John Byrne's Techniques and a Visit to Canada - Comic Tropes (Episode 12) 

Important correction: when I list John Byrne’s trope of dense crowd shots, I incorrectly used an image drawn by Dave Cockrum.

Byrne is unquestionably one of the greatest ever. Disregard his wack attitude, lets celebrate the work.

"There's never gonna be an Alpha Flight movie, I can tell you that!" -- I'm bookmarking this video to see what you have to say in a few years. :)

I love John Byrne. His art style is solid and pleasing to look at and he had great runs on the Fantastic Four and Superman.

John Byrne is one of the best for me.

Fun fact: in an interview back in the day, Byrne stated that his paycheck bonus for Alpha Flight #1 (based on sales over a certain amount of issues) was $29 GRAND (US).

I like Alpha Flight precisely because it was hanging out off by itself.

Don't really understand why AF never got the love. I thought it was great.

I love John Byrne. But I would die for John Byrne when Terry Austin inks him.

Insects and bugs are animals, though very small types of animals. They certainly aren't plants, plankton, fungi, or Protozoa. They aren't mammals or reptiles, but bugs are still animals.

Another John Byrne trope is big square jaw lines with warm smiles. I'm convinced half his popularity as an artist is because all the characters seem so happy to see you

Going back and watching older ComicTropes videos. Chris makes the best comic content on RU-vid.

Here's something weird. Shaman, as John Byrne drew him in this issue, looks a *lot* like Spirit from G.I. Joe. Alpha Flight's Shaman first appeared in 1979 (according to Wikipedia). John Byrne drew a few covers for the G.I. Joe comic book. In Canada, the code name for Spirit was "Shaman." Coincidence? Almost certainly.

I love John Byrne's work on She-Hulk. It's funny that he and Dan Slott are both notoriously cranky, yet they brought a lot of humor and joy to that series.

John Byrne's run on _Fantastic Four_ still remains in my top favorite comic series of all time. It's the true definition of Marvel's first family.

So hard on Alpha Flight! If You told me 10 years ago that Ant Man or Guardians of the Galaxy would have stand alone movies I would have laughed in your face, yet I think they did a good job with the films. And the Alpha Flight characters are pretty interesting. If they did a wolverine reboot I wouldnt be against including alpha flight as an introduction to a stand alone

Love this vid. I was a huge Byrne fan, and collected Alpha Flight until Byrne left the book. Still a fan of his art but in recent years, Byrne has been like the grumpy old guy down the street who is always talking about the good ol' days and telling you "to get a haircut, ya hippy!" Love his diatribes though...definitely has an ego, lol.

The old man is from the Occupy Tundra Movement. Last holdout.

As a Canadian kid back in the day when Alpha Flight hit the stands I was overjoyed to see a team of heroes representing our country, and having John Byrne, the hugest comic book creater of the day doing it, was sheer bliss. I loved his run on the book and it's disheartening to hear it wasn't something he enjoyed because I never got that from his work. I suppose the title never took off simply because they were somewhat removed from the US, where 98% of stories and characters hail from (even the DC universe feels very American, despite the fictional city names). Unfortunately, I don't think anyone ever did the team or book justice again precisely because they weren't Canadian writers or artists (that I know of). With each re-launch of Alpha Flight it just got worse, imo. I'd love to see someone who cared deeply for the team to pick up the torch and run with it again one-day.

This was one of the first Marvel Comics I read like 30+ Years ago :-)

I feel like not enough people appreciate his Next Men run. Some of my favorite art of his and story!

7:10 I love those old ads. I think it was in an early X-Men annual where I came across one for a compressed air rifle for kids. Ah, America...

Weird coincidence! I'm actually reading some of Byrne's comics now! I went to Wikipedia and looked what he did and saw he did the Champions 11-15 and 17!

I’m glad to see you’re embracing Canadian culture! This video made me quite happy as a proud Canadian 🇨🇦

Always wanted to get a John Byrne commission done. Huge, huge fan. He was one of my favourite artists growing up, and heavily influenced my own art. I've seen some original pages of Byrne's from X-Men and Fantastic Four pop up on eBay every now and again going for astronomical bids.

Good video. As a writer, Byrne only has one trope: time travel!

I agreed with John Byrne on that particular issue. Work for hire means precisely that. Having said this, without getting into a long harangue, I also think treating creators like travelling hobos (journey men and women) and not offering at least a fraction of benefits that the secretaries and printers get, is also problematic. BTW The character "Aurora" was a split personality who bounced back and forth between a Stern teacher and a flirty vixen!

Alpha Flight is the Firefly of Marvel comics. Wonderful quirky characters & situations. If DC could pull off a Doom Patrol TV series, Marvel could definitely do Alpha Flight.

I had never heard Byrne was "controversial." I'd think he's almost the opposite, generally approved by large majorities.

7:44 that kid's shirt is another trope of Byrne, reviving old Kirby stuff. Notice the directional drop shadow. Kirby used to do that and change where if falls based on the lighting. No other artist did that until Byrne revived it intentionally referencing Kirby. Ultimately nobody noticed either time.

I can imagine John Bryne sounding like a grumpy old man and blickering

John Byrne and Terry Austin were my peanut butter and jelly growing up.

Byrne's X-Men run remains one of the greatest achievements in comic art history.

John Byrne was THE artist. Love him and his art.

Love the weird snack reviews... seeing what other countries eat is always fun

I ordered the Marvel app for my phone found out that they had no John Byrnes Comics from west Coast Avengers to Fantastic Four or even the X-Men. Threw up- deleted the app and wrote a scathing review.

14:35 I think it's actually pronounced Samsquamch.

you totally forgot his NAMOR run! how can you forget his awesome run on Namor as the 90s rolled around.....

Hey Chris! I really like your channel. I was just looking through stuff about Rob Liefiled and came across you. Then I looked at your other episodes. Good stuff man. I'm on board.

Absolutely love Byrne's work. It has been an influence on me ever since I first saw it as a kid. Cannot say the same about his...strong...opinions on things.

Love John Byrne. What a pleasure to be narrated through his gorgeous images. Love watching Chris eat. So cute!

Actually, Byrne never wanted to do the book since AF was only created to survive a fight with the X-Men. But Marvel begged him to do it and he did. However you can tell, especially n the first twelve issues, that his heart wasn't in it - like he was with his runs on FF and Superman.

John Byrne is responsible for so many Comics that I loved as a kid. Iron fist, Captain America, I bought fantastic four just because he was drawing it, and of course his run on the X-Men is by far my favorite

"It's odd. Artists don't use cross-hatched speed lines these days." (Holds up a 35 year old comic book).

I loved the mention of Mr Byrne's dislike of nic names. Brings me back to an 80's FF issue where Spider-man feels he has to correct little Franklin for calling him "Spidey-Man!" Something about regretting allowing the old show "The Electric Company" refer to him as Spidey.

i love this chanel. i spent one month once at toronto, it was one of the happiest moment of my life

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the weirdo was supposed to be this archaeologist that an Inuit goddess kidnapped from a dig site, and produced Snowbird with him. Unfortunately, this experience, plus finding that years had passed during the night in "god-land", caused him to go crazy, hence his summoning of Goz -- er, uh, I mean, Tundra. The two characters were drawn very much alike but the people who compiled OHOTMU did not pick up on this, writing that Snowbird's father ran away in hysterics never to be seen again, while leaving Tundra's summoner as an unidentified man.

I know this video is old but I rewatch videos a lot from creators I love. Oddly enough I never subbed since I google the channel alot. Anywho, @ComicTropes mentions "Flying cross legged is a weird way to fly" There is actually a bit of a dark history behind that. Flying while cross legged is associated with various "Spiritual" and *religious* connotations outside of jeudaochirsitan mythology. In fact the Aum Shinriko "That weird Japanese cult that did the serine bombings" was started by Shoko Asahara who depicted himself flying in a very similar manner which is how he got people to join the cult in the first place. The stance is short hand for "Spiritual" but over the years has a bit more of an ominous culty vibe to it.

Loved Alpha Flight as a kid. And agreed the Maple donut is amazing.

John Byrne is one of those artists whose art is the most recognizable to me the way he draws his females , Batman , Wolverine and Iron Man , I'll know it's his work

He’s one of the greats. I met him in the early 90’s and he was a great guy.

as a Canadian I was stoked when this cam out in the 80's still have the collection of the first run...i haven't checked but Bill bill Senkiewicz was a big fav as well for his run on Moonknight kind of the opposite of Byrne much more complex.and sketch like .and Michel Golden on Micronauts was mind blowing very original comic book style could always tell a Golden cover like a Norman Rockwellesque style to me

It is too bad we won't see alpha flight on the big screen. A really diverse team. Puck would be awesome. Well, if Guardians of the Galaxy can get a movie, why not alpha flight?

16:16 A lot of artists aren't John Byrne, they're just influenced by him (like Dale Keown, Todd McFarlane, Ethan Van Sciver, among others).

dude... you are slowly becoming my favorite youtuber

Big Red is a popular brand of red cream soda in texas.

My two favorite artists were John Byrne and George Perez. Both were amazing class A egotistical pricks but that being said both are unmistakably talented to the nth power... unbelievably sharp! Another trope, More Shaph gin!!!

Good piece and it was fun to look at this issue again. Poor Dan Smallwood, she ain't coming back. One thing: "Aurora and Northstar's costumes have a 'maple leaf thing going on'? Dude, they're stars. As for other stylistic tropes, he loves the overhead establishing shot, and has frequently drawn male characters with upper lips to indicate they're gay.

I've been dipping my fries in gravy for years !

John Byrne's the dude! One of my Idols.

Byrne created Alpha Flight initially

Byrne did the artwork for a comic book adaption of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. The metal panels were there! But it made sense in context, because the story takes place inside a computer complex!

Ahh John Byrne ... always liked his stuff (specially this Alpha Flight run) ... that’s the stuff to get me in the mood to return to comics.

John Byrne is my absolute favorite! The Dark Phoenix saga, in my opinion, is Marvels greatest tale. Marv Wolfman and George Perez, forged DC's greatest, The Judas Contract. Both tales are sublime!

Can you do a video on George Perez and his run on the new teen titans one of my favorite books of the early to mud 1980's?

His FF covers are legendary, that one you had in the background of Galactus half face with Death is one of my all time favs.

This warms the cockles of my icy heart as big hairy Canadian winning machine

I really love that Alpha Flight #3 cover art. So cool. I was a huge fan of John Byrne back then. His art was my fav style. Super detailed and realistic, with photo backgrounds. Great stuff. Never much cared for how he drew faces. All his faces on characters looked the same, but his detail was unparalleled back then.

Another great detailed effort.

I wonder which other “edibles” were harmed during the making of this one. Great show!

John Byrne is one of the greats! Not everyone lives up to what you build them up to be but his work and everything he’s done is untouchable. Hey I remember Mcfarlane at the height of his career was not the best of characters and was demanding or pompous but fast forward a few decades and he and Liefeld are some of my favorites artists out there with a voice I don’t mind listening too

My favorite comic artist

Oh wow, I visited ComicShop when i went to visit my uncle out in Vancouver last year. Great shop, got a lot of good books there!

There was a Alpha Flight Easter egg in Deadpool 2 an advertisement on top of the cab.

I respect what Dave Cockrum did, but when I think of X-Men, I think of the Claremont/Byrne era.

I don't know if you read more of the AF, but Aurora has a split personality. Couple other non-comic notes: you can get Kinder Surprise in Michigan with no problem. I think we are the only state in the union. I don't know exactly when you made this but the most popular flavor is Fully Dressed. It's an awesome taste. It's not quite the same in the US.

I always loved Byrne's art - I liked his slimming down of heroes bodies. I collected AlphaFlight back when it came out - kept up with it for a little over two years if I remember correctly. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Glad I clicked on this. I remember that issue of Alpha Flight serialised as a backup strip in a Marvel UK comic back in the day (probably Secret Wars, possibly Transformers). I have to admit, I really liked it. American comics were really difficult to get hold of reliably in the UK at the time, so I never really found out more about them, but I was always slightly disappointed by that. Perhaps one days I'll hunt down the back issues! Anyway, it was good to revisit that story here, nice blast of nostalgia!

I feel blessed that even in the desert of Arizona I have found a poutine food truck.

When I was stationed in the middle east. The ketchup lays were everywhere. I loved them.

if i were there at that moment, (at that price...) i would have purchased every John L. Byrne comicbook in the store.

Perhaps The Reason Sasquatch Reminds You Of A Hairy Hulk Is Because His Powers Are Also Gamma Ray Related.

As always, Chris, you've done a great job. I have no comments on Alpha Flight - about 4 decades ago I lived in Canada for a couple of years, but wasn't reading comics at that point in my life. But on the the topic of Canadian treats in the USofA, I remember finding Lay's Ketchup Potato Chips at my local Krogers Supermarket maybe 20 years ago, but even tho I continue to look for them, I haven't found them in recent years. They can be ordered from Amazon, but I'm not willing to pay what they want for them. Now Poutine -- Ahhh, Poutine -- in my city in East Tennessee, for about 5 years we had a guy from Quebec who had a food truck that did little else than variations of Poutine, but it went away with the Covid lockdown & never came back (as far as I know). Too bad. I see Kinder Eggs in the local Dollar Stores sometimes. I think they still contain the little *choking hazard* toys, so I don't know how they get around the US ban on them. Anyway, best wishes to all. VH

Here's some you missed: Characters at 3/4 angle with their bottom jaw jutting out. Usually talking. Action scenes with no background but a solid color. Disembodied heads on a splash page or flashback to tell you who else is/was involved. Still great shit.

Byrne. The man. His weird metal plating backgrounds are an hommage to Steranko, I always presumed

John Byrne was the final villain of Arrow!

Alpha Flight was a top seller for Marvel through out Byrnes time making it. Issue 22 for example was 3rd in direct market sales behind X-Men 193 and Web of Spidey 2.

Disney may not have been able to even use Alpha Flight due to their connections to mutants and Wolverine, but now they're getting the mutants back from Fox we may see them pop up in tv form in the near future...

Poutine is the food of the gods. I've been living in Asia for the last 4 years, but I flew home for a short visit early in the summer. As soon as I got picked up at the airport, i asked my family members to stop and get a poutine to eat. I gobbled it down so fast!! I seem to remember seeing poutine available at a Los Angeles McDonald's many years ago. I guess it was like the McRib, only available for a limited time

Nehi used to do a cream soda that was blue. I loved it as a kid.

Hi Chris/Comic Tropes, I'm new to your channel so I apologize if my next question covers an earlier video you've made. Have you ever thought about doing a review of an inker that made John Byrne's X-Men unique especially when you compare inking by Byrne? Terry Austin, has always had a low profile in his career but his work speaks volumes. I wonder if Austin has retired. I don't see much of his work anymore. Love to hear your comments. Thank you

I loved both Byrne's and Mignola's run on Alpha Flight. It pretty much crapped out after that.

Fun episode! From Winnipeg, Canada.

His Omac miniseries was awesome

The plating is to show that the facility is very high tech.

I liked the Byrne analysis, but really enjoyed the food tour of Canada.

So many of his comics are great... I would love to meet the man even if he is cranky :D

I really enjoyed Alpha Flight, I really enjoy John Bryne's work.

You should have went for the "coffee crisp" candy bar, I'm not a candy guy, but they are AWESOME

I don’t care if John Byrne is cantankerous. Byrne Fantastic Four, Superman, and X-Men rule. I loved just about everything he did through Next Men.