kh (04/17/83)
Since no one has asked me yet, I am going to tell you various things about the various titles I read every month. I must warn you, I can get rather dull at times, especially about comics, but you might learn something, so... There will be three parts to this series: Mainstream, Non-Mainstream,and not-yet-released comics. Part One: Non-Mainstream (These comics are available at speciality shops and by Mail Order only) 1. Dreadstar, by Jim Starlin (Epic Comics) $1.50/bi-monthly This is the Story of Vanth Dreadstar, who was introduced in Metamorphosis Odyssey in EPIC magazine #1-9. He is the sole survivor of his galaxy and was responsible for its death. he is now trying to prevent one interstellar empire, The Instrumentality, from destroying another, The Monarchy, who are warring for control of Dreadstar's adopted galaxy. Points in its favor: Jim Starlin. It is my opinion that Jim Starlin is one of the greatest people ever to write or draw comic books, and since he does both for Dreadstar, it ranks as one of the finest available. Flaws: . It is rather violent, but War, especially on the scale involved, Is Hell. Also, it is hard to take the heroes totally seriously, e.g., in the first issue, Vanth singlehandedly destroys an Insty starship. Conclusion: very good "Swords and Starships" comics. 2. Warp, by Frank Brunner and Peter Gillis (First Comics) $1.00/monthly Since unc!tim has already described First Comics' line, I will only briefly mention what I like about them. They are good heroic godwar stories, with a touch of humor spread throughout to keep it from being morbid or boring. The artwork on the main story is excellent (Frank Brunner at his best) but the backup story (by Ditko in issues 2-4) is unbearable. 3. E-Man, by Martin Pasko and Joe Staton (First) $1.00/monthly Satire, through and through. Very funny if you get all of the jokes. Narrated by the ghost of Dr. Albert Einstein and his pet koala, it is the tale of an energy being who can assume a myriad of forms. He is described as "The World's Most Physically Impossible Super-Hero", and trys to live up to the title. 4. Jon Sable, Freelance, by Mike Grell (First) $1.00/monthly Blood and gore in the present. Well drawn, but slightly silly plots distract from the mood of intense violence Grell is trying to project. 5. Coyote, by Steve Englehart and Steve Leialoha (Epic) $1.50/bimonthly Very strange story about a man raised by a shaman in the Arizona deserts. Fairly well drawn and written, so I think I'll keep buying it for a while. 6. Omega Men, by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen (DC Comics) $1.00/monthly The art is really the high point of this series, although the story is fairly interesting. The Omega Men are a band of ~75 aliens trying to liberate their star system and its 22 inhabitable worlds from The Citadel, the natives of one of those worlds. Very violent, with blood abounding. It's an acquired taste. 7. Camelot 3000, by Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland (DC) (12 issue series) $1.00/monthly This story, about the return of King Arthur in the year 3000 AD, is one of the most highly advertised magazines in comicdom, but it could sell itself with no problem. It is skillfully draw and written, and its only major flaw is the fact that the technology described is, in my opinion, 2200 AD at best. It is entertaining, funny, touching, surprising, and everything that a comic should be. And, as it is a limited series, the story will have an end. 8. Ronin, by Frank Miller (DC) (6 issue series) $2.50/every 6 weeks This is really bizarre. It is futuristic and medieval, a duel between the reincarnations of a demon and his Japanese destroyer in a future depression in New York City. Miller's style, for those of you who didn't read Daredevil when he did that, is very rough; he specializes in fights and outlines. And yet, this series could possibly turn out to be the greatest thing ever made. Since only the first issue has been published, we'll have to wait and see. 9. Micronauts, by Bill Mantlo and Butch Guice (Marvel) $.75/bi-monthly The best comics about toys ever made. Originally, the Micronauts were a set of high-tech children's dolls (something like SF GI Joe's with interchangeable parts), but they have gone far beyond that. They are the outcasts of the Microverse, a universe that can only be reached by a combination of shrinking and dimensional transportation. They fight against a superbad dude named Baron Karza (pronounced Kartha) who is a fundamental force of evil in the Microverse and who has at last count raised himself from the dead twice. Mantlo's writing has greatly improved over the past several years, and it is now among the best Marvel has to offer. Newcomer Butch Guice, who pencils and inks, is dynamite. 10. Moon Knight, by Doug Moench and Kevin Nowlan (Marvel) $.75/bi-monthly The main characters are Batmanesque crimefighter Moon Knight, millionaire playboy Steve Grant, New York cabbie Joe Lockly, and mercenary Marc Spector. The only problem is, they are all the same man. You see, Moon Knight has a personality problem- he has three too many. But fortunately he keeps them in control, so he doesn't slip up too much. It is a brutal magazine, with emphasis more on the human element than on super heroics, although those are definitely present as well. You may be familiar with Moon Knight from Cerebus the Aardvark; then again, maybe not. Next up: What I can buy at 7-11 if I miss it everywhere else. _ _ /.| |.\ The Demolished Hacker -| | | |- Kevin Maroney \_| |_/ duke!unc!kh