Frank L. Sisko wrote:
What's the story behind this little gem? Why have these stories never seen print until now?
More Secrets Behind the Comics Department: 'Way, 'way back in the early '90s, Brother John Byrne found himself scripting two X-Men comics, over stories plotted and penciled by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio. As we often did in those days, JB and I were talking over the phone -- and he mentioned that the books were running later and later, as pages dribbled in from his artists. He suggested that I offer my services as a fill-in writer to the X-editors. I was skeptical that there would be any interest in me at Marvel, this being slightly over four years since they'd fired me. But JB kept after me. So, I made a call, and was surprised when they commissioned me to write a story...and delighted when the plot was given to Dave Cockrum. (Though, if I'd know that Dave was going to draw it, I would have plotted a bunch of scenes of Nightcrawler and swordplay.)
Anyway, I scripted Dave's pencils, turned the story in, and was paid. And after that, I never heard another word from the X-office.
That was sixteen years ago.
And now you know...the rest...of the story! 
Good day!-- Uncle Rog
