Forty years ago, the dynamic creative team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne set a new standard for comic book stories with the Dark Phoenix Saga. Both heartbreaking and thrilling, the story found Jean Grey corrupted by the limitless power she yields as Phoenix. 

Beginning in Uncanny X-Men #128 and escalating until its dramatic conclusion in #137, readers at the time were awestruck as Jean Grey went from the heart of the X-Men to their most formidable villain. The saga was an instant classic and cemented the X-Men as one of Marvel Comics’ most successful franchises.

Since then, the Dark Phoenix Saga has been revisited in various stories, adapted to both television and film, and is considered a masterpiece of the comic book medium. Now, as Dawn of X launches and the X-Men venture into an exciting new era, the franchise will be honoring the past with Dark Phoenix 40th anniversary variant covers!  

From Jean Grey’s psychic battle with Emma Frost to the X-Men’s fateful clash with the Shi’ar Imperial Guard on the moon, each cover will see a pivotal moment in the event brought to new life by today’s top artists. 

Marvel has already debuted the Dark Phoenix Saga 40th anniversary variant covers for X-Men #5 by Kris Anka, Excalibur #5 by Philip Tan, New Mutants #5 by Juan José Ryp, X-Force #5 by Russell Dauterman, and Fallen Angels #5 by Scott Williams. 

Additional variants to be revealed at a later date include Marauders #5, X-Men #6, Excalibur #6, Fallen Angels #6, New Mutants #6, and X-Force #6. Other variant programs celebrating Claremont’s 50th year of Marvel storytelling are also expected to be announced.