Dark Phoenix Saga Review
The Uncanny X-Men – “The Dark Phoenix Saga” (1979-80)
Collects The Uncanny X-Men issues 129-137. Writers: Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Penciller: John Byrne, Inker: Terry Austin, Colourists: Bob Sharen and Glynis Wein, Letterist: Tom Orzechowski. Published by Marvel Comics in 1979-80.
In a perfect world, I’d be able to make this review more timely by telling people that if they were intrigued by how the Dark Phoenix story played out in X-Men: The Last Stand, then they should consider checking out the original story as written over 25 years ago in the comics. Unfortunately, that movie had nothing to do with The Dark Phoenix Saga as it was originally presented. In fact, it had little to do with Dark Phoenix at all (other than resurrecting Jean Grey, having her block Cyclops’ blasts in a scene, do battle with the X-Men in her old house, and her ultimate fate), and instead gave us a “Super Jean Grey” sub-plot, and called her Phoenix. Which leaves the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the best interpretation of this story to appear outside the comics.
Instead, I guess you could check this out to see why so many fans were so bothered by the movie and what they keep going on about with this Dark Phoenix stuff. Or, you could just check out because it is the greatest X-Men story of all-time. The Dark Phoenix Saga isn’t just AN X-Men story, it is THE X-Men story, and if the producers of the movie couldn’t do it justice, then they should have just left it alone. I know some defenders will say that comic book fans are too hard to please, that elements of this story would be too hard to portray in a movie. I agree that the space elements of the story would need to be left out; I’d even allow for the movie to replace the Hellfire Club with Magneto’s Brotherhood for expediency’s sake (although a Jason Wyngarde/Mastermind-type character is a necessary edition to the story). Many changes were made to God Loves, Man Kills to adapt it for X2, but they worked. Because the makers of that film respected the story. Every comic book movie that’s not named Sin City has made significant changes from the books, and comic book fans have accepted many of them because they got the feel of the characters and story right. Read more
Artwork
Here my favorite pieces that I personally own. If you wish to start your own personal art collection of Phoenix artwork, you can start with eBay. That’s what I have did and then started attending comic conventions and acquiring artwork directly from the artists by requesting sketches.
Jean Grey by Ed Benes
I purchased this Jean Grey piece at an auction at Heroes Con in 2006. It is one of my favorite pieces even though she is in one of the most uninspired costumes she ever wore. Great work by Ed Benes and Marc Deering in spite of the costume. It was drawn by Ed Benes and inked by Marc Deering.
This was a gift from my friend Chris for Christmas ‘06. Obviously it is a great piece and he had commissioned from Brian Shearer. You can view his website at Gravy Boy to see more of his work. He has some other Phoenix pieces on his site, but not this one. 
I have also commissioned a Cyclops Art Nouveau piece from Brian.
Phoenix Pixie
You can see the artists progression with the wonderful piece: Phoenix Pixie. I commissioned this piece and I have the blue pencil prelm, as well.
Phoenix by Jim Lee
I was very fortunate to have a friend, Dave Luebke who is a bigwig in the comic industry (Dave’s Comics) who met Jim Lee and asked him to commission this artwork as a surprise gift for me. Obviously I’m elated and thankful for Dave’s generosity and Jim Lee’s talent. I treasured addition to my collection!
Below are links to various collections of artwork containing Jean Grey, Phoenix, Dark Phoenix and other renditions of Jean’s character. I’ll add more was I find particularly nice artwork to include.