John Byrne: In Depth On Fantastic Four, She-Hulk & Superman | SYFY WIRE

We were granted a rare interview with comics legend John Byrne who speaks frankly about his legendary runs on Fantastic Four, reinventing Superman and why he loves She-Hulk. Plus: His fave stories.
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More About John Byrne: John Lindley Byrne is a British-born, Canadian raised, American writer and artist of superhero comics. Since the mid-1970s, Byrne has worked on many major superheroes, with noted work on Marvel Comics' X-Men and Fantastic Four and the 1986 relaunch of DC Comics' Superman franchise, the first issue of which featured comics' first variant cover.
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John Byrne: In Depth On Fantastic Four, She-Hulk & Superman | SYFY WIRE
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[@DanielleA2023]

John Byrne & George Perez were the best American superhero comic artists between 1978 & 1990 (approached only by Keith Giffen/ Larry Malhstedt's Legion of Superheroes). his writing on FF, She Hulk, Superman & earlier Wonder Woman were on.point❤

[@VZAAGE]

These are the kind of videos I love. Keep them coming, Syfy Wire!

[@howcanihelpyou4943]

I second this (and of course, the same can be said of VZA as well -- awesome channel)

[@VZAAGE]

@@howcanihelpyou4943 Thanks so much for the love, man.

[@ItachiUchiha-ut6xj]

Byrne is a legend! His She-Hulk is one of my favorite Marvel heroes and one of their best female characters.

[@lcf274]

One of my favourite all time artists!

[@dookula]

I just started reading NEXT MEN and it is so good. One of the most underrated series ever. Wish I'd paid more attention in the 90's when I was a kid!

[@1965mtv]

Lets not forget his IronFist Run back in the day

[@kev7161]

I think that's how I got introduced to him. Wasn't it Iron Fist #15 where the X-Men guest starred? And I believe (but not sure, someone is welcome to correct me on this) that Cockrum was still drawing Uncanny X-Men at the time?

[@11Bbq]

Without Byrne’s relaunch of Superman I don’t think the character would be what he is today. John made Superman the hero I love.

[@agirlyman]

I love John Byrne I miss all those great comics fantastic artwork and stories

[@paulydee5106]

John Byrne is a legend.

[@taylorchance4386]

I really can't express how much I enjoy this channel and the coverage for everything I enjoy.

[@miguelganhao6327]

This interviews were all so fascinating I need more!

[@politicallycorrectredskin796]

Probably stepping on toes, but writing = artwork. You need both, but if I had to choose I'd read about stick figures in an exciting story over visual masterpieces arguing about social issues. Byrne always wrote great stories. That's why he was and will always be my favorite. His Galactus is the only Galactus as far as I'm concerned.

[@davelarson7628]

Byrne is a true trailblazer in comics and my favorite

[@gracegeek4678]

I love Byrne! His X-Men The Hidden Years was phenomenal!

[@kyranbrewer341]

Favorite artist of all time 💯

[@charlesmorgan7219]

As an artist myself, John Byrne was my favorite. He may be a little outdated today but his clean style was great.

[@marcustmachado]

Finally a interview with the master. Amazing. Part 3, 4, 5, 6...keep bringing it.

[@wm6549]

Please interview him every week.

[@allendean9807]

Omac was a truly amazing book. I wish it were in digital format

[@Novaargh]

Jack Kirby is the Jack Kirby of your generation, of any ones generation! Gotta love she hulk though, speaking of which, i wouldn't mind a Hardcover edition of the Trade you showed in this video, i own the issues, don't collect trades but i love Hardcover editions,and in my opinion, she deserves the hardcover treatment! please call your senators to make this happen! i need a hardback in my collection.. please and thank you!

[@originalhulahoop72]

Hi Novaarg, 2021 here. Did you get the Omnibus?

[@RetroTV3]

He was great in the 70's and 80's .

[@veerchasm1]

John was/is my favorite

[@50nuccio]

Even if all the faces look the same...JB is one of the GOATs. I have the FF Artist Edition, $150 well spent.

[@TheSpinnerRack]

Great video.

[@josemontano7767]

John Byrne draw the best Sliver Surfer

[@TheBlindDyslexic]

Don't remember if you did or not. But it would be awesome if you'd do an interview with the Brian Pulido of Coffin Comics.

[@Elementa2006]

Interview Elliot S Maggin that would be great

[@timothyrobinson2387]

Great artist!! Wonder why some of his spiderman stuff from early 00's look a little rushed. Anyone remember spiderman chapter one?

[@peterhopkins4602]

Yeah,

[@douglasocolecionador922]

Abraços do Brasil

[@matteomolinari5517]

BEST author EVER!

[@anthonycastelluci9225]

Can someone explain to me why 70s, 80s, and 90s is the "bronze age"? Doesn't make sense since the first Action Comics with superman was in the "Golden Age". Is Mike Avila moving lose and fast on the facts? Or am I being a little intense for stopping the video at 0:38 to ask questions? My friends and I call 70s and 80s the "Hey Day". And the 90s "the boom" (Well, the early 90s, because it's also "the fall" in the later 90s). Anyway, love John Byrne! Used to be subscribed to Fantastic Four and Alpha Flight when he was in charge. Thanks for posting! Still think the only way to do a FF film is to use Byrne's stories.

[@michaelavila6533]

Thanks for watching the video (though I hope you didn't stop at :38 seconds in! The Bronze Age (1970-1985) follows the Silver Age (1956-1970), which follows the Golden Age (1938-1956). It follows the Olympic Medal format, if you will. 1986 began what is considered the Modern Age ..obviously, Byrne was still in peak form well into the 90s. By referencing the Bronze Age, I meant when readers like myself discovered him.

[@anthonycastelluci9225]

@@michaelavila6533 Yeah, I watched it all! Thanks for clarifying! Yep, I stated in the bronze age buying the 3 issued plastic wrapped sets and reading them in the back of the car on vacation. Byrne is a great artist and writer. And I love his self deprecating humor and mild personality.

[@joeknipp6698]

I enjoyed it ! BUT, instead of giving me 8 minutes... why not give me the entire, uncut interview ? That would be more interesting.

[@turtletrekker86]

What was the FF story he said he would drop into a time capsule? I've watched three times now, and I can't make it out.

[@michaelavila6533]

FF #285 - "Hero"

[@terrorzilla]

It's a great choice. I also love he picked OMAC, wonderful b/w art. I missed Batman/Captain America, it was after my time. @@michaelavila6533

[@jayward7549]

J B. Didn't he do west coast avengeers. And captain America.. ¿¿¿¿¿¿°

[@jeffreyconyers8735]

If HE doesn't know JOHN BUSCEMA than he barely read comics

[@gilo7171]

I prefer BUSHEMA's

[@grios5530]

But he ain't no Mike zeck

[@wrlord]

Byrne saved FF. And ruined Superman (though DC was determined to do that anyway).

[@johnjwyatt]

Byrne says he’s a comics fan, but he’s not. He WAS a comics fan. He hasn’t read any new comics in many years, and he now just complains constantly about what people tell him is happening in comics.

[@dimitrijetucovic1307]

Yeah because comics are SHITE nowadays

[@logicsfinest3471]

I can’t stand the jump cuts. People wonder why millennials need cellphone breaks. Zero attention span

[@thomasgrable1746]

No one captured the unrivaled arrogance of Doctor Doom like John Byrne. Let the movie makers take note!

[@dawolf4274]

OH, ABSOLUTELY!! FF #'s 258 to 260 are without a doubt some of the best Dr. Doom issues in comics.

[@KTF0]

I feel like, other than Kirby, Byrne really did the FF 100% correctly. Even with adding She-Hulk. The only other FF I like is the beginning of Ultimate FF. Others are either recycling Kirby or are very hit or miss. Byrne and Kirby set the bar very high.

[@albertagibinik8883]

No phoning it in, last fantastic four movie hurt

[@barrywreap5122]

The best Doctor Doom writer of all time! Followed by Jim Shooter, Stan Lee and Simonson. Any other writers just gave us robot doppelgangers of the Latverian Overlord.

[@floepiejane]

True!!

[@inducedcomics]

Finally someone with comic knowledge doing great comic interviews.

[@emersonteixeira1410]

John Byrne is, in my opinion, one of the best comic artists of all time!

[@kllwc7772]

Emerson Teixeira Your opinion has merit 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@dougg1075]

Ya think?

[@jasonsmith530]

He’s bizzare

[@ScottPutnamART]

That's not an opinion. It's a fact.

[@floepiejane]

Not while there's a Sienkiewicz, and I love Byrne's art. I might prefer Simonson as well... usually.

[@ezekielehiemua5202]

I live in Africa and John Byrne still impacted me and my brother who was an artist...and even once sent a collection of art to Marvel...Byrne was the greatest back in the day

[@dariusq8894]

Byrne is a bonafide living legend. One of the few talents who could both write & draw at the highest level. My very first comic book as a child (before I could even read) was his Fantastic Four #256, the introduction of the Negative Zone.

[@sirrom5155]

the negative zone has been around since the sixties but.

[@carlosgonbr]

I am an unconditional Byrne fan from the 80s. I have practically all the Brazilian issues of X-men and Superman...I became interested in comics and I'm downloading everything he did for all these years.

[@alexplorer]

The first comic books I ever read were by Byrne, and it was his run on FF that got me collecting. Almost everyone focuses on the overall books he worked on, not the fact that if he was two people: one writer and one artist, each of them would be lauded as among the best in their respective field. That John Byrne is both in one person is Sensational and Uncanny.

[@davidsirmons]

"Sometimes I wrestle with my demons...sometimes we just cuddle." - John Byrne (that needs to be a T-shirt)

[@Thollis1987]

She-Hulk is so awesome!❤

[@ericlee3396]

Feel like the time is finally right for a John Byrne 4th wall breaking quippy She-Hulk movie

[@SixFt12]

Too many idiots would assume it's a rip off of Deadpool but maybe a good compromise would be putting her in as a major character in the next Deadpool movie.

[@SeanTube2099]

My favourite artist of all time. His FF is legendary.

[@jonathanross149]

John Byrne's SHE-HULK breaking the 4th wall!

[@wdd3141]

Hope and Crosby did that in their "Road to..." movies. It was fun.

[@vincentfranklin17]

And years before Deadpool, too!

[@SixFt12]

Byrne's run on the FF is the ultimate best stories of my collection!

[@Brian_Boru]

Need more of this. John Byrne is not only a tremendous writer/artist, he's an expert historian. I've learned so much just reading his thoughts on the medium he so clearly loves.

[@jrbeckman2194]

Byrne is kind of like a cross between Jack Kirby and Neal Adams. Same kind of sameness as Kirby in drawing facial features (his men and women both have the same faces), but with better figure drawing than Kirby, with more elongated fashion plate like figures in the Adams style.

[@stevegrez]

"Sometimes I wrestle with my demons. Sometimes we cuddle." Quote of the day.

[@sXeblues]

Mike, your comic artist and writer interviews are my favorite pieces on this channel... Your fandom and love for them is infectious, and always brings me new awareness on some of the truly great ones!

[@cqtaylor]

When John Byrne covered X-Men with Chris Claremont, it was like watching a Bourne film for superheroes: smart, gritty, kinetic, timely, geo-political. Classic.

[@oliverortiz8507]

JOHN BYRNE is a living legend to me.

[@blastman2761]

Can you do a interview with Byrne where he talks about his process in creating comics? Like backgrounds and stuff like that from pre-photoshop and computer programs up until now? that would be cool. Great videos btw.

[@hulksmash1357]

All those wonderful characters he created for Marvel and how they turned them all to complete excrement between 2010 and 2020. Shame on you Marvel. Shit company now.

[@camm8642]

I really loved she hulk in the ff that is not an easy group to fit into unlike the avengers ff4 has that small close knit family vibe but she fit in well and not all characters can do that.

[@verngriffiths5933]

Taking these long interviews and giving us 8 minutes is so frustrating! More! More! More!

[@swartstudio]

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #7 was the first comic book I bought with my own allowance. I've been a Byrne fanatic since! I especially loved his AVENGERS, WEST COAST AVENGERS, and WONDER WOMAN.

[@evanlanctot323]

I have Byrne's entire runs on X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, & SUPERMAN. One of the giants of the industry.

[@chriscanianoart811]

Byrne is a true trailblazer in comics and my favorite

[@ggaanneesshhaa]

You got me hooked for life with interviews like this. Can’t wait for part 2... Greetings from Brasil!

[@22medicos]

John Byrne is the BEST.

[@victorfatalys1076]

John Byrne truly give life and personnality to comic book characters like none else ever did, IMHO...

[@jensenrichards8686]

I have and always have been a John Byrne fan. He draws great yes BUT nobody can draw action poses/scenes like he does, except The King Kirby himself. Byrne is also a great story teller, I wonder why Hollywood didn't give this guy a call?

[@dimitrijetucovic1307]

Khm khm (he's not woke) khm khm

[@scottpiper213]

I feel like you almost had/have to work for Marvel and worked on the title in some capacity to refer to the Fantastic Four as the “F.F.”

[@richardjyles2653]

There aren't enough interviews with Byrne. He has made a huge impact on comics. Thank you for interviewing him!

[@paulheap1982]

That may be because he's known to be a bit prickly.

[@jonathansoko1085]

Dan Slott is the most MID writer in comics of all time. He isnt bad but he has also not written anything great, ever. Bryrne is a OG. His legacy is solidified and without his shehulk there would be no modern silly deadpool. His FF is my favorite tho. THAT is comic books.

[@jeromehoyle4945]

I like John Byrne, behind George Perez and before I discovered Alan Davis, which were three of my favorite artists growing up. Now having said that, I hated his She-Hulk run.

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

Dude as a kid in a small southern town with no comic book stores. When I saw a comic with John Byrne art I pounced on it!

[@ForestTre]

Why has no one asked John Byrne or any of the Shehulk writers their thoughts about the TV show

[@tonyzed6831]

I discovered comics with Byrne. The FF, the Phoenix saga in the X-men, Iron Fist... I didn't think I could admire him more than I already did... but now I do.

[@Batboy_idiot]

Amazing classic style with a modern edge to it.

[@arthurappelgren6792]

John Byrne did not create the Union Jack. That was Roy thomas and Frank Robbins

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

Lady's and gentlemen, the one, the only, Johhhhhhnnnnn Byrne!!!

[@monsterguyx6322]

I first discovered Byrne's work when he started on the new X-Men, and he was the first comic artist that I followed to other titles; I still remember how much I loved his runs on the Avengers, FF, Captain America, She-Hulk, and pretty much any Marvel books that he drew... Since I was pretty dedicated to the Marvel brand, I didn't see much of the work he did on the DC books, but I'm sure he brought something special to all the titles he worked on there.

[@BigNak364]

John is one of the top 5 G.O.A.T.’s...Alpha Flight y’all

[@darwinblinks]

I despise the horrible acronym "GOAT' but agree otherwise. 1. Kirby 2. Lee 3. Byrne 4. Ditko 5. Moore (all writers, some artists).

[@ValisX]

Mark Miller Stan Lee is the only non-artist on that list. Would #6 be Frank Miller?

[@Toracube]

Interesting that he is knowledgable about UKs artists of the past. I wonder if he knows of Joe Calquhoun (the genius) or Reg Bunn?

[@flashteachers2548]

I was so excited when John Byrne drew the FF. I became a fan when he drew the X-Men.

[@Chalor.]

I'm doin' FF, and following it up with more FF, so I can become a bad MF.

[@LilSnikrz]

"Coming up in part two" Me: reeeeeeeeee

[@davidestes6381]

He would probably hate me saying this but he is the best comic book artist and writer. Better than Kirby, better than Stan Lee, better than anyone. The only other that comes near his orbit is George Perez. But as much as I loved his Teen Titans, Avengers and Wonder Woman; nothing will ever compare to Byrne's FF, Alpha Flight, She-Hulk, X-Men and Namor!

[@floepiejane]

How can 8 minutes be "in depth"? This was a preview. ... Wait! What?! I went to find the rest only to discover that this channel isn't available in the Netherlands. Why??? And then how am I watching this video. Weeeeird

[@zeke1171]

That life size Gal Gadot 💝🔥💝🔥

[@dacommish23]

Exactly...I had over 10,000 comics in junior high school...more than anyone else I knew. And John Byrne is my ALL-TIME FAV!!

[@AJeziorski1967]

Byrne's Superman is still my favourite interpretation of the character. Reducing his powers to merely extraordinary (instead of god-like) made him more interesting and allowed his courage to show through - he COULD be hurt (and often was), but he was still ready to fight to his last breath. Byrne's reinvention of Lois Lane made her a much more appealing, much more believable character - goodbye to the manipulative, starstruck ditz, the "reporter" who couldn't even spell and kept having to be rescued. Byrne's decision to have the Kents still alive added charm and humanity. He destroyed the argument (which Quentin Tarantino hadn't even made yet) that "Clark Kent is Superman's critique of the human race", by making Clark Kent the real person and Superman the mask. Byrne's take on Lex Luthor has now become the definitive one, and deservedly so. For me at the time, Superman comics were never better. I think it's a pity that some of those changes have since been reversed. I think it's even more of a pity that the only story most people remember about Superman over the past thirty years is the one where he died.

[@mottahead6464]

Take a closer look at the faces of comic book artists and you'll realize that most of their important characters look like versions of themselves (the artists, genius).

[@glenngatlin8475]

I'd really like to meet him, but I'm also scared😅!!! Big fan!!!!

[@sonofsound]

This editing is really spastic and jarring. Like, I know you guys have to do jump cuts and keep it snappy, but the strobe effect here with the opening shots is dumb. Love the Byrne interview.

[@COSMOTRON75]

I love he' s art. He re created Superman. He's vision of krypton was original and believable.

[@Martvandelay]

I really love Byrne!

[@texparker4407]

His comics were always the first ones I would read after a trip to the comic store.

[@larryfloyd4993]

i would to see john byrne do... vamperila or fix the hawkman nightmare...

[@Pluto2363]

John Byrne Wolverine is the best.

[@kevinnevada5342]

Once i complete the delicate calibrations on my teleportation device.....i will go to this cave of john bryne...and add both he and his entire collection to my menagarie