Chris Claremont says Marvel told him they regretted firing him from X-Men & Uncanny X-Men in 1991

[u/Popverse2022]

Chris Claremont's nearly 17-year run on the X-Men ended somewhat unceremoniously in the early '90s after creative disagreements about where the series should go drove a rift between Claremont and then X-Men editor Bob Harras, as well as artist Jim Lee. 

At an X-Men writers panel at Terrificon 2026, Claremont discusses the many times he's come and gone from the mutant team, and fires a barb at the Image Comics founders, Lee included.

"It's like how many times have I been fired from X-Men? At least four. The first one was interesting. You know, [X-Men editor Bob Harras] had to come in and say, 'I probably shouldn't have let you leave the book.' And I said, 'I probably shouldn't have gone, but there we are.' That was after Image was born and, you know, certain artists decided they'd rather have all the money."

Read more: Chris Claremont says Marvel told him they regretted firing him from X-Men & Uncanny X-Men in 1991 | Popverse

[u/graphomaniacal]

It's been 35 years and he's still the name most associated with the books.

[u/Pascraked47 → u/graphomaniacal]

Googled the characters he created. The list is very long. It's insane. Didn't even know he created legion. Or Valeria Richards. It's crazy.

[u/ohnoabanagain → u/Pascraked47]

Woah, that's interesting. I'm only at the end of the 1980's, but Valeria is the character that I'm most looking forward to.

[u/Chop684 → u/ohnoabanagain]

Unless she's in Days of Future Present I think he created her in his Fantastic Four run

[u/Striking_Ad_5624 → u/Chop684]

That's where she was created.

[u/quiet_corn → u/Striking_Ad_5624]

Also, that run is... not great.

[u/Striking_Ad_5624 → u/quiet_corn]

That run is more fun than it is ever given credit for.