At the risk of sounding like a suck-up, I have to say that I've always preferred Byrne's work over Cockrum's.  I liked much of Cockrums' stuff, particularly the "look" of the "New" X-men. 

But Byrne's work has always felt more "fluid" to me, like I was reading a story and looking at a "still" or single frame of a film of that story.  I always felt as if I knew where they were and what the characters were doing before and after that frame. 

Cockrum's work is just fine, but it always feels to me as if the characters are posed for a snapshot, as opposed to being captured in the act of what the story was about.  

Steven Myers said : "Cockrum's the best brcause he created the all-time best non-original X-Man mutant ever: Nightcrawler!!  He's so much cooler than any hot-headed Canadian!!"

Steve...I love you! You have just gained 10000 points in my esteem rating! Bamf and a smooch for you, mein Freund!

See, for me, after Cockrum and Byrne, Paul Smith was too different in style, and I dropped the book around then...John Romita JR. had a short run around 176 right? It was good then again, but I think Smith came back and I stopped collecting it.

John Mietus wrote: I dropped the book sometime in the middle of the JRjr run, primarily because the storyline had gotten so ridiculously convoluted and relied so much on alternate realities

It's a given that you didn't pick the book up again when all that Cable and Bishop stuff started going down then? Believe me the alternate reality stuff got a lot worse then and in fairness I don't think Claremont was to blame for all that.

I started reading X-Men ( and pretty much comics, in general*) in the middle of Paul Smith's run. Love, love, love that run. It also introduced me to JB's run via back issues and when I noticed this was the guy that drew Iron Fist 15 ( I had this issue for a while from a flea market) my love for all art by Byrne was born.

I really liked JRjr's term on the title, as well. I stopped shortly after he left. I do agree with John M, tho, concerning stories getting pretty wacky towards the end of it, tho. There are some I like, but there are some that are just plain bad.

Never really have gotten into Cockrum's art. I've read all the X-Men issues he did, but I've never really liked him as an artist. I do think he can design some pretty cool costumes, tho.

QUOTE: But to me, the area where there was really a notable decline after JB's departure, and the area that disappointed me the most, was the scripts.  At the time I knew JB had been co-plotter but I was not aware just how large his role had been in his final year or so on the book.  I'd say I definitely missed JB the writer more than JB the artist when he left.

I came to the same conclusion you did. If there were no creedits box, you would think there was a brand new writer working on the book. I do think eventually the book got back to form during the Brood issues.

Probably the #1 reason I started reading X-men was because of Wolverine, Wolverine, Wolverine.