James Meeley :: Potpourri

X-Man #8, page 9 (1995)

Artists: Scott McDaniel (Penciller) , Mike Miller (Inker) , Jeph Loeb (Writer) , John Rozum (Writer)

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X-Man #8 published cover

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West Coast Avengers #16, page 20 (1986) - Hank Pym vs. Whirlwind

Artwork Details

Title:	X-Man #8, page 9 (1995)
Artist:	Scott McDaniel (Penciller)
Artist:	Mike Miller (Inker)
Artist:	Jeph Loeb (Writer)
Artist:	John Rozum (Writer)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NO!
Views:	115
Likes on CAF:	4 5
Comments:	3
Added to Site:	11/26/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

If you've spent any time looking through my collection, you might notice something curious about it. I don't really have any art that focuses on Marvel's merry band mutants. And that's likely due to the fact that, while I have enjoyed some tales of the various teams to use "X" in their titles, I was never a big mutant fan, as so many others were when I first seriously got into comics back in the late 80's. Nothing personal, I just never found someone being born with superpowers very interesting. Kind of makes their origins seem a bit mundane to me, I guess. So, now knowing that, it probably makes this latest addition to my collection even more peculiar than my not having any art of them in the first place. Of course, Nate Grey is not exactly your typical mutant, either.

Born of a dark and twisted timeline, but brought over into the Marvel Universe proper, he was something very different for the mutant set at the time. Coming out of the "Age Of Apocalypse" event, he survived the collapse of his universe to cross over as a member and enigma to the main Marvel Universe, to only then become both a target in it and a threat to it. Quite a striking story. And this page plays right into the former part of that, as Nate becomes the prey to the bounty hunter known only as Rex!

I've always liked Scott McDaniel's art and this was at the time he had been experimenting with his rendering style, giving it a much more noir-ish quality, than what he had been doing previously. His use of a high-contrast style shows this, with it's sharp blacks and shadows and bright and stark whites. Yet, he never skimps on the details. From the fold in the sheets on Nate's bed, to the water running down Rex's diver suit in that final splashy panel, it's a superb use of black and white, that even some old-time film directors might be jealous of, as it only added to the tension and menace of the scene. Of course, while the large central figure of Rex in the last panel is the main draw of the page, for obvious reasons, for me it is the shot of only Rex's hand popping up in that third panel, as he pulls himself out of the water, which is what stands out the most, as it's straight out of the noir handbook for setting the tone and mood. The published page almost feels like a waste of color, as this version is so clearly superior!

When it comes to Marvel's X-Men line of comics, Nate Grey is something of an anachronism within them. So, I guess that almost makes it appropriate that a page from his series finds its way into my collection, where it, too, can an "anachronism" of sorts. The strange turns we can end up taking in this hobby are truly astounding sometimes!

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About the Owner

	James Meeley ( 8 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	December 2004
Last Login:	January 2026
Website:	https://www.youtube.com/@SequentialTreasures
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A James's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About JamesMeeley

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Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 11/26/2025

The star of this page is definitely the effects used by McDaniel and Miller which kind of looks like Frank Miller Sin City style. It's anything but simple with what is chosen to be inked and what to leave alone in the use of negative space.

Kavi H
Member Since 2018

Posted on 11/26/2025

Great McDaniel page! Big fan of his 90s art style, inking, and use of negative space on series like this and his Elektra book for Marvel. Nice addition!

Byron B
Member Since 2018

Posted on 11/27/2025

Great way to start mutant collecting with an X-Man page. Love it!

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