2012|publisher= First Comics News|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130516201420/http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=12179|archive-date= May 16, 2013|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all|access-date= October 4, 2012}}</ref>

==Later career==
In later years, Byrne has worked on titles for Marvel, DC, and other publishers, including the 1992 [[prestige format]] graphic novel ''Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale'' with science fiction author [[Larry Niven]] at DC. In 1989, Byrne wrote ''Batman'' #433–435 (May–July 1989)<ref>{{cite book|last= Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair|chapter= 1980s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 178|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Writer John Byrne teamed with artist Jim Aparo for this three-issue arc.}}</ref> and in the following year produced a [[Stereoscopy|3-D]] graphic novel with 3-D effects by [[Ray Zone]].<ref>Manning, "1990s", in Dolan, p. 247. "The Caped Crusader leaped off the pages in all his red-and-blue glory <!-- a reference to the colors used in the 3-D process -->in this over-sized eighty-page special crafted by 3-D expert Ray Zone...[for] an all-new tale written and illustrated by John Byrne."</ref> He returned to the ''X-Men'' franchise at Marvel from 1991 to 1992, succeeding longtime writer Chris Claremont, who left after 17 years working on the various ''X-Men'' related titles. Byrne's return as the new writer was brief, as he only scripted ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' issues #281–285 and 288 with artist [[Whilce Portacio]], and ''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' issues #4–5 with artist [[Jim Lee]].<ref name="gcd" /> In 1995, Byrne wrote and drew the Marvel/DC [[intercompany crossover]] ''[[Darkseid]] vs. [[Galactus]]: The Hunger'', which also featured the [[Jack Kirby]] creations the [[Silver Surfer]] and the [[New Gods]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dallas |first1=Keith |last2=Sacks |first2=Jason |date=2018 |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1990s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i5x9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA181 |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |page=181 |isbn=978-1-60549-084-7}}</ref> In 1996, another Marvel/DC [[intercompany crossover]] - ''[[Batman]]/[[Captain America]]'', one shot homage to Golden Age versions of both heroes.<ref name="gcd" />

He wrote and drew another of DC's signature series, the long-running ''[[Wonder Woman]],'' from 1995 to 1998. During that time, he elevated the super-heroine to the status of a goddess<ref>Manning, "1990s", in Dolan, p. 280. "It seemed Wonder Woman had breathed her last in ''Wonder Woman'' #124, thanks to writer and artist John Byrne."</ref> who then ascended to Mount Olympus as the Goddess of Truth, and created [[Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandsmark)|Cassie Sandsmark]], the new [[Wonder Girl]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=McAvennie |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |page=264 |isbn=978-1-4654-8578-6}}</ref> Byrne then spotlighted supporting characters such as [[Hippolyta (DC Comics)|Queen Hippolyta]] in their own adventures but restored the series' ''[[status quo]]'' in his last issue.<ref>Manning, "1990s", in Dolan, p. 284. "Writer/artist John Byrne was leaving ''Wonder Woman''...But before he could move on to other projects, there was one final thing Byrne still had to do: bring Wonder Woman back from the dead."</ref> He additionally took over ''[[New Gods]]'' vol. 4 at the end of 1996, as writer-artist of issues #12–15, continuing with it as the series was rebooted with a new #1 as ''[[Fourth World (comics)|Jack Kirby's Fourth World]]''. That ran 20 issues from 1997 to 1998. During his tenure on the ''New Gods'', Byrne was writer of the four-issue miniseries crossover ''[[Genesis (DC Comics)|Genesis]]'', a storyline published weekly by DC Comics in August 1997. The series was drawn by [[Ron Wagner]] and [[Joe Rubinstein]].<ref name="gcd" /> Byrne wrote a Wonder Woman prose novel, ''Wonder Woman: Gods and Goddesses'' (1997).<ref>{{cite book |last=Byrne |first=John |date=1997 |title=Wonder Woman: Gods and Goddesses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vEqrPAAACAAJ |location=New York City |publisher=Prima Lifestyles |isbn=0-7615-0483-4}}</ref>

[[File:Spideychapterone-1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|''Spider-Man: Chapter One'' #1 (Dec. 1998). Cover art by Byrne, a homage to the cover for ''[[Amazing Fantasy]]'' #15 (Aug. 1962), which was the first appearance of [[Spider-Man]].]]
In the series ''[[Spider-Man: Chapter One]]'', Byrne retold some of [[Spider-Man]]'s earliest adventures, changing some key aspects.<ref>{{cite book|last = Cowsill|first = Alan|editor-last= Gilbert|editor-first= Laura|chapter= 1990s|title = Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2012|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 245|isbn = 978-0756692360|quote= John Byrne briefly updated Spider-Man's origin for a new generation of readers in December [1998].}}</ref> In late 1998, Byrne became writer of the flagship series ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' at the end of the series with issue #440, by which time Marvel had decided to relaunch the book. The "last" issue of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' was #441 (November 1998), with Marvel re-initiating the series with a new volume 2, issue #1 (Jan. 1999) with [[Howard Mackie]] as writer and Byrne on pencils.<ref>Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 246: "This new series heralded a fresh start for the web-slinger's adventures."</ref> Byrne penciled issues #1–18 (from 1999 to 2000) and wrote #13–14. In 1999, Byrne, working with artist [[Ron Garney]], wrote the first seven issues of a new [[Hulk]] series,<ref>Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 294: "Bruce Banner took to the road in an attempt to escape his past in this new series by writer John Byrne and artist Ron Garney."</ref> as well as the [[annual publications|summer annual]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-abandoned-an-forsaked-so-the-skrulls-created-the-hulk/ |title=The Abandoned An' Forsaked – So The Skrulls Created the Hulk? |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=March 9, 2013 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=January 18, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118193609/https://www.cbr.com/the-abandoned-an-forsaked-so-the-skrulls-created-the-hulk/ |archive-date=January 18, 2017}}</ref>

From 1999 to 2001, Byrne returned to the X-Men to write and draw ''[[X-Men: The Hidden Years]]''<ref>Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 295: "[The gap between ''The X-Men'' #66 in 1970 and ''Giant-Size X-Men'' #1 in 1975] left fans to wonder what the originals were up to in all that time, a question that writer/artist John Byrne decided to answer in this new ongoing series."</ref> which ran for 22 issues. Byrne explained the title's cancellation by saying, "I was officially informed yesterday that, despite the fact that they are still profitable, several 'redundant' X-Titles are being axed." This disagreement factored in his decision to no longer work for Marvel Comics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=13522 |title=John Byrne Leaves Marvel |first=Beau |last=Yarbrough |date=November 15, 2000 |website=Comic Book Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819161100/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=13522 |archive-date=August 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 14, 2012 |quote=I was officially informed yesterday that, despite the fact that they are still profitable, several 'redundant' X-Titles are being axed."}}</ref>

Like ''X-Men: The Hidden Years'', some other works of this period involved characters and events in time periods other than the present and, in some cases, considered "skipped over" (''[[Marvel: The Lost Generation]]''), or alternate timelines (DC's ''[[Superman & Batman: Generations]]'');<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dougall, p. 239: "Writer/artist John Byrne returned to the Man of Steel and paired him with the Caped Crusader in this four-issue prestige format Elseworlds series."</ref> a feature some of these have in common is to have characters who actually age during the course of the series, which is uncommon for characters in ongoing comics.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=64}}

In early 2003, Byrne spent ten weeks as a guest penciler on the syndicated [[comic strip|newspaper strip]] ''[[Funky Winkerbean]]''. Byrne did this as a favor for ''Winkerbean'''s creator, [[Tom Batiuk]], who was recovering from foot surgery.<ref>[[Tom Batiuk|Batiuk, Tom]], statement in {{cite web|editor-first=M.K. |editor-last=Lively |url=https://www.angelfire.com/va/funkyw/stuff.html |title=Funky Stuff |publisher=The Unofficial Funky Winkerbean Fan Page |date=April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110005428/http://www.angelfire.com/va/funkyw/stuff.html |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=September 14, 2012 |quote=When some recent foot surgery among other things caused us to get a little behind in our schedule, I asked John Byrne, one of the top comic book artists in the business today and an artist whose work I've long admired, to step in and do a guest shot sharing the art duties with my Funky characters for a few weeks.}}</ref> He would later become the final person to draw ''Funky Winkerbean'', taking over illustration duties from artist Chuck Ayers for the strip's concluding week, ending on December 31, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Price |first=Mark J. |date=December 30, 2022 |title=Farewell to Funky: Cartoonist Tom Batiuk says goodbye to 'Winkerbean' comic strip |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2022/12/30/cartoonist-tom-batiuk-says-goodbye-to-funky-winkerbean-comic-strip/69760132007/ |work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |access-date=December 30, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230114639/https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2022/12/30/cartoonist-tom-batiuk-says-goodbye-to-funky-winkerbean-comic-strip/69760132007/ |archive-date=December 30, 2022}}</ref>

Most of his work in the first decade of the new millennium was for [[DC Comics]]: ''[[JLA (comics)|JLA]]'' (issues #94–99 in 2004, co-writing and illustrating the "Tenth Circle" story arc, reuniting with his ''Uncanny X-Men'' writer [[Chris Claremont]] and with [[Jerry Ordway]] as inker), ''[[Doom Patrol]]'', ''[[Blood of the Demon]]'', a five-issue arc of ''[[JLA Classified]]''. He penciled an issue of ''[[Hawkman]]'' (vol. 4) #26 in May 2004. ''[[Superman: True Brit]]'' was a collaboration with former [[Monty Python]] member [[John Cleese]] and Kim Johnson, with art by Byrne and inker [[Mark Farmer]].<ref>Cowsill, Alan, "2000s", in Dolan, p. 315. "Comedy legend John Cleese joined forces with artist John Byrne, inker Mark Farmer and writer Kim Johnson for a unique take on the Superman story.  ''Superman: True Brit'' saw Kal-El's rocketship land on a farm...in the UK."</ref> Byrne returned to draw Superman in ''[[Action Comics]]'' #827–835, working with writer [[Gail Simone]], from 2005 to 2006. Afterward, Simone and Byrne reteamed to launch ''[[Atom (comics)|The All-New Atom]]'' series in 2006, with Byrne pencilling the first three issues.<ref name="gcd" />

For publisher IDW, Byrne worked on the superhero series ''[[FX (comics)|FX]]'' #1–6, written by Wayne Osborne, starting with the March 2008 issue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/fx-1-review-strangest-comic-out-there/ |title=FX #1 Review – Strangest Comic Out There? |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=March 19, 2008 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref> His other projects for the publisher include stories for the [[Star Trek]] and ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'' franchises. Byrne's ''Star Trek'' work included the final issue of the miniseries ''Star Trek: Alien Spotlight'' (February 2008); ''[[Star Trek: Assignment: Earth]]'' #1–5; ''Star Trek: Romulans'' #1–2, ''Star Trek: Crew'' (a [[Christopher Pike (Star Trek)|Christopher Pike]]-era comic book focusing on the character of "[[Number One (Star Trek)|Number One]]") started in March 2009; the final chapter of his Romulans story, a four-issue miniseries, ''Star Trek: [[Leonard McCoy]], Frontier Doctor'', set before ''Star Trek: The Motion Picture'', and the second ''Assignment: Earth'' series. His work on ''Angel'' included ''Angel: Blood and Trenches'' (set during World War I); an ''Angel vs Frankenstein'' one-shot; and an [[Andy Hallett]] tribute, ''Angel: Music of the Spheres'' and ''Angel vs Frankenstein II'' in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.<ref name="gcd" />

In 2011, he worked on ''[[Jurassic Park (franchise)|Jurassic Park]]: The Devils in the Desert'', and ''Cold War (The Michael Swann Dossier)''. He revived his ''[[Next Men]]'' series in 2010–2011, with the sequel series ''Aftermath''. Other work for IDW includes the 2012 miniseries ''Trio'' and the 2013 miniseries ''The High Ways'' and ''Doomsday.1''.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37352 |title=Byrne, Wrightson Return to IDW with New Series |date=March 5, 2012 |publisher=[[IDW Publishing]] via Comic Book Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613014107/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37352 |archive-date=June 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 5, 2012  }} (Archive requires scrolldown.)</ref>

In 2018, Byrne began ''X-Men Elsewhen'', a fan-fiction comic book exploring how he would've continued the story of the ''X-Men'' after "[[The Dark Phoenix Saga]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2018/08/12/fan-expo-boston-2018-writer-artist-john-byrne-discusses-x-men-elsewhen-and-how-chris-claremont-changed-days-of-future-past/ |title=FAN EXPO Boston 2018: Writer/Artist John Byrne discusses X-Men: Elsewhen and how Chris Claremont changed 'Days of Future Past' |last=Hassan |first=Chris |date=August 12, 2018 |website=AIPT Comics |access-date=December 24, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817004640/https://aiptcomics.com/2018/08/12/fan-expo-boston-2018-writer-artist-john-byrne-discusses-x-men-elsewhen-and-how-chris-claremont-changed-days-of-future-past/ |archive-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> The series, written and pencilled by Byrne and published on his website, has 32 issues as of December 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://insidepulse.com/2022/12/25/john-byrnes-x-men-elsewhen-32-spoilers-doctor-doom-supreme-triumphant-does-wolverine-stand-a-chance-marvel-comics-universe-spoilers/ |title=John Byrne's X-Men: Elsewhen #32 Spoilers! Doctor Doom Supreme Triumphant! Does Wolverine Stand A Chance? Marvel Comics Universe Spoilers! |last=Babos |first=John |date=December 25, 2022 |website=Inside Pulse |access-date=December 25, 2022}}</ref>

==Controversies==
Over the years, Byrne has gained a reputation as a controversial figure within the community of comic book pros and fans. He has himself noted that "as the people who have figured me out have said, I just don't suffer fools gladly."{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=77}} [[Gail Simone]], who worked with Byrne on ''The All New Atom'' in 2006, described Byrne as "very opinionated; a lot of artists are opinionated, and I'm okay with that. Actually, I think John Byrne is brilliant and his forceful personality is part of that."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7985 |title=CCI XTRA: Spotlight on Gail Simone |access-date=September 14, 2012 |author-link=Jim MacQuarrie |last=MacQuarrie |first=Jim |date=July 27, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105070844/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&old=1&id=7985 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |url-status=live |website=Comic Book Resources}} (Archive requires scrolldown.)</ref>

===Creator ownership===
In 1981, [[Jack Kirby]] began speaking publicly about his belief that he had been deprived of fair credit and money while creating the majority of Marvel's top characters. Byrne wrote an editorial declaring himself "proud" to be a "company man", and arguing that all creators should "live within the rules while they're around." [[Steve Gerber]] and Kirby lampooned Byrne's position in ''[[Destroyer Duck]]'', drawing him as a character called Booster Cogburn, possessing no genitals, a removable spine, and existing only to serve as a cog in the mammoth corporation that owned him.<ref>''Destroyer Duck'', [[Eclipse Comics]], 1981–83, issues #1–5; the letters page of #5 discusses the physical likeness and similarity of names, and acknowledges that the character is a response to comments Byrne made in the fan press.</ref> Byrne later made a story in ''Action Comics'' #592–593 where [[Big Barda]] (who is based on Kirby's wife Roz) is brainwashed and almost forced to make a pornographic video with Superman.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kingman |first=Jim |date=February 2012 |title=Big Barda – She's Strong, She's Sexy, and She's Liberated! |url=https://subs.twomorrows.com/bardbigger/BackIssue54Online.pdf |journal=Back Issue! |issue=54 |pages=8–9 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing}}</ref> [[Erik Larsen]] created a villain in the 1990s for his ''[[Savage Dragon]]'' and the ''[[Freak Force]]'' series, Johnny Redbeard / the Creator, who is a parody of Byrne; a massive cranium with atrophied appendages, he can bestow superpowers indiscriminately.<ref>Evans, Eric. "What Kirby Wanted", foreword to ''Savage Dragon Companion'' #1 ([[Image Comics]], July 2002), p. 5.</ref>

Regarding the ownership rights for [[Superman]], Byrne has stated: "And I've always been terribly pragmatic about that kind of stuff. This is where my low BS threshold touched on in the sense that I looked at the story of [[Jerry Siegel|Siegel]] and [[Joe Shuster|Shuster]], for example, and I said, well, that's kind of sad that they created this huge, iconic character and didn't make a hundred [[bajillion]] dollars for it. But that's also what the situation was; that was the deal. And everybody understood that was the deal. They weren't cheated. They knew what it was going in."{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=25}} In a 2006 interview, Byrne further elaborated on his [[creator's rights]] views:

{{blockquote|I feel myself to be a company man. When the company is worth supporting, I'll support the company. If the company's honest with me up front, I support the company. I see no reason not to. And I was always campaigning for creator's rights. I was always out there saying, yeah, it would be a good idea if things changed. But too many of my contemporaries—I'm not going to name names here—but too many of my contemporaries sort of had the attitude of, "Well, I know that this is the way the industry has always been run, but surely that doesn't apply to ''me''." And I would say, "Well, yes, it does. It applies to everybody. So we're going to have to change the rules for ''everybody'', not just say 'Well, this shouldn't apply to me because I'm so special.'"{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=26}}}}

===Other comments===
In 1982, during a panel discussion at the [[Dallas Fantasy Fair]], Byrne made disparaging comments about longtime comics writer and one-time Marvel Comics editor-in-chief [[Roy Thomas]] that were published in ''[[The Comics Journal]]'' #75 (Sept. 1982). Thomas threatened a [[Defamation#Slander|slander]] suit if Byrne did not apologize. In a letter printed in ''The Comics Journal'' #82 (July 1983), Byrne retracted his statements, saying he was only repeating information from others, writing, "I acted only in the office of a parrot."<ref>Byrne, John. Letters section, ''The Comics Journal'' #82 (July 1983).</ref>

In 2005, while criticizing portrayals of Superman emphasizing his connection to his home planet, Byrne described immigrants with excessive attachment to their nations of origin as "ungrateful little shits."<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 27, 2020|title=The Man of Steel by John Byrne {{!}} The Definition of Superman, But Not the Meaning|url=https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-man-of-steel-by-john-byrne-the-definition-of-superman-but-not-the-meaning/|access-date=July 8, 2021|website=Comic Book Herald|language=en-US}}</ref> Similar views were earlier expressed in Byrne's ''[[The Man of Steel (comics)|The Man of Steel]]'' (1986), in which Superman was not considered born until after his Kryptonian artificial matrix opened after landing in [[Kansas]], thus making him an American citizen by birth. The miniseries ends with Superman declaring, "Krypton bred me, but it was Earth that gave me all I am. All that matters."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/superman-origin-change-krypton-baby-earth-immigrant-comics/ |title=Superman's Immigrant Story Was Ruined for a Decade by One Origin Change |last=Martin |first=Frank |date=March 29, 2022 |website=Screen Rant |access-date=March 29, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329162353/https://screenrant.com/superman-origin-change-krypton-baby-earth-immigrant-comics/ |archive-date=March 29, 2022}}</ref>

In 2015, Byrne received criticism for stating that [[transgender people]] are mentally ill and comparing them to [[pedophiles]] while discussing [[Caitlyn Jenner]]. Byrne stated: "How will we feel about all those people who, instead of actually helping them, we encouraged in a program of self-mutilation?"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Payton|first=Naith|title=Comics creator John Byrne compares trans people to paedophiles|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/11/comics-creator-john-byrne-compares-trans-people-to-peadophiles/|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=July 8, 2021|language=en-GB|website=PinkNews}}</ref>

==Art style==
Byrne has himself called his style a "collection of influences". He cites [[Neal Adams]], [[Jack Kirby]], [[John Buscema]], and [[Steve Ditko]] as primary influences on his style, but continues to pick up on ideas that he sees and likes while constantly changing his tools and methods.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|pp=18, 22–23}}

Byrne is [[Color blindness|color blind]] for a narrow range of green and brown tones. During the first year that Byrne illustrated ''[[Iron Fist (comics)|Iron Fist]]'', he believed that the protagonist's costume was brown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20853&PN=0&TPN=6#top |title=Spider-Man costume – red and black? |first=John |last=Byrne |date=September 22, 2007 |publisher=Byrne Robotics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222034353/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20853&PN=0&TPN=6 |archive-date=February 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 29, 2012 |quote=My color-blindness affects only a narrow range of green and brown tones, which I tend to reverse. As Roger Stern delights in pointing out, I drew my first half dozen issues of ''Iron Fist'' thinking his costume was brown.}}</ref> While he experimented with his own hand-drawn [[letterer|lettering]] in the early 1980s, he developed [[Digital fonts|computer fonts]] for his work in the 1990s, one in particular based on the handwriting of the letterer [[Jack Morelli]].<ref name="FAQProcess">{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=6&T1=Creative+Process#91 |title=How did JB create the font he uses to letter his books? |first=John |last=Byrne |date=February 7, 1998 |publisher=Byrne Robotics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914022048/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=6&T1=Creative+Process |archive-date=September 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Byrne became a [[naturalization|naturalized]] American citizen in 1988. He was previously a citizen of the UK and Canada, but no longer holds citizenship for those countries.<ref name="citizenship" /><ref>"Byrne Made a Citizen", ''The Comics Journal'' #124 (August 1988), p. 18.</ref>

He was married to photographer and actress Andrea Braun Byrne<ref>{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Lili |date=May 7, 1989 |title=The Man Who Energizes the Hulk |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/07/nyregion/the-man-who-energizes-the-hulk.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 30, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230144324/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/07/nyregion/the-man-who-energizes-the-hulk.html |archive-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref> until divorcing. They met at a convention in [[Chicago]].<ref name="popimage">{{cite web|url=http://www.popimage.com/oct99/industrial/keirondwyerinterview.html |title=One Screwed-Up Creator |first=John |last=Ellis |date=October 1999 |publisher=PopImage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603184855/http://www.popimage.com/oct99/industrial/keirondwyerinterview.html |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref> Braun's son from a previous marriage is fellow professional comic book artist [[Kieron Dwyer]],<ref name="legends-34">{{cite web|url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/01/19/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-34/ |title=Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #34 |first=Brian |last=Cronin |date=January 19, 2006 |website=Comic Book Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204213107/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/01/19/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-34/ |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref> and Byrne became Dwyer's stepfather when the boy was 13 until Byrne divorced his mother. They only lived together for a short time as the young Dwyer soon moved to Los Angeles to live with his father. Byrne encouraged Dwyer's aspirations to be a cartoonist and assisted in landing Dwyer's first professional job drawing ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #413 (Nov. 1987).<ref name="popimage" /><ref name="legends-34" />

Byrne described his political views as centre-right, "There's a political party—or used to be—up in Canada called the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservatives]]. And I always liked the sound of that name. I liked what that imparted, that sort of 'let us go forward carefully' notion. So that's sort of how I've always thought of myself, as a progressive conservative."{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=17}}

Byrne has never done drugs and only drinks alcohol very sparingly.{{sfn|Cooke|Nolen-Weathington|2006|p=17}}

Since 2015, Byrne no longer attends any conventions regularly and makes rare public appearances.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49016&PN=1&totPosts=0&FID=6&PR=3|title= Topic: Conventions, Interviews and Other Appearances|first= John|last= Byrne|date= July 17, 2015|publisher= Byrne Robotics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180808233728/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49016&PN=1&totPosts=0&FID=6&PR=3|archive-date= August 8, 2018|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> He made an appearance at the 2018 [[Fan Expo Boston]], where he spoke at two events, both titled "Spotlight on John Byrne" on August 11 and 12,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fanexpoboston.com/en/guests/comic-creators/current-guests/john-byrne.html|title= John Byrne|publisher=Fan Expo Boston|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180813005841/https://www.fanexpoboston.com/en/guests/comic-creators/current-guests/john-byrne.html|archive-date= August 13, 2018|url-status= live|df= mdy-all|access-date=August 12, 2018}}</ref> and an autograph signing with [[William Shatner]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://insidepulse.com/2018/08/23/fan-expo-canada-2018-to-feature-rare-appearance-of-comics-legend-john-byrne-alongside-iconic-actor-william-shatner-of-star-trek-fame/ |title=Fan Expo Canada 2018 To Feature Rare Appearance Of Comics Legend John Byrne Alongside Iconic Actor William Shatner Of Star Trek Fame |last=Babos |first=John |date=August 23, 2018 |website=Inside Pulse |access-date=August 23, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622173705/https://insidepulse.com/2018/08/23/fan-expo-canada-2018-to-feature-rare-appearance-of-comics-legend-john-byrne-alongside-iconic-actor-william-shatner-of-star-trek-fame/ |archive-date=June 22, 2020}}</ref>

==Awards==
Byrne received the Favourite Comic Book Artist [[Eagle Awards]] in 1978 and 1979,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1979/|title= Eagle Awards 1979|publisher= Eagle Awards|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120404025035/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1979/|archive-date= April 4, 2012|url-status= dead}}</ref> and a 1980 [[Inkpot Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|title= Inkpot Award Winners |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120709055558/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|archive-date= July 9, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref> In 2008, Byrne was inducted into the [[Joe Shuster Award#Hall of Fame Inductees|Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Byrne, John (1950–) |url=https://joeshusterawards.com/hof/hof-john-byrne-1950/ |website=The Joe Shuster Awards |date=December 31, 2008 |access-date=August 22, 2020}}</ref> In 2015, Byrne was inducted into the [[Will Eisner Hall of Fame]], alongside judges' choices [[Marge (cartoonist)|Marge]] (Marjorie Henderson Buell) and [[Bill Woggon]] and elected inductees Chris Claremont, [[Denis Kitchen]], and [[Frank Miller]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |title=2010–Present |website=[[San Diego Comic-Con]] |date=December 2, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125123037/https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |archive-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref>

==Selected bibliography==
===Comic books===
====Charlton Comics====
{{Div col}}
*''[[Beetle Bailey]]'' #112–113 (artist, text story two pages, 1975)
*''[[Doomsday + 1]]'' #1–6 (artist, 1975–1976)
*''[[E-Man]]'' #6–7, 9–10 (artist, [[Rog-2000]] backup stories, 1975)
*''[[Emergency!]]'' #1–2 (artist, 1976)
*''[[List of The Flintstones media#Comic books|The Flintstones]]'' #37, 42 (artist, text story two pages, 1975)
*''[[Korg: 70,000 B.C.]]'' #2 (artist, text story two pages, 1975)
*''[[List of Space: 1999 books and other media#Comic strips|Space: 1999]]'' #3–6 (artist, 1976)
*''[[Valley of the Dinosaurs]]'' #3 (artist, text story two pages, 1975)
*''[[Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch]]'' #1–3 (artist, 1975)
{{div col end}}

====Dark Horse Comics====
*''John Byrne's 2112'' (1991)
*''[[Danger Unlimited]]'' (1994)
*''[[Next Men|John Byrne's Next Men]]'' #0, #1–30 (1992–1994)
*''[[Babe (comics)|Babe]]'' (1994)
*''[[Hellboy: Seed of Destruction]]'' #1–4 (1994)
*''Babe 2'' (1995)

====DC Comics====
{{Div col}}
*''[[Action Comics]]'' #584–600 (writer/artist, 1987–1988), #827–835 (artist, 2005–2006); ''Annual'' #1 (writer, 1987), ''Annual'' #6 (writer/artist, 1994)
*''[[Adventures of Superman (comic book)|Adventures of Superman]]'' #426 (with [[Marv Wolfman]] and [[Jerry Ordway]]), 436–442 (436–437 with Jerry Ordway), 444 (writer, 1987–1988); ''Annual'' #2 (inker, 1990)
*''All New [[Atom (Ryan Choi)|Atom]]'' #1–3 (artist, 2006)
*''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #400 (artist, one page, 1986), #433–435 (writer and cover artist, 1989)
*''Batman 3D'' graphic novel (writer-artist, 1990)
*''[[Batman]]/[[Captain America]]'' (one shot [[intercompany crossover]], published by DC, writer/artist, 1997)
*''[[Darkseid]]/[[Galactus]]'' (one shot intercompany crossover, published by DC, writer/artist, 1995)
*''Blood of the [[Etrigan the Demon|Demon]]'' #1–17 (writer/artist, 2005–2006)
*''[[Doom Patrol]]'' vol. 4 #1–18 (writer/artist, 2004–2006)
*''[[Genesis (DC Comics)|Genesis]]'' #1–4 (miniseries, writer, 1997)
*''[[Green Lantern]] Annual'' #3 (writer/penciler, 1987)
*''Green Lantern: Ganthet's Tale'' (one-shot; scripter/artist, from a story by [[Larry Niven]], 1992)
*''[[Hawkman]]'' vol. 4 #26 (artist, 2004)
*''[[Jack Kirby's Fourth World]]'' #1–20 (writer/artist, 1997–1998)
*''[[JLA (comic book)|JLA]]'' #94–99 (writer with [[Chris Claremont]]/artist, 2004)
*''[[JLA: Classified]]'' #50–54 (artist, 2008)
*''[[Lab Rats (comics)|Lab Rats]]'' #1–8 (writer/artist, 2002–2003)
*''[[Legends (comics)|Legends]]'' #1–6 (miniseries, artist, 1986–1987)
*''[[The Man of Steel (comics)|The Man of Steel]]'' #1–6 (miniseries, writer/artist, 1986)
*''[[New Gods]]'' vol. 4 #12–15 (writer/artist, 1996–1997)
*''[[Teen Titans|New Teen Titans Annual]]'' vol. 2 #2 (penciler, 1986)
*''[[OMAC (Buddy Blank)|OMAC]]'' vol. 2 #1–4 (miniseries, 1991–1992)
*''[[Secret Origins]] Annual'' vol. 2 #1 (artist, Doom Patrol, 1987)
*''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' #400 (artist, one page, 1984)
*''[[Superman vol. 2|Superman]]'' vol. 2 #1–22 (writer/artist, writer only #18, 1987–1988); #50 (artist, 1990), Annual #1 (writer, 1987), Annual #2 (writer/artist of the second story, 1988)
*''[[Superman: The Earth Stealers]]'' #1 (writer, 1988)
*''[[Superman & Batman: Generations]]'' #1–4 (miniseries, writer/artist, 1999)
*''[[Superman & Batman: Generations#Generations 2|Superman & Batman: Generations 2]]'' #1–4 (miniseries, writer/artist, 2001)
*''[[Superman & Batman: Generations#Generations 3|Superman & Batman: Generations 3]]'' #1–12 (miniseries, writer/artist, 2003–2004)
*''[[Superman: True Brit]]'' graphic novel (artist, 2004)
*''[[Superman Forever]]'' #1 (artist, 1998)
*''[[Untold Legend of The Batman]]'' #1 (miniseries, artist, 1980)
*''World of [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]]'' #1–4 (miniseries, writer and cover artist, 1987–1988)
*''World of [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]'' #1–4 (miniseries, writer and cover artist, 1988)
*''World of [[Smallville (comics)|Smallville]]'' #1–4 (miniseries, writer and cover artist, 1988)
*''[[Wonder Woman]]'' vol. 2 #101–136, ''Annual'' #5–6 (writer/artist, 1995–1998)
{{div col end}}

====IDW Publishing====
{{Div col}}
*''[[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel: After the Fall]]'' #6 (artist)
*''Angel: Blood & Trenches'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2009)
*''Cold War'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2011–2012)
*''Doomsday.1'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2013)
*''[[FX (comics)|FX]]'' #1–6 (artist, 2008)
*''The High Ways'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2012–2013)
*''[[Next Men|John Byrne's Next Men]]'' vol. 2 #1–9, 40–44 (writer/artist, 1992–2012)
*''[[Jurassic Park (franchise)#Comic books|Jurassic Park: The Devils in the Desert]]'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2011)
*''[[Star Trek (comics)#IDW Publishing|Star Trek Romulans: Hollow Crown]]'' #1–2 (writer/artist, 2008)
*''Star Trek Romulans: Schism'' #1–3 (writer/artist, 2009)
*''Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Romulans'' #1–3 (writer/artist, 2008)
*''Star Trek: Assignment: Earth'' #1–2 (writer/artist, 2008)
*''Star Trek: Crew'' #1–5 (writer/artist, 2009)
*''Star Trek: Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2010)
*''Star Trek: "Strange New Worlds"'' (photonovel, 2013)
*''Star Trek: New Visions'' #1–19 (photonovels, 2014–2018)
*''Star Trek: New Visions'' vol. #1–4 (photonovels collected with some new material)
*''Trio'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2012)
*''Triple Helix'' #1–4 (writer/artist, 2013–2014)
{{div col end}}

====Marvel Comics====
{{Div col}}
*''[[Alpha Flight (comic book)|Alpha Flight]]'' #1–28 (writer/penciller, 1983–1985)
*''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #189, 190, 206 ''Annual'' #13 (penciller, 1979–1980); 440–441 (writer, 1998)
*''The Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 2 #1–18 (penciller, 1999–2000); #13–14 (writer, 2000)
*''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #164–166, 181–191, 233 (penciller, 1977–1983); #305–317 (writer, 1989–1990); ''Annual'' #13 (inker, 1984), #14 (penciler, 1985), #18 (writer, 1989)
*''[[Avengers West Coast]]'' #42–57, ''Annual'' #4 (writer/penciller, 1989–1990)
*''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' #247–255 (penciller, 1980–1981)
*''[[Champions (1975 team)|The Champions]]'' #12–15 (penciller, 1977), #17 (inker, 1978)
*''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' #138 (penciller, 1976)
*''[[Epic Illustrated]]'' (Galactus) #26–34 (writer/artist, 1984–1986)
*''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #209–218 (artist, 1979–1980); #220, 221, 232–293 (writer/artist, 1980–1986); #294, ''Annual'' #17–19 (writer, 1983–1985)
*''[[The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones]]'' #1 (writer/penciller, 1983), #2 (penciller, 1983)
*''[[Hulk]]'' #1–7, ''Annual'' #1 (writer, 1999)
*''[[Iron Fist (comics)|Iron Fist]]'' #1–15 (penciller, 1975–1977)
*''[[Iron Man]]'' #118 (penciler, 1979); #258–277 (writer, 1990–1992); ''Annual'' #10 (artist, 1989)
*''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' #314–319 (writer/artist, 1985–1986); ''Annual'' #7 (penciller, 1978); ''Annual'' #8, 14 (writer, 1979–1985)
*''[[Marvel Comics Presents]]'' #18 (She-Hulk story), #79 (Sunspot story) (writer/artist, 1989–1991)
*''[[Marvel Fanfare]]'' #29 (writer/artist, 1986)
*''[[Marvel Graphic Novel]]'' #8 (writer, 1983), #18 (writer/artist, 1985)
*''[[Marvel Premiere]]'' #25, #47–48 (artist, 1975–1979)
*''[[Marvel Preview]]'' #11 (artist, 1977)
*''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' #53–55, 59–70, 75, 79, 100 (second half of issue) (artist, 1977–1980)
*''[[Marvel: The Lost Generation]]'' #1–12 (artist, 2000–2001)
*''[[Marvel Two-in-One]]'' #43, 53–55 (artist, 1978–1979); #50 (writer/artist, 1979); #100 (writer, 1983)
*''[[Namor the Sub-Mariner]]'' #1–25 (writer/artist, 1990–1992); #26–32 (writer, 1992)
*''[[The New Mutants]]'' #75 (penciller, 1989)
*''[[Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' #58 (penciller, 1981)
*''[[Power Man]]'' #48–49 (penciller, 1977–1978)
*''[[Power Man and Iron Fist]]'' #50 (penciller, 1978)
*''[[Rom (comics)|Rom]]'' #74 (inker, 1986)
*''[[She-Hulk|Sensational She-Hulk]]'' #1–8, 31–46, 48–50 (writer/artist, 1989–1993)
*''[[Spider-Man: Chapter One]]'' #1–6, 0, 7–12 (writer/artist, 1998–1999)
*''[[Thing (comics)|Thing]]'' #1–13, 19–22 (writer, 1983–1985) 
*''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #108, 109, 111–143 (co-plotter and penciller, 1977–1981); #273, 281–285, 288 (scripter, 1991–1992)
*''[[What If (comics)|What If]]'' #36 (writer/artist, 1982)
*''[[Wolverine (comic book)|Wolverine]]'' vol. 2 #17–23 (artist, 1989–1990)
*''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'' ''Annual'' #4 (writer/penciller, 1989)
*''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' vol. 2 #4–5 (writer, 1992)
*''[[X-Men: The Hidden Years]]'' #1–22 (writer/artist, 1999–2001)
{{div col end}}

===Novels===
*''John L. Byrne's Fear Book'' (1988; {{ISBN|0-446-34814-7}})
*''Whipping Boy'' (1992; {{ISBN|0-440-21171-9}})
*''Wonder Woman: Gods and Goddesses'' (1997, {{ISBN|0-7615-0483-4}})

===Newspaper strips===
*''[[Funky Winkerbean]]'' (fill-in penciler for ten weeks, 2003; guest artist, December 26–31, 2022)

===Portfolios===
* ''History of the DC Universe'' (1986, includes one plate by Byrne).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/08/06/comic-book-legends-revealed-219/ |title=Comic Book Legends Revealed #219 |first=Brian |last=Cronin |date=August 6, 2009 |website=Comic Book Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007221615/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/08/06/comic-book-legends-revealed-219/ |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref>
* ''Superman'' #400 (1984, includes one plate by Byrne)<ref>[[Dick Giordano|Giordano, Dick]] "Meanwhile" column, ''Jemm, Son of Saturn'' #2 (Oct. 1984) "We have another goodie for you! Also on this year's October schedule is the ''Superman'' #400 portfolio...The portfolio will have a full-color painted cover by Howard Chaykin and will contain 15 black-and-white plates by [artists including] John Byrne...Look for it around June 26th. On good stock, it'll be available for $10.00 in the USA and $16.00 in Canada."</ref>

===Webcomics===
*''You Go, Ghoul!'' (2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/Web_comics.asp |title=Web Comics |first=John |last=Byrne |publisher=Byrne Robotics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831080846/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/web_comics.asp |archive-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 15, 2012}}</ref>
*''X-Men Elsewhen'' #1–32 (2019–)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last1=Cooke |first1=Jon B. |last2=Nolen-Weathington |first2=Eric |date=2006 |title=Modern Masters Volume 7: John Byrne |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |isbn=1-893905-56-X}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|John Byrne (author)}}
{{wikiquote|John Byrne}}
*{{IMDb name}}
*[http://www.byrnerobotics.com Byrne Robotics] (official site). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110412093902/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/ WebCitation archive].
*{{cite web|url=http://www.slushfactory.com/content/EpVZyVFlVyoAEzQmWa.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910130146/http://www.slushfactory.com/content/EpVZyVFlVyoAEzQmWa.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 10, 2017|publisher=[[Slush Factory]]|title=Your Old Stuff Was Better|author=Byrne, John|date=July 8, 2003}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=99|title=John Byrne}}
*[http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=25 John Byrne]. Mike's Amazing World of Comics
*[http://www.lambiek.net/artists/b/byrne_john.htm John Byrne]. [[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]]
*[http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namb46.htm#N278 John Byrne]. The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sal Buscema]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'' artist|years=1977–1978}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Wenzel]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dave Cockrum]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' artist|years=1977–1981}}
{{s-aft|after=Dave Cockrum}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Mooney]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' artist|years=1979–1980}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Arvell Jones]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Sal Buscema}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Fantastic Four]]'' artist|years=1979–1980}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bill Sienkiewicz]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Roger McKenzie (comics)|Roger McKenzie]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' writer|years=1980<br />(with Roger Stern)}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bill Mantlo]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Doug Moench]] (writer)<br>[[Bill Sienkiewicz]](artist)}}
{{s-ttl|title=''Fantastic Four''<br>writer and artist|years=1981–1986}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Roger Stern]] (writer)<br>[[Jerry Ordway]](artist)}}
{{s-bef|before=n/a}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Alpha Flight (comic book)|Alpha Flight]]''<br>writer and artist|years=1983–1985}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bill Mantlo]] (writer)<br>[[Mike Mignola]] (artist)}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Bill Mantlo]] (writer),<br> [[Mike Mignola]] (artist)}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]''<br>writer and artist|years=1985–1986}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Al Milgrom]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Alan Moore]] (writer),<br> [[Curt Swan]] (penciller)}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Action Comics]]''<br>writer and artist|years=1987–1988}}
{{s-aft|after=multiple}}
{{s-bef|before=n/a}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Superman (vol. 2)|Superman]]'' vol. 2<br>writer and artist|years=1987–1988}}
{{s-aft|after=Roger Stern (writer),<br> Mike Mignola (artist)}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Marv Wolfman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Superman (comic book)|The Adventures of Superman]]'' co-writer<br>(with Jerry Ordway)|years=1988}}
{{s-aft|after=Jerry Ordway}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tom DeFalco]] and [[Ralph Macchio (editor)|Ralph Macchio]] (writers)<br>[[Tom Morgan (comics)|Tom Morgan]] (artist)}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[West Coast Avengers|West Coast Avengers/<br>Avengers West Coast]]''<br> writer and artist|years=1989–1990}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Fabian Nicieza]] (writer)<br/>Tom Morgan (artist)}}
{{s-bef|before=Ralph Macchio}}
{{s-ttl|title=''The Avengers'' writer|years=1989–1990}}
{{s-aft|after=Fabian Nicieza}}
{{s-bef|before=n/a}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Namor|Namor the Sub-Mariner]]''<br>writer and artist|years=1990–1992 as writer;<br>1990–1991 as artist}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bob Harras]] (writer)<br>[[Jae Lee]] (artist)}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dwayne McDuffie]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Iron Man]]'' writer|years=1990–1992}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Len Kaminski]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Chris Claremont]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''Uncanny X-Men'' writer|years=1991–1992}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Scott Lobdell]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Louise Simonson]] (writer),<br>Tom Morgan (penciller)}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[The Sensational She-Hulk]]''<br>writer and artist|years=1991–1993}}
{{s-aft|after=Scott Benson (writer),<br>Tom Morgan (penciller)}}
{{s-bef|before=Chris Claremont}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[X-Men: Legacy|''X-Men'' (vol. 2)]] writer|years=1992}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Lee]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William Messner-Loebs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Wonder Woman]]'' writer|years=1995–1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Eric Luke]]}}
{{s-bef|before=n/a}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' vol. 2 artist|years=1999–2000}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Romita, Jr.]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Joe Casey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''The Incredible Hulk'' writer|years=1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Paul Jenkins (writer)|Paul Jenkins]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Roy Thomas]]<br>[[Dann Thomas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Spider-Woman (Mattie Franklin)|Spider-Woman]]'' writer|years=1999–2000}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Brian Michael Bendis]]}}

{{s-end}}

{{Canadian cartoonists}}
{{Great Lakes Avengers}}
{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrne, John}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:English cartoonists]]
[[Category:English comics artists]]
[[Category:English comics writers]]
[[Category:People from Walsall]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Canada]]
[[Category:English expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics people]]
[[Category:People from West Bromwich]]
[[Category:American role-playing game artists]]
[[Category:Canadian comics artists]]
[[Category:Canadian comics writers]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:American comics writers]]
[[Category:20th-century English artists]]
[[Category:20th-century English writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian artists]]
[[Category:20th-century English male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American artists]]
[[Category:DC Comics people]]
[[Category:Alberta University of the Arts alumni]]