At the Dallas Fantasy Fair, during a panel discussion Byrne made unflattering comments about a number of industry figures, including Gene Colan, Lynn Graeme, Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, and Roy Thomas. After a transcript of the panel was published in The Comics Journal #75 (September 1982), Thomas threatened a libel suit if Byrne did not apologize. In a letter printed in TCJ #82 (July 1983), Byrne retracted his statements. He claimed he was only repeating information from Wolfman and Wein and wrote “I acted only in the office of a parrot.”
John Byrne
Byrne has developed a noticeable online presence, with his own website and forum, on which he is a participant and moderator, and a column, titled “In My Humble Opinion” [sic], which has run at both Slush Factory and UGO.online. His comments and statements, both online, and through the years in print, have gained Byrne a reputation as a controversial figure. Whilst noted as “one of if not the most longstanding and prolific writer/artist in comics today”. Byrne has also gained a reputation for engaging in feuding with other comic book creators, being accused of getting into such conflicts with Peter David, Jim Shooter, Joe Quesada, Mark Evanier, and Marv Wolfman, whilst in 2003, Byrne and Erik Larsen got into an argument, which saw Byrne claiming, “You can tell when Erik is saying something stupid—his lips move” and Larsen calling Byrne “a habitual liar.” Rich Johnston has noted the feud as ending with Byrne issuing a “non-apology apology”.
John Byrne
Mark Waid reportedly responded to an anecdote Byrne had used in illustrating comic book terminology, Byrne recounting “...when Mark Waid stuck up his hand at a convention Q&A to ask me if ‘we can have the real Superman back’...,” by accusing Byrne of fabricating the story: “This, by the way, never happened, even though it’s become one of Byrne’s new favorite anecdotes.”
Waid then went on to question Byrne’s impartiality as a moderator on his message board, noting “I’d gladly refute it more directly at the message board on which it was posted, but—at least in my experience—those who attempt to correct John’s delusional statements and borderline libels are quickly booted,” further clarifying “I have already been banned.” Waid went on to explain that a previous attempt at extracting a clarification or retraction from Byrne in reference to another matter had ended with Byrne removing Waid’s message: “...I registered, posted a response, and within ten minutes it was deleted and my membership was cancelled.” (2004)John Byrne
In 2005, Byrne complained about his Wikipedia article, claiming it was full of “opinion, rumor and borderline libel” but did not specify what he objected to within the article. He attempted to “delete lies and troll-fodder” by removing most of the article, but it was soon restored. The article was revised following a complaint from Byrne to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.
John Byrne
Die Freundschaft, die der Wein gemacht,
wirkt wie der Wein, nur eine Nacht.Friedrich von Logau
Byrne has also been accused of being misogynistic.
John Byrne
Byrne, John
Byrom, John
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