Kelly/Seagle run. Seems to be well regarded by fans but editorial influence kept it from being truly great and its rarely mentioned as one of the iconic runs as a result when it definitely had potential to be
On the other hand...after Seagle and Kelly quit the X-Books at the end of 1998, Davis was chosen to fill in until Claremont's second chance. Other than Davis' writing on the Magneto War, I can't recall anything of consequence during the brief time he wrote the 2 main X-books.
I'm with you all the way on this one. Alan Davis' Excalibur is on my list of all-time favorite X-titles along with Peter David's first run on X-Factor, which could also be considered an underrated X-Men run. I assume David's first run has now been eclipsed by his second run on X-Factor.
Davis's Excalibur may indeed be an underrated gem, but I draw the line at Peter David's X-Factor. Past and present. I read his old run recently and was completely flabbergasted as to why so many people talk it up. Maybe that Doc Sampson issue was okay(and in his modern run, that beer spit gag scene between Madrox and Rictor), but other than that, complete waste of time. I will say J.M. DeMatteis's Haven is an underrated gem, though. I'd love to see her brought back. Now that was a fascinating and underutilized character!
Let the flames destroy all but that which is pure and true!