Drawing Crazy Patterns - Jean Grey "Dying"

CBR

By Brian Cronin

Published Jul 25, 2011

In this feature, I spotlight five scenes/moments from within comic book stories that fit under a specific theme (basically, stuff that happens frequently in comics).

Today, based on a suggestion by reader Deuel R., we look at five times that Jean Grey has, well, died.

Enjoy!

Jean's first "death" was in X-Men #100, when she sacrificed herself to save the rest of the X-Men.

(By the way, I love how Banshee and Dr. Corbreau are totally cool with Jean sacrificing herself for the greater good. That's impressively rash thinking from them both. It's not like they don't appreciate it, they just seem to get the idea that yeah, this is the only way any of us will live, so it makes sense for you to try it).

She appears to be reborn the next issue as the Phoenix. Eventually, we learn that this was "just" a cosmic entity taking Jean's place.

So with that in mind, I'll skip X-Men #137, where Phoenix apparently dies (just for the most anal of you continuity fans out there).

Jean's next "death" came in Uncanny X-Men #281...

Jean survived by sending her mind into the body of the comatose Emma Frost.

Jean's next "death" came in New X-Men #148...

Jean and Wolverine are trapped on Magneto's old Asteroid M base and it is hurtling towards the sun. They have tried everything, but it does not look like they will make it out of there alive. Wolverine does what he feels is the honorable thing and kills Jean before they are vaporized.

This, of course, just kick starts the Phoenix force and it resurrects them both next issue.

This is just in time for Jean to die in New X-Men #150 at the hands (literally) of Magneto...

Later, the Phoenix force brings Jean Grey back in Phoenix: Endsong. In issue #3, Wolverine tries to save Jean from the Phoenix force by repeatedly stabbing her to death as the Phoenix force continues to resurrect her.