Uncanny X-Men #141 (January 1981)

“Days of Future Past”

Writer: Chris Claremont/John Byrne
Cover Artist: John Byrne
Penciler: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin

Synopsis: Journey into the dystopian future – where Sentinels stalk the Earth, and the X-Men are humanity’s only hope…until they die!

The Uncanny X-Men #141, like Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, is a case of mistaken homage. Modern readers mistakenly credit John Byrne’s work on Marvel’s The Uncanny X-Men #141 (January 1981) as the source for later covers which use the same general scene of fugitives backed up against a wall while illuminated by a bright spotlight. While Byrne did not create the motif, Byrne seems to have added an important, defining element, however: A grid of wanted posters or notices behind the fugitives, some ominously marked “dead” or “deceased.” Although Byrne’s work on the cover of The Uncanny X-Men #141 has become iconic, the general motif first appeared as early as 1942 in Batman #9.

The homage comics below include Byrne’s motif of wanted posters displayed behind the apparent “fugitives.”

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