Dark Phoenix Saga -- Huh?

[Quasqueton]

As much of a comic book fan as I am/was (have a collection of around 5,000 books, published between mostly the mid 80s to the mid 90s), I must admit that I never read or knew the story of the Dark Phoenix saga. I knew of Dark Phoenix, but only peripherally. So, because the new X-Men movie, I decided to finally look up the story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Phoenix

Reading this has me reeling with the weirdness and silliness of comic book stories. I’m used to comic book stories, histories, over-the-top powers and events, but this story just blows me away. It reads, just so, really. . . stupid. It almost seems like something my 5-year-old son makes up – he tells me stories of his drawings, usually featuring Spider-Man. I mean, finished reading it, and just thought, “Huh?”

The most interesting part of the story is the Real Life story of the authors and editor-in-chief.

Now, since this story is considered one of the best, a classic, my opinion of it from reading about it second hand must be flawed with misunderstanding. Am I missing something? Or does it’s classicatude come from reading it, first hand, in “real time”, and no amount of explaining it will relay the greatness?

Quasqueton

 

[JoeGKushner]

Well, what don't you get?

Girl gets ultimate power.

Girl corrupted.

Ultimate power corrupted.

Girl goes on rampage.

Ultimate power supposedly held in check.

Ultimate power resurfaces.

Love saves the day.

 

[CrusaderX]

Am I missing something?

Yes. Chris Claremont's writing, and John Byrne's art.

Most comic book stories sound stupid when written out as a wikipedia synopsis. Alan Moore's Watchmen sounds this way, too.

Just read the comics.

 

[Yellow Sign]

Now, since this story is considered one of the best, a classic, my opinion of it from reading about it second hand must be flawed with misunderstanding. Am I missing something? Or does it’s classicatude come from reading it, first hand, in “real time”, and no amount of explaining it will relay the greatness?

Quasqueton

Truth.

 

[Fast Learner]

It also felt very... unprecedented, new. Beloved herorine becomes threat to the entire universe, unquestionably evil.

Also, Phoenix was smokin' hot, but Dark Phoenix was a smokin' hot bad girl, so, y'know.

 

[WayneLigon]

As much of a comic book fan as I am/was (have a collection of around 5,000 books, published between mostly the mid 80s to the mid 90s), I must admit that I never read or knew the story of the Dark Phoenix saga. I knew of Dark Phoenix, but only peripherally. So, because the new X-Men movie, I decided to finally look up the story.

Wow, I can't imagine how you could have missed it unless you were reading zero Marvel stuff at the time; the Dark Phoenix saga was the #1 hot thing for years. Possibly one of the best extended stories Marvel has ever done. (Of course, they then had to drive it into the ground over the next twenty years by overexposing everything connected with the original story in an attempt to make lightning strike twice).

You're missing the great art, the various plotlines and foreshadowing coming together. Your best bet is to look up the X-Men Legends #2 TPB which has everything from the first to the last. This and the volume preceeding it are th X-Men at their absolute peak, a series of great stories and characters that has managed to drive the franchise to this very day. The series takes a sharp nosedive about a year or two later and never really recovers.

You might also want to look at the X-Men Omnibus, which collects #94-#131 (which cuts off just as the Dark Phoenix storyline takes off; it ends in #137.

 

[Steverooo]

The X-Men are superheroes, but they're not super-duper-heroes, and are frequently outclassed. Spiderman, alone, walked all over them, and Lillandra's Guard had a stomp-fest with them. The outcome was never in question, until DP showed her face. Still, the X-Men fought to try to save their friend, outnumbered, and outclassed... only to find out that suicide was her plan, all along...

After the battle, Xavier & Lillandra's relationship was well-cooled, but Lillandra gave the X-Men a crystal containing Jean Grey's personality... had her smiling face floating in it... Whenya saw that, you knew she/It would be back! A few issues later, when Scott visits her parents to give'm some bad news, the crystal frowns!...

Yeah, it was a good read, and sad. The Wikipedia article didn't sound silly, to me. ::Shrug::

 

[Plane Sailing]

I read it at the time and it was a complete classic.

Then they did that stupid thing about bringing Jean back in the cocoon which devalued everything that had gone before it. The Wiki was interesting in giving the background to all the shenanigans that followed on after the original...

 

[sniffles]

Then they did that stupid thing about bringing Jean back in the cocoon which devalued everything that had gone before it. The Wiki was interesting in giving the background to all the shenanigans that followed on after the original...

QFT. That whole "she's still alive and in stasis" thing completely ruined what had preceded it. Made the entire story arc needlessly complicated and confusing, too. Why can't comic book characters ever stay dead? It makes any sacrifice meaningless when you know that in a couple of years some writer who always wanted to write that character will be allowed to bring them back to life. :\

 

[buzzard]

Wow, I can't imagine how you could have missed it unless you were reading zero Marvel stuff at the time; the Dark Phoenix saga was the #1 hot thing for years. Possibly one of the best extended stories Marvel has ever done. (Of course, they then had to drive it into the ground over the next twenty years by overexposing everything connected with the original story in an attempt to make lightning strike twice).

He was reading from mid 80s to mid 90s. Of course he missed it. It was published in 1980. I happen to have the issues myself. I began collecting X Men right around then, and quit not much after then when Byrne left and Romita took over.

buzzard