This is it.  The reason I’m here right now.  The reason I’m a John Byrne fan.  The reason I’m a comic book fan to this day.  And it took a LOT of willpower not to post every last beloved page.

I’m ten years old, standing in Waldenbooks at the Fremont Hub, looking through the comics spinner rack trying to find the new Star Wars & GI Joe issues.  I was there with my own money, buying comics for myself for the first time.   I had no interest in Superman, Batman or all the other superheroes out there.  Never read any of those, didn’t care.  But something caught my eye, a title I’d never heard of before.  “Alpha Flight”??  What’s an Alpha Flight?  Bigger questions, who is this guy with his back to me, and who are the mysterious people known as “THEM”?  That cover hooked me like a prize marlin.

Needless to say, I walked out with this life-changing issue, leaving Star Wars comics behind for good.  Guardian instantly became my favorite character, and still is to this day.  His wife, the love of my young life (and dang near the spitting image of my own wife, coincidentally).  Omega Flight, the baddest villains around without raising a finger.  Sasquatch looked like he could take out Hulk, Superman and Batman with his eyes closed.  I had discovered superhero comics and man, they were GOOD.

I’ve read this comic countless times, probably more than any other I’ve ever bought.  It’s never been inside a bag, never been backed up with cardboard, and it’s somehow still in beautiful shape.  I present it to you now as I first saw it, without the colors brightened or anything else I can throw at it with my computer.

I need to give thanks to Jim Warden for supplying me with three precious pages of original art from this issue, all featuring Heather Hudson.  A nicer guy I’d be hard pressed to find.  Thanks for looking out for me, Jim.

Huge, HUGE thanks to you, John Byrne, for providing me with so many happy memories, stories and art that have become so important in my life; for making me cherish these characters so much I’ve been brought to tears reading a few of their tales; and for hosting this website and making yourself available to anyone and everyone with a question or comment.  I really do appreciate your time, JB.

Now, about what happened next issue…