Let’s show Canada 🇨🇦 some love with another Alpha Flight thread, this time about the 130-issue vol 1 run from 1983-1994. With 2 annuals, and a 2-issue crossover miniseries with the X-men, there were six writers who wrote v1 and nine significant pencillers: - ThreadSky

sweenmcdervish.bsky.social • 35 days ago

Let’s show Canada 🇨🇦 some love with another Alpha Flight thread, this time about the 130-issue vol 1 run from 1983-1994. With 2 annuals, and a 2-issue crossover miniseries with the X-men, there were six writers who wrote v1 and nine significant pencillers:

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sweenmcdervish.bsky.social•35 days ago

Issues 1-28 were written and pencilled by creator John Byrne. Many fans still consider this run the ne plus ultra of Alpha Flight, which is ironic because Byrne has said he didn’t much care for AF and considered his work on established Marvel books of much greater significance.

guerrieroc.bsky.social•35 days ago

I will be awaiting your thoughts on the rest of AF because at the time as a teen I thought it quickly went off the rails after Byrne left. Maybe something good came along afterwards that I just didn’t catch?

(Among other issues I hated how Heather was written as a leader once he got the suit. 🤷‍♂️)

sweenmcdervish.bsky.social•35 days ago

You’re probably referring to the Mantlo run, which I love despite its flaws. I have another thread in the offing about the whole Tall Puck mess which was his worst mistake. But my general feeling is that he really hits his stride by the time of Dave Ross and Jim Lee as pencillers.

guerrieroc.bsky.social•35 days ago

Ah, yes! Byrne switched to The Hulk and Mantlo moved to AF. Oh, God. Tall Puck with the evil black blade in his body which cursed him with dwarfism (I apologize if there is a better word for that). I HATED THAT.

I shall look forward to your posts! I didn't stick around long enough for DR & JL.

sweenmcdervish.bsky.social•35 days ago

The Byrne run provides backstory and solo stories for the main characters and introduces the recurring villains (The Master, The Great Beasts, Omega Flight). As a penciller, Byrne has many standout moments including the fight with kaiju-esque Tundra, and the death of Guardian.

sweenmcdervish.bsky.social•35 days ago

Byrne left in a bit of a gimmick when the entire creative teams of the Incredible Hulk and AF switched books at the exact moment of a Hulk/AF crossover in issue 29, with writing duties falling to Marvel workhorse Bill Mantlo. The Mantlo run has MANY detractors but I will be his apologist-in-chief.

sweenmcdervish.bsky.social•35 days ago

Pencilling partner Mike Mignola (of Hellboy fame) followed Mantlo to the book but left after a few issues, replaced by Canadian artist Dave Ross. I first picked up Alpha Flight during the Mantlo/Ross run and so it holds a special place in my heart.

sweenmcdervish.bsky.social•35 days ago

Then-unknown comics superstar Jim Lee replaced Ross with issue 51, honing his comics chops in his first work for Marvel. Lee’s art starts off great and ends superb and it's my favourite Lee work of all time because it precedes the famous 90’s comic art excesses.

sweenmcdervish.bsky.social•35 days ago

Mantlo departs AF after 3 years with issue 67, replaced by ESPers writer James Hudnall. Hudnall brings a horror-ish vibe to the comic, but honestly it doesn’t really work, and he nevers gels with artist John Calimee. I like the Allread-esque look of Calimee but there’s no doubt this was a mismatch.

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